She spent a lot of time talking with her parents and siblings about her future and finally shared the story with Eve about those two Harvard professors talking about her in the restroom. Eve had of course been outraged but Rachel reassured her that it was okay. It had been a setback, but she was going to rise above it.
She decided to go to law school and focus on family law. She’d received a score of 175 on the LSAT when she’d taken it last year, which was high enough to get into any law school she chose. She applied across the nation, flew to dozens of interviews, and got accepted to every school. The acceptance she was most interested in was the University of Buffalo. It was not a top school, but still in the top 100. Her parents and siblings were a little leery of her choosing a school based on the man she wanted to be with, especially since that man was still cruising the Caribbean and running his company remotely. Rachel had faith he was coming back. Someday. Every conversation he seemed a little more distracted and depressed, yet he always reaffirmed that he loved her and listened intently to everything she was doing.
He called late one night on an early June evening. Rachel took the call out back, walking the lush grounds of her parents’ Savannah estate. The drooping Spanish moss on the evergreen live oaks was beautiful, almost shimmering in the light from the patios.
“Hey you.” She smiled as she walked along the grass.
“Ah, just hearing your voice makes me happy.”
Her smile grew. “I think if you saw me in person you’d be even happier.”
He chuckled but it faded quickly. “You have no idea. How are you, beautiful?”
“Great. I got three more law school acceptances today.”
“Well you’re brilliant, and beautiful, of course they all want you.”
“I don’t think they care that I’m beautiful.”
“Idiots.”
Rachel laughed. She hadn’t worn her hair in front of her face since she’d first styled it back for Abe. It was just another reason she loved him so much. He loved all of her. If only …
“Any chance University of Buffalo is anywhere on your list?” His voice showed how much he doubted she’d even consider it.
“I had a great interview with them three weeks ago, and of course they immediately sent an acceptance letter for fall semester.”
Abe let out a loud whoop that made her giggle. “You actually applied there and did the interview? Ah, Rach, you’re amazing.”
Rachel smiled but it slid away. “My parents and siblings think I should go to Cornell instead. It’s only a few hours away from Buffalo.”
“That’d be great too, Rach. I mean, I do have a private jet. It would make the commute short.”
Rachel’s smile returned. Though she knew it was completely impractical to fly to law school each day. “I suppose I could fly to you on the weekends.”
“Not enough time,” he said quickly.
“Says the man who’s in the Caribbean with no plans to return soon.” She should’ve felt guiltier for the quip.
“Ah, Rach. I’m sorry.”
“No sign of them yet?”
“A few tips. Nothing solid.”
“Come home Abe. Let this go. I’ll go to the University of Buffalo. I just want to be with you.”
Abe groaned. “It’s not that easy, Rach.”
“It is.”
He said nothing and it was worse than him telling her off. “I’d better go. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Love you.”
The phone disconnected and Rachel sank onto a patio chair. How was she going to get through to him? They’d talked off and on about her going to him but she’d been busy visiting law schools and her siblings. Plus, Abe was busy and distracted, definitely not on some vacation, as he sailed to a different island every day and searched for any sightings or signs of Preston and Angel. Stubbornly, she wanted him to turn it over to his private investigators and let it go.
She stewed and prayed and then an idea she’d ignored and pushed away resurfaced. It would require her to not only show her face to the world and risk finding out if what those Harvard professors and Angel had said would be true. It would also require her to show that she could forgive like she was expecting Abe to do. She swallowed hard, said another prayer, and swept open her phone.