Loving Liam (Cloverleaf #1) Read Free Page B

that kept the richest members of society looking youthful. Her mother, who had divorced her father when Rachel was still quite young, spent most of her days shopping and living off her hefty alimony checks. Rachel had an older brother, Ethan, who was busy carving his own path in the world of medicine. She, however, had gone in a completely different direction, deciding to work in education administration. She was currently the vice principal at a prestigious elementary school.
    “I think it’s insane that you would even consider leaving all this,” Chelsea exclaimed as she gestured around them with her arms.
    Chelsea had a longstanding history with Rachel. They both had attended the same prep school, both had fathers who were plastic surgeons, and had somehow managed to maintain a real and deep friendship—quite a feat in the shallow community they’d both grown up in.
    “I know, I know.” Rachel looked at her longtime friend, who seemed to be growing more annoyed by the minute. She dabbed the sweat off her face and neck with a small sports towel and added, “Chelsea, it’s hard to explain, but I guess I just want to see what else is out there. I don’t feel whole here, if that makes sense.”
    Rachel fussed with her pixie cut nervously, sweeping sun-kissed bangs away from her eyes. She wasn’t completely confident she was making the right decision. This was giant leap of faith, and she was usually pretty cautious. She always weighed out every option and calculated all the risks. So when she announced her plans to accept the position of principal at a little elementary school in Birch Valley, Washington, her family figured she must have lost her mind. They didn’t realize she felt as though something was missing in her life. She didn’t know if she was experiencing an early midlife crisis, but Rachel felt as though this opportunity just might help her resolve these unsettling feelings.
    “Oh Rachel, I don’t get it. I mean, what could a tiny, middle-of-nowhere town offer you?” Chelsea questioned as she stretched her toned frame before bending down to touch the tips of her running shoes. “You’re my best friend, and I can’t imagine you being two states away.”
    With nothing else to add, Chelsea spun around and started back down the concrete stairs, her bleach-blonde ponytail swishing back and forth. Rachel followed, knowing full well how disappointed Chelsea was by her choice. Her parents hadn’t taken her decision to accept the position well, either. Only Ethan had championed her desire to venture out.
    After leaving their favorite workout spot, Rachel and Chelsea each got into their matching silver BMW convertible sedans. Waving good-bye, Rachel sped off toward her home. She had a great deal of packing and finalizing some last-minute details to do if she was going to be all set for the move by the end of the year. As she drove, Rachel started to succumb to thinking this idea was ridiculous. After all, she was relocating during the holidays to a state she’d never even seen. She silently prayed this wasn’t a colossal mistake.
     
    ***
     
    Rachel looked down at her pretty manicured toes and her tan legs, which stood out against the pale carpet of her small bedroom. She then turned her gaze to the boxes stacked evenly against one wall. She was deep in thought and going over a mental checklist of things she needed to do when her cell phone chirped with a text message from her mother, asking if she was available for lunch tomorrow. Rachel typed back a reply, wondering why her mother hadn’t just called instead. This was what their relationship had been reduced to: a text here and there, an occasional call to go shopping or dining out at some exclusive restaurant Rachel would much rather avoid.
    Her relationship with her father wasn’t much different. He stayed in contact more than her mother but mainly with a call, an email, or an occasional dinner. This had always been the norm for her family. They