The Happiest Day Read Free

Rachel since she was out of pigtails and he made Peter’s
skin crawl.  Over the past six months, Stern had wooed Rachel with flowers,
jewelry, and attention.  Peter had seen her blossom under the flattery and had
tried to push away his reservations in favor of seeing the girl finally happy
    “Then what has you
so upset?  Why are you suddenly jeopardizing your engagement?”  He studied
Rachel and frowned when he saw a dark red flush working its way up her neck and
face.  “Did he do something to you?” he demanded.  “Norris made it clear that
there was to be nothing until the wedding.  Did he touch you?”
    “No!” Rachel
exclaimed, then amended in a small voice, “well, nothing I didn’t want.”  In
the beginning, she had enjoyed his touch which he had kept light and innocent. 
Long starved for affection, Rachel began to crave his kisses and caresses.
    “Jesus,” Peter
breathed.  “I don’t know how much more of this I can handle in one day,
Rachel.”
    “I’m not a little
girl anymore,” she reiterated, her eyes flashing.
    “I know, I know.”
He ran a hand over his face.  “So what is it then?  Have you changed your mind
about him?”
    Rachel turned her
face away from Peter.  How could she tell him the truth?  Normally, she would
have sought him out and asked his advice.  In this circumstance, though, it
involved his mother.  She knew that Peter and Helen were not close but she was
sure that no son would want to hear that his mother was engaging in an
extra-marital affair.  The additional fact that the affair was with Rachel’s
fiancé would more than likely be a bitter pill to swallow.  Walking in on them
in Helen and Norris’ bedroom had made her physically ill.  Frederick had followed
her into her bedrrom as she lay on her bed, hugging her arms around her
middle.  He stood over her, buttoning his shirt and watching her
dispassionately.  Her mind flew back to that day.
    “Grow up,
Rachel,” he said forcefully.  “You can’t expect me to live like a monk.  I’m
not a blushing bridegroom, I’m nearly forty.”
    “You’re
disgusting,” she spat at him.  “Helen is your friend’s wife.  Don’t you even
care?”
    “Helen and
Norris have an open marriage.  He wouldn’t care.”
    “Wh-what’s an
open marriage?”
    “They’re
allowed to be with other people.”
    “Are you saying
Norris is…intimate…with other women?  And Helen knows about it?  And he
wouldn’t care that you’re…with his wife?”
    Frederick
suddenly looked uncomfortable.  “He doesn’t need to know about this.”
    “So you’re
lying to me!”  She stood up, angrily shoving him away from her.  “He would be
furious if he knew that you and Helen were having an affair.  He loves her.”
    Frederick
grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.  “God, you little fool, he wouldn’t
care because of her.  He would be angry because of you.”
    “What do you
mean?” Her teeth rattled from the shaking.
    “He would be
upset to find out I had been unfaithful to you.” He pursed his lips.  “Do you
plan on telling him?”
    “Yes!  No…I
don’t know.  But this…this farce of an engagement is over.”
    Shockingly,
Frederick had smiled.  “Au contraire, my darling.  It’s too late to back out
now.  You and I are getting married as planned.”
    “I won’t marry
you.”
    “You will or
I’ll ruin this family.”
     
    “Rachel?”
    Rachel started and
looked at Peter.  “I’m sorry, what?”
    “Have you changed
your mind?  If so, break it off.  No one will think less of you.  Frankly, I’d
be thrilled.”  His eyes suddenly narrowed.  “Is this where this thing with Toby
came from?  Are you using him to force Stern’s hand?  So he’ll break up with
you?”
    Rachel shrugged
one shoulder.  “It’s not that exactly.”
    “Then what
exactly?” he asked exasperatedly.  “I can’t help you if you won’t confide in
me.  As far as Toby, whatever the reason, you