Chapter 14 - RACHEL AND EVELYN
Months later, Evelyn asked Rachel for coffee.
Rachel almost refused.
Then agreed.
Evelyn brought no gifts.
Good start.
She said:
“I owe you an apology.”
Rachel waited.
“I let Daniel make you into a story because the story gave me Emma.”
Accurate.
Then:
“I wanted access badly enough that I stopped asking whether you had agreed.”
Rachel nodded.
“Why did you stop talking to me two years ago?”
Evelyn looked embarrassed.
“Daniel told me you didn’t want me around.”
Rachel laughed.
Of course.
Then:
“I thought you hated how involved I was.”
“I did.”
Evelyn smiled slightly.
“Fair.”
Then Rachel admitted something too.
“I did use you as a threat sometimes.”
Evelyn raised an eyebrow.
Rachel continued:
“When Daniel acted like you, I’d say I wasn’t raising Emma around another Evelyn.”
Ouch.
“I never said it to you.”
“No.”
“But I said it.”
Evelyn nodded.
They did not become best friends.
Better.
They became direct.
Evelyn saw Emma twice a month.
Scheduled.
No secrets.
Emma still yelled:
May you like
“Nana!”
Rachel no longer felt betrayed by the sound.
