Page 123 of Under Her Skin

Part 5 HardLuck

Blake

Bright sunshine blinds me as I drive away from Rachelle’s little apartment. One glance into the rear view mirror and I look at her place, most likely for the last time ever. I’ve called her and called her, but she sends me straight tovoicemail.

My body burns as I remember how we had made love last night and into the early morning hours. I know she feels the same way I do. I just don’t know how she could leave me likethis.

I make my way back to my hotel. Kip and Peyton should be told she’s left. Maybe Peyton even knows why and where. With a tap on my cell I callKip.

After three rings, he answers. “Yeah mate, we’ll be down to breakfast shortly. Not exactly done with our alone timeyet.”

“I see,” I say. “I just wanted to let you know that Rachelle left and when I woke up I went to her apartment but it seems she grabbed a suitcase and left. At least that’s what her neighbor toldme.”

“That damn girl! Peyton, you have to have some words with that girl. She’s doing such crazy things!” Kip huffs and then sighs. “Poor, littlething.”

“Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for last night and stuff. I’ll be heading back to Lubbock today. I just need to get my life going and it’s not going to include heranymore.”

Peyton chimes in, “Let us know when you get back home safely, Blake. You’re still our friend no matter what happens with you andRachelle.”

“Thanks, you two. You really are wonderful people and it’s a pleasure to know you. I’ll call when I get home. Goodbye.” I end the call and feel like I’m deadinside.

I wonder if this is what Rachelle feels like since her mother abandoned her all those years ago. I wonder if it ever goesaway.

Rachelle

“Thanks for picking me up Grandpa,” I say as he drives me out to theirhome.

“Not a problem, Shell. Always glad to have you back home. Los Angeles isn’t your home. This is.” He reaches over and pats the back of my hand and offers me a smile. “So, who’s the fella you’re running away from thistime?”

I jerk my head to look at him and my mouth falls open. “What makes you think there’s a man I’m runningfrom?”

“You and your mother both do the same thing. When you feel threatened with commitment you both run back home. She’s there now as a matter of fact.” He looks at me as he says the lastwords.

I’m sure my face goes into the usual state of no emotion. She’s the last person I wanted to see. It’s pretty obvious what she did to me has me unable to form relationships and now I have to see her, to hang out withher.

No!

“Grandpa,I had no idea she was here. I’d rather not see her. I’d rather not deal with her. Is she drunk yet,today?”

“She’s quit drinking. For now, at least,” he says with a shrug. “You never know how long that will last. I need to tell you something, Shell. It’s been a family secret for far too long. Your mom hasn’t always had it so easy. You see, your grandmother is not her realmother.”

My jaw drops and I gasp. “What? What do youmean?”

“When your mother was four, her mother, who was not my wife, was killed in a car accident. Your mother was with her and Tabitha survived. Somehow she always thought it was her fault as she was having a temper tantrum because she wanted to go play at the park, but her mother was too busy to stop that day.” He looks at me with sadeyes.

“You two weren’t married?” I ask in completeconfusion.

He shakes his gray head and frowns. “I’ve always been married to the woman you know as your grandmother. I was contacted by the hospital about Tabitha being in the wreck, because I did sign her birth certificate, giving her my last name. I’d been to see her a handful of times, but I never did take care of her, or her mother,Coleen.”

“Grandpa, no!”I say in disappointment. “You were a deadbeatdad?”

“I was.” He nods. “Anyway, I had never told my wife about the little affair and who came from it. But I had no real choice after Coleen died. I told the woman you know as your grandmother about it and how I had a daughter who needed me. She was the saint she always is, and she accepted your mother like she was herown.”

“Grandma never had any children then. Mom’s an only child, just like me.” I shift in my seat to look at mygrandfather.

“We had a baby when we first were married. A little girl. We named her Ashley, and she died in her crib one night when she was six months old. They called it Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Your grandmother was hurt beyond anything one can imagine. She got on birth control and stayed on it, vowing she’d never go through that kind of pain again. Five years later your mother came to live with us. We were strangers to her. She didn’t remember me at all. I hadn’t seen her since she was two-years-old.”

“That’s so sad, Grandpa. I had no idea. Mom had a young life, much like mine then.” I look out the window to contemplate all he’s toldme.