Infinite

Before the Storm- Part 3

Houston, Texas, in the Clarke Home, Friday, September 26th, 2030, at 3:15 pm

Rachel

I practically fall into the entryway of our home as I throw all of the items I'm carrying onto the landing at the bottom of the stairs. I always try to carry everything into the house in one trip, and it usually ends up like this. I pick up the garment bags holding all of the dresses I bought for this evening. I couldn't decide which one I wanted, so I bought all four. When I went shopping I was by myself because Anne was busy working on a case.

I called her right after Lucas told me he was going to be working late tonight. I asked her if she would go to the event with me, assuming Lucas wasn't going to show up. She sounded excited on the phone, and should be here any minute to get ready with me.

Maybe Anne can wear one of the dresses tonight.

The doorbell chimes behind me. I swing the door open and find Anne holding two vibrant purple smoothies in her hands.

"Oh my god, I love you so much right now!" I squeal as I hug her tightly. She gives me as best of a hug as she can while holding onto the plastic cups.

"I know, I'm the best," she smiles as heads inside. "What happened here?" she asks as she gestures towards my spilled notebooks and car keys on the steps.

"Oh, I tried to carry everything in one trip," Anne raises an eyebrow at me and smiles. "What? Obviously I made it inside successfully," Anne lets out a loud laugh and heads into the kitchen.

She sets the smoothies down on the island and takes her purse off. I follow behind her, wanting to gulp down the smoothie she brought me.

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Anne puts emphasis on the last word as she gives me a coy smile. "Are you relieved that Lucas isn't coming, or are you disappointed?" Anne asks me straight away. I can always rely on her to bring up difficult subjects for me.

"Is it okay if I feel a bit of both?" I say to her as I cross my arms. She takes a sip from her drink as she slides mine over to me across the speckled granite countertop.

"Of course. It would be weird if you didn't," she smiles at me and I take a sip from my smoothie.

Hints of blueberry, strawberry, and mango hit my tongue and immediately transports me to a tropical place.

"What's going on with Sam?" Anne asks bluntly. I haven't updated her on anything this week. I plop down on one of the stools and rest my chin in my left hand on the counter.

"Sam has been very open about how he feels about me, but promised that he won't do anything to interfere with our relationship," I mumble. Anne raises an eyebrow and keeps drinking from her smoothie. "I told Lucas everything about Seattle," I blurt out. Anne's eyes widen.

"Everything?" she asks as her smile creeps back up.

"Well, up until the morning after, yeah," I add.

"What do you think Sam wants?" Anne poses. "Do you think he wants you to leave Lucas?"

My heart sinks at her question. I really hope he doesn't want that, because I can't give it to him.

"He has said he is waiting until Lucas fails again," I mumble. Anne gasps and looks down at the counter for a moment.

"Well, tonight isn't exactly a shining moment for Lucas, then, is it?" Anne's face grows serious as she sets her drink down. "Sam is going to see this as a window."

"Yeah, I know," I sigh again, trying to figure out how to feel. "What do I do, Anne?"

She looks at me sympathetically as I begin to remember the last words Sam said to me before I left Seattle.