The Life And Times Of Rachel Grape

She's Pretty

    "Mom, I had my first date," Westin told her.  She was excited for him.   "She's a business major and her name is Rachel.   Her parents run a specialty store somewhere in Iowa."  

"She sounds lovely and from the picture you took, she is very pretty,   She's tiny," she said.  "But I will fatten her up.  I am glad for you, son."

    They talked about coming home next weekend.   He had lots of laundry.   "The dorm ones are always crowded," he told her.   Rachel's parents were picking her up as well.   He didn't want ot go into detail that he didn't think they had a lot of money and this was a lot to send their girl to an university.  He should have offered to take her home.  It would have saved the family money.  

    "I should have thought to take you home," he said.

"It's not a big deal.   Plus, you'd have to drive five hours home."   She was so considerate.  "My parents take good care of things and the Cadillac would be fine.   My Grandma Violet bought it in 1987.  It's an antique."   He smiled.   "She's special to you," he said.   She was very special to her.   She took care of her when she was a baby and she was a great "grandma" until 2005 when she got sick.   She remembered her.   The way her house looked and smelled.   She missed her, but she got sick and never really recovered.   When she drinks instant iced tea, she thinks of her.  

    Rachel called her mom.   She told him she had a boyfriend and her mom said, "Do you like him?"   She said, "I really like him."  Her mom smiled.   Her daughter was tiny, beautiful, took after her dad.   Her mom was big like Grandma Bonnie, and her dad talked of his mother and how he felt about her.  "I should have been better to her," he thought to himself more than once. That is why he is so good to his Elise.   His Elise.  

     "Rachel called today," she told Gilbert.

"And?"

"She has a boyfriend.   His name is Westin."

"Awwww..."  He blinked away a few tears.   That was his baby.  He saw her be born and breathe life into this world.   Sure he loved his other kids, but Rachel was special. 

"I have taxes, so Alyssa and her husband offered to pick her up."

"Is the Caddy giving you trouble."

"Oh no.  Nothing like that.   It is a good car.   Violet took care of it.  God, I miss her.  Since Susan left, I really have no girl friends.   I always have you."

"Of course."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Saving me, giving me life."

"But you were the one."

     They kissed like they did when they first met, hands roaming up and down each other's bodies.   Again, they were doing the dirty tango, expressing their love to each other and what brought them so many children.   Gilbert looked older now.  His face wasn't as full, his eyes were still big and he looked at her with such love.   Her face was thinner, collagen wasn't holding up too well.   Her skin was mottled and her cheekbones were lovely.   She still had that, but she had gained more weight.   However, he loved her.  He loved her with all of his heart.  He was so glad Rachel was his and his children were not of Chance. 

    Rachel came home over the moon after their second kiss.   She walked in the room.  "Look, mom, I am sorry he's drunk, maybe you should leave him and quit screwing around," she told her.  "But people will think bad of me." I heard her mother say.   Rachel look it as her cue to stay out and she went down to the TV room.   A few girls were down there and they didn't say much to her.  People didn't say much to her.   She texted Westin who came over and took her out.   They went to a hot dog stand near campus and talked.   

    She at least had Westin.