The Life And Times Of Rachel Grape

He IS The One

    Rachel loved Westin.  He was sweet and kind, and he had a magical tongue. He took her plaque and put it proudly in his wall. His roommate thought it was cute. Rachel kept a schedule, but Arianna was now at the house all of the time.  Everyone going Greek trying to make that good impression. Her mother said, "Go Greek! Good looking men. I should have stuck to the Greek men, as that married insurance man promised a lot but delivered little." Sure still remembered the house on Willow Glen Drive, the one she loved, and eventually could not pay for. Michelle remembered the day the sheriff posted the hot pink sticker on the door and she had ten days to get out in 2009. She remembered driving by the house, it sitting empty for three years. She always looked at it from time to time. She remembered the yellow mailbox she painted that she put in the yard. Her mom painted "Tips for freeloads" on it with red paint.   She remembered the rocks and stones she painstakingly put out herself, and now another family owned it. They were older people.  Retirees.  Her memories, her life, and her marriage were all gone. There were red flags. There were red flags even when Chance was married to Elise. She ignored them. In 2008, SHE became the fat slob and she so understood why Elise turned to others, as she began to understand her.

Susan Depp had moved to Colorado, but she and Elise still spoke. She said her daughter was dating a nice guy named Westin. She also said, "she is so lucky she found her one." Susan said, "well you did to." However, the things she did to find her one. "I need to fly in and catch up," she told Elise. "I need your dried flowers." Elise smiled. They talked of Violet's house, which were now apartments. She talked about how she met Gilbert there for their clandestine meetings. "I still see the toille sheets," she said. Susan didn't mention their time. However, she held it as sweet. She was waiting for her Thursday night call. Summer was fading and the small engine airplanes in the cloudless sky and fields being harvested made Elise miss her girl. It was a special time for her as Rachel always helped. 

At phone rang. It was Rachel, full of the weeks's news. She got an A on her paper. She said she had to give her plaque to Westin because she feared that her roommate would break it. She sighed, she hoped that Rachel would never find out,

"So how are things, mom?"
"Bonnie and I are going to the mall to get her homecoming dress. She made the court."
"Tell her congrats."
"I will. How is Westin?"
"Good. He is very good to me.
"Good.  I am so proud of you."
"Thanks.  How is dad?"
"Always working."
"He is a good dad."
"Yes.  Very."

    Elise could have not asked for a better dad for her children, including Chase and Alyssa, who technically were not his and conceived so deceitfully. She had never strayed from Gilbert. She loved it when he came home early and they could have an afternoon rendezvous before the kids got home. They were so in love. Nineteen years, as Rachel had just turned nineteen.

"Are you okay, Rachel?"
"I just hate my roommate," she began to cry. "She is so mean. Westin has my plaque because she threatened to break it."
"Oh, honey!" If she knew. She wished she could have told her, that was the man who left her in Endora. She just listened.

She cried to her mom for a few hours, but then she had to go to class. She was worried about her little Rachel. She hoped her roommate would never hurt her or ever find out that her dad is "the fat lady's" ex husband. She rued the day Wendy would find out who "that cute little girl was". When she was done, she went to class. At school, she blended in. She liked her classes. She did well, much opposite of her roommate. She had already gotten a D on a quiz and in her major. She had to find someone to get married to, someone who would take her from her situation.

"Hey, your face looks splotchy," Westin said.
"I just miss my family really bad today."
"It'll be okay."
"My roommate hates me."
"So what? I find her loud."
"She talks shit about me constantly."
"It's okay.  She'll get hers.   Hey, my roommate has philosophy.  Want to come back to my place?"
"Are you going to do that thing to me?"
"If you want me to."
"Then, of course."

   That afternoon, he took it a bit further.  Like her mom said, it hurt like hell, but he was gentle and she did come during sex.  It was his first time, too, so it was special.  "Rachel, I want you to be my girl and my girl only."  She said, "Of course."   Again, it was a phone call to mom.   She was so excited.  She didn't want to say that she did it, but she had a boy.   There were many tearful nights crying to her mom that she would never find someone to love.  Elise was pleased.   She was glad she had one daughter who didn't sleep around.  Bonnie had a boyfriend and was doing it all of the time.   She did worry if she used protection.   That day they did,  but they learned to count periods.  She worried about that.   She was ready to be a grandma,  but she wanted to make sure her girl was ready.   Her girl.  She missed her girl. 

   Gilbert came in from the fields.   He noticed Elise was smiling.  

     "What is that deviant smile you have?"
"Not deviant.   Just pleased."
"Store do really good.  You sell to Calista Flockhart again?"
"No.  Rachel called.  She is dating that boy."

   He blinked away tears.   That was his girl.  That was the one he helped deliver.   He was happy for her, but that was his girl.