On a Friday morning, a week later, Rachel was in her atelier, putting the final touches on a new collection when her phone buzzed. A message from Monica appeared on the screen:
"Hi, Rachel! How about a coffee tomorrow afternoon? It would be great to catch up. Hugs, Monica."
Rachel smiled and quickly replied:
"Hi, Monica! I'd love that! Where and what time? Hugs, Rachel."
Monica suggested a charming place in the West Village at three o'clock. Rachel agreed and returned to her work, looking forward to their chat the next day.
.
On Saturday, Rachel opted for a casual outfit. She chose dark wash skinny jeans, a white cotton V-neck t-shirt, and a light brown leather jacket. She wore comfortable yet stylish brown boots. Her wavy hair fell softly over her shoulders, and she wore light makeup, highlighting her blue eyes with mascara and nude lipstick. Her favorite floral and fresh perfume completed the look.
The place where they met was cozy, with rustic wooden tables, upholstered chairs, and walls decorated with black-and-white photographs of the city. The aroma of freshly ground coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the sweet smell of cakes and croissants.
Rachel arrived first and chose a table by the window. A few minutes later, Monica walked in, dressed casually but elegantly, in a navy blue knit sweater and gray tailored pants. They greeted each other with a warm hug.
"It's so good to see you again, Rachel!" Monica said, sitting down. "How have you been?"
"I'm good. It's great to see you too! Tell me, how are things?" Rachel replied.
After they ordered – Rachel chose a cappuccino and Monica opted for a latte – the conversation began to flow.
Rachel started to share her story, about her move to Paris.
"When my family moved to Paris, it was a big change, but it was also exciting. It was a bummer to leave you and the other girls behind, but then I finished school there and went on to study fashion. That's where I met Henry. We fell in love, eventually got married, and had Charlotte."
Monica listened attentively, nodding from time to time.
"That sounds like a wonderful chapter of your life."
"I was," Rachel continued, a bit melancholic. "But then, when Charlotte was nine, Henry got sick. At first, we thought it was something minor, but soon the doctors discovered it was a brain tumor. It was devastating. We tried everything, treatments, surgeries, but nothing worked he passed away two years ago."
"I'm so sorry, Rach," Monica said, holding her hand. "That must have been incredibly hard."
"It was," Rachel admitted. "But I had Charlotte to take care of. She was my strength. After he was gone, I decided it was time to move back to New York and start over."
Monica nodded, understanding her friend's pain.
"You're a very strong woman. I admire you so much."
"Thanks, Mon."
"So, how's work doing?"
"It's going well. Opening my atelier was challenging, but it's been very rewarding. I love what I do. And you, how are things at work?"
Monica smiled.
"Well, I became the head chef of a restaurant here in the city. I love creating new dishes and working with the team. It's challenging but very fulfilling,"
Rachel looked impressed.
"That's amazing, Mon! I always knew you had a talent for cooking."
Monica laughed.
"Thanks... and I ended up marrying one of my brother Ross's best friends. His name is Chandler. He works in advertising and is incredibly dedicated and an awesome father."
"That sounds lovely, Mon. I'm happy for you!", Rachel said warmly.
Monica smiled.
"You know, Chandler and Ross were college roommates. They were quite the pair back in the day. Ross is a lawyer now, and he's an awesome one!"
"I remember you had a brother. We never ended up meeting, though."
"He was married to a woman named Emily. They had a pretty rough marriage, and things got worse when Emily cheated on him with a colleague of hers. They tried to get over it, but ended up getting divorced."
"Wow", is all Rachel could say.
"Yeah...", Monica said sympathetically. "Honestly, I never liked Emily. We never got along, and I was relieved by their separation. Ross was devastated and it was tough for him to recover."
"I can only imagine..." said Rachel empathetically.
"Despite everything, he managed to continue being successful in his career. It's good to see him thriving."
Rachell took a sip of her cappuccino and sighed contentedly.
"This place is really lovely. How did you find it?"
Monica grinned.
"A colleague recommended it to me. I thought it would be the perfect spot for us to catch up."
"It is perfect," Rachel said looking around. The place was filled with a mix of people – students working on laptops, friends chatting animatedly, and couples enjoying quiet moments together. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with soft jazz music playing in the background.
"So, Rach. Do you have any plans for the rest of the weekend?" Monica asked.
"Not much. I'm just spending some quality time with Charlotte. Maybe we'll go to the park or visit a museum. What about you?"
"Well, besides the usual restaurant chaos, I was thinking about catching up on some reading and maybe doing a little shopping. I need to update my wardrobe for the upcoming season," Monica said with a chuckle.
"That's a great idea. Maybe I can help you with that since fashion is my thing?" Rachel suggested.
"I'd love that. Let's take the girls with us. It would be great if they became friends after that episode at school." Monica replied.
"It's a date!" Rachel said animatedly.
The two friends continued to talk, sharing more stories and laughs. It was as if no time had passed and they were back in high school. The afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over their table. It felt good to reconnect and to remember the importance of friendship and support during life's ups and downs.
As they finished their coffee and prepared to leave, Monica gave Rachel another hug.
"I'm so glad we did this, Rach! And let's get shopping with the girls tomorrow!"
"Absolutely," Rachel agreed. "Thank you for today, Mon. It was just what I needed."
"Me too," Monica said with a smile. "Take care, dear, and we'll talk tomorrow."
They parted ways, each feeling a bit lighter and more hopeful, reminded that even through the toughest times, the bonds of friendship can provide strength and comfort.
YOU ARE READING
Starting over
FanfictionA year and a half after her husband's death and after living in Paris since she was a teenager, Rachel, along with her daughter, is ready to head back to her hometown, New York City.
