The Jump

28 Change of Plans

Once Lucinda was gone from sight, Raif escorted Rachel and Gavin into his house. Frank began barking his head off at Rachel and wouldn't stop even after commanding him to. This of course infuriated Rachel as she stood with her palms covering her ears. Raif patiently picked Frank up and put him on time out in the spare bedroom.

"Gavin, I need you to go busy yourself while I speek with Raif, ok?" Rachel said, as Raif was returning from putting Frank away.

Gavin stomped his foot with a huff. "But then what am I suppose to do while you guys talk?"

"Figure it out! I just need to speak privately with Raif, ok?"

"You could play with Frank in the spare bedroom." Raif offered. "I've got an Xbox in there too, its not the latest model but it works."

Gavin got up from sitting on the couch with a bit of reluctance, and walked away with shoulders down. As soon as he slipped into the room and the door closed behind him, Rachel began talking.

"I don't think its a good idea for Lucinda to be around Gavin so much."

"What? They're getting along fine." Raif protested.

"Today was supposed to be about you and him, not the three of you."

"Well it wasn't just the three of us, my aunt and Merrill were with us too."

"The old man?" Rachel scrunched her face. "Anyway, whatever, the point is that the two of you should have spent the time alone. Are you even serious about this Lucinda? She's not even..."

"What? Not even what, Rachel?"

"I don't know... not even your type and she's weird."

Raif rolled his eyes and laughed. "She's not weird, Rachel, and how would you know what my type is? We haven't seen each other in years."

"For one, she's blonde. Since when have you been into blondes?" Raif rolled his eyes again but Rachel continued. "And two, who the hell is this old man she's carting around? Doesn't she have her own family!"

"No, she doesn't, Rachel. Her parents died almost ten years ago and her extended family lives across the country. Merrill has become a father figure to her and he is actually a very sweet and caring man... and for your information, I've always been attracted to blondes. Redheads. Brunettes. You name it!" Raif threw his hands in the air and walked over to the fridge for water. "You don't know me as well as you think you do."

"Actually, I know you very well, Raif." Rachel sauntered over and stood next to the fridge with folded arms. "You're still the same. Not a care in the world, still going with the flow, never letting anything bring you down. Trusting as ever." Rachel shook her head. "She's hiding something, I know it."

"Oh knock it off, Rach. Is this really what you needed to talk to me about?" Raif walked over to the couch and sunk into it. "Are you jealous of her? Besides, you're the one who wanted Gavin to meet Lucinda."

"I know she's hiding something." Rachel stood over Raif with arms folded. "Who just decides to move here to start a floral business of all things. Clearly she didn't have a solid plan which is why she's working at a coffee shop instead of pursuing her business."

"She's saving up money, Rach."

"Why didn't she already have the money saved? What, did she just pack up her things one day and decide to move here?" Rachel scoffed. "I bet she's hoping that old man will drop dead and she can inherit his money."

"You know what, I've had enough! You're accusing her of hiding something, but what about you? You hid a BIG secret from me." Raif motioned with his arms apart emphasising big. "Now our poor son is confused, sad, angry, and he's mourning."