The Reluctant Heiress (A Christian Romance Novel)

Chapter 19: It Takes One to Know One

Sunday, 6pm.

Shelly's day was about to end. She clocked out and almost forgot about what Rachelle told her, to meet her at the smoking area. As she closed the door behind her, there Rachelle was at the bench, by herself.

"Hey girl," Shelly hollered. "It's been a long day! Glad mine is done! You said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

She threw her cigarette butt and smiled at Shelly. "Do you want to hang out when I get off from work? Tomorrow is our off."

"Nah," Shelly replied. "Too tired! Maybe next time..."

"I've got to tell you something," Rachelle said, raising an eyebrow and giving her a mysterious smile.

'Here she goes again with her controversial line.' Shelly thought. "What about?" she faked a smile.

"About your dad," she answered, straight faced as she puffed a smoke.

Shelly looked at her. 'This girl is up to something,' she thought. She thought for a minute, and hesitated but still replied, "Sure, where?"

Rachelle smiled. "At my fave hang out place. I'll text you the address."

"Ok, catch yah later!"

Shelly left and walked towards her car. 'This girl knows a lot!' she thought. What could it be about her father that she would talk to her about? Her curiosity was killing her. And why did she allow her to manipulate her like that? Why?

*********************

At 11:10pm, even against her will, Shelly came and appeared at Old Town Grill. Rachelle was a regular at that place and so when she told the waitress that she was meeting with Rachelle, she ushered her to a table tucked away at a corner.

"Hey girlfriend!" Rachelle greeted her, still on her lousy hotel uniform, sans the apron. "Have a seat."

"Hi!" she replied looking around her as she sat down. The waitress gave them the menu and Shelly browsed the pages. "This place is a gem huh? Oh love the smell of grilled meat!"

"My fave every Sunday night," she replied with pride. "With or without somebody."

"Wow, very loyal huh?"

"Very!" replied Rachelle. "By the way, it's on me tonight. So order whatever you want to order."

"Oh you're gonna regret it!" she answered. "You don't know how much I pack in into this small body!"

"I know! I do the same," Rachelle responded smiling. "Birds of the same feather, flock together."

 They laughed and started to skim through the different dishes listed on the menu. Finally, after a few minutes of discussions and comparisons, Shelly decided to order baby back ribs while Rachelle ordered her grilled salmon with salad on the side.

"Wow, you are serious when you said you have a big appetite," Rachelle joked.

"You regretting now?" Shelly asked her, both of them chuckled.

"So about your dad," Rachelle initiated after a couple of minutes of no-nonsense talks.

"Yeah, what about my dad?"

"When he passed away, I cried a river. I lost a very good boss," Rachelle said mysteriously. "I respect him so much. I couldn't believe it when I heard it because I talked to him the night before he had the heart attack. It was surreal."

Shelly listened intently, and then it hit her. "Wait, my dad is not dead."

Rachelle smiled. "You don't have to hide it from me Telly."