One Wish Left

CHAPTER 13: PROMISE

As soon as Rachel ordered her usual skinny vanilla latte with a chocolate croissant, she turned on Laura with a smattering of questions.

"How did it go? Did Kieran like him?"

"Jesse asked to see Kieran's card collection, so what does that tell you?" Laura supplied.

"No way. That is adorable," her friend declared.

"You should have seen them, Rach. Kieran hasn't stopped talking about Jesse ever since," she said, beaming.

Laura heard her name called and went to retrieve her almond milk latte and lemon scone.

Rachel followed closely behind. "And what did Donna think?"

"She hasn't said much actually, but that's how Ma is. I know she has an opinion about it. She just likes to stand back and 'let things happen as they may,'" Laura quoted sarcastically.

Rachel grabbed her order from the barista and promptly burned her tongue on her drink. "Damn! I do that every time," she said, sticking her tongue out. She continued her quiz, unaffected. "But she would say something if she totally hated him, right?"

"I don't think it's possible to hate him," Laura automatically responded.

Rachel paused with her drink halfway to her mouth again. "Wait a minute. I knew it!" she claimed, pointing a finger in Laura's face. "You are crushing on this guy, Laura."

Laura took a large bite out of her scone and shook her head, pointing to her mouth.

Rachel donned a triumphant smile. "Very funny. You can't avoid this, Laura. I will get a confession out of you, and you know it!" But she had to yell that last part because Laura was already speed-walking out of the coffee shop to her car.

When they got to work, Rachel cornered Laura at her desk. "Out with it," she commanded.

Laura debated feigning ignorance, but she knew she wouldn't be able to put up with Rachel's incessant pestering for long. "What do you want me to say?" she sighed, defeated. "That he's a great guy? That my son already loves him and that he's the missing piece to our family? Or that he's ridiculously handsome? Because it's all true, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Rachel threw up her hands, "What?! You're acting like none of that matters!"

Laura shushed her and looked around the office to make sure they weren't overheard. "Of course it matters," she hissed. "He matters a great deal to me because of who he is to my son, but that doesn't change anything where I'm concerned. I. Have. A. Boyfriend!"

Rachel crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow defiantly. "Oh, so Jesse's nothing to you?"

Laura audibly fumed in exasperation and turned to her computer, typing in her password. "I didn't say that," she muttered.

Rachel was tapping her foot impatiently, taking the time to think before she spoke—a fairly uncommon occurrence.

Uh oh.

Laura decided to head off any lecture she was about to receive. "Look, Rach. It's a complex situation with a lot of hearts involved. I need time to figure it out. I can't ignore the fact that I love Chad or that Kieran's relationship with Jesse needs to be protected. Besides, he would actually have to like me back." Her eyes snapped back to her computer.

Rachel's stern expression dissolved as she sat down in the chair opposite Laura. She leaned forward on the desk and rested her chin on her arms, waiting for her friend to look at her again.

Laura waited a good thirty seconds before rolling her eyes and giving in. "What, Rach?"

Rachel smiled empathetically. "I understand that it's complicated, Laura. I'm not stupid. Obviously, Kieran's needs should be a priority. And I know you love Chad, too. But I also know that you can be too careful sometimes." She put her hand up to silence Laura, who was about to protest. "Hear me out. Please."