The Hired Husband

“I’m working on the luncheon preparations,” she said. He glanced again at the tablet, at the blank page staring up at both of them. “I’m not getting very far,” she admitted.

“You don’t have to put yourself through this, Rachel,” he said softly. “If your friends don’t understand that, then hell with them.”

Rachel gasped. The idea. The very idea. Could Mitch really mean that? She couldn’t imagine.

Of course, Mitch didn’t know the situation in its entirety. He didn’t know that Rachel’s father had married beneath himself when he married her mother. A woman from outside their elite social circle, a widow once married, with a young son.

Rachel had watched her mother struggle to be “good enough” in the eyes of Father’s friends. Always careful to do exactly the right thing. Always worried about what other people thought. With the best of intentions, she’d impressed upon Rachel to worry about the same things. The actions of one family member were a reflection on them all.

Her father never seemed to notice the subtle slights, the whispers that her mother endured; she’d been too proud to bring them to his attention. Rachel often wondered if his love had been worth it.

She placed her tablet aside and got to her feet. “I feel like a walk through the garden this evening.”

Mitch hesitated a moment, then fell in step beside her as they headed off across the lawn.

“I saw your friend here today,” he said. “Claudia.”

“She’s officially engaged now to the most perfect man,” Rachel said.

“You don’t sound very happy for her.”

She paused, surprised that Mitch picked up on the subtle tone in her voice. “I’m happy for her. Really.”

“But?”

“Well, maybe I’m just a little envious. Claudia’s life is perfect now.”