“Very creative.” Rachel stood. “I’m going to use the restroom, then have another piece of cake.” She bent down and kissed her mother’s cheek. “You are going to be a beautiful bride.”
“Thank you, darling.”
Rachel scanned the crowd as she headed inside. So far she’d managed to avoid Greg, which meant her plan was working. She still hadn’t figured out what she was going to say when they were next together. “Hey, thanks for the emotional dump on my head the other day. It was great.”
She made it to the women’s restroom without spotting him and ducked inside. The bathroom was empty and she went into the last stall. She’d barely sat down when she heard two other women come in.
“Talk about a party,” one of them said. “Sienna’s in shock. I can’t figure out if it’s good shock or bad shock. This is what, her fourth engagement?”
“Her third, I think. I’m not sure.”
Rachel froze, not sure how to say she was in the last stall. She realized there was nothing to be done but wait for them to finish.
“Courtney looks good,” the second woman said. “Rachel must have taken her in hand. Talk about the sister I don’t understand. Rachel has all that ability. Why doesn’t she make over herself? Did you see what she’s wearing?”
“I know. Awful. It’s the extra weight she’s carrying. She looks so tired.”
They went into their stalls but kept talking.
“It’s not tired, it’s depressed. Wouldn’t you be sad if you lost Greg?”
“Tell me about it. He’s so hunky. So what if he cheated? I heard it was only one time, so get over it. I mean, come on. She’s totally let herself go. If you were married to her, wouldn’t you cheat, too?”
They both laughed.
Humiliation burned through Rachel. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. Was this really what people said about her? What everyone thought? That she was a fat loser who should take back her cheating husband?
“Maggie looks happy,” the first one said. “Neil’s an odd little duck, but totally in love with her. He looks at her as if she’s his princess. I envy that.”
“Me, too.”
They flushed their toilets and exited the stalls.
“The food is delicious,” one of the women said. “Joyce hires the best people.”
“I know. That soup!”
“Maybe we can sneak some home.”
They both laughed and left. Rachel finally flushed and stepped out into the empty bathroom. She told herself to keep moving. That what they said didn’t matter. That she was fine.
She crossed to the sink and washed her hands, then reached for a towel. As she did, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes seemed more pronounced today. Her shapeless shirt hung on her body. Her hair needed a trim and maybe a few highlights. Those other women were right—she had let herself go.
But it wasn’t her fault, she thought. She was running all the time. She was the single mother of an active eleven-year-old. She worked full-time. She was doing her best to hold it together when there was no one to help. Greg had cheated on her. That wasn’t her fault. No matter what, it wasn’t her fault.
She blinked away tears before leaving the bathroom. She took two steps, only to find herself standing in front of her ex. He smiled at her.
“Rachel. Hi. I’ve been looking for you. Want to dance?”
His dark hair was too long. He wore a dark green shirt tucked into black jeans. He was tall and lean and handsome enough to make Angelina Jolie swoon. And once, he’d been her husband.
Rachel had believed down to her bones that as long as she could love Greg and be loved by him in return, nothing bad would ever happen. She’d spent the night before her wedding equally excited at the thought of the upcoming day and afraid that Greg would wake up and realize he could do so much better. She’d loved him with everything she had, and he’d betrayed her.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
“Aren’t you feeling well? Do you want me to take you home?”
“It’s my back,” she lied, thinking she had to get out of there. She had to get away from what everyone was thinking and saying.
“Sure. Did you bring your tote with your supplies to do your mom’s hair? Where is it?”
“I’ll get it. I can do that. If you could tell my mom why I had to leave, please.”
“Of course. We’ll meet back right here.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, stepping past him. She had to hold on for only a little while longer. Josh was staying at a friend’s for the night, so once she got home, she would be alone. She could give in to the pain then. Where no one could see.