Belong (Seven Year Itch #3)(75)

“I know.”

He kissed the top of my head. “I wish you didn’t have to do this; to get involved with my mess.”

“I want to be here.”

“You might change your mind.”

I snickered. “Maybe. Or maybe something spectacular will come out of this. We won’t know until we try.”

This time when I moved away he didn’t stop me. I waved once before exiting the room. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Make something nice for dinner. I won’t stay long. We’ll take it slow with Harper.”

“I look forward to it.”

I smiled until my feet hit the concrete outside, and then I hauled ass to my vehicle.

Was I insane?

Had I just agreed to move into the mansion with Chad and his dying wife?

I was glutton for punishment, doomed to fail.

This was a catastrophe.



What started out as a slow process, gradually became something more permanent. Veronica and I had a rocky start. Contrary to how she’d pushed my decision to move in, she wasn’t welcoming, especially when it came to interacting with Chad or Harper.

I remained patient, focusing on her needs before my own. In my mind I knew if I could build a healthy relationship with her, everything else would fall into place.

Two months after beginning my daily visits to the mansion, I moved all my things from my apartment and took the master bedroom as my own.

With the exception of a few late night kisses, Chad and I had kept our distance from having a physical relationship while Veronica was still in the home. We both wanted to be respectful of her wishes, and prove without a doubt Harper would be taken care of by two people, who not only loved each other, but her as well.

I think mine and Veronica’s breaking point came when Chad had to go away for business, three months into our agreement.

He’d been reluctant to leave, but while I could manage my business remotely all the time, he still had to interact with clients when necessary.

On one particular day Veronica was sicker than normal. Her vomiting was causing her to choke, alarming me of the life-threatening situation she’d be in if not closely monitored.

I brought a chair close to her bedside and sat with her, first watching television, and then finally getting caught up in a book.

For the longest time she wouldn’t speak to me, but then, after several bouts of uncontrolled sickness, she became thankful I wasn’t leaving her to die in a pool of her own vomit. “Thank you for this, Rachel.”

“Of course. I’m here to help.”

“I’ve been watching you with them. You’re a good fit.”

“I appreciate you saying that, but it’s been my pleasure. Harper is adorable. It’s hard not to love her immediately.”

“Do you love her? Is it unconditional, or only because she’s a part of Chad?”

It was a good question; one I didn’t hesitate from answering. “I love her for both reasons, actually. It’s no secret I’ve always wanted to be a mother.”

“You are a mother. Isn’t Stephanie your daughter in every way that counts? Aren’t you the person she calls mom, and turns to when anything goes wrong in her life? Weren’t you the one to kiss away her tears?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not about blood, Rachel.”

“I’d never want to take your place. Stephanie’s situation was different. Her mother was clinically insane.”

“That’s just it. I need you to take my place. I don’t have a choice in this. You have to promise to love her forever, because I won’t be around to make sure it happens.”

“I promise.”

“In every way, Rachel. You need to marry Chad. As soon as I’m gone get it taken care of. I don’t care if the ground hasn’t yet settled. Drag his ass to the court house if you have to. Let Harper know from the moment I’m gone that she’s always going to have a mother in her life. Be the family that we once were, and the one we could never be.”

I didn’t know how to respond to it. “But, you don’t even like me. How could you want that?”

“Rachel, would you like me if you were in my shoes? You’re getting to live the life I wanted for myself. I’m dying, while you’re taking over. It’s hard to endure on a daily basis. It’s not that I hate you. I respect you very much. It’s just hard to let go of something I love more than my life.”

I reached my hand out and took hers. “I want you to know I will spend the rest of my life loving them, and making sure your memory lives on. There won’t be a day that goes by where Harper doesn’t think of you, and wish you were in my place. I will love them for you, but also for me, because I truly believe I was put on this earth to do so. Harper will grown up knowing her life was full of love, and she’ll never want for anything. I’ll marry Chad, not because you’re asking it, but because I want to be his wife, to have his name and get back what we’ve both wanted for a very long time. I’ll be all of those things you need me to be.”

Her tears were a good indication we’d turned a new leaf. “Thank you for your honesty.”

After that things were easier. There were many nights I chose to sit with Veronica instead of hanging out with Chad and Harper downstairs. I wouldn’t say we became friends per se. It was something else; something I’m not sure how to explain. We respected one another, and even though she knew she was dying, she seemed to be at peace.