74

74
Celine and William’s invitation for the couples double date dinner arrived via a phone call from Celine. Rachel was lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone, when she heard the familiar chime of her cell phone. She picked it up and answered with a cheerful, “Hello!”
“Hey Rach, it’s Celine,” her best friend’s voice filled her ear. “William and I are back from our honeymoon trip and we want to catch up with you and Leo over dinner tonight. What do you say?”
Rachel smiled, happy to hear from her friend after being gone for so long. “That sounds great, Celine. What time and where?”
“We were thinking of having dinner at 7 pm at the new Italian restaurant downtown. It’s supposed to be amazing! And we reserved a table for four.”
“Sounds perfect, I’ll let Leo know and we’ll see you there,” Rachel replied.
She hung up the phone and immediately called Leo to let him know about the dinner plans. As she expected, he was on board and they agreed to meet at the restaurant at 7 pm sharp.
The next evening, Rachel woke up from a long nap feeling refreshed and ready for the night ahead. She checked her phone and saw a message from Leo, reminding her to be ready on time. She rushed into the bathroom to get ready, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about the dinner.
She took her time in the shower, letting the warm water wash over her as she thought about the night ahead. After she dried off, she rummaged through her closet, trying to find the perfect dress to wear. She settled on a beautiful emerald green dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. She paired it with strappy black heels and simple jewelry, completing her look with a slick of red lipstick.
As she made her way down the stairs, she could see Leo waiting for her outside, leaning against his car. He looked dashing in his black suit and tie, and as she approached, he opened the door for her and helped her into the car. The drive to the restaurant was mostly silent, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they were greeted by the sight of a stunning building, with beautifully lit windows and a warm, inviting ambiance. Celine and William were already there, waiting for them outside.
Rachel hugged Celine tightly as soon as she saw her. “Celine, I missed you so much,” Rachel exclaimed with excitement. “I can’t believe you’re back from your honeymoon already. How was it?”
Celine smiled widely and responded, “It was amazing! William and I had the time of our lives. We went to the most beautiful beaches and visited so many incredible places. It was the perfect start to our lives together.”
Rachel laughed and replied, “I’m so happy for you two. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
Celine hugged her friend again, “Thank you, Rachel. It means a lot to hear that from you. How have you been?”
Rachel sighed, “I’ve been good, just busy with work and trying to keep up with everything. But I’m glad to be here with you tonight. It’s been too long since we caught up properly.”
Celine nodded, “Yes, it has. Let’s make sure to make the most of this evening and catch up on everything that’s been going on in our lives.”
“Hey” William called out to Rachel before they hugged while Leo went over to talk to Celine.
As soon as they were done done began to trudge towards the restaurant.
As they entered the restaurant, Rachel’s eyes were drawn to the beautiful decor. The room was warm and cozy, with dim lighting and elegant furnishings. They were seated at a round table in the corner, with a candle flickering in the center.
Just as they were settling into their seats and catching up on each other’s lives, Rachel’s phone rang.
As Rachel’s phone rang, Leo watched as she hesitated to pick it up. He could tell that she was receiving calls from men all the time and he felt a sense of jealousy towards them. Despite his thoughts, he didn’t say anything and simply watched as she finally decided to answer the call.
Stepping out of the room, Rachel answered the phone. “Hello?” she said, trying to sound confident.
“Good evening, Miss Rachel. This is Detective John from the police department,” the man on the other end of the line said.
Rachel’s heart started to beat faster. “Detective? What can I help you with?” she asked cautiously.
“Miss Rachel, I’m calling about your Father’s case. I’ve been reviewing the files and I think there might be something you should know.” The man’s voice was serious and Rachel could sense that something was wrong.
“What do you mean?” she asked, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
“Miss Rachel, there was a coverup in your Father’s case. The evidence that was found at the scene of the accident doesn’t match up with the reports that were filed. I believe that there is more to your Father’s death than what was originally reported.”
Rachel felt a lump in her throat. “What do you mean? What do you want from me?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Miss Rachel, I’m just trying to give you a warning. Digging into this case could be dangerous for you. I don’t know who’s involved, but there are people who might not want the truth to come out.” The man’s voice was filled with caution.
Rachel was taken aback by the man’s words. She didn’t know what to do or what to say. She had always felt that there was something off about her Father’s death, but she never expected it to be a coverup.
“Miss Rachel, are you still there?” the man asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Yes, I’m here,” she replied, trying to gather her thoughts.
“Just be careful, Miss Rachel. I don’t want anything to happen to you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.” With that, the man hung up.
Rachel was left with more questions than answers. She didn’t know what to do or where to turn. All she knew was that she needed to find out the truth about her Father’s death, no matter what the cost.
****
Rachel tried her best to shake off the phone call she received earlier as she returned to the dinner table. She put on a smile and tried to be as cheerful as possible but she could feel Leo’s intense gaze on her. She knew he was suspicious of her sudden change of demeanor, but she didn’t want to give him any insight into what was bothering her.
As the dinner continued, Celine brought up the idea of a vacation trip to Rachel and Leo’s Chatteau. Rachel and Leo both shifted in their seats, feeling uneasy about the proposal. They both knew that the Chatteau held a lot of memories for them and they didn’t know if they were ready to revisit them.
After the dinner date, Leo offered to take Rachel home. As they drove, he asked her what had made her so upset at the dinner. Rachel tried to make up an excuse but Leo wasn’t having any of it. He pressed on, asking her to open up to him. Rachel could feel herself getting emotional and she didn’t want to break down in front of Leo.
As they talked in his car, their conversation became more intimate. They talked about their feelings for each other and their past. They both came to realize that they still had feelings for each other. Rachel could feel the tension between them building and she knew that a kiss was imminent. Just as they were about to lean in, Rachel’s phone rang, breaking the moment. Leo reluctantly let her go and drove her home.