Unbound - Rachel's Story
Copyright© 2025 by A Kiwi Guy
Chapter 23
Friday being the day of the art exhibition, Rachel had taken leave from Ara with the principal’s blessing. She was on edge, wanting her students’ work to do them proud. Matt also took the day off so he could support her. Together, they oversaw the transport of the pieces to the gallery, liaising with staff to have them displayed to best advantage. Inevitably, differences of opinion arose. The staff had numerous groups to accommodate, and tempers came close to flaring at one point, but Matt eased in gently and managed to calm things down.
Rachel also phoned each of her six students to make sure they had the support they needed to arrive on time for the seven o’clock opening. One — Anya, the Polish widow — was in a flap as her designated driver had come down with the flu.
“I think I have a solution,” Matt said, phoning Steve. When Steve learned of the problem, he immediately offered to step into the breach. Another problem solved.
In the midst of the busyness, Matt obtained permission for a quick run-through of their dance routine, which was to take place in the gallery’s entrance foyer. It did not go well. Rachel, distracted by everything else, found it hard to concentrate, and irritation flared at what she felt was Matt’s over-protectiveness. She would have pulled out completely if she hadn’t felt the need to honour her commitment, but it did not augur well.
Matt realised he had overstepped. There was a fine balance between supporting Rachel and taking over, and he had tipped the wrong way. At the end of the faltering rehearsal, he wheeled her to a quiet corner of the gallery café.
“I’m sorry, my love,” he said. “I went too far in there.”
“It was as if you doubted my capabilities,” Rachel replied, tears brimming. “Matt the rescuer! Well, let me tell you something. I DO NOT NEED RESCUING.” And she slumped in her chair, crying.
Matt was nonplussed. How could he retrieve this? Lacking any better idea, he simply knelt beside her — ignoring the growing pain in his knees — and put his arms around her. Gradually, her sobs subsided, and she leaned into him.
“Comfort me,” she mumbled.
He stroked her arms gently, apologising for making her feel diminished. Then, tentatively: “Would getting you a mochaccino be interpreted as ‘rescuing’?”
“There’s a right time to rescue,” Rachel murmured. “And now could be it.”
Matt breathed a sigh of relief and wheeled her to the café counter.
With everything that could be done finally done, Matt drove Rachel home and left her in the care of Sarah, who would be her dresser again for the evening. He returned a short time later with Thai takeaways for four, in case Steve would be able to pop in before he transported Anya.
...
Sarah had already laid out Rachel’s outfit when Matt returned: a soft teal blouse with delicate embroidery, and a long, flowing skirt that wouldn’t catch in the chair wheels. Rachel’s hair was swept up more elegantly than usual, pinned with a silver clip that caught the light. Sarah, who always enjoyed a little creative flourish, had added a scarf in complementary tones.
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