Accidents & Blessings Chapter 2/?
See disclaimer in part 1
"A houseguest? Who?"
He rejoined her on the couch and rubbed the top of his head wearily. "Rachel, my 13-year-old niece."
"David's oldest?"
"Yeah." Too anxious to sit any longer, he began to pace. "That was my sister, Talia. Michelle, David's wife, isn't doing very well. The doctors have decided that she needs inpatient treatment and so that means Rachel and Joey need some place to live. Judith, my oldest sister and her husband have decided that they are finished raising their kids and want to travel so they will only give financial help. Talia and Simon raised boys and they still have Bart and Jesse at home so they are willing to take Joey. He won't have to change neighborhoods and schools. And since I'm the equivalent of a Christian godfather to Rachel, she's coming here."
He stopped and gazed with panicked eyes at C.J. "I need to clean out my guestroom, find her a school, pick her up at the airport…"
C.J. put her hand up. "Stop!" She patted the couch beside her and Toby sat, still tense.
"Tell me about Rachel. I don't think I've seen her for a couple of years. Is she still smarter than all of us put together and not afraid to show it?"
Toby took a deep breath. "Yeah, she's brilliant. Working four years above her grade level in math and science. She'll need a private school probably because public schools usually don't know what to do with her. I really didn't see her too much after David's death because of guarding the body but we have a fairly good relationship."
C.J. smiled. "You bond over the New York Time's crossword puzzle?"
Toby grimaced. "We bond over her kicking my butt on the New York Time's crossword puzzle. And when Josh was recovering and all wrapped up in his "Theory of Everything", Rachel was calling him daily to discuss new ideas and correct him."
"How did she get around Donna?"
"Donna didn't see a 9-year-old as a threat to Josh's healing. Lots of people underestimate her." Toby sighed. "At least she's familiar with the White House and how her life will change when she's living with me. She's beaten the President at chess, she can smell a reporter a mile away and as long as she's being challenged in school, she's content. Out of all my nieces and nephews, she's the one who's spent the most time with me so maybe this will be ok. She gets along with Andy…" His voice trailed off.
C.J. grabbed his hand. "It may not be as easy as that, Toby, but it will be ok over time. We'll all help. She's a part of our family. And you can do this. You have an incredible capacity to love, Toby Ziegler. Rachel's going to be very happy here." She paused and then asked, "Why is Talia so set on splitting Rachel and Joey up?"
"Talia said that Rachel and Joey together would be too much for any of us to handle. And you know my sisters – once they get an idea in their heads there is no budging them. They still haven't forgiven me for allowing my marriage to disintegrate because that wasn't part of their plan. And God help me if I show up at a family function without Huck and Molly."
"Is that going to be a major issue for Rachel, to be separated from her brother?"
Toby shrugged. "She's 7 years older and if Michelle hasn't been able to cope for a while, it's possible that Rachel has been responsible for a lot of his care. Let's face it – regardless of her relationship to Joey, she's going to be dealing with the loss of her family, her friends, her environment and she gets to move in with a grumpy old man who works in the busiest building in the United States. This is not going to be a smooth transition. But, on the bright side, it's put my altercation with Josh on the backburner.
C.J. stood up. "When does she get here?"
"Her flight arrives at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon. Talia said that she would ship the majority of her possessions later on. My sister is never happier than when she's organizing someone else's life."
"Well, that's good. You'll be able to attend tonight's function," she pointed out with an evil grin.
"Oh God that's right. Thank goodness," he retorted sarcastically. "I'm going to get started on the President's remarks to the Fraternal Order of Police. Get out."
"See you tonight."
