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Chapter 18: What Was it I Said?

Eddie found himself becoming increasingly concerned as Rachel remained silent. He had said the comment as a joke, about her knowing any chefs. Eddie knew that it was mostly unlikely, and far more probable that it was a mistake on the LEAs part. But something had obviously crossed Rachel's mind, and he intended to find out what.

"Rach?" he spoke tentatively, not wanting to startle her.

She almost jerked, and brought her eye line back to his immediately. Eddie was now certain that Rachel had experienced some sort of realisation in her mind. But still, she continued not to speak, even with him reaching across the table to take her hand. So Eddie took it upon himself and stood, making his way around the table to take a seat next to Rachel.

Almost conveniently, a strand of hair fell forwards from behind her ear, granting Eddie the opportunity to move closer and brush it back. Rachel's reaction was softer now, and she turned, facing him with a faint smile on her lips.

"Sweetheart, what is it?" Eddie spoke, barely above a whisper as he took Rachel's hand once more.

He was glad when, in return, she held on to it properly. Rachel was seeking the comfort that, evidently, she needed, and Eddie was content to be there for her. He just needed to know what was going on. What they were being faced with here. Because Eddie knew from experience, that when Rachel acquired such a shocked and worried facial expression, it was certainly something significant.

He watched as she swallowed thickly, not expecting her next move and she broke away from his touch, returning her attention to the laptop.

"I need to respond to the LEA," she muttered, "request a list of applicants so far."

"Rachel," Eddie stopped Rachel in her tracks, bringing his hand to rest upon her knee, given that her hand was no longer an option, "you're worrying me now. Tell me what's going on."

It was then that she closed her eyes briefly, and Eddie guessed that she was preparing to reveal the thoughts that had crossed her mind. So many times had he been privy to Rachel's demeanour when in similar scenarios.

For now, she pushed the laptop away, once more turning her focus to Eddie.

"I believe I know why… or… or who the person is. Erm… the reason that the LEA… feel the need to bring in someone impartial."

"Okay," he breathed, "and… who do you think it could be?"

Rachel looked down at her hands, and played with her fingers as she clearly thought about what to say. Eddie was patient, he would wait as long as it took. He just longed to help, and to be there for Rachel. It physically pained him to see her so distressed. Especially when her happiness had been sky high just ten minutes previous.

"Christopher, he… didn't have a particularly large group of friends as a teenager. In fact, I only recall two or three. But there's… one individual that I seem to… vividly remember," Rachel paused and took a sip from her juice before placing it back on the table, "Adam Fleet, he was called. At first… he and I were relatively close. He was nice," she shrugged.

Only a year and a half older than me. Adam didn't really… pay all that much attention to Christopher at first. But my brother... he gradually manipulated him. Into a person that he never was. The difference between Chrsitopher and Adam… ended up being second to none. It was impossible to, you know, see the person that he had once been."

That time Rachel paused for just a little too long, still glancing down at her hands whilst twisting them consistently. Eddie wasn't sure if she was going to continue, so with curiosity high, he began to speak himself.

"I don't understand… where does this all fit into the interviews?"

Rachel looked up briefly, as if suddenly remembering Eddie's presence. Soon her gaze resumed contact with her lap, and she began to open up once more.

"One of the conversations I remember the most, between Adam and I, was one about our aspirations. What we wanted to do when we grew up, all that sort of thing," Rachel looked up at him then, tilting her head, "Eddie he… wanted to be a chef. And it might sound crazy… that I've made that link, but believe me, it's not."

Eddie tried to look as neutral as possible, fighting the concern out of his expression. But a billion questions were gathering in his mind. And all the while he was making links between Christopher and Adam, and their current situation and how Rachel's brother certainly had a motive to get one over on them.

"Do you… know for certain? That he's a chef?"

Rachel remained silent, simply glancing at him for a moment. Eddie did wonder whether she was in disbelief that this could actually be happening. That their fears about Christopher were coming to life. He certainly was. Because when Rachel had suggested that things could be too good to be true, neither of them had wanted to believe it.

"Yes," she eventually said, "when I was reunited with Melissa… after, you know… Adam was on the scene. A chef and nutrition specialist," she raised a hand, "as you can probably imagine."

Eddie's mind was screaming at him to say something, to put Rachel's mind at ease. There were too many thoughts in his brain, too many scenarios to comprehend. He just had to try and break through that and help Rachel to see this from the best possible light. The last thing he wanted her doing was pushing him away.

"Right. Here's what we are going to do. You need to email the LEA, like you said. Ask them for the list of applicants. Because… I know it probably sounds daft, me saying this, but we don't know for sure that it's him."

Rachel gave him a look and Eddie just knew that he had to continue, "and even then," he resumed, pausing as he reached out to hold Rachel's hands, "and even then," he repeated, "we don't know that this is linked to Christopher. It could well be a complete coincidence."

Rachel frowned, tilting her head. Eddie knew that there was no way of getting Rachel to see this from the best case scenario. He should have really known that when he couldn't even convince himself to.

"You have… met my brother, Eddie?"

Rachel sounded utterly exasperated, and he could do nothing but rub his thumbs over the back of her hands comfortingly. Just with the hope that she would be reassured. Although the movement was probably for his own benefit just as much.

He sighed, bowing his head slightly before looking back up at Rachel, "yes. I just… don't want to assume the worst."

She mirrored Eddie's sigh before closing the short distance between them to rest their foreheads together, "I know, I know you don't. And Eddie I… wish I could be optimistic. I wish I could believe that Adam's name won't be on the applicant list or… or that Christopher has no involvement whatsoever."

"But you can't. Not after everything."

Rachel pulled back slightly, keeping the close proximity but moving so that she could shake her head, "no. You know, this is… exactly the sort of thing that he would do. He sees everything that happened as me dragging Melissa down, so feels obliged to act."

"What about her? Melissa I mean."

Rachel removed one of her hands from Eddie's, resting her elbow on the table so that she could put her head in her hand, "oh god, Eddie. I can't even… begin to think how difficult things are going to be if she is involved."

Eddie lifted his hand up so it wrapped around her wrist, brushing a thumb across her skin gently. It was something he seemed to be doing constantly in recent minutes. Not that it bothered him in any way shape or form - Eddie knew that it calmed Rachel, and frankly, it calmed him too.

"Then don't. Not until we know what's going on."

She tilted her head to the side, and the tears visible in her eyes broke Eddie. He just wanted to pull Rachel into his arms and never let go.

"I really thought things were starting to go right for us Eddie. How did I get that so wrong?"

"You didn't," he assured, "me and you will get through this like we have done everything else."

"I really hope so Eddie because…"

"You don't need to hope. We do this together, Rachel. That still stands. Just as much as it did when we first met and just as much as it did in October."

Eddie was surprised when Rachel simply smiled faintly, and fell into his arms. Instinctively, he wrapped his own around her, holding her close. Wanting to be as close as possible so that he could comfort her, Eddie leant forwards slightly, tucking an arm under Rachel's legs and around her waist to shift her onto his lap.

He was glad to hear her huff out a laugh, despite everything, at least he could still help Rachel to smile.

"Eddie."

He planted a kiss on her temple in response, glad when she melted into him, resting her head against his chest.

"I need to email the LEA…" Rachel commented, albeit not making any attempt at moving as Eddie ran a hand through her hair.

"Just let me hold you for a while."

He was glad when Rachel looked up and smiled, fixing her gaze on his. Eddie saw it as the moment when she fully realised that he was just as worried about this situation and what it could lead to. Maybe that was one of the reasons why she stretched up and pressed her lips to his.

It was certainly a good way to remove all thoughts from both of their minds. Well, for the time being at least.

….

Rachel's anxiety hadn't been helped when the LEA had taken until the next morning to respond to her email. But the reply turned out to only heighten it. Of course, her suspicions had been right. Of course, Adam Fleet had applied for the role. The only thing Rachel had to toy with now, was whether or not her brother was involved.

It did seem fairly likely, no matter how much Eddie tried to reassure her in the days leading up to the interview. Whether that be through distractions or words of comfort, Rachel appreciated it all. And she found herself wondering what on earth she would have done without him.

So she longed to have Eddie at her side, whilst waiting for the impartial member of the LEA to arrive. There were five people applying for the role, and even though Rachel had been told that her opinion would get put across, she knew that was code for the LEA gets the final say. Which most certainly wouldn't work in her favour if Adam was some remarkable chef.

Although, Rachel did find herself wondering that, if Christopher was involved, what lengths would he go to if Adam didn't get the job. What was his next plan? Because he would definitely have one lined up. Christopher was never without a plan B.

So a weird part of Rachel hoped that Adam was given the job. At least then they would kind of know what they were facing. If he was turned down, then she and Eddie would only be entering unknown territory once more.

But she did find herself becoming increasingly concerned as the candidates got ticked off the list. Even Rachel could tell that they weren't up to the role, and she knew that the LEA representative was thinking that too. And it was by Sod's law that Adam was last on the list. Giving him the scope to leave a lasting impression.

Rachel almost didn't recognise him as he walked through the doors. He looked completely different to what he did as a teenager and she had to do a double take. That was until he called out her former name.

"Amanda Fenshaw?!"

It was then that Rachel shared an awkward glance with the lady from the LEA, readying herself to correct Adam. The use of her old name just confirmed Rachel's fears. Of course Adam had originally known Rachel as Amanda, but when she had reappeared, with him still on the scene - she was Rachel. So why would he feel the need to call her that now?

There seemed to be only one plausible explanation, and that was that he was winding her up. Just as Christopher liked to do. Yes, Rachel was now certain that this was all part of a plan of her brother's.

And as much as she tried to stop her hands from shaking as she stood, she couldn't.

Smile plastered on her face, Rachel put her hand out for Adam to shake, and was caught off guard when he instead brought her into a hug. Not exactly an embrace she wanted to be partaking in.

She pulled back and smiled once more, "it's good to see you," she spoke through gritted teeth, hoping he wouldn't notice, "but it's Rachel Mason now."

Adam looked at her for a long moment before he nodded his head slightly, "yes, course it is… my mistake."

Rachel was glad to be saved by Mrs Longforth from the LEA as she spoke, "shall we get this interview started then?"