Past & Present
Chapter 7: Something That You Said
DISCLAIMER: I don't own "Friends" or any of the characters. But can I borrow Joey for a weekend sometimes?
THE PREMISE: Rachel must choose between her past and her future. Will tragedy be the result?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've gotten so many emails asking for an update – I'm sorry about the delay! I had an unexpected job assignment to tackle, followed by my yearly (and much dreaded) checkup and a few other crazy happenings. Also, I changed my mind about a major plot development and had to redo my outline for this story and such.
I have the next chapter written. All it needs is a few revisions. I had planned to wait and upload them together, but since so many of you were clamoring for an update, I decided to go ahead and publish this one by itself. I really enjoyed writing this, and hope the "chat sequence" doesn't bother anyone too much, it just seemed to fit with the flow of the situation.
I borrowed a few of Phoebe's lines from episode 612, and the song used in this chapter is "Something That You Said" by The Bangles – my vote for the ultimate J/R song…one glance at the end of "TOW Rachel's Dream" explains why!
Please read, review, and enjoy – keep those emails coming! Also, see my bio section for a few observations about the writing of this story and the whole J/R thing.
~*~*~
Everything in a moment starting where
Something you said is hanging in the air
Now I know my life is sweetening
Changing everything…
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Running through my head
Something I have dreamed about
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something you said…
~*~*~
Rachel pulled the last tissue from the box beside her bed before tossing the empty container to the floor impatiently. She blew her nose then threw the tissue into the small color coordinated wastebasket nearby. With a congested groan of misery, she fell back on her stack of pillows and turned her eyes to her clock radio.
Time for "Days Of Our Lives".
In a single stealth movement, she unearthed the remote control from its hiding place within the piles of blankets and switched it to NBC, snuggling down into her bed with a smile.
It was, she reasoned, the only chance she'd have to see Joey that week. Ben had slept over the second night after she and Emma had moved back in, giving everyone in the apartment except Ross a terrible cold. Rachel came down with it first, followed by Emma. Ross seemed somehow immune to it – no doubt his prodigious use of hand sanitizing gel helped to ward off cold germs.
Being too stuffed up to breathe, much less accomplish anything at work, Rachel had spent the past week at home recovering and taking care of Emma. Everyone had avoided Ross' apartment in an effort to keep Monica from catching it. She had only seen her friends through the window and was so starved for adult conversation that she caught herself talking back to the hosts of the TV Guide Channel more than once.
She hadn't seen Joey since the day she moved out. He hadn't phoned even though she was sure that he knew she was home alone during the day. Taking her cue from him, she had resisted the urge to dial his number every hour on the hour.
Monica called several times a day to check on Rachel and Emma, and had told Rachel that Joey was holed up in his apartment, nursing his heartbreak with pizza, sandwiches, and beer. Rachel had hinted around, trying to find out if Monica was aware of the potential movie role. If Monica did know something, she was doing a convincing job of pretending otherwise.
Rachel gasped as Joey's face lit up her TV screen, breaking her train of thought like a fist through a plate-glass window. The very sight of him provoked a physical reaction. Despite her wretched cold, every fiber of her being cried out for him, demanding his touch in a way that would accept no refusal.
"Don't deny everything we feel for each other," Drake said to Olivia.
"I can't deny it," Rachel whispered to the phantom image on her television. "Believe me, I've tried."
~*~*~
"You didn't have to buy one of everything, you know," Rachel sniffled as she examined the bottles of various jewel-colored liquids and the boxes of gel caps, each promising safe and effective relief from cold symptoms. One allowed you to rest. Another kept you awake. And yet a third left you in neutral.
"Effective cold relief is obtained from a variety of treatments, not just one," Ross answered in his best professor voice. "There are daytime treatments, nighttime treatments, and other treatments for specific symptoms on an as-needed basis." He handed her a glass of water. "Start with the non-drowsy formula, for now."
Rachel smothered a snicker as she removed two gel caps from the package. Ross was so paranoid about germs. He obviously intended to blanket her in such a thick haze of medication that the sheer volume of it would protect him from catching anything.
It was thoughtful of him to bring her all of this. In fact, as she looked back over the past week, Ross had been a model of consideration. He had brought her anything she wanted to eat, taken care of Emma all night so Rachel could sleep, and avoided any controversial topics, allowing a shaky peace to rein for the time being.
Even now he was giving Emma a cup of Pedialite, something she'd never tolerate from Rachel. But then, he was always wonderful with Emma, who was looking up at her father with nothing short of worship for him sparkling in her eyes.
He's good to have around in a crisis, Rachel reflected, trying not to compare him to Joey and failing miserably.
She gazed at the new box of tissues, the freshly emptied wastepaper basket, and the veritable pharmacy beside her bed. Joey wouldn't have thought of these things. No, Rachel mused –Joey would have never brought home Nyquil. He would have burst in with pints of ice cream and stacks of soap opera magazines to entertain her, repeating shocking gossip about the stars that filled the glossy pages. They would have lived on a steady diet of delivered pizza and "Beavis & Butthead" reruns on DVD until she recovered enough to insist on something healthier both to eat and to watch.
Ross was taking great care of her. But Joey would have made her laugh.
~*~*~
The sound of Ross briskly turning pages as he read "The Scientific American" brought the only relief to the deadening silence of the apartment. The unaccustomed quiet plucked away at Rachel's nerves until she felt as if they would snap at any moment. But, as she reminded herself, it was like this every night. This was life at Ross' place.
As per their routine, Emma was trying to maneuver her walker around the living room. Rachel was making her way through the latest issue of "Cosmo" and breathing freely for the first time in a week. She pulled the crochet afghan that Monica had made for her across her knees, wishing she had a Barcalounger to lay back in rather than Ross' none too comfortable sofa.
She looked up as Ross crisply turned another page in his magazine, then raised his eyebrows and said "hmm" to himself for the tenth time in so many minutes.
The funny thing was, this was his idea of a good time.
Good God – it's like a library in here. Rachel tossed her magazine onto the coffee table and reached for the remote.
"How about some TV?" she said as she switched on the set.
Ross glanced at her over the top of his magazine, looking less than pleased. After surfing for a minute, she settled on a channel.
"All right! 'Celebrity Mole Alaska'!" She leaned back on the couch with a satisfied smile. "How about some popcorn?"
"Rach," he intoned, "Don't you think we should watch something more…" he paused delicately.
"Boring?" she suggested.
"Educational," he answered. "Especially with Emma in the room." He took the TV Guide from the coffee table and flipped through it. "There's a special on the Discovery Channel about coral reefs. Doesn't that sound fascinating?"
"Give me that." She took the TV Guide from him and turned to the listings for that night. "We could watch the coral reef thing…" She scanned the page and pointed excitedly at a listing. "Or we could watch the "True Hollywood Story" about the Hilton Sisters!"
He wrinkled his nose disdainfully. "Hilton? Who?" He shook his head. "Ok, I have an idea. We'll compromise. Switch over to A&E."
Rachel did so, sighing as the host of "Biography" began to drone on about the life of Hemingway.
"See? This is just like 'True Hollywood Story' only it's about people everyone has heard of!" Ross put down his "Scientific American" with a jubilant smile and fixed his eyes on the television screen.
Excusing herself, Rachel walked back to her room and removed the latest Nora Bing romance from her bedside table, stopping off in the kitchen to get graham crackers for Emma and a bag of tortilla chips for herself before heading back to the living room.
She gave Emma a cracker and then curled up on the sofa. She opened her chips, preparing to tune out the sound of Hemingway with the purple prose of Chandler's mother.
"Rach?"
She looked up to see Ross looking at her the way Monica always did when Rachel had left a towel on the bathroom floor.
"Crumbs…" he gestured to her chips.
Rachel bit back a sarcastic answer and got up from the sofa again. "I'll just go watch TV in my room." She moved to pick up Emma.
"No – let her stay with me." He looked crestfallen. "You go get some rest."
Rachel closed her door and flopped down on her bed, resolving to go back to work the next day no matter how she was feeling.
She imagined Joey in his apartment, eating chips and drinking beer in his favorite chair or going over his lines for the next day. It was impossible for her not to picture herself there with him. Pestering him to know what was happening the next day on "Days Of Our Lives". Making a bet with him about who would get booted off whatever mindless reality show they were watching. Basking in his praise of her cooking when she mastered the art of "break and bake" brownies.
It was beyond her control. She found herself missing him in ways that she had never imagined.
~*~*~
Showing you every weakness
Feeling strong for it
I used to run from real love
Now I long for it
Now I know what I've been missing
Since I've been listening…
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Lying in my bed
Whispering your name out loud
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Got through to me tonight
~*~*~
Rachel shivered as she crossed the street the next morning. She was dressed for work, briefcase in hand.
If I don't see something besides the interior of Ross' apartment, she told herself as she pushed open to door to Central Perk, I'm on the short list for involuntary commitment.
Taking a deep breath, she glanced around the coffee shop, hoping against hope to see Joey slumped in his chair, gorging on muffins as if nothing were amiss. She asked Gunther for a coffee and muffin to go as she searched the room for Joey's presence.
He wasn't there.
She felt unreasonably devastated. Why did it mean so much to her, the thought of walking into the coffee house and seeing him, just like she had a thousand mornings before? Why did she need that so much today? She took a bite of her muffin, her mind going back unbidden to her waitressing days. Joey had been struggling for every dime back then. Out of all six of them, they were the only two who were chronically broke. Even Phoebe was making more money than she and Joey in those days. Somehow, she'd managed to sneak free muffins for the both of herself and him. Those forbidden, stolen muffins tasted better than anything money could buy.
Maybe because we shared them. If I had known then what I know now…
The memory stung like a physical pain. In a fit of self-disgust, she stuffed her muffin back into the paper bag. Look at me, getting all morbid over a cranberry muffin.
Phoebe was strumming her guitar and warbling her way through "The Ballad Of Dick And Yasmine" while Mike sat on the sofa, nursing a cup of coffee.
"Any sign of Joey lately?" Rachel asked Mike, hiding her rabid to desire to hear something about him behind her takeout coffee cup.
"Not since…" Mike paused, searching his memory. "Actually, I can't remember how long it's been since I've seen him here. About a week, I guess."
Rachel sighed, knowing that she was the cause of his absence. With a wave to Phoebe, she headed for the door.
Mike caught up with her before she stepped out. "Uh, Rachel – I know this may not be the best time, but I was wondering if you could work in a trip to the jewelry store with me." He cleared his throat with a nervous glance over his shoulder at Phoebe. "Soon."
"Yes, sure." Rachel wondered why she felt so unenthusiastic about the prospect. Usually, selecting jewelry was one of her favorite activities. That they were shopping a ring to change Phoebe's life should have only enhanced it.
But it didn't. She felt as numb as a deflated balloon left discarded on the floor after a party.
"How about during my lunch hour? We can hit the jewelry store and then grab a bite somewhere." She reached into her purse and removed her business card. Mike took it and put it in his pocket.
"I'll call you around noon, then." He was almost dancing with anticipation.
"See you then," Rachel conjured up a convincing smile as she walked out into the damp gray morning.
I want Phoebe to be happy, I really do, she argued with herself. Then why am I so miserable? She wrestled with her thoughts as she pulled her jacket closer against the cold drizzle. It seems like there's big buckets of happiness for everyone else, but not a drop for me.
Everyone else was moving forward, while she going back in time.
~*~*~
Never so far you can't call me back
I'm never more than a single kiss away…
~*~*~
Rachel was flipping through the mail on her desk when Kim appeared in her office door.
"Darling, so glad you're back at work. Out with a cold, I heard." There was nothing impolite about Kim's manner, but Rachel always felt as if her boss was insinuating something. She had a way of asking about the weather that made it sound like a dirty secret.
"A bad cold," Rachel answered with a tight smile on her face. "What can I do for you, Kim?"
"Oh, darling, it's not what you can do for me." A dramatic pause filled the air. "It's what I can do for you."
"Do tell," Rachel feigned interest, glancing at the clock on her desk and suppressing a sigh.
"You've heard of Oishii?"
"Of course," Rachel sensed that she was expected to act impressed and willingly complied. "It's only the hottest new Japanese restaurant in the city."
Kim was pleased by Rachel's reaction. "And guess who has reservations for 7:00 tonight?"
"You do?" Rachel strained to keep a trickle of annoyance from revealing itself. My life is falling apart and I have to play restaurant roulette with Kim.
"No darling," Kim said archly, smiling like a Cheshire cat. "You do."
Rachel raised her eyebrows. What the hell was in those cigarettes Kim smoked? "If I do, this is the first I've heard about it."
"Cliff's nephew is seeing the hostess at Oishii. Lovely girl. Anyway, she pulled a few strings, and voila! Reservations for two."
"For you and Cliff?" Rachel asked, referring to Kim's fiancée.
"No, silly, for you and that handsome hunk you live with."
"I'm not getting what this has to do with me." Rachel wondered if the handsome hunk in question was Ross or Joey.
"It's simple. Cliff's mother chose today, of all days, to have foot surgery." Kim rolled her eyes theatrically. "Horrible old bag. Long story short, Cliff promised Mommie Dearest that we'd spend tonight at her apartment playing nursemaids."
"So…"
"So. You, dearie, can treat that sexy roomie of yours to dinner at Oishii with my reservations. Just tell the hostess that Kim sent you. Meanwhile, I'll be passing time in the wretched apartment of my future mother in law." Kim shuddered. "It always smells of cabbage and cats."
Rachel tried to picture herself sharing an evening out with Ross. The idea of trying to generate conversation with him exhausted her. As long as Emma was around, there was always a certain degree of safety from arguments, and a welcome subject to discuss at length. But going to dinner alone presented too many chances to activate the launch sequence on the Ross & Rachel Fight Machine.
Trying to sound grateful and mollify Kim, she composed her face and counted to ten. "As much as Ross would enjoy some unagi – I'm pretty sure he won't be able to make it tonight." She fumbled for an excuse. "Faculty stuff, you know."
"Ross? Your baby's father?"
Rachel nodded.
"Him again? What about that hot little actor you were rooming with?"
"Long story," Rachel said quickly. "Really, Kim, it was so great of you to think of me, but…"
"Oh well, darling, Ross is quite delicious in his own right." Kim huffed impatiently. "You do understand that it takes months to get a table there. What other plans do you have for tonight?"
"Now that you mention it, actually…" Rachel stammered, trapped. She drew a blank. There was no handy lie floating about in her mind. "Nothing, other than a standing appointment with my friend Chandler to watch 'The Bachelor' while eating cheesecake," she confessed.
"Oh, honey! Forget the cheesecake! Forget the Chandler! Have some sushi! Even if you have to go by yourself, you must take advantage of this." Kim dropped her voice. "I owe you big time, for that whole messy Kenny Copy Boy thing."
Rachel gave in. Kim didn't like to be opposed and considered her favors to be nothing less than royal endorsements. "Thank you. I'm sure something will work out." She smiled brightly, hoping that Kim didn't see the lack of real gratitude lurking behind her eyes.
Satisfied that she had wowed one of the little people with her A-list connections, Kim vanished as quickly as she had appeared in a cloud of perfume and linen.
I should tell Mike about this…he can take Phoebe. Her decision made, she turned her attention to her computer screen.
She wanted to call Joey, to tell him how much she missed him, to hear his voice. If only there was some way for the two of them to steal away and use those dinner reservations…but it wasn't worth the argument with Ross.
As the screen of her laptop went through the familiar motions of starting up, she stared at her phone, mentally dialing his number several times before deciding against it. The thought crossed her mind that there might be a reason for his silence other than heartache.
What if he doesn't want to talk to me? What if I've hurt him one time too many, and he's decided to play it safe?
She had never known him to go long without female companionship. Certainly he had no shortage of admirers. Doubt wrapped itself around her with the chill of an icy hand.
What if he finds someone else before I can go back to him? She saw it in her mind's eye - some beautiful young soap opera starlet, unencumbered with children or ex-husbands, draping herself around Joey in Central Perk. She winced, closing her eyes against the idea. Still, another unwanted possibility wafted through the dark corridor of her mind.
What if one week is all he and I will ever have?
Her heart sank as she considered it. Taking a deep breath, she shook it off. Ok, Rachel, she commanded herself. Get a hold on it. This isn't the place to delve into every Murphy's Law scenario. Save it for tonight when you'll at least have a cheesecake to console you.
After a surreptitious glance around her, Rachel started up a game of Tetris. Just then her assistant tapped on the door.
"Come in," Rachel called.
"These just came for you." Her assistant place a huge bouquet of "Get Well" balloons on her desk. Without being told, Rachel knew who had sent them.
She removed the card from its tiny envelope.
"Turn On Your Computer"
That was all it said.
She minimized her game and connected to the internet. She checked her buddy list. Under "online" were ChanandolorBong, HarMonica, LuvsChihuahuas, and finally at the end of the list, DrakeRamorayMD.
She double clicked his name and typed a message.
FashionistaNY: I got the balloons.
He responded instantly.
DrakeRamorayMD: is that you?
Rachel leaned forward in her chair, more than a little surprised.
FashionistaNY: Of course it's me, who else would it be?
Not the most warm greeting, she chided herself. He'd caught her off guard. Rachel hurriedly added LuvsChihuahuas to her invisible list, not wanting her mother to interrupt her chat with Joey.
Her fingers poised above the keyboard, she began typing her next message.
DrakeRamorayMD: is it ok to talk right now?
FashionistaNY: Yes, this is the perfect time to talk. I'm sorry, I was just surprised to hear from you…you haven't called.
DrakeRamorayMD: well, we didn't exactly leave things on a high note
FashionistaNY: I know – but
Rachel stopped, trying to find the words to express her feelings. She shrugged and decided to keep it short and to the point.
DrakeRamorayMD: but what?
FashionistaNY: But, I miss you. That's all.
DrakeRamorayMD: you know how much I miss you, right?
FashionistaNY: I thought I did, but when you didn't call for a week, I thought maybe I was wrong and that you want to call it quits.
DrakeRamorayMD: are you crazy!?!? do you have any idea how many times I've dialed your number and hung up before I hit the talk button?
Rachel remembered her own battle of wills with the phone just a moment earlier.
FashionistaNY: I've been doing the same thing.
DrakeRamorayMD: I was scared to death of calling and pissing Ross off. I didn't want to make things worse. Then when you didn't call me, I thought maybe you didn't want to talk to me anymore or something, I don't know.
FashionistaNY: We had a communication breakdown.
DrakeRamorayMD: I figured it was safe to talk this way. Monica said you were back at work today so I thought, what the hell, I'll give it a shot and find out if you ever want to see me again.
Rachel sighed with relief. He still wanted to be with her.
FashionistaNY: I've been staring at DOOL every day like a stalker just to get a look at you, and you have to ask if I want to see you again?
DrakeRamorayMD: so…when can I see you?
Rachel stared at the screen, her mind racing over her options like a rat in a maze. She wasn't up to another confrontation with Ross and the results that might follow it.
But don't I have the right to see who ever I want? Aren't I entitled to have a life, too?
She knew that she always gave in to whoever had the stronger personality. Her father had dominated her until she got together with Barry, who took over the job of telling her every move to make. Then she ran away from Barry and moved in with Monica, who called the shots on everything. When she was with Ross, he had been the mature one, the one who was strong and independent. He led and she followed.
Phoebe's voice rang in her ears, a conversation amongst the three girls from years ago.
"No, you're ok, Monica. You're just not as easy-going as Rachel. She's just more flexible and - and mellow. That's all. You know Rachel … she'll do whatever you want. You can just walk all over her."
Rachel was a pushover. Never had it been more evident than now.
Defiance stirred in her. I'll be damned if I let everyone run over me this time. I'm not going to give Joey up to make them feel comfortable.
There had to be a way to get Ross out of the apartment for a while. He hadn't seen Charlie outside of school in over a week. A plan began to form in Rachel's mind, slowly at first like water trickling from a drain, then faster in one cohesive stream.
FashionistaNY: I have to go shopping with Mike soon, but I have a plan. I'm going to have to type fast.
DrakeRamorayMD: can I do my plan laugh?
FashionistaNY: we'll do the plan laugh together later. Two questions – are you free tonight, and does Charlie like sushi?
~*~*~
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Running through my head
Something I had dreamed about
And I feel so real
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
Lying in my bed
Whispering your name out loud
And I feel…
And I feel…
And it feels so right
Something that you said
Turned me from the inside out
~*~*~
"I promise, Ross, we'll be fine! Go have a good time!" Rachel looked nervously at her watch. Couldn't he just leave already?
"I don't know about this," he answered, nervously turning one of Emma's alphabet blocks over and over in his hands. Rachel noticed that it was the letter J.
It's a sign, she told herself. He's finally going to get out of here and let me have five minutes alone with Joey.
"Are you sure you're up to this? That was a pretty bad cold you both had. Maybe I should cancel with Charlie – we can always let Monica and Chandler have the reservations."
Rachel tried to hide her urgency to speed him on his way. "Yeah, like Chandler's going to pass up 'The Bachelor' and 'Extreme Makeover' for sushi."
He scowled and nodded reluctantly.
"We've spent every night for a week cooped up in this apartment, counting Emma's sneezes and watching the Discovery channel. If you don't spend some time with Charlie, she's going to forget what you look like." And Joey's going to forget what I look like, she added to herself.
"You're right - she's been very understanding but I think she's getting tired of nothing but phone calls and having lunch together between classes."
"Then go, go! Get on out there, Tiger! Spend some time with your woman!"
Please, she prayed, please let him leave.
"I think I will," Ross finally agreed.
She stifled a sigh of relief.
"You have my pager number and you'll keep your cell phone with you at all times, right? And you'll call me if anything happens?" He was putting on his jacket. "I'm not sure that she's completely over the cold yet."
"Yes, I promise."
He bent over the playpen. "Bye Emma, bye-bye Emma-wemma-ding-dong. Daddy woves you!"
Rachel held her breath. He was almost out the door.
"And you'll call me if - " he questioned.
"Yes! I swear! Now go!"
He closed the door. She ran to watch through the peephole. He was already out of sight.
Thank God. It was time to put the plan into action. Rachel quickly pulled her cell phone from her purse, pressing the speed dial code for Monica.
Chandler answered on the third ring.
"Hello?
"Hey, it's me."
"Hey Rach, we still on for cheesecake tonight?" He lowered his voice to a whisper. "It's less dry and mealy than usual."
"I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to take a raincheck. I need to talk to Monica real quick."
"Just a sec." She heard him calling Monica over the sound of the vacuum.
"Hey Rach, what's up?" Monica's voice came though the line.
"Oh nothing, nothing, it's just – could you watch Emma for an hour or so?"
"Why? Where's Ross?"
"Out with Charlie. I really need to get out of this apartment for a little while. I haven't been anywhere else except work since I moved in here."
"Uh-huh. You're going to see Joey, aren't you?"
"Maybe…would it be so wrong if I did?"
She could almost hear Monica debating with herself.
"Does Ross know?"
"Does Ross have to know everything about my personal life?"
Monica sighed. "I don't want to get between you and my brother."
Rachel saw her plans collapsing. She suspected that this might be the night that Mike proposed to Phoebe – she'd help him purchase the ring during her lunch hour and wasn't about to interrupt them. Molly had left for the weekend to go visit her parents. There was no one left to watch Emma, and Rachel wasn't about to bring her daughter along to see Joey, knowing how Ross would react if he found out.
"Monica – please? I need to see him so much."
Monica hesitated. "I just don't know about this."
"Look, she's doing so much better, you won't catch anything from her - she'll probably fall asleep the minute I drop her off. And you can call my cell if anything goes wrong. I'll just be downstairs in the coffee house!" She could sense Monica relenting.
"I guess it's ok, as long as you stay in the building and Ross doesn't find out that I had anything to do with this."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won't regret this, I promise."
"I better not," Monica warned.
She hung up before Monica could change her mind. Giddy with excitement, she pressed the speed dial for Joey.
He answered on the first ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, sweetie," she replied, going weak in the knees at the sound of his voice. "All systems are go. Meet me in ten minutes."
"It worked?" He was surprised.
"It worked. He's gone."
"I'll be there." She could hear his smile over the phone.
"See you in ten."
She hung up the phone and ran to her closet, pulling out the bag she'd packed for Emma hours ago before going back to the living room and lifting Emma out of her playpen.
"I think that's everything," she said to her daughter, taking a final look around the apartment. She had her purse, Emma's bag, and Emma herself. Assured that she hadn't forgotten anything, she pushed the stroller out into the hall and locked the door behind her. It was beginning to thunder outside.
Who's the pushover now, she asked herself with a rush of triumph.
In her excitement, she failed to notice that her cell phone was still on the coffee table.
A/N: To be continued….soon!
