Chapter Three: Sacrifices
Ross's Office
"Yes, and I have the essay written already. No. No, no, I'm sure that it's spell-checked. But, you said it was my book! I'm not gonna share it with some other scientist. This is my shot, my fame, my EVERYTHING! Sure, yes, ok. Oh, don't you worry, I changed my mind, everything is ALRIGHT!"
Screw him, Ross thought, slamming down the phone. This was supposed to be my book. Why can't anything just be mine, FOR ONCE! That's when Ross realized it... the fact that he had completely changed. Ever since he had been working so much, he had become such a selfish jerk. Why did everything have to be his?
"Excuse me, Dr. Geller?" said a businessman standing near his desk.
"Oh, yes, I'm so sorry, just kind of daydreaming. Anyway, what can I do for you?" Ross said, getting down to business.
"Well, actually, I was sent here by Mr. Ganfeld, your boss. You see, he had some news he wanted me to give you," said the man importantly.
"Oh, god, I hope it's not about that evolution document that was due yesterday," Ross muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" asked the man curiously.
"Umm.. nothing. So, what's the news?" asked Ross.
"Well," the man started, pulling up a chair. "You see, Mr. Ganfeld has been asked by the UCLA, to provide two scientists for a research program that they're working on. However, this would mean that you and your family would have to move to California, but I'm sure that won't be a problem once you find out the salary..."
"Oh, um... I'm not sure about the location, I mean..." Ross started.
"The salary would come to a total of $150,000 for one year," he interrupted.
"I.. WOW!" Ross almost fell out of his chair with disbelief.
"We'll need to know your answer by the end of the week. Until then, I have to go inform the other lucky man about his opportunity," said the man as he winked at Ross, then walked out the door.
Ross was left motionless in his chair, once again torn between his family and himself.
Ross and Rachel's
Rachel was pacing the room back and forth. What was she going to do? How would Ross respond? Thank goodness she had already told Summer, and had been overjoyed to find out how happy her daughter was. Oh, no! she suddenly thought. Summer. What if something came up and she wasn't ready to tell Ross? Summer would be sure to sneak the news to her father.
"Mommy, you okay?" asked Summer, apparently worried.
"Mommy's fine, Sunshine. Just doing some very serious thinking, that's all," Rachel replied.
"You look like you're gonna throw-up, mommy," Summer commented.
Sure enough, Rachel felt nauseous and suddenly ran into the bathroom. After a few moments, she regained her stomach and walked out of the bathroom.
"Are you sure you're okay?" her daughter asked again.
"Yes, just a little worried about your father, I guess my stomach was too," Rachel giggled, trying to reassure her little girl.
"Is he going to be happy when he finds out that we're gonna..." Summer said excitedly.
"YES, YES!" Rachel cut of her daughter. "I'm sorry sweetie, but this is our little secret, so you have to keep that information to yourself for a little while. Can you do that for mommy?"
"Yep," Summer answered, running up and hugging her mother's legs.
A couple hours later
Ross hurried to the apartment door, lugging the heavy wine bottle and Olive Garden carry-out bags behind him. Hopefully, over a nice dinner, his wife would agree to moving to California.
"Honey, I'm home!" Ross sang.
"One second, I'll be right there," his wife replied.
Walking over to the kitchen table, Ross sat down the Reunite wine, and started to set the table. He grabbed some Pottery Barn candles from the cupboard, placed two of them next to each place setting, and lit them carefully. The sweet aroma soon filled the air, drawing Rachel into the room.
"Wow, something smells amazing!" she said, taking a whiff of the candles.
"Yep, just getting dinner ready," he said, bustling around the room.
"What's all this for? Is there some kind of celebration?" Rachel asked, obviously intrigued by her husband's actions.
"I guess you could say that," Ross replied, pulling out a chair for Rachel, and seating himself.
"First of all," Ross leaned across the table, touched her hand, and passionately kissed her, engaged by the feel of her smooth lips. "And second," he said, picking up the Reunite and pouring her a glass.
"This dinner looks incredible," Rachel complimented, staring uneasily at the wine flowing from the bottle.
Ross noticed Rachel's eyes, "Is everything okay? I know Reunite isn't any Chardonnay, but I thought we could give it a try."
"Well, let's get started. So, what do have to tell me?" Rachel asked timidly.
"Honey, now, please don't get worked up about this... but, I've just been offered a great job, and if I accept, I would be earning close to $150,000!" Ross exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh! That's great, how can I not get worked up!?" Rachel said happily.
"Well, I'm not finished. You see, the job is only for a year..." Ross started.
"Yes, and..." Rachel pushed.
"Well, it's at UCLA, which means that we would have to move to California," he finished.
"I..I, I don't know what to say," Rachel stammered.
"Honey, I know it's a big change, but this would be great for my career! But, I don't want to push you to do anything, remember, your opinion always comes first."
"I need some time, sweetheart. I mean, there are so many things going on in our life right now, just, please, give me some time to think," Rachel pleaded.
"That's fine, I'll be right back, going to check on Summer," Ross said.
Rachel watched him leave the room, then rushed over to the counter, trying not to make much noise. She carefully poured her wine into the sink, washed out the glass, then rinsed the purple alcohol out of the sink. Dashing over to the refrigerator, she pulled open the door and grabbed a bottle of grape juice. She poured a small amount into her glass, returned the juice to the fridge, then ran back over to the table.
Ross returned to the room, "Sleeping like an angel. Honey, why are you sweating?"
God, I knew I ran to fast, Rachel thought. However, she managed to come up with an answer, "It must be these candles, the flames are burning me up!"
"Is that better, sweetie?" Ross asked, blowing out some of the candles.
"Perfect," Rachel said, smiling.
"How's the wine? I hope it's not too sweet," Ross questioned.
"It's fine," she replied, taking a reassuring sip of the juice, hoping he wouldn't notice a difference.
Rachel looked down, finally remembering the conversation they had been having earlier. She loved New York, being close to her friends, everything was so perfect. But, she also knew how much this opportunity meant to her husband, and the fact that she cared so much about him, made her realize that she would do almost anything to make him happy.
"Honey, I've thought it over, and if it really means that much to you, then we can move. I mean, it's only for a year, how much can change?" Rachel said, although she knew deep down that so much would end up happening.
"Sweetie, thank you so much! I'll never forget how great you are, you're the best wife a man could ask for. Someday, I'll find a way to repay you," Ross beamed, getting up and wrapping his arms around her.
Rachel leaned in and kissed him slowly. She was so happy with this man, he made her feel so needed, yet safe at the same time. He would never understand how happy he had already made her, just by being a part of her life.
Ross's Office
"Yes, and I have the essay written already. No. No, no, I'm sure that it's spell-checked. But, you said it was my book! I'm not gonna share it with some other scientist. This is my shot, my fame, my EVERYTHING! Sure, yes, ok. Oh, don't you worry, I changed my mind, everything is ALRIGHT!"
Screw him, Ross thought, slamming down the phone. This was supposed to be my book. Why can't anything just be mine, FOR ONCE! That's when Ross realized it... the fact that he had completely changed. Ever since he had been working so much, he had become such a selfish jerk. Why did everything have to be his?
"Excuse me, Dr. Geller?" said a businessman standing near his desk.
"Oh, yes, I'm so sorry, just kind of daydreaming. Anyway, what can I do for you?" Ross said, getting down to business.
"Well, actually, I was sent here by Mr. Ganfeld, your boss. You see, he had some news he wanted me to give you," said the man importantly.
"Oh, god, I hope it's not about that evolution document that was due yesterday," Ross muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" asked the man curiously.
"Umm.. nothing. So, what's the news?" asked Ross.
"Well," the man started, pulling up a chair. "You see, Mr. Ganfeld has been asked by the UCLA, to provide two scientists for a research program that they're working on. However, this would mean that you and your family would have to move to California, but I'm sure that won't be a problem once you find out the salary..."
"Oh, um... I'm not sure about the location, I mean..." Ross started.
"The salary would come to a total of $150,000 for one year," he interrupted.
"I.. WOW!" Ross almost fell out of his chair with disbelief.
"We'll need to know your answer by the end of the week. Until then, I have to go inform the other lucky man about his opportunity," said the man as he winked at Ross, then walked out the door.
Ross was left motionless in his chair, once again torn between his family and himself.
Ross and Rachel's
Rachel was pacing the room back and forth. What was she going to do? How would Ross respond? Thank goodness she had already told Summer, and had been overjoyed to find out how happy her daughter was. Oh, no! she suddenly thought. Summer. What if something came up and she wasn't ready to tell Ross? Summer would be sure to sneak the news to her father.
"Mommy, you okay?" asked Summer, apparently worried.
"Mommy's fine, Sunshine. Just doing some very serious thinking, that's all," Rachel replied.
"You look like you're gonna throw-up, mommy," Summer commented.
Sure enough, Rachel felt nauseous and suddenly ran into the bathroom. After a few moments, she regained her stomach and walked out of the bathroom.
"Are you sure you're okay?" her daughter asked again.
"Yes, just a little worried about your father, I guess my stomach was too," Rachel giggled, trying to reassure her little girl.
"Is he going to be happy when he finds out that we're gonna..." Summer said excitedly.
"YES, YES!" Rachel cut of her daughter. "I'm sorry sweetie, but this is our little secret, so you have to keep that information to yourself for a little while. Can you do that for mommy?"
"Yep," Summer answered, running up and hugging her mother's legs.
A couple hours later
Ross hurried to the apartment door, lugging the heavy wine bottle and Olive Garden carry-out bags behind him. Hopefully, over a nice dinner, his wife would agree to moving to California.
"Honey, I'm home!" Ross sang.
"One second, I'll be right there," his wife replied.
Walking over to the kitchen table, Ross sat down the Reunite wine, and started to set the table. He grabbed some Pottery Barn candles from the cupboard, placed two of them next to each place setting, and lit them carefully. The sweet aroma soon filled the air, drawing Rachel into the room.
"Wow, something smells amazing!" she said, taking a whiff of the candles.
"Yep, just getting dinner ready," he said, bustling around the room.
"What's all this for? Is there some kind of celebration?" Rachel asked, obviously intrigued by her husband's actions.
"I guess you could say that," Ross replied, pulling out a chair for Rachel, and seating himself.
"First of all," Ross leaned across the table, touched her hand, and passionately kissed her, engaged by the feel of her smooth lips. "And second," he said, picking up the Reunite and pouring her a glass.
"This dinner looks incredible," Rachel complimented, staring uneasily at the wine flowing from the bottle.
Ross noticed Rachel's eyes, "Is everything okay? I know Reunite isn't any Chardonnay, but I thought we could give it a try."
"Well, let's get started. So, what do have to tell me?" Rachel asked timidly.
"Honey, now, please don't get worked up about this... but, I've just been offered a great job, and if I accept, I would be earning close to $150,000!" Ross exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh! That's great, how can I not get worked up!?" Rachel said happily.
"Well, I'm not finished. You see, the job is only for a year..." Ross started.
"Yes, and..." Rachel pushed.
"Well, it's at UCLA, which means that we would have to move to California," he finished.
"I..I, I don't know what to say," Rachel stammered.
"Honey, I know it's a big change, but this would be great for my career! But, I don't want to push you to do anything, remember, your opinion always comes first."
"I need some time, sweetheart. I mean, there are so many things going on in our life right now, just, please, give me some time to think," Rachel pleaded.
"That's fine, I'll be right back, going to check on Summer," Ross said.
Rachel watched him leave the room, then rushed over to the counter, trying not to make much noise. She carefully poured her wine into the sink, washed out the glass, then rinsed the purple alcohol out of the sink. Dashing over to the refrigerator, she pulled open the door and grabbed a bottle of grape juice. She poured a small amount into her glass, returned the juice to the fridge, then ran back over to the table.
Ross returned to the room, "Sleeping like an angel. Honey, why are you sweating?"
God, I knew I ran to fast, Rachel thought. However, she managed to come up with an answer, "It must be these candles, the flames are burning me up!"
"Is that better, sweetie?" Ross asked, blowing out some of the candles.
"Perfect," Rachel said, smiling.
"How's the wine? I hope it's not too sweet," Ross questioned.
"It's fine," she replied, taking a reassuring sip of the juice, hoping he wouldn't notice a difference.
Rachel looked down, finally remembering the conversation they had been having earlier. She loved New York, being close to her friends, everything was so perfect. But, she also knew how much this opportunity meant to her husband, and the fact that she cared so much about him, made her realize that she would do almost anything to make him happy.
"Honey, I've thought it over, and if it really means that much to you, then we can move. I mean, it's only for a year, how much can change?" Rachel said, although she knew deep down that so much would end up happening.
"Sweetie, thank you so much! I'll never forget how great you are, you're the best wife a man could ask for. Someday, I'll find a way to repay you," Ross beamed, getting up and wrapping his arms around her.
Rachel leaned in and kissed him slowly. She was so happy with this man, he made her feel so needed, yet safe at the same time. He would never understand how happy he had already made her, just by being a part of her life.