Chapter 1
"Mommy, what's sex?" five–year old Emma asked her mom.
Rachel's eyes widened at her daughter's inquiry. Oh my… was she expecting that. Three and a half years ago, she boarded the plane to Paris. Now she's back in New York, and just after her daughter's first day of school, she's trapped in a situation she never imagined. What was sex? And how would she explain it to a child in sense that it wouldn't sound bad at all?
Emma patiently looked at her mom, curiously waiting for an answer.
Rachel couldn't think; it was like explaining why birds fly… why do birds fly anyway?
"Mom?"
Rachel smiled and began to scratch her chin. She had to say something. "Where did you get that, honey?"
"The kids at school were talking about it and I didn't know what it is."
Kids, kids, kids, always asking questions… she thought.
"Did they know what it is?"
Emma sighed, "They said that's when two people start kissing. But mommy, you kiss me all the time! Is that sex?"
Rachel panicked; it was much harder than she thought. She knelt down to face her daughter and chuckled, "No sweetie, that's not sex. Sex is when the- the- um…" She was running out of words! "It's what two people, preferably a boy and a girl, do when they love each other and decide that they want to have a baby… like mommies and daddies!"
Rachel watched as her daughter swallowed the information she just heard.
Then she asked again, "So you and daddy had sex to have me?"
If only she could change the topic…
Rachel bit her lip and forced a smile, "Yes sweetie, your daddy and I had sex."
Emma smiled and replied, "Ok!" With that she ran to her room and left her mother knelt on the floor rubbing her temples.
Moving back to New York was difficult. To begin with, Rachel finally had to face her inner demons that had been asleep since she left for Paris. She didn't realize she'd been gone for so long until Louis Vuitton decided to transfer her to their New York City office.
Work and Emma ate most of her time, so she only had a few dates, but none of them worked out. Visiting her friends and family in New York was a plan that never pushed through… thank God they were nice and generous enough to visit her and Emma there. Leonard and Sandra visited yearly, and of course, they came separately. Her sisters, Amy and Jill availed of her 40 off employee discount in Louis Vuitton so showed up often. Monica and Chandler went there once to celebrate their anniversary, and to Rachel's surprise, so did Joey with his progressing acting career in Los Angeles. Phoebe never visited, but she called often. And Ross, who called almost every other day to talk to his daughter, came whenever he had the chance.
Although Rachel hardly noticed Ross' presence in the four times he visited because he came just before the peak season. And that was always a hectic time for the fashion industry for they had to come up with new designs- either for winter, fall, spring or summer. Before she could entertain him, he had already left.
On the other hand, Ross understood Rachel's situation. He himself was busy with work as well… or he kept himself busy with work.
Rachel's departure was surely painful, but after having a heat-to-heart conversation over the phone, Ross came to realize that they were better off as friends.
Why?
For the reason that between them, it was always the wrong time… How can they be together if the world was always against them? It was either because they were with someone else, they felt differently towards each other, or they prioritized something else.
The only living proof that they were once the happiest people in the world was Emma, whom they considered was a gift from God, and even though they were apart, they would do everything for her.
Ross decided to get over Rachel. Love will always exist between them, for it was the only thing they felt for each other… but if time can't be on their side, he might as well go on with his life.
In contrast, Rachel was left in confusion. After the conversation, she thought that was what she wanted. Three years later, she realized she was wrong. All the time in Paris, Rachel failed to think for herself and her feelings because she hardly had the occasion to do so. Arriving in La Guardia airport just struck her like a bat to a baseball… memories of Ross filled her mind.
The question was, was it too late?
Chapter 2 will be uploaded soon:)