aside so the door could be opened for her. The efficient staff ushered her inside to register with an ease that spoke of years of outstanding service. The front desk clerk smiled in recognition as she approached the white marble counter of the front desk.
“Good afternoon, Miss Williams,” she welcomed her warmly, always glad to see the friendly woman before her.
“Hello, Carol,” Rachel greeted her. “Nice to see you again.”
“Hope your stay is a pleasant one,” Carol told her sincerely as Rachel signed the papers before her.
“Thanks, Carol,” she said happily, taking the card key from her. “Have a good one.”
Rachel passed through the hotel lobby, feeling at once spoiled and unused to the luxury of the exquisitely beautiful marble surroundings and crystal chandeliers. Despite her successful writing career and financial situation, she was still the basic country girl that had spent her childhood in the mountains of Colorado with her cousin and aunt.
By the time she made her way to her room on the fifteenth floor, her mind was already filling with memories of her time spent with her Aunt Kay, Roy, Jarod, and Sam. She swiped her card key and opened the door, closing it behind her and flipping the extra security lock into place. She threw her purse and card key onto the rich cherry credenza then sat down on the elegant rose brocade coverlet on the decadent bed. She lay down on the softness and sighed, tired from her trip from Connecticut.
After allowing herself the luxury of doing absolutely nothing for a few minutes, she stood up and reached for her bags that had already been placed in her room. She unzipped the garment bag and carefully removed the delicate dress that was inside it. She hung it up quickly and turned to open her overnight bag. She looked at her watch and saw that it was still early enough for her to take some time to rest before she had to get ready for her night out. Setting the alarm on her phone, she placed it on the bedside table to make sure she wouldn’t oversleep and miss her date.
Settling beneath the soft covers, she turned onto her side and cuddled into the warmth of the sheets. It was cool in the room with the air conditioning unit on, but she liked to sleep with the room cooler. Closing her eyes, she sighed tiredly. She concentrated on the sound of her breathing and willed herself to relax. When she scented the cinnamon and sugar fragrance, she smiled at its familiarity. That scent always made her happy. It also always preceded a really nice dream.
She calmed immediately and settled. It wasn’t long before she drifted off into a restful sleep. The scent intensified and she breathed deeply to inhale the comforting presence that wrapped her in warmth.
The sweet angel Bernadette smiled down at the kind woman who had been close to her heart since she had been born. Rachel was a wonderful person. Bernadette ached for the loneliness and the cruelty that her sweet baby had experienced. Well, it was time to make things better for her little girl.
She laughed softly as Rachel took a deep breath and sighed contentedly. She loved that she had such an effect on her. Over the years, Bernadette had visited Rachel often as she slept. She sent her beautiful dreams that helped her when she was sad, but sometimes her dreams weren’t enough. Rachel ached with the loss of the one man she had sacrificed so much for in order to protect both him and her family.
Sam McCoy was her destined mate. Bernadette knew the goodness of the man. She also knew how he had suffered without Rachel by his side over the years. This had to be remedied. Her little baby girl was all grown up. Her beautiful Rachel needed to find the love and the happiness that she was destined to experience with Sam.
Leaning forward, she kissed the crescent moon birthmark that graced the corner of Rachel’s right eye. She giggled sweetly as Rachel smiled and released a sigh of contentment.
“Sleep, my sweet Rachel,”
Translated by George Fyler Townsend