His Other Woman: A Renny and Rachel Christmas Romance by Nancy MacLaren Page A

I thought about that great song from “South Pacific”, “This Nearly Was Mine.” Of course, the guy gets the girl in the end of that story. It is a musical after all. Too bad my life didn’t come with a soundtrack. Too bad my life was just life. Sucky. Unpredictable. Heartbreaking. Wonderful life.
    We were soft with each other, calm, appreciative, gentle. I don’t know what Renny thought but I felt the fragility between us. The thin strand that had kept us tethered to each other’s hopes was very, very thin now.
    I took my time running first my hands and then my mouth down his beautiful body; savoring every taste, every smell of him. I adored every inch of him with no shame. I knew I had never loved anyone like this before and I knew I never would again. This was my true love. Unfortunately for me, Jasmine was his.
    He took his time inside me. There was no urgency, no heat, no fire. We were saying goodbye and we both knew it. When he came I watched his face. I memorized every line, every grimace, every moment of bliss. It would have to last me a long time.
    He pulled out and we lay in each other’s arms, spent completely, in every way. I heard the clock in the outer hall chime 12 times.
    “Merry Christmas,” he whispered in my ear.
    “Merry Christmas darling.”
    And a happy new year.
    .
     
     
     
     

12.
     
    At 3 in the morning I slipped out of bed and Renny’s room and settled back into my chair in the music room. I needed Marlene and I knew she would forgive me for calling her so late. Or early. Whatever. It was only midnight where she was, so I knew she would still be up.
    She and I had developed a code so we would know it was the other and to pick the phone up. I called, let it ring twice and then hung up. I then sent a text telling her to pick up, waited five minutes and called again. This time she was ready.
    “She showed up. The ex-wife,” she stated without any hesitation.
    “How did you know that?” I asked.
    “That’s the only thing that would really shake you enough to call me at, Jesus, 5 A.M.? So I’m here. What can I do to help?”
    “You still got that contract killer on speed dial?”
    “Always. Who you gonna kill though? Her? Him?”
    “Myself?” I joked. Maybe it was a joke.
    “Listen up sister, no man, I mean NO MAN, is worth that, EVER.”
    “It’s just so painful,” I managed before I broke down crying.
    I heard her sigh across the miles. “I know honey, I know. Just tell me.”
    I managed to snuffle out the details, about Jonathan inviting her, the abortion and Renny’s reaction. All of it.
    “That’s it?”
    “Uh yeah. It’s a lot, I think. You don’t?”
    “Nope. I don’t.” She always sounded so sure of herself. That’s why I called her after all.
    “Okay, here’s more then, she’s going on tour with them.”
    “What? How did that happen?”
    “Her new band is their opener. Garrett knew all about it but didn’t bother to warn us. She sprang it at dinner in front of everyone. Renny was furious. He even told his brothers he was quitting the band.”
    “Good for him. See, he doesn’t want to have anything to do with her.’
    “No, that wasn’t it, he thought Garrett or Reade had invited her and he had warned them not to meddle or he’d quit. When he found out it was his Dad that asked her to dinner they made up. He’s going on the tour.”
    “You have got to go too, somehow.” I could hear her brain going a mile a minute across the fiber optics.
    “Well, he did ask me to go. I was less than gracious in my refusal.”
    “He asked you to go on tour with him and you said no?”
    “I didn’t know she was coming. I didn’t want to be stuck on a smelly bus with a bunch of Taylors for two months.”
    “You idiot.”
    “Thanks friend. I’m feeling the love.”
    “You have to change your mind. Tell him you’re going.”
    “I can’t. I’ll look desperate.”
    “You’ll look determined. Which you are, aren’t you? What was your