Chapter 17 Rachel has a one night stand
I woke up the next day at a leisurely 8:30 without the annoying work day alarm. I stretched and smiled in the guest bed of my sister's home. The windows were bright with summer sun and a faint smell of bacon and coffee drifted up to me. I yawned and stretched and climbed out of bed feeling refreshed and happy.
I came down stairs to find my sister, Mary chopping mushrooms and onions as bacon sizzled on the stove. "Morning sis," I said.
Mary looked up and smiled at me and said, "Morning sleepy head. I thought I might have to eat breakfast alone."
I grinned and said, "So when did you become Martha-fucking-Stewart?"
Mary laughed and said, "I actually have been learning to cook lately and I find it shockingly enjoyable."
"I will say a lot has changed with you recently" ambiguously referencing not only the household changes, but also the openness of the discussions from the previous evening.
Mary grinned and said, "Hope we get some girl time to chat about it."
Rachel meandered down the stairs stretching and yawning dressed in a pair of loose fitting men's boxer shorts and a t-shirt a moment later.
"Mom that smells awesome." Was the first thing she said.
Mary smiled and said, "Aunt Sara doesn't cook for you?"
We all laughed at the ridiculousness of that statement. Cooking for me was opening a box of cereal.
"Well I thought we could all eat a nice breakfast together." Mary said stirring eggs into a hot skillet with the mushrooms and onions.
"Panty chat with mom." Rachel said giggling.
I blushed as Mary turned to us with a confused look on her face. Rachel grinned at her slip and was forced to explain our occasional tradition of having coffee in our undies on Saturday mornings.
Mary laughed and said, "You crazy city girls." And we all laughed together.
Breakfast was just about as perfect as it could get. The three of us sat in the kitchen laughing, telling stories of family parties and holidays past, and in general had a fabulous time bonding.
As we were clearing up after the food, Mary asked, "So what would you two like to do today?"
Rachel and I both shrugged as neither of us had thought much about the trip other than getting here. Mary grinned and said, "How about a little 'retail therapy'?"
An hour later we had each taken a quick shower and dressed in casual clothes and were on our way. Mary turned on to the expressway and accelerated west on 64.
"Um where are we going Mom?" Rachel asked as her mom had turned away from their normal shopping haunts.
Mary grinned and said, "Rachel, today I think we are going to go out west to shop. You have managed to not only get into a great college, but have found a way to pay for it. I think you deserve better than Target."
Rachel grinned and said, "Awesome. I love you Mom."
Mary grinned back and said, "I love you too sweetheart. Let's splurge."
The shopping was fun and Mary and I each picked up a few things, but mostly it was Rachel who we were there for. She got two new pairs of jeans, a pair of boots, a new swimsuit that would raise eyebrows in Brazil, and two new blouses.
We took a break and had lunch at a small café outside the mall. Over ice tea and salads we drew up our game plan for the afternoon. Rachel wanted to pick up a new set of tennis shoes and a DVD. I had already blown my budget for the month so was pretty much done, and Mary said she had some other small items to get.
Mary proposed that immediately after lunch we would split up, finish our shopping in an hour and meet back at the Starbucks. After that we would head back to Mary's house for happy hour on the deck.
Mary asked me if I would come with her and I readily agreed. Rachel finished her salad and said, "Thanks for the fun day Mom. I really appreciate it, and I really appreciate you buying everything."
Mary smiled realizing that her daughter maybe had grown up and said, "My pleasure sweetie. Here go buy something fun for yourself."
Mary handed Rachel 2 crisp 100 dollar bills. Rachel pushed the money back and said, "Mom jeez that's too much money."
Mary pushed the money back to Rachel and said, "Honey I told you about your Dad's raise. It really isn't that much anymore."
Rachel took the money a bit uncomfortably and said, "Thanks."
And then she was gone, no doubt doubling back to the music store or the shoe store. It could go either way.
Mary smiled as she watched her leave. I said, "Wow you really have changed."
Mary looked at me and said, "What?"
"Come on sis. You never spent 200 dollars on a day shopping in your life. Today you handed out two hundred to Rachel and I know you charged at least 500 more."
Mary fidgeted and said, "I know. I could get used to it though."
I nodded and said, "Well not too used to it I hope. Even with the new raise, you surely can't afford to do this too often."
Mary leaned in conspiratorially and said, "Actually sis, I could."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? How is that?"
Mary grinned and said, "Well you know those stock options I told you about?"
"Yeah." I said curiously.
"Richard sold them in the merger and they agreed to split them if he stayed for 24 months. He got half up front and regular payments every quarter for 8 quarters. The total value was 5.4 million dollars."
My mouth fell open in total surprise. "Did you say million with an 'M'?"
Mary nodded. "Don't you dare say a word. Richard and I promised each other we would never tell a living soul because we don't want all the problems that come with that kind of money."
"What problems?" I asked incredulously.
Mary shrugged, "You know those lotto winner stories right. The ones where the poor couple gets a few million bucks and then 5 years later are broke and everyone thinks they are assholes."
"Sure but that is different..."
Mary cut me off. "Is it really? I mean those people think they have so much money they will never run out. Then their friends and family start thinking they should have some too because its millions. And the charities calling all the time. And the tax man takes over half because they don't know about shelters. I know it's hard to believe Sara, but having this money is real fucking work."
I nodded still skeptical and said, "I wouldn't mind trying it."
Mary laughed. "Don't get me wrong, I am not saying its not worth it, but look, Richard and I have a great life. We have always gotten by even when it didn't feel like it. We are putting most of that money in a trust for Rachel that she can have when she is 40 and the rest in a retirement account so we will be taken care of later. We paid off the house and have enough left over to never work if that's what we want to do, but that's not what we are going to do."
"So what are you going to do?"
"We have agreed to spend the two years and not change much about our lifestyle to kind of get used to the idea of having money. After that, we will see. We each took 100 K and spent it. Mad money if you will. And you know what?"
"What?" I asked.
"After the new furniture around the house and a few splurges, I had a hard time finding things to spend it on. I still have 48,000 in a savings account that I have emotionally given myself permission to spend, but it's still there. With no mortgage, care payment, or other big payment, my monthly budget is pretty much groceries."
I nodded slowly starting to see what she was saying.
Mary continued, "And you know what makes me the happiest about the money?"
I shrugged.
"Spending on the people I love. Creating memories; taking vacations; enjoying life."
