Countdown to My Divorce

Chapter 72

Rachel smiled weakly at them.

“What a coincidence,” she barely managed. “You’re here at the hospital too?”

Samantha found the encounter strange too, and said awkwardly, Rachel, this is my mom. She just got off the plane, which was poorly ventilated and packed with people. William and I were worried, so we brought her here for a check–up.”

Samantha then took it upon herself to make introductions.

“Mom, this is my colleague, Rachel Lloyd. She’s great and often helps me out at work.”

At Samantha’s explanation, Charmaine Clark immediately grabbed Rachel’s hand and thanked her profusely. “Ms. Lloyd, thank you so much, really. Samantha is still so young and doesn’t really know much. She needs as much help as you can give her.”

Samantha whispered to Charmaine, “Mom, my colleague is hearing–impaired, but she can lip–read. Talk slower.”

“Huh? She’s disabled?” Charmaine blurted out.

Rachel’s face stiffened. She had a hearing impairment, but no one had ever labelled her as disabled before.

to Rachel, “My morn is a straight talker and doesn’t think much when she speaks. Please don’t take

surveying her from head to toe as she started speaking to her like they were age–old friends. “You’re so pretty, just like my daughter! Please

before Rachel, as if

his brows furrowed,

pale, completely not expecting Charmaine to pull William to stand before Rachel

bit her lip, the anxious look on her face way too

gaze at William. “So this is Ms.

and signed to Rachel, “I’ll explain things to you when we’re

her, Rachel said, “I shan’t bother

Charmaine’s arm. “We’ll take my mom to

Rachel nodded. “Go ahead.”

to leave when she realized that William was still rooted to the spot. She reached out and tugged

his shirt.

number

“Okay.”

he brushed past her, but she didn’t even bother looking at