Page 124 of Sinful Skulls
“What else would it be?”
She returns her gaze to mine. “Rachel’s birthday gift to herself.”
I’m so confused, but I don’t have time to ask what she means because Jackson and Willow arrive. Everyone cheers up a little bit for Willow’s sake.
“She gets to come home this Friday,” Jackson tells us as we all gather around.
Raffe, Dirk, and Jesse join us a few minutes later. Willow passes her phone around to show everyone her pictures. “We hated leaving her, but we thought we’d at least come by and eat with everyone. For Rachel,” she finishes softly.
When the phone gets to Raffe, his mouth tips up slightly. He can’t help it. “She’s so fucking cute,” he manages to choke out as he passes the phone to Dirk.
As soon as everyone has had a peek, Lexie stands up and whistles for our attention. Everyone turns to face her. “Um, geez, do you all have to look at me? You’re making me nervous.”
We all chuckle.
“That’s what usually happens when you whistle for attention,” Jesse tells her.
“Oh, yeah, well …”
Elizabeth stands and walks over to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “She chose you. You can do this.”
Lexie wrings her hands and nods. “Okay, yeah, well, um, Rachel asked me to help her with a few things before she um, before she passed.”
She looks at Elizabeth and cringes. “You’re doing good, baby. Keep going.”
“One of those things was getting all her pictures and videos together. She had some pretty old forms of media. Some of it wasn’t even developed. She said that wasn’t a bad thing. It just meant that her life was so full, she hadn’t found the time. Anyways, she made time.” She grabs the box beside her and begins to walk around handing everyone a thumb drive.
“This was her birthday gift to herself.” She looks at Raffe. “She told me not to tell you how much it cost.”
The group chuckles, and Raffe shakes his head, leaning back in his chair.
“She wanted all of you to have a copy, but she also requested that you all watch it together.”
When I take mine from Lexie’s hand, I grab her wrist. “You’re doing good, Lex.”
Tears fill her eyes and she nods, going on to the next person.
Once everyone has one, she goes over to her laptop. “I guess it’s dark enough outside. We should be able to see it.” She sits down beside Ash after it starts to play.
Rachel appears on the screen. “I bet you’re all surprised to see me on this side of the camera. Usually I’m the one filming, not being filmed.”
Her laugh fills the night, and it makes me miss her even more.
“Don’t worry, I loved the role I played … every minute of it. So, for my birthday, I want you to sit, laugh, and reminisce with me.” She holds up a finger. “But, after tonight, I want you all to wake up tomorrow and begin making new memories.” She points to her eyes with two fingers before pointing them at us. “I’ll be watching you. I love you all.” She blows a kiss to the camera, and then the show begins.
“Oh my god, these are priceless,” I whisper to Daisy as we all laugh at a video of Bill dancing on the bar.
Her eyes never leave the screen. She’s enjoying it as much as everyone else.
“Oh look, it’s you.”
I glance over at Jackson, and he smiles back. It’s a video of him and me chasing frogs out at the farm. We’re covered head to toe in mud.
Jackson and Willow eventually leave to get back to baby Aspen, but I’m sure Rachel would understand. They’ll have time to watch when they’re home cuddling their newborn.
The rest of us spend the entire evening re-living old memories. Our lives preserved by the most selfless woman I’ve ever met.
Elizabeth, JD, Lexie, Ash, Daisy, and I all stay to clean up. We watch as Dirk and Jesse help Raffe up to their room. No one says anything about it. They’ve always been close, and none of us want to see Raffe alone right now.
