Riley wiped her wet eyes with tissue and looked at her phone. With a confused look she walked onto the balcony before heading into Lucas and Robbie's suite. Lucas was sitting on the edge of his bed with the smart TV's remote in his hand. She cracked a smile when she saw a dresser and desk barricade the door.
"So that's why you texted me instead of just coming into my room?" She asked as she sat down next to him.
"Yep and even though your dad and Shawn just left to get lunch, I'm not taking any chances!"
With a giggle and sniffle, she said, "What's on your mind?"
He could tell that she had been crying, "I saw the way you looked out the window when Maya left with her dad..she's coming back."
It touched her at how well he knew her despite not knowing her for long.
His hand grasped hers, "You don't have to handle this alone."
"..I know she's coming back tonight..what scares me is what happens if she goes to Vermont. Her stepsister is her age. What if she likes her and her real family more than us?"
"Riley, that's impossible. You and Maya are the closest friends I know!"
"But they're her real family and…I feel horrible and selfish for thinking like this because we've been friends for almost all our lives and they don't know her at all! Yet, all-all I can think about is how much I'm going miss her if she does spend Christmas with them. I'm a terrible person for feeling this way!"
With his hand still in hers, he gently tightened his grip and held her cheek with his free hand. She gasped and turned her face into his palm.
"Riley, you're the best person I know! It's not wrong to want to spend time with your best friend. Sure, she's not your kin, you don't have the same last name and you two don't look like each other at all and-.."
Her brows furrowed, "You're really not helping me feel better.."
"But you're still sisters; no one will ever change that fact."
"…How can you know that?"
"I don't..I have faith and.." he let go of her face and turned on the TV with the remote.
"Farkle!" Riley happily shouted when his face appeared on the TV's screen.
"The one and only!" Farkle proudly held out his arms and smiled.
"I'm so happy that you're here but..I don't want to ruin your vacation with my problems," she shook her head.
Farkle calmly explained, "Riley, I can't have a good time knowing that you're feeling this way! Friends are always there for each other and right now, you need us."
"I couldn't help you on my own and Farkle is the best backup any guy could have," Lucas said.
Her eyes went to him and then Farkle, "I appreciate what you guys are trying to do but..you can't know what Maya will do."
In unison Lucas and Farkle and said, "Yes we do."
"How?"
"Remember Beth, Kayla and Mackenzie? And Mrs. Bartley?" Farkle asked.
"Of course I do, they're the ones who…" she stopped talked once she realized what he was about to say.
"Who thought they could get in between you and Maya by replacing one of you as the other's best friend. Or like Mrs. Bartley make you both sit at opposites of the room. All of them were stupid to think that anything could get in between you two. So a stepsister could never tear you two apart!"
She smiled at his conviction and felt Lucas squeeze her hand.
"That's why I got Farkle here, I have faith that Maya will always be your best friend but I needed more than faith to convince you..I needed…"
"Facts! You're lucky Riley, you have faith and facts by your side."
"Now..and always," Lucas added.
She couldn't possibly be more grateful for them, "You guys are the best! Group hug!"
Before Lucas could speak Riley held out her arms and walked towards the TV where Farkle 's outstretched arms waited.
"Oh wow, we're really doing this…" Lucas got up and with Riley, awkwardly hugged the television screen and wall.
Maya turned down the radio's volume as Kermit drove, "Where are we going?"
"A place that I think we'll both enjoy," he glanced at her before returning his eyes to the road.
"OK…why didn't you ask mom and me in person instead of calling?"
He took a breath and said with a little laugh, "Because your mom would have kicked my ass."
"Well if anyone deserves it…"
"I won't argue with you there."
She blinked, "You do know that a shopping spree won't make me forgive you, right?"
"I'm aware and that's not what we're doing."
"Good because even if you were, you couldn't afford it...unless you're secretly a Minkus."
He grinned, "Sorry to disappoint you."
Her left brow rose when he pulled behind the plaza.
"We're here!" He parked the car and unlocked the doors.
"And we're breaking and entering in 'here'?"
"No, we're going in the back way because I want this to be a surprise."
"Ah, I see."
"Unless you want us to bond over breaking the law, we could litter and jaywalk instead?"
She smirked, "A father and daughter mugshot would be nice addition to the Hart Family Photo Album."
He chuckled, "Come on, my friend's waiting for us inside."
Even when she and Kermit entered the brick building, she still had no idea where they were. The moment she stepped onto the main floor her eyes lit up. She marveled at the art studio and its various stations for different mediums.
"Hey Kermit! Glad you could make it," a grey haired man in his early sixties hugged Kermit.
"Hi Neil! It's good to see you again. This is my daughter, Maya. Maya, this is Neil Jackson; he's a good friend of mine."
"It's a pleasure meeting you Maya," he shook her hand and smiled kindly.
"It's good to meet you too, Mr. Jackson," she grinned, "this place is amazing."
"Thanks! Every station is set up and we have the place to ourselves for the whole day. I need to make a few calls, if you two need anything, I'll be in the back."
Kermit thanked Neil and asked her, "So, how am I doing so far?"
She tried to downplay how happy she was and shrugged, "Not bad…I guess."
Lucas and Robbie guided four empty wheeled trash cans up the long driveway.
"How's that special gift coming along?" Robbie asked.
"My aunt finished it, she's shipping it out tonight," he replied.
"Wow, she really does work fast!"
"I told you, she's like lighting! She texted me a pic of it, I'll show you when we get inside."
"Thanks so much for doing this for me, I really do appreciate it."
"It's the least I could do. You did help me Riley's Christmas present."
"Don't mention it and truth be told, I'm pretty much the master of gifts," he said with a smug smile.
Lucas laughed, "I can't argue with that..you wanna play Rocket League when we get inside?"
"Sure! I just have a thing I have to do and then I'll meet you in the den."
"What's the thing?"
"I'm-I'm planning a scheme for tonight and need meet with the other players," Robbie said and then told him about his plan.
"Sounds good! I hope it works out it for you."
He nodded, "Me too, Tex..me too."
Many things had surprised Maya during her short time with her father. She discovered that he too was an artist although he preferred water colors. They had the same sense of humor, certain mannerisms and even tastes in music and movies.
"So..are you having a good time?" He asked her as he put the finishing touches on his painting.
For a second, she considered answering with a sarcastic remark, "I really am…"
His mouth pulled into a wide smile.
After a beat she said, "..Maybe we could have moments like this?"
"We definitely don't have enough and I know that's all on me."
She put down her brush and turned to him, "I can't disagree with you there."
"…Maya..you and your mother were are great. I..I left because I was scared, insecure, and irresponsible. I wouldn't have been a good father and husband. And I know it's not an excuse, there isn't one-but, it's the truth. I'm sorry for being such a coward and I'm glad that I'm here with you now. And I'll do everything to make things right."
Maya slowly nodded taking in his words. She believed him and grinned, "Me too, Dad."
He smiled then leaned over and looked at her painting, "You definitely inherited my artistic talent."
She chuckled, "I love Mom, she's the best..but I can barely make out her stick figures."
They laughed and decided to take a lunch break.
Author's note: Thanks for the reviews and support. I really do appreciate it and I'm grateful for the positive reactions from you guys. The next chapter will be longer and feature more characters. I didn't want to screw up that upcoming chapter's tone, so I decided to update with this short one.