Thank you - thank you for the comments...I can't tell you how happy I am that you guys are enjoying this story.

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Chapter 10

"Lucas, it's been a while." The stylishly dressed woman seemed totally out of place on his porch.

Flushed with anger, he glared at her. "Missy, what are you doing here?"

"I was in the area," she whispered. Then her voice gained strength. "I've come to see my daughter."

"This is totally inappropriate," Lucas said in a raised voice. "Why are you really here Missy?" He took hold of her elbow and ushered her onto the side deck, barely able to contain his fury. "You have to leave. Now."

"Will you at least let me see my daughter?"

"You have no right to call her your daughter, nor any claim to her."

She laid a conciliatory hand on his arm. "Please, just hear me out."

He shook her off. "I can't imagine anything you could say to change my mind. You're the one who left. You're the one who never communicated anything except a signature on the cheque." Clenching his teeth, he bit back an oath. "There's only one criterion to apply in this situation—what is best for Samantha."

Missy folded her arms across her chest and stared at her feet, as if submitting to the bludgeon of his words. "I've lived with regret, believe me. I can't explain to you exactly what was going on with me after Samantha came along. All I know is that I'm not ready to be a mother. I thought the best way is to give her to you and for me to leave."

"Do you want me to thank you? It's been six years, Missy, and here's a news flash—we have a new life, a happy, satisfying one. And it doesn't include you."

"I was afraid you'd say that." She hesitated then looked him in the eye. "Does Samantha ask about me? Wonder who I am?"

"Not really. It's pretty hard for anyone to understand, much less a baby, how his mother could walk away and reject her."

"But it was me, not her. I made some mistakes, but some things have happened since…" She trailed off, biting her lip as if struggling for emotional control. "I, uh, was in a relationship up until last year. I had two miscarriages, the last resulting in a hysterectomy. I wanted those children, Lucas. I can't get them back, but Samantha…"

Steeling himself, Lucas said, "I'm sorry you've had a rough patch, but it's not Samantha's responsibility to make it up to you."

"I know that. I'm not here to intrude on her life or demand to become part of it. That would be up to her…and to you."

"Then why are you here?"

To his surprise, her eyes filled. "I need to see for myself. How she's grown, that she's okay, if we could talk occasionally." With a forefinger, she wiped away a teardrop. Then her expression stiffened. "I'd prefer not to resort to legal means."

A cool gust of wind caused Lucas to shudder. The specter of a legal battle overwhelmed him. Was it selfish to keep Samantha's mother from her? Yet what psychological damage might a reunion do to his daughter? To him? Where was the line between what was best for Samantha and his own vulnerability as a parent? As a man?

"All right, Missy. I won't keep you from seeing her. But at the very least, I need to prepare Samantha. Come back tomorrow afternoon around four."

"Thank you. I promise not to make this any more difficult than it already is."

After she left, Lucas stood on the porch, frozen with the knowledge that in a few short moments everything would change. He prayed he could find the right words to prepare his daughter.

Finally, he went inside and reluctantly made his way to Samantha's room. Opening the door, he stared at his daughter. "Sammy, I need to talk to you."

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"Is she going to take me away?"

Lucas tensed. "Of course not. She just want to see you."

"I don't want to see her daddy," Samantha said.

He tried to not resent anybody but right now Lucas wants to strangle Missy. He hates seeing his daughter sad. Part of him wants to fight Missy but Samantha would only be a child for a short time and as far as he was concerned, he would give her happy memories even if that involves the woman he dislike. "I thought you wanted a mommy."

"I do. I want Miss Riley to be my mommy."

"Sammy—"

"No! I don't want someone else. I want Miss Riley!"

With heavy heart Lucas left Samantha's room to prepare dinner. How does one argue with an almost six year old child? Samantha is way too young to understand what's going on.

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Riley had spent most of the day reflecting on the Colorado job offer. It should feel like the culmination of hard work; instead, it seemed anticlimactic. There was only one reason for that—Lucas Friar. Yes, they enjoyed each other's company, but could she throw over a fabulous opportunity for the mere possibility that he might care as much for her as she does for him?

She did her best not to think and focus instead on her little students. By the time they were back from recess, Riley knew what she was going to do, even if it might prove to be the riskiest decision she had ever made.

Jobs were plentiful, but there was only one Lucas.

She was just about to start another lesson when she saw Samantha silently crying. Alarmed, she went to the little girl.

Quickly she hugged Samantha. "Honey, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Do you like me Miss Riley?" Before she could answer, she went on. "Cause I really, really like you."

"Of course I like you." She didn't seem to want to meet her eyes. She waited.

"Samantha, has something happened? Did you have a fight with someone? Do you want me to call your daddy?"

"No. I don't want daddy." Her pleading look worried her. "I don't like him right now."

The statement stunned her. "Samantha?" she coaxed, "tell me what's wrong."

"It's her. She's come."

Mystified, Riley prompted her. "Who?"

She spat out the words "My mommy." She struggled for breath. "I hate her. I don't want her here. I don't want to see her and—"

Riley stopped her with a "Shh" before she got more worked up. With her arm around her, she cuddled her close, sensing her anger and hurt. She knew she had to phone Lucas, but right now Samantha was her priority. "Would it be so bad to see her?"

"I don't want to go with her!"

"Oh sweetheart, she can't take you with her. Your daddy and Pappy Joe won't let her take you." She hesitated, searching for words. "Aren't you the tiniest bit curious about her?"

"No. She doesn't like me."

"You don't know that." She ran her fingers soothingly through her hair. "Adults sometimes do crazy things. Things they regret, and sometimes things they can't change." Even as she uttered this consolation, Riley struggled with her anger at the woman who had just appeared out of the blue and shattered Samantha's world. "You know, your dad will be there, and he won't let anyone take you away."

"And you'll be there, too, right?"

Lucas never mentioned Samantha's mother to her and, that could be awkward, but Riley couldn't deny Samantha. "I'll stay long enough to see make sure you are okay." She hugged her to her. "I'll go call your dad and tell him I'll bring you home."

"Okay, I guess," she said, looking as dejected as she'd ever seen her.

When Riley returned from phoning a relieved Lucas, Samantha stood and slowly pulled a crumpled paper from her jeans pocket. "For you," she said, holding it out to her.

She withdrew the paper and only with steel control did she keep from bursting into tears. Drawn were stick people: Pappy Joe, Lucas, Samantha and Riley and the words "The Friar Family."

She couldn't speak. Only a hug would do.