Don walked into Riley's apartment; she was racing around throwing things out of her way. She seemed to be looking for something.
"Lose something?" Don asked as he approached her in the bedroom.
She threw away the pillows on the window seat. "I can't find it, Don, I can't find it anywhere."
"What, Riley?" He put a hand on her shoulder. "Babe, what did you lose?"
"The ring," she replied frantically. "I lost my mom's ring." She stopped and sat on the window seat. "I've looked everywhere." She started to sob.
Don sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. "Did you retrace your steps, everywhere?"
"I did," she looked at him as tears came down her cheeks. "What's the likelihood that I would lose it on the one-year anniversary of her death?"
Don kissed her temple then her head fell into his shoulder. "It's ok, I'll look for you," he told her and got up. He started in the kitchen then made his way to the living room, and then the bedroom and finally the bathroom. It was about fifteen minutes after he started when he came out of the bathroom and held out his hand to her. The sapphire ring was lying in his palm.
She looked up at him in shock. "I can't believe…where did you…"
"It was behind the toilet. I figured you probably got too frantic and just passed over it." He sat down next to her again as she slipped it onto her finger. "You ok?"
She sighed. "I don't know. Today's been pretty rough." She rubbed the tears from her face.
"Have you talked to your dad yet?"
"No, but Derrick called me this morning and said Sadie cried all morning before she went to school today. I don't regret moving out, but maybe I should've been there today."
"Do you really think you being there would've made it easier? They miss your mom, just like you and Landon do. Just because you and Landon are older doesn't mean it should be easier, or that you can really make it better for your brother and sister."
She stared at him for a second. "If it was you, though, wouldn't you want to be there for your younger sister?"
"Yeah, I would. I know, I should just keep my mouth shut; I've never been in this situation I don't know what it's like."
She kissed his cheek. "I know you're trying to help, and I appreciate that." She took his hand. "Come on, we're gonna be late for dinner."
"I still can't believe you're taking me to dinner at your dad's on the anniversary of your mom's accident. Shouldn't this be a family thing?" he said as he stood.
Riley grabbed her heels and slid them on. "You're family to me; you're allowed to be there too."
At dinner Don decided that getting on Riley's dad's good side was a losing battle, so he decided to appeal to her siblings. Her younger brother, Derrick, was sitting across from him.
"So, when's school over guys?" Don asked, looking at Sadie and Derrick.
"Two more weeks," Sadie answered enthusiastically.
"I bet you guys are excited. Derrick, did you decide on a school?"
"Yeah, Boston University," he responded and almost simultaneously his dad cleared his throat.
"Dad," Riley said quietly and glared at her dad.
That reaction from both his girlfriend and her father made Don decide to drop the conversation. Landon started a conversation about a different subject after only a moment of silence. Don just stayed quiet as the family talked. Landon's wife, Janet, brought out dessert when the conversation turned to her cooking. Don put his hand on Riley's thigh and she put her hand on his.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear then got up with Landon and Janet to begin clearing the table.
Don was helping Riley's family clean up the dishes from their dinner in the kitchen when he realized Riley and her dad weren't in the room. He could slightly see them in the living room. Riley was sitting on the couch and her dad across from her.
Don had Riley alone for the first time when they were in his car on the way home. She was silently looking out the window. Don knew she had been an emotional wreck the whole day, so he wasn't quite sure whether she wanted to talk.
"Turn up here please, to the right," she finally requested, breaking the silence.
Don did as she asked without even looking at her.
"It's up here on the left, turn in here," she said and again he did as he was told.
Don noticed he was in a cemetery. She told him exactly where to go. He parked the car and turned off the engine. He realized they were in the cemetery where her mom was buried. He watched her get out of the car and walk down the grassy slope. He contemplated for a second then decided to get out of the car. He reached in the glove compartment and grabbed a flashlight.
When he walked up behind her, he flashed the light on the polished stone. Riley brushed away the grass and leaves. She fell onto the ground on her knees.
"Mommy, I miss you so much," she cried and put her hands to her face. "Dad, he's so lost without you. I can tell he's scared to raise Derrick and Sadie without you." Don put his hand on her shoulder and swallowed over the lump in his throat. "I don't know…I don't think I can do this. Why did you have to die?" She sobbed continuously.
Don dropped to his knees beside her and pulled her to him. He kissed her cheek then her forehead. She cried into his shoulder.
"My dad told me he's scared about raising Sadie by himself. My mom's dead, Landon's married, I moved out, and now Derrick's leaving too," she told him as she lifted her head.
"Riley, you have to stop doing this. This isn't something you can control."
"It's just my dad looks to me for some reason to help him make it better but I can't," she wiped her eyes. "Not without losing my independence. But I want to help…I just don't know how."