Chapter 10

"Are you just going to sit there all day?" Maya questioned Riley.

"Maybe," Riley muttered.

Maya had known Riley forever and she knows that her best friend won't openly tell her what happened unless she coax it out of her. "Sooo…how are the boys?"

"I don't know," Riley said, indicating Maya to sit beside her.

"You're missing them," Maya said, nodding at Riley and groping for something intelligent or at least coherent to say. Maya was rarely at a loss for words, but something about the way Riley look at the moment rendered her speechless.

"Maya, what should I do?"

"Well, " Maya took a deep breath then plunged in. "What do you want to do? C'mon peaches, tell me what is it that you want to do right now?"

"The truth?" Riley answered, "I want to be free. I'm tired of feeling sad and lonely. I want to be with Lucas, James and Jake. I want to be part of their family."

Maya glanced up, startled by Riley's pained tone. "Then be with them. Stop punishing yourself. You didn't kill Auggie. It was an accident. It's been years Riley. It's time to move on. Auggie would want you to move on and be happy."

Maya found herself gripping Riley's hand, her heart aching for her friend. "Stay here with me for a couple of days, we'll go shopping and do girly stuff and then you decide what you want to do next. But Riles, it's time. Be free."

XxxxxxxxX

Riley parked her car at the end of the driveway and checked the address on the slip of paper taped to the dashboard. Under ordinary circumstances, the charming two–story farmhouse with its wraparound porch and cheerful green trim would have lifted her spirits. But, she reminded herself, these weren't ordinary circumstances.

Marley's breath fogged up the window and she cast Riley an impatient look. This is it. Let's go!

"Easy for you to say." Riley's nerveless fingers fumbled with her seat belt. "At least you know that you're going to get a warm welcome."

She wished she knew what kind of welcome she was going to receive. The last time she'd seen Lucas, he'd listened while she poured out her heart about her past failures and her fears and then he'd put something back into it. Hope. But he didn't know that because she'd left the next morning.

It had taken two weeks for Riley to sort through the tangled emotions their conversation had created. She just wish that Lucas hadn't reached the statute of limitations on forgiveness. Emily Friar, Lucas' aunt, insisted he hadn't. In fact, when Riley had gathered the courage to knock on Emily's door, her irrepressible landlady had told her not to wait until morning to talk to him.

Now Riley was rethinking her impulsive decision to take Emily's advice. But she had some things to tell Lucas and she wasn't going to run away or hide anymore. Even if he rejected her this time.

As soon as Riley opened the door, Marley jumped down and trotted up the driveway as if she'd been there a hundred times.

Riley scanned the spacious yard as she followed the retriever. The only signs of life were the bicycles abandoned on the grass, an assortment of sports equipment and the wooden shell of something resembling the framework of a pirate ship.

Her lips curved into a smile. Lucas encouraged his sons to be curious. He didn't mind if they laughed too loud or whistled off–key. He wanted them to live. She doubted he knew that in the short time they'd known each other, he'd challenged her to do the same thing.

Marley's nose was even with the ground as she followed an invisible path through the grass. Riley had to jog to keep up with her. "Marley, wait!"

Marley rounded the corner of the house and disappeared. Seconds later, Riley found the dog dividing sloppy kisses between James and Jake's identical faces. When they saw her, they rushed into her waiting arms and she gave them a fierce hug. She couldn't believe how quickly they'd worked their way into her heart. Just like their father.

"Where's your…dad?"

"He's in the barn." James pointed to a weathered building a hundred yards away, and Jake grabbed hold of her hand and began to tow her in that direction. She didn't argue.

Lucas had met her more than halfway. It was her turn to take a step forward.

God, please help me find the right words to say.

That she could talk to God so easily was another gift Lucas had given her. His words that night had fanned the tiny embers of her own faith into flames. And who would have known that turning to Him would burn away the guilt she'd struggled with for so many years?

"Dad's almost done," Jake said. "You're going to like it."

Riley didn't have time to question him because the boys suddenly streaked ahead of her. "Dad, Dad! Riley is here!"

Riley drew in a breath and walked into the barn. She'd expected it to be full of dust and shadows, but it wasn't. It was clean and airy. Skylights in the roof flooded the building with sunshine.

Her eyes locked with Lucas' and she saw the smile on his face. It went straight to her heart, and Riley didn't wait for him to take a step forward. She closed the distance between them. And ended up in his arms.

"I thought this would make a good office and studio," he murmured in her ear. "Is there enough light?"

"A studio?" Riley looked around in wonder. "But…how did you know?"

"I didn't." Lucas tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled down at her. "But I hoped. Hope is always a good place to start, don't you think?"

Riley smiled.

It was a very good place to start.

The End