Chapter 10

"Mable, what are you doing here?" Lucas asked with anger in his voice. Riley detected the anger in Lucas's voice and knew she must have been someone important to him. Lucas doesn't get angry unless the person had a meaning to him.
"Lucas, who is she?" Riley asked turning to meet Lucas's gaze.
"Why sweetheart ain't ya pretty little thing. Which cousin of Lucas's are ya?"
"Mable, you shouldn't be here." Lucas continued to voice.
"But baby I miss ya."
"Baby? Lucas, is she your girlfriend?" Riley asked feeling herself wanting to throw up.
"No-."
"Yeah honey, Lucas is right. I'm not his girlfriend, I'm far more important than that. I'm his wife." Mable interrupted.
"WIFE?!" Riley, Maya, and Josh shouted at once.
"Maya, Josh, get me out of here," Riley said in an attempt to hold back her tears.
"Riley, wait. I can explain. Mable isn't my wife, she's my ex-wife." Lucas said grabbing Riley's hand. "Mable, get out of here. NOW!"
"Look Lucas baby, I need to talk to you." Mable pleaded.
"I have nothing to say to you and nothing to talk to you about."
"Lucas, you clearly have stuff to talk about. I'll leave you to it." Riley said attempting to walk away again.
"Riley, please. Don't go. Let me explain everything. I promise you that this will not change anything." Lucas pleaded as he cupped Riley's face.
"Huckleberry, you need to sort out your life before you try to drag Riley into it" Maya said grabbing Riley's other hand.
"Lucas, I'm not going to make my decision about anything right now. I want you to talk to her and come to an understanding of what your situation with her is before we talk." Riley said.
"But please, don't go Riley. Stay." Lucas pleaded.
"Luke, baby, I'm standin right here," Mable called out.
"Lucas, talk to her and if you have time then we'll talk. For right now, I'm going to go to the café just down the road to wait. When you're finished then call me, if you decide that you don't need to talk to me, then don't call me." Riley said pulling away from Lucas. Maya got into the driver's seat of Riley's car as Riley got into the passenger seat. Josh pulled off the driveway with Maya right behind him.
"So, ain't ya gonna tell me who the homewrecking hussy is?" Mable asked with a wicked smile.
"Mable, you don't deserve to breathe the same air as her, let alone disrespect her. What the fuck do you want?"
"I need to make a business deal with you," Mable said.

"Riley, I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this," Maya said grabbing Riley's hand across the table. "Huckleberry said he wouldn't hurt you again."
"I know Maya but how can I possibly compete with a woman he chose to say I do to?"
"You don't have to compete with nuthin and nobody darling, you are above it all," Maya assured her.
"Remember what Cory always tells us, Riley, always listen to both sides of the story," Josh said looking at his niece.
"I'm fine you guys. You guys should get going home." Riley said looking at Maya and then Josh.
"No, we're going to stay with you until Lucas calls." Maya insisted.
"Maya, please? I want to be alone for a while, at least until Lucas calls." Riley pleaded.
"But Ri-"
"Maya, Riley wants to be alone, we should give her space."
"But, but."
"Thank you uncle Josh," Riley thanked with a smile as Josh pulled Maya out of the café booth and out of the restaurant. Riley clasped her hands together and looked forward at the door. She didn't know what to expect but she was ready to face it. I refuse to be helpless little Riley Matthews and I will at least listen to Lucas before I decided to walk out. I won't make the same mistake that Lucas made.

"Mable, I don't understand how exactly it is my problem that you've already spent all your money. We're divorced for a reason." Lucas taking a sip of coffee.
"Coffee? Boy, you've sure changed. I remember when your beverage of choice was vodka and cognac."
"I have a good reason to change. Now can you please get out of my life?"
"Sure baby, once I get the amount of money I need."
"Heh, so you can reappear in my life again when you fucking run out? No."
"Lucas, please. I really need this money."
"Mable, you took enough from me. Isn't what you took from me enough?"
"Look, Lucas, baby," Mable said getting up to wrap her arms around Lucas's waist from behind. Lucas immediately broke her grasp and pulled away from her.
"Don't you ever touch me again Mable."
"Lucas, what about little Aaron?"
"Mable, don't bring Aaron into this."
"Lucas, what can I do to get you to help me?"
"Sole custody of Aaron and I'll give you any reasonable number you ask for."
"Lucas. You want me to sell my son?"
"No, I want you to be a good mother for once. Give your son a better life."
"Lucas, I…Does your new trophy know you got a little boy?"
"No, but she will and if she will accept, she will be a better mother figure than you ever would be."
"Lucas, at one time you loved me, didn't you?"
"Mable, there is no point in discussing that anymore."
"Oh right, your heart will always belong to that one that got away in New York."
"So?"
"Luke…"
"I'll give you ten seconds to decide. 1..2."
"Luke-"
"3..4.."
"Ok! Ok, fine!" Mable agreed.
"I'll have my lawyers draft up the paperwork and send them to you. I'll give you two weeks with Aaron. You will get your money after that two weeks. Spend your time wisely with him and let him remember you as a good mother." Lucas said looking Mable dead in the eyes. Mable got up and walked out of Lucas's home with a smile on her face. She was proud of herself. She knew that in the end, her son would always be the upper hand when it came to new women in Lucas's life but she would be lying if she didn't feel threatened by this new one. Mable has always been successful at chasing the new women in Lucas's life away but this one was different. This one Lucas wanted to hold onto and Mable couldn't have that.

"Please come back over," read the text that Riley received from Lucas. Riley sat there looking at the message for a few minutes before taking a deep breath. She didn't know if she was crazy, pathetic, stupid, or all the above to still be waiting. A sane person would have run for the hills and across the ocean a very long time ago.

Lucas waited inside the house as Riley pulled up his rocky driveway.
"I'm here." Sent Riley.
"Please come inside?"
"Can we talk outside?"
"I'm afraid that if I go outside and you don't like what you hear you'll leave without giving me a chance to hold you."
"Lucas,"
"Please?" Lucas pleaded as he watched from the window. Riley looked at Lucas who stood there waiting for her. His face was filled with sadness and disappointment. Why does he look so sad? Is it because she broke his heart the way he broke mines? Does he feel what I feel when he sees her?

Lucas kept his eyes on Riley's car to make sure she would not decide to reverse and leave. He was ready to run after her if she did so. He smiled when Riley finally decided to emerge from the car. He waited until she got onto the porch before he opened the door and ran out to embrace her.
"Oh, thank God, Riley," Lucas said holding her tight.
"So, wife huh?"
"Ex-wife, I'll explain everything to you Riley but right now just please let me hold you."