Chapter 14

Lucas was unusually cheery that morning. There were no questions about it, it was the near week long he had with Riley. Normally, during the week, they were both so busy with their own responsibilities it made it difficult for them to see one another. Lucas usually had to drive up to Dallas on the weekends to see Riley and even then, sometimes she was on rotation. Riley's trip to drop off Maya during her three-day rotation off at the hospital gave Lucas an additional three days with her. It was a bittersweet realization for Lucas. On the up side, he will have spent nearly a week with Riley as he would be driving back to Dallas with her, but on the other side, it meant parting with her would be even more difficult that it already is.

"Lucas, you don't have to drive back with me. I'll be fine."
"I don't have to but I want to."
"Don't you have to deal with work?"
"My cousin Colby is taking over the ranch over the weekend. It sounds to me like you don't want me going with you, Dr. Matthews."
"Lucas, there is something I think we should discuss."
"Discuss? Not talk?"
"Lucas, I was offered a position at Dell's."
"Dell's? Like here in Austin?" Oh GOD! YES! TAKE THE JOB!
"Yes, they reached out to me a month ago."
"A month ago?"
"Yes, I just didn't say anything because… I didn't know where I stood when it came to accepting the job."
"You don't want to leave Dallas?"
"Yes and No. I love my co-workers at Children's and it is a big decision. However, I came into this field to learn and what better way to learn. UT Southwestern is an amazing place for that but so is Dell."
"Riley, I think we know where I stand on this issue. Both places are wonderful but I have an advantage in this decision. I would like to think that you feel it is your advantage as well. I hate myself for even saying it but you need to pick what makes you happy. I could only hope that it is here." Please love me as much as I love you. Maybe I should sell my ranch and move to Dallas.
"I…I…"
"Is there a reason you decided to tell me before we drive to Dallas?"
"I don't know, I planned on telling you earlier but so many things went on as soon as I got here that it just kind of got pushed back. I just feel like it is one of those things that I should tell you? I'm not sure what point of a relationship we are in right now."
"Riley, the person who makes that decision is you. You know where I want to be."
"Lucas, that's just the thing, you are in love with Riley Matthews the girl who fell on your lap a very long time ago. You are in love with a teenage girl you lost sight of years ago. I'm an entirely different person now. I don't know if our relationship would be based on just a memory of who we once were or who we are now."
"Riley, I understand where you are coming from, I think about it too much. I don't like the person I am now too much, so it is hard for me to believe that someone as amazing as Riley Matthews would be interested in me. I guess, I just wanted to hold onto the Riley Matthews that loved me."
"Lucas, how do you know you love the me now?"
"Riley, I thought …. I thought maybe over time I would be able to forget you and I never did. When I saw you again in that exam room, I thought this is my chance to have you back in my life. After that day, I realized you are the same Riley but you're also a different Riley. You're a woman now. You flew back early from a trip to see me because you knew I was going through a tough time. You comforted me as I had nightmares. You're right, you're not the same Riley anymore but you're a more beautiful and mature Riley. Riley, why can't I still be in love with the you from the past and the Riley now? Take your parents for instance, they've been together since they were younger. I'm sure they were different people then, then they are now. Riley, what I'm trying to say is, the Riley then was the one who picked me. I don't know if the Riley now would even consider me."
"Lucas…I…I don't know what to say? We've spent so much time just talking about everything and never really laid out what we felt, or how we felt. I guess twelve years of missing time isn't so easy to, just be huh?"

Lucas walked over to Riley and grabbed both of her hands.
"Riley, nothing great was built overnight. We have time to figure this out. For right now, I want you to make the decision that is best for you. Sure, I'm trying my damnedest to avoid convincing you to pick Dell but I also know that you always pick with others on your mind. I want you to pick for you and not anyone else."

"Thank you, Lucas. I thought adult relationships would be so much easier." Riley said breaking her hands free so she could wrap her arms around Lucas's waist. Riley nuzzled her head into Lucas's chest and took a deep breath. Everything was new and confusing. She was almost thirty years old and still hasn't figured out that relationships aren't always easy. They were easy when she was dating Charlie and Adan but maybe because she didn't love them the way she loved Lucas, it made it easy.

Josh turned his laptop off and took a deep breath. His job was taking its final toll on him, the job no one knows about that is. Even Maya knew nothing of his real identity. Josh had moved away from New York shortly after his first year of college. He devoted his time to becoming a part of the Central Intelligence Agency. Becoming a part of the CIA wasn't something Josh intended on doing, it had just kind of happened. He left New York and moved towards the west coast for school, to find himself and live out of the shadow of his family. He wanted something that wasn't so white picket fence. One thing lead to another, a small interest in foreign affairs, law enforcement, and catching criminals eventually became a dream. Three years ago, he had reconnected with Maya on accident. She was fresh out of graduate school and decided to take a road trip through the west coast. It was the first time he had seen Maya as an adult. The last time he saw her was when she was in high school. She was a great kid but an even more amazing adult. His heart was in awe when after so many years Maya Hart was still chasing him. Unfortunately, he was so deep into his profession he couldn't tell her the truth. Josh's double life as a professional travel photographer allowed the two to travel the world together. Sometimes, Josh had to travel for work and made it a point to never bring Maya along on those trips. It wasn't because he was afraid that she would find out the truth about him, but it was because he didn't want her to get hurt. They were in Thailand one of the most beautiful countries in the world. They were island hoping in the beautiful seas of Thailand when they came across one beautiful island with villagers. Maya had just caught them dinner with a spear, a beautiful Nile tilapia. It was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen her do, among many others. He knew right then, that this was the woman for him. He decided that he would put his life with Maya first and propose to her. When he informed his boss that he would be retiring as an Agent with the CIA, his boss begged and pleaded with him to help finish one case. The case of Mr. Solomon. Mr. Solomon was a criminal that worked across the oceans and now living in the United States. Josh was hesitant but he knew that with a bad man like Mr. Solomon out there, there would never be any real peace. It was difficult to keep his life a secret from Maya, they had always been honest with one another or at least she had always been honest with him. Josh had already accepted the case and couldn't turn back now. Now Josh has heard from a very credible source that Charlie Gardner is also on the case of Mr. Solomon. The DEA, CIA, and FBI all have eyes on Mr. Solomon for very different reasons and for Charlie Gardner, his interest lies within the DEA. Josh was worried that if Charlie got too close, his cover would be exposed. If his cover were exposed then Maya would be in danger, not only Maya but his entire family.
What did you get yourself into Joshua Gabriel Matthews?

"Hey honey, another assignment?"
"Oh… uh, no. Looks like I have some free time for a while. Anything you want to do?"
"Ooooh, what do you have in mind? Some bedroom activities?" Maya leered walking towards her fiancé.
"That sounds like a lot of fun but I was thinking more like going out? Seeing a movie?"
"Sure, how about that new Vin Diesel movie?"
"Is he still acting? Isn't he like ancient now?"
"Yeah, probably won't be a good movie anyway."
"Or maybe we can drive down to San Antonio, do some shopping, walk the Riverwalk?"
"Sounds like a plan, I'll go get ready." Maya smiled leaving the room. Josh watched as Maya walked away and took another glance at his laptop. Spending time with Maya was the only way to keep his mind off a near impossible job.