Chapter Seven: Passing the Reigns
The summer had flown by fast, and Maya had been extremely busy—She had been doing very well selling her artwork, and was stacking away as much profit as she could in hopes to afford renting her own little gallery. Finding the perfect location tucked away between a coffee shop and a secondhand bookstore, it blew her mind that it was miraculously unoccupied. The pedestrian traffic down that street was superb, and already she could envision a few of her larger paintings propped in the window to catch their eye and draw them inside. Sure it needed some remodeling, as it was previously a haberdashery that had gone out of business many months ago, but it was extremely charming, holding endless potential for her creativity. It also didn't hurt that the business would be only a small number of blocks from the young artist's apartment, making the hefty deposit not seem as daunting. Rental agreements had been scheduled for completion in only two weeks time, and Maya could not have been more excited. It offered her a much-needed distraction from any troublesome thoughts of Riley, or Lucas, or stupid Texas.
The couple had been quite preoccupied themselves, tying up loose ends, packing up everything they needed to bring with them to Austin, and making many trips to and from the new city in search of a home of their own to begin their new start. It was a stressful headache of a process, but the two had finally settled on a quaint little farmhouse nestled in the middle of a tree-covered four acres. Real estate was reasonably cheap in Texas, at least compared to New York, and with the money the girl had received from a recent advance as well as the modest savings Lucas had set aside while waiting tables during his undergrad studies, they had more than enough for a down-payment. It wasn't going to be easy though, as Lucas was going to be in classes full time and wouldn't be able to work more than twenty hours a week, so the pair agreed that with their new lifestyle they'd have to live a little less frivolously than they were used to.
Scooting his seat back and rising up from the full dinner table, Cory lifted his champagne glass and gave it noticeable clinks with his silver butter knife. Eyeing her husband closely, Topanga gave visible warning to not tap it too hard and crack the glass—it had happened on more occasions than the man was proud of. However this time he succeeded, and placed the flute intact back to his front. It was the last night Riley and Lucas would be in town before their big move, so The Matthews decided it would be appropriate to host an informal going away dinner. "Speech time?" he inquired.
"Well it's not like we haven't had to listen to you ramble on for our entire lives already, so why should tonight be any different?" Maya joked, waving her hand for him to carry on with his monologue.
He looked to the left at his wife. "See, all those years ago I told you that if you fed her, she'd never leave. Now look what you've done." With a fake-scoff Cory returned his attention back to his audience. "Jokes aside, Maya I know I'm the one teacher you ever actually paid attention to…and I think this one will be something that holds true for your thoughts on the matter as well."
Maya grinned at him approvingly and nodded her head.
After clearing his throat, Cory began. "As a father, saying goodbye to my daughter is one of the hardest things I'll ever have to do. I have to admit, I always imagined you staying in my world, within my reach so that I could keep a close watch as you grew up and found where you fit in amongst society. One day when you all become parents, you'll see that your children instantly become the center of everything you do—you want to keep them safe, you want to keep them happy, and you want to make sure that they are taken care of for as long as you live. But the funny thing about life is that we actually have very little control over it, and we can never predict the future, nor where it is leading us. Riley, you have grown into such a beautiful and loving young woman—one that would make any parent proud. I know you have a grounded head on your shoulders and will remain true to yourself and your values wherever it is that you end up, even if that means I'm not just a cab ride away to witness it. Just promise me you'll always follow your heart—you have such an enormous heart, and that will undoubtedly lead you to everything you could ever want." Cory took a couple steps towards his daughter so that he could secure her in a type of safe hug that only a dad can give. She clutched tightly onto the back of his gray suit jacket and buried her face into his chest. Once letting go, Cory placed a kiss to her forehead, and then focused on the girl's boyfriend. "And Lucas? I know you're a kind-hearted young man that has always done right by Riley. I trust you with her. Promise me that you'll take as much pride in the job that I now have to hand off—promise to keep her safe, to keep her happy, and to make sure she is taken care of?"
Lucas stood to match Cory's position and took his hand to shake it tightly, while using his other to give the older man a firm squeeze on the shoulder. Making eye contact, he wanted to prove how serious he was planning to take this new responsibility. "I promise, sir. I won't let you down."
A rapid arm reached up and grabbed Lucas's collared shirt, pulling him about two feet down to catch her stern glare. "You hurt her, Huckleberry, and I'll kill you."
Impossible not to laugh, Lucas shook his head and tipped his invisible cowboy hat. "I have no doubts that you would, Maya. I wouldn't dream of it." Being released, he smoothed out the fresh wrinkles and rejoined his seat next to Riley.
"As touching as all of this is, and I do mean that sincerely, can we just get to dessert already?" Auggie pointed to the chocolate cheesecake sitting untouched on the counter. "At this rate we won't be eating until these two are two thousand miles away bailing hay."
"Aww, you know you'll miss me, Auggie." Riley rolled up her napkin and tossed it across the table at her younger brother.
Dodging, the curly haired fourteen year-old stuck his tongue out. "Maybe, but I'll miss Lucas more."
Topanga took this as a sign that it was indeed time for dessert in order to prevent the rowdiness that was sure to erupt amongst her two children. Handing a plate to each person at the table, she couldn't help but feel appreciative to have this night with her family all together. She wanted time to pass very slowly, so that she could soak up each laugh, each spoken word, and each unique and defining characteristic that her amazing family exhibited. Her life had been extraordinarily blessed, dealing her an even better set of humans than could be imagined.
As the family finished their dinner, numerous hugs were exchanged with many tears being wiped. Each person took a turn saying goodbye to the couple, giving their best wishes and encouraging remarks, until the tired parents and their son divided to their rooms for bed.
Lucas and Riley made their way to the front door of the Matthew's home and she wrapped her soft hands around his neck to guide him in for a goodnight kiss. "Tomorrow is our day," she whispered against the boy's lips. "Are you ready?"
Leaning his head into hers, he smiled. "With you, Riley, I am ready for anything."
Riley parted with a final kiss to the tip of his nose and then retrieved his shoes from the right side of the door, passing them off to Lucas. "Enjoy your night out with Farkle, but don't get too crazy. Maya seems to believe he has an undercover wild side," she smirked.
"I won't go overboard," he assured, locking their pinkies as a guarantee. "Hangovers and early flights don't mix too well, madam." Lucas always found it amusing how much enjoyment it brought everyone when he'd speak in southern vernacular. Truth was, he didn't really talk like that at all, however, he figured it was worth it to occasionally give the people what they expected. Yankees were so easily entertained. "You have fun with Maya, okay? Let me know when you guys make it back home."
"I will. We'll be leaving soon." With that, the young man exited and Riley turned around to address her friend. "So Maya, you want to do this thing the right way, or what?"
Putting her empty plate into the sink, the blonde took a deep breath and exhaled, having a very difficult time accepting this was the last night she'd have with her roommate. The summer had gone, and now the situation was impossible to avoid—impossible to distract her self from. "Let's do it," she said, reading Riley's mind.
The girls grabbed hands and then marched up the couple of steps that led to Riley's former bedroom. Inside, the room looked completely different. Cory and Topanga had converted it into a shared office nearly a year after Riley had moved out. There was a wooden desk in the corner, flooded with Topanga's case paperwork, and various bookshelves stuffed with millenniums of history. The bay window was naked, as those pillows and cushions were now in the girls' apartment. However, as they sat down, everything felt exactly as it used to. The decorated room it was located in did not define that precious spot, nor the fabric that had laid across the top—its value only came from the people that chose to sit there.
A/N: I'm trying to post chapters as quickly as I have time to, but I can't promise they will come as fast each time. I'll do my best though!