"Oh, um I'm Lucas" Lucas said as the girl hid back down behind the couch.
"I'm Isabella!" She cried behind the couch and Lucas smiled.
"Nice to meet you, how do you know the Matthews?" Lucas asked with a small smile.
"I'm a Matthews!" Isabella announced and jumped back up from behind the couch.
Lucas could get a better look at the small child who now walked towards him in a jumper dress. She was missing a tooth, and he could see the dust on her tights from hiding behind things.
"That's cool! Could you get Auggie?" He asked as Isabella giggled.
"Isabella Maya Matthews Friar" Isabella answered with a bright smile.
Lucas could feel the wind knocked out of him. This small person has his last name, however, the more he stared, the more he saw Riley. Her grin, her hair, her brightness, and his eyes.
"What?" Lucas stammered.
"You look like the boy from the picture, my mommy has your picture" Isabella said as she stood in front of Lucas.
"Your mommy?" Lucas whispered.
"Riley," Isabella said as Lucas crouched down in front of her.
She made a face and rubbed the side of his face across his stubble.
"He didn't have that, I don't like it," Isabella said.
"Friar?" Lucas asked.
"After my daddy, are you my daddy? You look like him!" Isabella said as she studied Lucas's face.
"I … I don't know," Lucas whispered.
Isabella smiled as she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him tightly into her.
"You are aren't you!" She exclaimed.
Lucas was hesitant and wrapped his arms around her. She fit perfectly in his arms, and he ran his fingers through her hair. She hugged him tighter which made tears come out. He sobbed in her arms as Isabella soothed him softly.
"What?" Lucas asked as he pulled away.
"You okay daddy?" Isabella asked as the words came effortlessly.
"Where's your mommy?" Lucas asked and wiped his face.
Anger swelled in his stomach, at the situation, at finding out like such, at Riley. He stood to his feet and Isabella giggled at his height. She swayed slightly and reached for his palm and he tried not to break.
"She went to the supermarket with Uncle Zay!" Isabella said and continued to smile at him brightly.
'Uncle Zay?' Lucas thought and it hit him. Zay knew he had known this the whole time and he could feel his chest tighten.
"Who's supposed to be watching you?" Lucas choked as he looked around for someone he could yell at.
"Auggie but he keeps talking to Ava," Isabella complained and made a face.
Lucas's anger melted for a second and he could see a glimmer of Riley, the one he used to know. Before Isabella could continue her complaints, the front door swung open. Riley's laugh greeted them before she could, but once she was in their view it abruptly stopped. Riley's heart hammered in her chest and saw the pain in Lucas's eyes. She could see him gritting his teeth together, stopping himself from exploding in front of Isabella. Isabella with the biggest smile on her face as she clutched Lucas's hand. Riley's bags dropped from her hands and Zay rushed in behind her due to the noise. Lucas glared at him and Zay stammered to say something.
"Zay, please take Izzy to my room," Riley whispered as Isabella let go of Lucas's hand.
Zay walked past Lucas and avoided eye contact with the anger-fueled Texan. He scooped Isabella up who giggled as Zay tickled her stomach. The two turned down the hallway and Lucas rushed towards Riley. Riley instantly leaned back and almost fell out into the hallway. Lucas slammed the door behind him leaving a frightened Riley in his eyesight.
"What. The. Fuck. Riley!" Lucas screamed and the tears welled up in her eyes.
He took a step back and let out a shaky sigh as she sobbed,
"I didn't want you to find out like this," She whimpered.
"Or at all?" He accused her and she looked down at her feet.
"Tell me this is a dream Riley, tell me that beautiful little girl, isn't mine, isn't … ours," Lucas begged and watched Riley blink rapidly.
"Lucas … I … I am so sorry," Riley sobbed and shook as she cried.
"Why didn't you tell me!" Lucas snapped.
"We were kids Lucas, we … were kids … I couldn't ask you to give everything up," Riley cried.
"For my daughter! Riley, that is our daughter! Do you understand that? We have a child together, one you kept from me for years! Riley, what would possess you to hide her!" Lucas asked.
"We were kids," Riley repeated.
"Riley-" Lucas began.
"We were kids, and you wouldn't have gone to school Lucas, who I am to ask you to give up your dreams, I knew you would have," Riley sniffled.
"You're right," Lucas said and leaned against the wall.
He slid down and brought his knees up to his chest. He craned his head up and watched Riley cry in front of him, curled up, and holding herself.
"I know," Riley said and copied him and sat across from him in the hallway.
The two sat in silence as Riley composed herself to face Lucas. She tried to think of ways to start the conversation that she played in her head for years. Neither of them started with them crouched in her parent's brownstone in a hallway, broken and in tears.
"Riley … we were together a few nights ago," Lucas whispered and Riley pulled at her jeans.
"You could have told me then, Riles …" Her nickname came so easily and she looked away from her trying not to start crying again.
"Tell you what Lucas, that right after we both made a mistake let's bring up one from four years ago?" Riley whispered.
"She wasn't planned, but she's not a mistake," Lucas said and Riley looked at him.
"Lucas," Riley whispered.
"I want to be in her life, I need to be in her life," Lucas begged.
"Lucas," Riley whispered.
"Riley don't take any more time from me," Lucas asked as his voice cracked.
"I … Lucas … it's complicated," Riley said as her mind began to race.
What about Zay, what about Allison, what was even going on with the two of them? Riley looked at Lucas and his face construed in anger.
"It's not! It's really not! It's is either we come to an agreement or the court does-"
"Excuse me?!" Riley questioned.
"I said if we don't the court-"
"Don't threaten me!" Riley snapped.
"Riley! You kept my daughter away from me for … four years? When did you find out? What the hell?" Lucas snapped back.
"I found out before graduation, it had to be senior trip," Riley mused.
"She's really mine?" Lucas asked as he calmed the bile in his throat.
His stomach turned and his heart hammered in his chest.
"Yes, you are the only man I have ever been with Lucas," Riley said and Lucas stared at her.
Her eyes were focused on the edge of the Matthew's doormat and he could see her bottom lip tremble. He leaned over and sat himself next to her and placed his hands in his hair. His mind still swirled and he wondered if this was a dream but he knew it wasn't. The pain in his heart told him that this was happening, it was his reality.
"Isabella, her name is Isabella, her birthday is on December 28th, her favorite color is yellow and she is your … our daughter," Riley said her voice barely above a whisper but Lucas heard it all.
He could see that Riley struggled to tell him this information but he didn't understand why.
"She likes Fancy Nancy, she is learning french from it," Riley said and Lucas smirked.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lucas asked as he tried to catch Riley's eyes.
"You wouldn't have left for school, you wouldn't have left and gotten the life you deserved," Riley said and leaned her head back against the wall.
"What about you? We could have done this together. Are you in school? What is Zay's role in this? How? What? I don't know where to start?" Lucas said as his mind swirled again.
"Yes, we go to Pennbrook, the same place my parents did," Riley said.
"We?" Lucas asked.
"Zay and I," Riley said as Lucas sighed.
"Riley … can we just start at the beginning?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, but you should know something first, no matter what is said … please do not hurt Isabella," Riley said and turned to Lucas.
"I would never," Lucas said and stared into her eyes.
"Promise me, promise me, Lucas," Riley begged.
"I promise, I would never hurt Isabella, or you," Lucas said.
"Where do we start?" Riley asked.
After Riley hashed out every detail she could about Isabella and a bit of her life, Lucas sat on the Matthew's couch dumbfounded.
"So … it's been this giant secret because you think I would hate her," Lucas repeated as Riley sat criss-cross on the couch, her eyes locked on anything but him.
"Yes," Riley said and picked at her pants.
"That is ridiculous!" Lucas said and Riley shrunk into herself.
"Can you lower your voice?" Riley asked and looked towards the hall. She had convinced Zay and Isabella to stay in her room playing Candyland while she discussed everything with Lucas. She could see that Zay didn't want her to but Isabella's grin told her to go do it.
"Sorry it's just Riley I would never," Lucas said.
"I didn't know that!" Riley said.
"Yes you did, you were scared," Lucas accused.
"Scared? Yes, I was scared you would hurt her," Riley said.
"You were scared of what we could have been, you're scared about us becoming a family," Lucas said.
"Becoming?" Riley asked and Lucas sighed.
"Yes Riley we are a family now," Lucas said and Riley's eyes watered.
"You really don't hate her?" Riley asked.
"Riley stop … I would never, and I don't hate you either. Happy with? Hell no, but never," Lucas said as he leaned back into the couch.
Riley instinctively played with his hair and he closed his eyes in content. A small moan left his lips and Riley stopped her actions. She pulled her hand back but Lucas with his eyes closed grabbed it within his.
"Never," Lucas whispered.
"So do you want to … talk to her?" Riley asked.
Lucas's eyes shot open and he sat up. His hand still intertwined with Riley's and he smiled.
"Of course, can I? Is that okay?" Lucas asked.
Riley smiled for the first time since they started talking and nodded. She removed her hand from his and he frowned but waited to see Isabella.
"Izzy? Can you come here, sweetheart?" Riley called.
They both heard small feet running towards them and Isabella stopped in the archway to look at them. She giggled and hid her face in her hands.
"Izzy," Riley warned as Isabella walked towards them.
Isabella's eyes peeked through her fingers and she stopped in front of Lucas with a giant grin.
"Izzy … this is Lucas, he is your dad." Riley swallowed as Isabella laughed.
"I knew that Mommy! He is the same guy in the picture you keep," Isabella said and Riley's eyes widen.
"Izzy!" Riley scolded as Lucas laughed.
"You keep pictures?" Lucas asked.
"Yep, she hides it," Isabella giggled and Lucas laughed along.
"Well you two are getting along swimmingly," Riley replied dryly.
"We not swimming," Isabella said as Lucas scooped Isabella up into his arms.
"What your mommy means is that we are getting along well," Lucas said and placed Isabella next to him on the couch.
"Of course you're my daddy," Isabella said and shrugged her shoulders.
The words fell simply out of her mouth and it made Lucas smile at Riley. Isabella placed a finger to her chin and tapped it as she was thinking of something up.
"Are you going to stay at our house?" Isabella asked and Riley became uncomfortable.
"Izzy … your daddy and I need to figure things out first," Riley said.
"Why?" Isabella asked.
"Your daddy lives here in the City like Nana and Grandpa," Riley said and Lucas made a face. It was odd to him to hear the Matthews were grandparents, especially to his child.
"Why?" Isabella asked.
"He just does Izzy, it's complicated," Riley said.
"Oh, can we live here then?" Isabella asked.
"Izzy," Riley warned.
"Maybe," Lucas chimed in and Riley gave him a look.
"Don't do that, don't insinuate things," Riley said, her voice sharp.
Lucas watched her eyes darken for a second and he was confused as to why.
"Sorry," Riley said and her eyes softened.
"Can we go to the park?" Isabella asked and broke the tension.
"It's getting late sweetie, tomorrow I can take you," Riley said.
"Daddy is coming right?" Isabella asked as Riley stumbled.
"Of course," Lucas said and flicked Isabella's nose softly.
"Um Izzy can you tell Uncle Zay we will be eating soon?" Riley asked.
"You're trying to make me go away," Isabella pouted and crossed her arms.
Riley's mouth gaped open and Lucas saw his chance to swoop in.
"No, your mommy and I need to finish having a grown up talk, I'll say bye to you before I go? Is that okay with you?" Lucas asked.
Isabella nodded and launched her arms around him. She squeezed him before she ran out to the room towards Riley's old bedroom.
"What the hell?" They said in unison.
"What am I doing wrong?" Lucas asked.
"You can't do that! You can't start saying you will do things and get her hopes up Lucas," Riley said.
"Why are you acting so cold? I get you're scared but Riley she is my daughter too," Lucas said.
"She will get these ideas and expectations, you have your own life," Riley said and stood to her feet.
"Which she is a part of Riley, for the rest of my life, she will be in my life. I wouldn't say I am going to do something and then back out," Lucas said and stood himself.
"But she will expect us to be … a family and you have Allison," Riley said and waved her hand off.
Lucas stood quiet as he wondered how did Riley know Allison was back in town. He didn't want to bring it up but he didn't want her to think that just because Allison was in his life that meant Isabella was out. Lucas sighed and rolled his eyes at her.
"Alli … I don't even know what to say about her, but I do want to say that both of you are my family, you are the mother of my child," Lucas said.
"Lucas don't say things like that, it gives … just don't," Riley said and sighed.
"What hope? Riley my feelings for you didn't change, I still love you, and now that Isabella is part of my life-"
"Please go," Riley said as she trembled with fear.
"Riley don't push me away, come on, I know the big secret, and I don't hate either of you," Lucas said.
"I can't do this, please Lucas we can talk more tomorrow I promise," Riley said and took a step back from him.
"I promised Isabella I would say goodbye," Lucas said and Riley nodded.
"Izzy honey please come here," Riley called and they once again heard the running footsteps.
"Yes mommy?" Isabella asked as she reached Riley.
"I just wanted to say bye is that okay kiddo?" Lucas said and leaned down to her level.
"You're leaving?" Isabella asked and pouted.
"Yes but tomorrow I will be here bright and early for our park date," Lucas said with a big smile.
"Promise?" Isabella asked as her pout let up a bit.
"I promise Isabella, Daddy promises," Lucas said as he choked on the words as it hit him again that the little girl was his.
He could see Riley frown at his words and understood that she was scared but it wasn't helping anyone by keeping them apart. Lucas opened his arms and Isabella threw herself at Lucas. She wrapped her small arms around his neck and giggled as his stubble tickled her cheek.
"I can't believe you're real," Isabella mumbled and kissed Lucas on the cheek.
"Bye daddy," Isabella said and pulled away.
One more giggle and she ran off back to the adventures she was having in the house. Lucas sighed and stood to his feet. His heart beating as he replayed the last few seconds in his head. How could Riley even think he wouldn't love that little girl. It had been just an hour and he wanted to give her the world. He barely wanted to leave but he knew that he should respect Riley's wishes.
"Lucas don't break her heart," Riley whispered and Lucas reached for her.
Riley was hesitant but Lucas pulled Riley into his chest. He placed his chin on top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair slowly. He should be angry with her, no pissed but he couldn't be. He couldn't fathom losing either of them and he knew what he had to do. He had to fix things before she left, but his phone broke his thoughts. As he reached for his phone Riley pulled away.
Lucas checked the text message and could see Allison sent him a text.
Allison: Hurry home Boo Bear! I think I found a venue for the wedding. Love you.
Lucas felt Riley step back further and he knew she saw the text message. He didn't know what to say to either of these two and put the phone away. Riley moved towards the door and unlocked the door. Her eyes didn't meet his and Lucas turned to move but he couldn't. He needed to stop whatever she was cooking up in her head.
"Riley-"
"Goodbye Lucas," Riley said, her voice a bit harsher.
Lucas obliged with her and walked out into the hallway. He turned to her and placed his hand under her chin. Brown met green and Lucas sighed.
"I love you, I love Isabella, and I will be here tomorrow for both of you," Lucas said and let her face go.
Riley didn't say anything and he started to walk away from her. One look back at her and he could see her rushing to close the door behind her. Lucas had to fix this. Riley locked the door and let out the breath she was holding in. The hope she felt crept up inside of her but her thoughts told her otherwise.
He has Allison. He has his family and you are not part of that. He won't be back, he won't truly love you. Stop fooling yourself, Riley. Stop. So she stopped and the tears streamed down her face.