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“I used to, but not anymore. Please leave me alone. I don’t need any more reminders from you about Riley. They hurt too much.”
Rosalie’s eyes saddened, and she disappeared. Seconds later, I heard something fall in my bedroom and rushed down the hallway. My box of keepsakes of Riley and me was on the floor, and all of its contents had been dumped out.
“Goddamn it, Rosalie! That’s it!” I yelled.
I got down on my knees and threw everything back into the box, trying not to cry but failing. Then I carried all those memories of Riley and me to my pit fire to burn them.
I’d just struck a match when I heard Riley say, “Rhys, don’t.” I spun around in the direction her voice had come, but she was nowhere to be seen.I was losing my fucking mind.
CH 42 - #life
Riley
“WHEN IS JANICE’S surgery?” I asked my momma.
“Wednesday.”
“I can’t believe she has breast cancer. She’s so healthy and active.”
“Cancer doesn’t care.”
“I think I’m going to come to Cypress Hills this weekend. I’d like to see Janice.”
“I know she’d love to see you.”
“I haven’t spoken to her since Rhys and I split up. I wouldn’t have known what to say anyway.”
“She and I have talked at length about you and Rhys. Like your daddy and me, she and Rob are sad and hope for reconciliation.”
“Momma, that ship has sailed. Macie, Rachel, and Jackson have all tried talking to Rhys about everything and more than once. But Rhys’s heels are dug in, and he’s not budging on his belief that Chad and I had something going on. I wish I’d never asked Chad to return my stuff. If I hadn’t, then Rhys and I would still be together,” I said, shaking my head.
“There’s a silver lining in every bad situation, Riley. Give it time, and you’ll see it. I promise.”
SATURDAY
“I appreciate you coming with me,” I told my sister as she parked in the Silverman’s driveway.
“I know you do.”
Rob greeted us before we reached the front porch and then led us to Janice, who was sitting in her recliner in the living room.
“Y’all have made my day!” she said, reaching out her arms toward us.
Rachel and I carefully hugged her and then sat down on the couch.
“How are you feeling?” I asked her.
“Pretty darn good, considering I’m boobless now.”
“How’s your pain level?”
“Minimal. Pain meds are great, except for the constipation they cause.”
I chuckled. “They can certainly do that. How’s your appetite?”
“Oh, I inhaled a chili-cheese coney and tots from Sonic about an hour ago.”
“Yeah, you’re on the mend. I’m just so sorry that you had to get a mastectomy.”
