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“Where are you going?”
“Not home, for sure, or I’ll be crawling the damn walls. I think I’m just going to cruise the backroads.
I heard my cellphone ping with a message, so I pulled it out of my pocket.
Macie:I know you’re worried about Riley. Just breathe. I’ll keep you posted on how she’s doing.
Me:Thanks.
Macie:She’s going to ask for a leave of absence from work. If it’s approved, she’s planning to stay here.
Me:For how long?
Macie:A week. She said she needs time and space to figure out what to do about this mess.
Me:That she’s partly blamed me for.
Macie:You’re not to blame in any way, and she knows it. She’s already admitted it and regrets pointing her finger at you. Hang tight, buddy. I’ll be in touch soon.
Me:
After telling my brother about Riley’s plan to stay in town, he asked me how I felt about it.
“Relieved for now,” I said. “Riley is safe in Cypress Hills with all of us, but when she returns to Fort Worth, that won’t be the case because Chad isn’t going to leave her alone.”
“But they’re over. He told her to have a nice life.”
“It doesn’t matter. Riley is the best thing that’s ever happened to him and he knows it. After he licks his ego’s wounds, he’ll crawl back to her, beg for her forgiveness, and then ask her for a second chance. Wait and see.”
“Do you think Riley would give him one?”
“I pray she doesn’t.”
CH 8 - #revelation
Riley
Song: “If I Didn’t Love You” by Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood
“WHAT ON EARTH happened, Riley?” my momma asked.
I couldn’t speak. I just fell into her arms and kept crying. Then I felt my daddy’s head leaning on mine. About a minute later, I was composed enough to tell my parents the news.
“Chad came to Nana’s Kitchen,” I said.
My momma nodded. “He stopped by here to surprise you. We told him you weren’t here, but where you were eating lunch with the girls.”
“Well, Rhys and Jackson were eating lunch with us when Chad walked in. Another thing that you and Daddy weren’t aware of is Rhys coming over here last night and us talking outside. He and I agreed to put our past behind us and be friends.”
“I get the impression that something happened between Rhys and Chad at Nana’s Kitchen.”
“Something did. Chad didn’t think Rhys eating lunch with me was right. He was rude to Rhys and ordered me to meet him beside his car. I did what he said, we started arguing, and then Chad grabbed my upper arms and shook me in anger.”
“Where is he now?” my daddy asked, clearly angry.
“On his way back to Fort Worth. He expected me to follow him, but I said no.”
“Has he ever shaken you before?”
