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“Now, that’s a beautiful part of the world. I hope you get to go there one day.”
“Same to y’all about Ireland and France.”
“Come on, retirement!” my mom cheered, making everyone laugh. Then she glanced down at Riley’s hand still in mine. “Sweetheart, I want you to know how sorry I am about your broken engagement.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m doing fine.” Riley glanced at me. “Ironically, Rhys has been my strong shoulder to lean on.”
“It looks like you’ve been his, too, since the catastrophe with Trisha.”
“She has been,” I interjected. “Mom. Dad. I know I told y’all that Riley and I were friends again, but we’re more now.”
“We know, son,” my dad said, grinning. “It was showing on both of you when you got here.”
‘This is fast, but—”
“Neither of you could help it.”
I looked at Riley. “No, we couldn’t.”
“I feel like I have my daughter back,” my mom said. She had tears in her eyes. Hell, we all did.
Riley stood up, walked over to my mom, and hugged her. Watching them, I was reminded of how they used to be thick as thieves. They were so close, and I knew they would be again.
As Riley and I were getting ready to leave my parents’ house, my mom said, “The next time you’re in town, Riley Dawn, come see me and leave that handsome boy beside you somewhere else. That way, we can enjoy a little girl-time. I’ll make my seven-layer bean dip and frozen margaritas for us.”
“Can we watch one of our favorite movies, too?”
“You know it! Steel Magnolias, Hope Floats, Fried Green Tomatoes, or whatever you want.”
“I’m so excited!”
“Me, too, sweetheart. Rob and I love you.”
“I love y’all. It’s done my heart a world of good seeing you two again.”
CH 22 - #surprise
Riley
“HOW DO YOU feel?” Rhys asked as he was buckling me into Black Betty.
“Happy.”
“All of this feels right, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“My mom and dad are on Cloud Nine. They’ve missed you a lot.”
“They said from the start of you and me dating that I was the daughter they never had. I’ve never heard them say that about Rachel.”
Rhys canted his head to the side. “They love her, okay? Your sister is an amazing person. But you’re you. Your personality is akin to my parents’ personalities, and I believe that was the beginning of the connection between you and them. Rachel’s personality is reserved.”
“I’ve never mentioned what we’re talking about to her, but I have wondered if your mom and dad’s affection toward me has ever hurt her feelings.”
“I wondered the same thing and talked to her about it one time. She said she has all the Silverman she needs in Jackson.”
I chuckled. “Sounds like Rachel.”
