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While Ria had tried hard not to make friends, Amelia had been insistent on getting to know her and Megan. They'd bonded over the pressure of having to raise girls on their own. Ria had told Amelia that Megan was her younger sister, and that their parents were dead. It wasn't as big a lie as the others, but it was necessary. She didn't want anyone coming around asking about an aunt and a niece.
"You okay?" Amelia asked, her sharp gaze raking Tory's face. "You're pale. I hope you're not getting that stomach bug that's going around."
"No, I'm fine," she said, but as she closed the mailbox, her hand shook.
"You don't look fine." Amelia paused. "You can talk to me, Tory. I know that you like to lead a very private life, and I respect that, but if you ever need a friend, you have one. I hope you know that."
"Thanks," she said, seeing the kindness in Amelia's eyes. "I just ran into someone I wasn't expecting to see, but it's going to be fine."
"Is he the person you're running from?" Amelia asked.
Surprise shot through Tory. "What do you mean?"
"Okay, I know I just said I'd respect your privacy, but I've been thinking for a while that you're hiding out from someone. Maybe someone who hurt you or Megan."
Apparently, she wasn't as good a liar as she thought. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you're always looking over your shoulder. When we get coffee, you sit so you're facing the door. When your phone rings, you tense."
"This man didn't hurt me," she said, not addressing the rest of Amelia's statement.
"So what's the problem?"
She shrugged. "It wasn't the right time when we were together, and it's not the right time now. I was startled to see him, that's all."
"Did you love him?"
The question hit her hard. She'd been reluctant to analyze her feelings about the man who showed up in so many of her dreams. "I wouldn't go that far," she said slowly. "I liked him. I liked him a lot. But we really didn't know each other."
"Maybe it was love at first sight."
"I don't know if I believe in that."
"I do. When there's magic, you know it, right from the start." Amelia gave her a long look. "So why isn't it the right time now? You don't have anyone in your life that I've seen. And you deserve to be happy. Just because you're raising your little sister doesn't mean you can't have a man, too."
"A man would complicate things."
"Maybe in a good way. You haven't gone on a date since you moved in here."
"I'm off men for the moment." She pushed the button for the elevator.
"Well, I'm not. I had a great first date last night."
"Megan said you came home in a good mood." Megan had babysat for Beth the previous evening, which had been fun for both of the girls. Beth got to hang out with an older teenager, and Megan got to make a little of her own money and just be a normal teen for a few hours. Of course, Ria had kept a very close eye on both of them.
Amelia smiled. "It was easier than I expected. We didn’t have any of those awkward silences. I probably talked way too much, but you know me. I can't shut up, especially when I'm nervous."
"I'm glad it went well," she said as they stepped on to the elevator.
"So well it scared me a little. It's been three years since Carl died, and I've only slept with one other guy in all that time, and that was a disaster. But when I was with Steve last night, I was—interested."
Ria smiled. "Interested is good, isn't it?"
"If he calls me again," Amelia said as they got off the elevator and walked down the hall.
"I'm confident that he will call." She stopped in front of her door. "I'll see you later."
"Sure. Can I just say one thing, Tory?"
"What's that?"
"There's never a right time to fall in love. Sometimes you just have to let it happen. Risk your heart."
Unfortunately, there was a lot more than her heart at risk.
* * *
Ria spent Sunday trying to concentrate on her sailing lessons and not think about her upcoming meeting with Drew. For the most part, it worked. She loved sailing, and it was a beautiful day on a bay that was crowded with boats, so she had to pay attention. But as she prepared for her last lesson of the day, she couldn't seem to quiet the uneasy, nervous feeling of anticipation that ran through her every time she thought about Drew.
