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As for him, he had no idea.
“It doesn’t matter.” He didn’t want to think about it. He’d gotten hardly any sleep last night after the way he’d spoken to her. Okay, so he’d been completely wrung out from Riley’s disappearance, but that didn’t give him any right to take it out on Ally. He sighed, hating himself more than ever. Another thing he’d messed up in his life.
“I got a pack of gum for you, too,” Riley said, her breath heavy from running back from the news store. “In case you decide to drink coffee on the plane.” She wrinkled her nose. “Is there anything worse than coffee breath?”
“Nope.” Kirsten shook her head. “Come here, you.” She reached for her niece, enveloping her in the biggest hug. Nate stood back and watched them, his chest feeling tighter than ever as Kirsten dipped her head to whisper something in Riley’s ear.
“Okay,” Riley said softly. “I will.”
“You ready?” he asked his daughter.
“If I say no can we stay here forever?”
“Nope.” He liked the way she said ‘we’ though. It made the band around his chest loosen a little.
Giving his sister a wave, Nate put his arms around his daughter, and the two of them walked over to join the back of the security line.
It was only a little over twenty-four hours since he’d flown out here, and yet Angel Sands – and Ally – felt like a lifetime ago. There was part of him – that childlike part he’d left behind so long ago – that was as afraid to return as Riley was. Afraid of how he’d feel when he saw Ally again. Afraid he’d make a fool out of himself in front of her.
But he’d left his childlike self behind so many years ago. He was a man now, not a scared little boy. And if Riley could go back and face the music then he could, too.
Even if the thought of it made him feel sick.
* * *
Her apartment hadn’t gotten any less lonely since she’d left it this morning. Maybe that’s why Ally spent so long avoiding coming back. She’d whiled away half the day with Lorne, helping him out in the shop and talking to the customers. Later she’d joined Ember and Brooke in the diner – the three of them stuffing their faces with burgers and fries as her best friends did their best to cheer her up.
But none of that was enough to stave off the screaming silence of her home as soon as she’d returned to it. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was almost nine o’clock. Maybe she should call it a day and settle down to sleep.
Things would be better tomorrow. They couldn’t get any worse, could they?
She was about to turn out the living room light and head for her bedroom when she heard the rap at her door. It had to be a neighbor – she hadn’t buzzed anyone in. Taking a quick glance at herself in the mirror fixed on the entranceway wall she smoothed down her hair and grimaced at her wrinkled clothes. The jeans and t-shirt she was wearing had been freshly pressed that morning, but a day of working with Lorne and eating with the girls had taken its toll.
Sliding the chain into place – a woman living on her own could never be too careful – she peeped through the
little round glass to see who was on the other side. She had to squeeze her other eye shut to focus, but when she did she almost jumped.
What was he doing here?
Her fingers shook as she unlatched the lock and slowly pulled at the handle. The man on the other side waited patiently, his eyes fixed on hers as she tugged the door ajar.
“Oh.” She stared at him for a moment. The dark hair splashed with grey, the tired look on his crumpled face, and the brightness in his eyes that never failed to make her heart feel warm, even though the rest of her was wary. “I didn’t know you were coming back.”
“I got the first flight out after I got your message.” Her dad shifted from one foot to the other. “You sounded upset.”
She nodded and pulled the door open wider. He lifted his arms to hug her, but thought better of it, pulling them back to his sides. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or not. A bit of human contact would be good about now.
“Would you like a drink?” she asked him.
“Coffee would be good. It’s been a long trip.”
About eight hours or so, from what Ally knew. No wonder he looked exhausted.
She made them both a cup of coffee, adding a splash of cream the way her father always liked it and her dad carried them into the living room. When she was settled in the chair he handed her a mug then sat on the sofa opposite.
Her father closed his eyes as he swallowed a mouthful of coffee. “Damn that tastes good.” He put his mug down and looked up at her. “How are you doing?”
The weight of his question laid heavily on her. He’d always been her person, the one she could confide in. He’d known from the start how badly her mom’s death had affected her. He’d held her when she cried, cheered for her when she ran. He’d been her biggest fan and her strongest protector.
