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Her son.
Not mine.
Not yet. But I want him to be.
He’s a cute kid, for as cute as newborn babies can be. He’s got a good grip, and his momma, well, she’s just as beautiful as she always is. Seeing the two of them only solidified what I’ve known all along.
They’re my family.
Feeling more stable, I stand and make my way to the reception desk. “Rick Fleming’s room?”
The older gentleman looks at the computer and nods. “He’s in room 3002, the third floor. Those elevators.” He points to the left.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome.” He nods and goes back to the paperback novel he’s reading.
My feet carry me to the elevators, and I push the button for the third floor. I have so much bouncing around in my head, and my heart is still racing. I have so many emotions rolling through me. Fear for my father and my mother. Fear for me, and regret. So much fucking regret. I should never have left. I should have stayed and fought.
I also have hope.
I hope that Riley will have me, that she will let me into her life as more than just a friend and her sister's best friend. I have so much hope that she’ll let me be a part of her son’s life. I want to show him how to throw a ball and how to build a snowman. I also want to show him what it looks like for a man to love a woman the way I love his momma. He’ll also know the love of a father. Love and family are more than blood. I send up a silent prayer that I’ll get my chance to prove that to both of them.
The elevator doors slide open, and I step out. I follow the arrows to the hallways until I reach the section my dad is in. When I reach his room, I quietly push open the door. I don’t know what I’m expecting, but it’s not my mom in a chair at Dad’s bedside, where he’s sitting up and the two of them talking and laughing.
“Well, this is one way to get me home, old man,” I tease.
“Hudson!” Mom’s out of her chair and meeting me halfway. I open my arms, accepting her hug.
“Hey, Mom.” I pull back and kiss her on the cheek.
“I didn’t know you were coming home.”
“Dad’s in the hospital. Of course I came home.”
“It was a minor heart attack.” Dad waves off my concern.
“Dad.” I glare at him. “Nothing about a heart attack is little.”
He nods. “You’re right, but I’m good. I have a stent in my heart, and they’ve got me a diet that you and I both know your mother will ensure that I uphold, and I’m going to start walking. Maybe one day I’ll work myself up to a jog.” He chuckles.
“You’re really okay?” I ask, releasing Mom and making my way to his side of the bed.
“I’m really okay. It was scary, but I’m all good. The doctors are saying I can probably go home tomorrow.”
“That’s great news.” Relief washes over me, knowing he’s going to be okay. I needed to see him with my own eyes.
“How long are you here for?” he asks.
“I’m home for good.”
“For good? Son, I’m fine.”
“I know, and I’m grateful, but I was already working on coming home early.”
“Why? Is it terrible there? Your letters made it seem like it wasn’t terrible. I knew you were just pacifying me,” Mom rambles.
“No. It wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t home, but it was fine. I was coming home because, well, it’s a long story. One I’m not ready to tell. However, I know you, and I know you’ll worry, so I came home to get my girl.”
“You’ve got a girl?” Mom asks, looking at me and then Dad in confusion. “Do you have a girl?”
“Of course, he does. Has for a long time. I was wondering when you were going to pull your head out of your ass.” Dad grins.
“Rick!” Mom scolds him. “You knew and didn’t tell me?”
I laugh. One would have thought she was scolding him for his language, but not when she’s not been privy to this kind of information.
“Who is she? I need all the details.” Mom takes her seat once more. She pats the empty chair next to her, and I do as I’m told and walk around the bed, taking a seat next to her.
“Yeah, Dad. Please fill me in.” I smirk. No way he knows that my heart belongs to Riley.
Dad studies me for several beats of my heart before he opens his mouth to speak. “Riley.”
I must look like a fish the way I open my mouth and close it multiple times, unable to find words.
“What? Riley? Not Raven?” Mom asks.
“Raven is my best friend.”
“I thought Riley was your friend too?” she asks, confused.
