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The day Riley was born, I made a pact with myself that I’d always provide, protect, give love and advice, while being firm but fair, just like my father. Though only a short amount of time has passed since he entered this world, he’s given me a new meaning to life. A once-selfish man has been transformed into a selfless one because of him, and for that, I will forever be grateful.
It took months, but we’re finally on a somewhat normal sleeping schedule. Good news is Riley’s already on a rancher’s schedule, up before the sun and snoozing right after dark. After he’s tended to each morning, it gives River and me a chance to drink coffee on the back porch before I leave for work. It’s those quiet moments together that I’ve learned to treasure the most.
After returning from Natalie’s wedding last month, I’ve had a lot on my mind. Mainly forever and what that really means. I met River’s parents, and they were more than kind. However, everything River had told me about her past finally made sense. I understood why she was so apprehensive about us and not wanting to follow in her parents’ footsteps of a failed relationship.
“Are you almost ready to go?” River asks, rushing around our room, completely distressed as she tries to finish getting ready. We’re supposed to all be meeting at my parents’ house for lunch.
“I’m ready,” I tell her as I put on my boots. She walks from the bathroom, putting her hair into a tight ponytail, and no matter how much time has passed, I still find myself mesmerized by her beauty. I’m so fucking lucky to have her as mine.
Stalking forward in long strides, I pull River into my arms and kiss the fuck out of her. She smells like flowers and summer breeze, and I just want to strip her of her clothes and lie naked for the rest of the afternoon.
“If we weren’t running late, I’d bend you over that bed,” I growl in her ear.
She playfully slaps at my chest. “Mama doesn’t like tardiness. Something you told me the first day I met your parents.”
“You’re right.” I wink. “Let’s go.”
We drive over to my parents’, and as soon as we walk in, Mama goes straight to Riley and pulls him into her arms and kisses his little cheeks. Evan and John walk in laughing about something and sit at the table. Soon, Jackson is rushing in—late, as always. We have lunch and talk about everything and nothing all at the same time. I look around, see everyone's smiles, and just know how lucky I am to have a family like this, a beautiful woman by my side, and a life worth living.
After we’re finished eating, River helps clean up and chats with Mama. Soon Jackson is pulling River by the arm. “Time to go, sweetheart.”
“Go where?” She looks at him like he’s lost his fucking mind, which is a normal reaction considering. I stand in the doorway and watch as she glances at me with questioning eyes.
“Go on,” I tell her with a smirk.
“Uhhh.” She nervously laughs as Jackson tugs at her by the arm. At first, River is super confused and almost protests until Mama shoos her out the door and turns and gives me a wink.
RIVER
“You are as stubborn as a damn horse. Come on, now. Do I have to coax you with a carrot?” Jackson jokes.
I narrow my eyes at him. “What are you up to?”
“Don’t worry your pretty little face about it.”
We walk down the steps of the back porch, and there’s a side by side waiting with an envelope tied to the steering wheel. Confused, I untie it, open it, and pull out a piece of paper.
It’s been exactly one year since Key West.
That vacation was the best.
Hills, trails, and prairies galore.
A body of water, flowers, and more.
Keep your eyes open, good luck navigating.
This is where the next clue is waiting.
I look over at Jackson who’s smiling and shrugging his shoulders. The ranch is huge, and there are tons of picnic tables under trees, but I can only recall one body of water. Jackson jumps in the other side and allows me to drive.
“I might need oh-shit handles,” he kids when I press on the gas, and we take off faster than I expected toward the blue trail. The cool breeze blows across my skin as we take hill after hill toward the pond Alex and I once visited. I’ll never forget that day. I remember how the clouds reflected off the water of the pond and how he told me about the flowers that grew along the banks in the summer. At that point in my life, I was nervous as to what would happen between us, becoming a mom, and moving away from everything I ever knew. It feels like a lifetime ago, but then again, so does Key West. Jackson keeps talking shit about my driving the whole way over and has me laughing so hard that I purposely drive bad and run into every pothole I see.
