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“Can we stop at the store to pick up the ingredients for cupcakes?” Eve asks since we’re making them for dessert and for her to take to school tomorrow.
“We can get it delivered,” I offer.
“But there’s that store right across the street,” Eve whines.
“She’s right. It’ll save time,” Riley adds. “I’ll go with her. You can go up, and we’ll be there in a few minutes.”
My lips purse. It’s right across the damn street but unease courses through me at the thought of letting either one out of my sight. I might be taking this possessive husband thing too far but whatever.
“Not a chance,” I tell them both as I wrap my arms around Riley and Eve and walk us across the street to the small grocer.
Eve is floating on cloud nine for some reason. I think she’s feeling the ease of the tension between Riley and me. I can’t help but laugh as she twirls around with a can of icing in one hand and a box of cake mix in the other as we exit the grocer.
“She’s so happy,” Riley says to me, smiling at Eve. “What’s gotten into you, Ladybug?” Riley calls as we all stop at the crosswalk.
“We’re a real family,” Eve says as the light changes for us to cross.
But her words almost keep me in place. A family.
“We are,” I say, making Eve’s smile grow even wider.
“Sir!”
I turn to find the store clerk. “Your wallet.”
I pat my pocket. “Shit.” I was so caught up watching the women in my life, I forgot my damn wallet right on the counter.
“Thank you,” I tell the clerk. By the time I get back to the crosswalk, both Eve and Riley have started to cross.
A smile comes to my face as I recall Eve’s last comment. I get so caught up in the moment that I barely notice the screeching of tires. It’s Riley’s yelling that snaps me out of my trance, though.
“Eve!” Riley yells in a tone of voice that I’ll never forget as long as I live.
Riley runs right in the direction of the oncoming car. “Eve! Look out!”
“Riley!” I shout in a voice unfamiliar to my ears. I see my entire life flash before my eyes the moment when Riley pushes her niece out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. The car misses Eve by inches but it doesn’t miss Riley.
In that moment the entire world, right along with my heart, stops.
CHAPTER44
Riley
“Why hasn’t she woken up yet?” I hear a deep voice say even though my eyes are still closed.
It’s Kyle’s voice. My husband.
The strain and fear in his words make me want to open my eyes. But it feels like there are bricks sitting on top of them.
“Mr. Townsend, we need you to calm down,” a female voice says.
I don’t recognize the woman.Where am I? What’s going on? Why is my husband afraid?
He’s not scared of anything.
“What’s wrong with her?” Kyle demands to know.
Wake up!I tell myself. I don’t know what’s going on, but I have to tell him that I can hear him. We can find out what’s wrong together.
