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“Great news. And Vivian tells me he’s okay. Apparently, his blood tests were all fine?”
“Yes, I can’t tell you how relieved I was to hear that,” Riley said as they entered Annie big kitchen. “It has been such a scary experience. I’ve also been online, and as Vivian says, kids sometimes get these unexplained fevers. It’s wonderful to have a sister-in-law who is a doctor.”
“I know, right? Come and sit. I’ve made scones with the tea. Thanks again for the gorgeous photos. Craig and I relived every moment of our wedding day last night while looking through them. You have such a wonderful talent, Riley—we’re so blessed that you’ve agreed to take our wedding pictures.”
“Of course, we’re family. I can’t ever repay Craig for what he’s done for me. This is my small way of thanking him and thanking you for making him so happy.”
Sniffling, Annie motioned to a chair. “Now you’ve made me cry. Sit down, let’s have tea.”
Riley touched Annie’s hand before she sat down. “Thanks for inviting me. As you’ve probably gathered by now, I’m not big on crowds and seldom go anywhere. My best friend back in Portland, the one who kept me from becoming a complete recluse, is now married, so I rarely go out to have a cup of tea and a chat with a friend in the middle of the week. I should probably make new friends.”
“Or you could move to Marietta.” Annie smiled.
Riley shook her head. “Our home, our life is back in Portland. Please remember my offer to have copies printed of whatever photos you like.” Riley was deliberately changing the subject, but moving to Marietta was not something she wanted to talk about.
Annie didn’t say anything, just smiled. “Thanks, I’ll think about it, but as you know, Bozeman is quite close by. I’ve discovered a place in the city that could do it for us.”
“Okay, great, but do let me know if I can help.”
While drinking tea, they talked about general things for a few minutes until Annie put her cup down.
“You can tell me to mind my own business, but I have to ask—is there something going on between you and my brother?”
Riley sighed. “You’re not about to mind your own business, never mind what I say, are you?”
“Nope.” Annie grinned.
“Even if there is something—and I’m not saying there is—it probably has more to do with the fact that I haven’t been with somebody since I discovered I was pregnant four years ago. You have to be dead not to see Mitch is”—blushing, she inhaled deeply—“attractive, and I’m not dead. I can’t just blindly fall for someone living miles away, though. I have Dylan to think about. Besides, I don’t see myself trusting anyone ever again. Relationships, marriage—I’ve had my chance.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Annie called out. “You’re what… thirty?”
“Thirty-two,” Riley said.
“You’re barely out of your twenties. You can’t stop living and loving because one idiot let you down. Did you actually love him?”
Riley grimaced. “I thought so at the time, but looking back, I think we just sort of drifted toward the idea of getting married. There was no great passion, not like there is…”
“Between you and Mitch?”
“I was going to say, not like there is between you and Craig, and Vivian and Aiden. What you guys have is so rare; it’s not something you see every day. Percy realized we didn’t have it before I did. Although, it would’ve been nice if he hadn’t waited for our wedding day to tell me or at least had the decency to talk to me in person.”
Annie nodded. “You remember I was dumped weeks before my wedding day, as well. For a long time, I didn’t think I deserved to be happy, that I’d never marry, but Riley, life happens. You can’t deny yourself happiness because you’re afraid you’ll be hurt again.”
“You’re right. And when I’m back in Portland, I’ll consider dating again.”
Annie leaned forward and touched Riley’s arm. “Are you telling me you’re going to ignore the obvious spark between you and Mitch and date someone else?”
“I live in a different state, Annie. As you know, when our parents died, Aunt Janice was wonderful. She moved in with us and tried her best to make a home for us, but for me, the house was never the same. And then when I was dumped and found out I was pregnant, my life kinda fell apart. I had no control over anything—I don’t ever want to feel like that again. After Dylan was born, I used my inheritance to buy a house. I wanted to have… needed to have a place I could call home again. I’m finally at the point where I have that, where I have order in my life, where I know exactly what is happening when. We have a life in Portland. I can’t just up and go because a seriously sexy guy kissed me.”
“Seriously sexy, huh?” Annie laughed.
Blushing, Riley groaned. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” Annie nodded. “Craig and Aiden had the same problem, but both of them found an easy solution. They moved to Marietta, leaving everything behind to be with the women they love.”
Riley’s hand shook, and she quickly put her cup down. “See? They’ve fallen in love. Entirely different situations.”
“Is it, though?” Annie chuckled. “But only you know what’s in your heart. Life, I’ve discovered, can’t always be controlled. Unforeseen things happen—Aunt Janice may get ill, as you’ve thought. Dylan suddenly developed a fever. Difference is, when you’re living here, we’re all there to help.”
