Riley's cell phone buzzed while Blaine was driving them all back to Fredericksburg.She was surprised and unsettled to see who the call was from.
Is this some kind of emergency? she wondered.
Gabriela never called her just to chat,and she had made a point of not calling at all during their two weeks at the beach.She'd only sent an occasional text to let Riley know that everything was all right at home.
Riley's concern grew when she took the call and heard a note of alarm in Gabriela's voice…
"Se?ora Riley——when will you be home?"
"In about half an hour,"Riley said."Why?"
She heard Gabriela inhale sharply,then say…
"He's here."
"Who's here?"Riley asked.
When Gabriela didn't answer immediately,Riley understood…
"Oh my God,"she said."Ryan's there?"
"Sí,"Gabriela said.
"What does he want?"Riley asked.
"He does not say.But he says it is something important.He is waiting for you."
Riley almost asked Gabriela to put Ryan on the phone.But then it occurred to her——whatever Ryan wanted was probably nothing she'd want to discuss on the phone right now.Not with everybody else right there in the car.
Instead Riley said,"Tell him I'll be home soon."
"I will,"Gabriela said.
They ended the call and Riley sat staring out the SUV window.
After a moment Blaine said,"Um… did I hear you say something about…?"
Riley nodded.
Sitting behind them listening to music,the girls hadn't been listening until just now.
"What?"April asked."What's going on?"
Riley sighed and said,"It's your father.He's at home waiting for us."
Both April and Jilly gasped aloud.
Then Jilly said,"Couldn't you tell Gabriela to just make him go away?"
Riley was tempted to say she'd really like to,but it wouldn't be fair to unload that task on Gabriela.
Instead she said…
"You know I can't do that."
April and Jilly both moaned with dismay.
Riley could well understand how her two daughters felt.Ryan's last unannounced visit to their house had been unpleasant for everybody——Ryan included.His attempt to charm his way back into the girls' lives had backfired.April had been cool toward him,and Jilly had been downright rude.
Riley hadn't been able to blame either one of them.
One too many times,Ryan had built up their hopes that he could still act like a father.He'd dashed those hopes yet again,and the girls had wanted nothing to do with him.
What does he want now? Riley wondered,sighing again.
Whatever it was,she hoped it wasn't going to sour everybody's good feelings about the vacation they'd just had.It had been a lovely two weeks,despite Riley's dream about her father.Since then she had done her best to put Agent Meredith's call out of her mind.
But now the news about Ryan seemed to trigger her dark thoughts again.
A hammer, she thought.
Someone was killed with a hammer.
She reminded herself sternly that she'd done the right thing by saying no to Chief Meredith.Besides,he hadn't called her again about it,which surely meant that he wasn't very concerned about it after all.
It was probably nothing, she thought.
Just a case for the locals to take care of.
*
Everybody's anxiety mounted as Blaine pulled his SUV up in front of Riley's townhouse.An expensive Audi was parked out in front.It was Ryan's car,of course——but Riley couldn't remember whether it was the same car he'd had the last time he'd been here.He liked to keep up on the latest models,no matter how expensive.
Once they were parked,Blaine stammered awkwardly.He wanted to help Riley and her two daughters carry their bags back into the house,but…
"Is it going to be awkward?"Blaine asked Riley.
Riley stifled a groan.
Of course, she thought.
Blaine and Ryan had rarely met,but those encounters had hardly been friendly——at least on Ryan's part.Blaine had done his best to be pleasant,but Ryan had been sullen and hostile.
Riley and April and Jilly could easily carry their bags inside in a single trip.They didn't really need Blaine's help,and Riley didn't want Blaine to feel uncomfortable,and yet…
Why the hell should Blaine feel uncomfortable in my own house?
Telling Blaine and Crystal to go away was no solution to this problem.
Riley said to Blaine,"Come on in."
The group carried all the bags into the house.Gabriela met them at the door,along with Jilly's small,big-eared dog,Darby.The dog bounced around them with delight,but Gabriela didn't look nearly so happy.
As they put the bags down in the entry area,Riley saw Ryan sitting in the living room.Riley was alarmed to see that he was flanked by two suitcases…
Is he planning to stay?
April's black and white kitten,Marbles,lay comfortably in his lap.
Ryan looked up from petting Marbles.
He smiled weakly and said in a rather pathetic voice…
"A kitten and a dog! Wow,all this is new!"
With a gasp of annoyance,April snatched Marbles out of Ryan's lap.
Ryan looked hurt,of course.But again,Riley understood well how April felt.
As April and Jilly both headed toward the stairs,Riley said…
"Hold on,girls.Don't you have something to say to Blaine and Crystal?"
Looking a little ashamed at their lapse of manners,April and Jilly thanked Blaine and Crystal for the great time they had.
Crystal gave each of the other girls a hug."Call you tomorrow,"she said to April.
"Now take your stuff up with you,"Riley told them.
April and Jilly obediently grabbed their bags.Jilly picked up most of their other things,since April was still holding Marbles in one hand.Then they both headed up the stairs,and Darby scampered after them.Seconds later came two banging sounds as they shut their bedroom doors behind them.
Gabriela looked at Ryan with dismay and headed away to her own apartment.
Ryan looked at Blaine and said timidly,"Hi,Blaine.Hope you all had a good vacation."
Riley's mouth dropped open with surprise.
He's trying to be polite, she thought.
Now she knew that something must be terribly wrong.
Blaine gave Ryan a small wave and said,"It was great,Ryan.How have you been?"
Ryan shrugged and said nothing.
Riley was determined not to let Ryan limit her behavior.
She kissed Blaine gently on the lips and said,"Thanks for the wonderful time."
Blaine blushed,obviously embarrassed by the situation.
"Thank you——and your girls,"he said.
Crystal shook Riley's hand and thanked her.
Blaine mouthed silently to Riley,"Call me later."
Riley nodded yes,and Blaine and his daughter headed on out to his SUV.
Riley took a deep breath and turned to face the only other person left in the living room.Her ex-husband stared silently at her with pleading eyes.
What does he want? she wondered yet again.
Usually when Ryan came around,she'd be aware right away that he was still a handsome man——somewhat taller,older,and more athletic than Blaine,and always perfectly groomed and dressed.But this time was somehow different.He looked rumpled and sad and broken.She'd never seen him look this way.
Riley was about to ask him what was wrong when he said…
"Could we maybe have a drink?"
Riley looked at his face for a moment.It was drawn and sallow.She wondered…
Has he been drinking lately?
Did he have a few drinks before coming here?
She briefly considered denying his request,but then headed out to the kitchen and poured bourbon on ice for both of them.She brought the drinks out into the living room and sat down in a chair facing him,waiting for him to say something.
Finally,with his shoulders hunched,he said in a hushed voice…
"Riley——I'm ruined."
Riley's mouth dropped open.
What does he mean? she wondered.
