Chapter 25
Ricky
“Mom and Dad,” I say, dropping Marilyn’s hand and giving them each a hug. “How did you get here so fast?”
“We found a direct flight to Indy and rented a car,” Mom says, looking around and spotting Devan. Tears coat Mom’s cheeks as she and my sister embrace. Holding Devan against her shoulder, Mom pets Devan’s hair. “He’s going to be all right.” Mom nods. “I’ve claimed it.”
The room buzzes with discussions as Mom and Dad join the conversations. Bridget gives Mom an update as Dad talks to Randy. For a few minutes, I stand, leaning against the wall, my arms crossed over my chest, accepting my own decisions. I can walk away from my job at the mall. If I never sell another pair of basketball shoes, I’ll be content.
It’s walking away from Marilyn that bothers me, even more than turning down the job at Parker and Stevens. That firm may be my dream, but in only a few weeks, I saw Marilyn as more than a dream. I saw her as my future. I saw us as a future.
This decision is going to do what I swore not to do.
It’s going to hurt Marilyn—again.
This time, like last time, it’s for her own good. Except, unlike last time, I know what I’m doing. That doesn’t mean I don’t hate it, but it means it’s the right thing to do. She says she supports my decision, but her suggestion of a compromise tells me that deep down, she wants me to take the job.
Looking around, I spot Marilyn sitting next to Jill. As I do, my mom appears at my side, her arm latching through mine.
“Are you going to formally introduce us?”
My eyes open wide.
“Or are you not serious with her?”
“How do you even know about Marilyn?”
Mom presses her lips together. “Well, let’s see…your sister, for one. And then there is Betty Kolberg. Oh, and Joyce from the diner. I’ve also known Marilyn all her life.”
Closing my eyes, I shake my head. “You were in Florida.”
“I had my phone.” She lowers her voice. “Are the rumors wrong?”
My lips curl. “No, Mom. They’re right.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Justin is what’s wrong.”
Mom pulls me out into the hallway. “Honey, he’ll get better.”
I lift my chin toward Marilyn. “Look at her. She’s beautiful and so damn smart. We’re interested in the same things. She knows what she wants and has worked hard for it.”
“She sounds like a wonderful woman.”
“She is,” I admit.
“Then tell me what’s wrong.”
I inhale. “Marilyn doesn’t deserve to be with someone stuck in Riverbend. She deserves someone who lives where she wants to live, someone who doesn’t have dirt permanently under his fingernails.”
“You left Riverbend.”
I exhale, my nostrils flaring. “I got a job offer today.”
Mom’s eyes open wide. “You did? That’s fantastic.”
I nod. “It’s with the firm I really wanted.” I turn and look into my mom’s eyes. “I applied for an entry level, but that wasn’t what they offered me.”
“I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m going to turn it down.”
Mom’s lips gape open. “Richard John, tell me why.”
“Because I’m not going to let Justin lose the farm.”
“That’s very noble of you, but I don’t?—”
“Stop, please, Mom.” I work to not raise my voice. “We may have sold the farm to Justin and Devan, but I can’t turn my back now. He’ll need help. Hell, I graduated a semester early. I can look for a job after this year’s crop is harvested.”
“What about Marilyn?” Mom asks.
As a lump forms in the back of my throat, I look over at her. She says she will support me, no matter my decision, but I can’t do that to her. I’m not dragging her back to Riverbend. “I don’t know,” I reply.
“Ricky, don’t make life-changing decisions when everything is in chaos. Devan told me how happy you two were the other weekend.”
“Marilyn deserves better.”
“Shouldn’t that be her decision?”
I lift my hand, point at Marilyn, and curl my finger, beckoning her to us.
Her blue eyes open wide as she looks around in all directions before gesturing to herself. “Me?” she mouths.
I nod, unable to hold back my grin.
Damn, it’s painful watching her come toward us, knowing that soon I won’t be holding her in my arms. Tonight was supposed to be our celebration. I push those thoughts away as she comes closer. Once she’s standing before us, I say, “I know you know each other, but Marilyn, this is Mom. Mom, this is Marilyn.”
My mother smiles. “I’ve only known Marilyn since she and Devan were in the same Sunday school class, wearing diapers.”
Marilyn’s cheeks glow with a rosy hue. “Janet, it’s good to see you.”
Mom pulls Marilyn into a hug and whispers something in her ear. As Marilyn pulls away, she nods and smiles.
“Are you going to tell me what you’re saying?” I ask.
“No,” both ladies say at the same time.
Marilyn reaches for my hand, but I pull it back.
“Um,” Marilyn says. “Todd and Jill are headed back to Carmel. I’ve decided to email my supervisor and let them know I won’t be in tomorrow. I can stay overnight, at least.”
“Don’t do that.”
“I want to stay, for Devan and for you.”
I shake my head. “Devan has all of fucking Riverbend.”
Her eyes widen. “Then for you.”
“You have a job, an important job. Devan will understand. Besides, you can come back on the weekend, and hopefully, Justin will be up for visitors.”
Marilyn swallows. I sense her feeling me pulling away. The thing she doesn’t understand is that it’s killing me.
“Okay,” she says. “I guess I’ll go back with them.”
Mom reaches for Marilyn’s hand. “Honey, it’s good to see you.”
She gives my mom a half smile. “Take care of Devan.”
“We will.”
I turn to Mom. “Can I stay at your place in town, or do you think I should stay out with Devan?”
“Why don’t you ask your sister?”
“I’ll do that.” I nod to Marilyn. “See you later.”
“Bye,” Marilyn says, turning away.
I can’t watch her leave. Instead, I look for my sister.