Chapter 9 #2
Opening his eyes, he met Riley’s. “Oh, you should have heard us fight.” He laughed. “At first, my mom would remind me that no lady deserved to be spoken to like that. Then, my darling mother said, ‘That woman is no lady.’
“Sounds like Brea.”
“Anyway, I’m not answering Monica. She’s not worth my time. It’s a non-issue, despite being annoying. But, given everything else. I just wanted you to know.”
“Annoying’s putting it mildly,” she said. “And thank you for telling me.”
“The only thing that bothers me right now is seeing you hurting,” he said, his gaze holding hers.
Her chest tightened. She sipped her coffee to keep from saying something she wasn’t ready to voice. “You always were good at knowing when to say the right thing.”
“And you always hated admitting it.” He grinned, and for a heartbeat, the heaviness surrounding them eased.
She turned her head toward her old house again, knowing breakfast with Erin was going to be its own battle. But for now, on the Boone porch, she let herself breathe.
The smell of fresh ground coffee beans and warm cinnamon wrapped around Riley the moment she stepped inside Stone Bridge Café.
The place hadn’t changed much—the same mismatched wooden tables, the same chalkboard menu with flourishes that leaned more artistic than legible, the same hum of locals greeting each other like family.
She ordered a latte and found a small corner table by the window.
From here, she could see the ebb and flow of Main Street—shopkeepers sweeping their stoops, a couple of early tourists lingering outside the bakery to take pictures of the hand-painted sign.
Her gaze caught on the gift shop two doors down, its front windows filled with postcards, pottery, and handmade soaps.
Stephanie’s shop.
As if summoned by thought, the door chimed, and there she was—Stephanie Wilcox, hair a little shorter now, swept back in a loose braid, wearing jeans and a floral blouse. She spotted Riley instantly, hesitated for half a breath, then made her way over.
“Well, if it isn’t Stone Bridge’s most elusive wanderer,” Stephanie said with a smile that didn’t quite hide her nerves.
Riley rose enough to give her a quick hug. “Steph. You look… good.”
“You're kind to say so, but most days I look in the mirror and all I see is tired. I’m fueled by caffeine and two hours of sleep thanks to my youngest deciding 3 a.m. is a great time to redecorate her room with finger paint.”
Riley covered her mouth and let out a snort. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh, but all I can think about is the time we thought it would be fun to paint your mother’s garage. Like a mural was all the rage, and we did so with her permanent spray paint.”
“Good Lord. We were maybe eight, and my mom didn’t know whether to skin us alive or burst out laughing because our masterpiece looked more like a penis than a rocket.” Steph shook her head. “Mind if I sit for a minute?”
“No. Please, join me. That is, until my sister arrives. Erin still believes that being a half hour late is in the window of being on time.”
“Sounds like your sister.” Steph slid into the chair across from her.
Her hair color was the same, but styled shorter, more sophisticated.
And she carried herself with a sense of maturity that came with age and living.
“I’m so sorry about your dad. It’s been such a shock to the community.
He was such a sweet man. He’d wander into the gift shop, smile, and tell me a story about my past. He was so kind. I really loved that man.”
“Thank you. He always said you were unicorns and rainbows… until someone fed you sugar.”
They both laughed.
“How long are you in town?” Steph asked.
Riley hesitated. “Not sure yet.”
Stephanie glanced at her mug before looking back up. “Have you seen any of the old gang?”
“I had coffee with Sandy the other day.” Riley traced a finger along the rim of her cup. “Can’t believe she’s the Police Chief. And of course, I’ve seen Bryson. He’s the one who first got hold of me when my dad died.”
“I’ve been meaning to say this for a long time,” Stephanie said, leaning forward.
“I felt like I betrayed you. Standing up for Monica at her wedding to Bryson… it wasn’t because I picked her over you.
At the time, it felt like the whole town had, and I just…
got swept along. But I regret it. Every damn day. ”
Riley studied her, the sincerity in her voice cutting through years of distance. “Monica’s good at making people think they don’t have a choice.”
Stephanie’s mouth twisted. “I had a choice. I just made the wrong one. I don’t really talk to her anymore. Had enough of her crap a few years back. We run into each other at parties sometimes, but since I had kids, I’ve got little built-in bundles of excuses.”
That made Riley huff a short laugh. “I ran into Monica, and it wasn’t pretty. Bryson was there. We had words. She treated me like sloppy seconds. Shoved her big ass boobs practically in the man’s face. Bryson looked like he wanted to die, but it was at the tasting room, so he had to be polite.”
“He’s usually kind.” Steph leaned forward. “Except, once, he got really drunk and told her off… in front of the whole town… including her mom. Everyone clapped. It was awesome.”
“We’re like teenagers all over again. This is so petty.”
“I know, right?” Steph leaned back. “I do my best to avoid that drama.” She pulled out her cell. “These two take up all my time, and I love them so much I could cry.”
“Wow. They’re so cute.”
They talked for a few more minutes about Stephanie’s kids, the shop, and small-town life before Stephanie checked the time and sighed. “I should get back before my part-time help burns the place down. But I’m glad I saw you.” She reached across the table, squeezing Riley’s hand. “Really glad.”
“Me too, and I’d like to do it again before I leave.”
“I’d love that.”
When Stephanie left, Riley sat back, letting the moment settle. The past here wasn’t all bad. But it was tangled, and she wasn’t sure how many knots she had the patience to untie.
The door opened again. This time it was Erin. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, her face bare of makeup, the shadows under her eyes more pronounced than Riley remembered. Erin spotted her and made her way over, her smile small but genuine.
“I’m so glad you reached out,” Erin said as she slid into the seat Stephanie had just vacated. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had dropped the kids off at Mom’s, and that was a whole thing. Next time we get together, we’ll do it with my babies. They’re so excited to see you.”
“I can’t wait.”
They ordered breakfast, the clink of silverware and hiss of the espresso machine filling the gaps between pleasantries.
But it didn’t take long for Erin to lean forward, her voice low.
“I’m having a hard time. With all of it.
Dad’s gone, Mom’s acting… well, like Mom.
And Grant’s… I don’t know. He’s taking it from all sides, and he’s more than twitchy. He’s downright moody.”
Riley kept her face neutral, though her mind flicked immediately to her father’s note, and the missing money. “I’m sure it’s a lot for him, too,” she said carefully.
Erin sighed, rubbing her forehead. “I know Grant has made his share of mistakes, but he’s under so much pressure from Mom about you.
” She glanced up, meeting Riley’s gaze. “It’s so tough to balance.
Grant and I both regret so many things about your departure.
We were hurt, and we listened to Mom, who cares more about appearances than she does her own children.
” Erin lifted her napkin and dabbed her eyes.
“Wow. That’s a big statement coming from you.”
“Mom’s so good at manipulating,” Erin added quickly. “It’s just… now, it feels gross. This pressure to ‘choose’ and I hate it. She’s furious you’re staying at the Boones’.”
“Wait. What? I’ve been staying at Stone Bridge Inn.”
“She drove by this morning. Saw you and Bryson carrying your bag up the front porch.” Erin shook her head. “She thinks it’s disloyal. Me, I’m glad. I’m not like her, or even Grant in that way. I’ve always liked Bryson.”
Riley’s stomach twisted. “I’m not choosing sides. I just… didn’t want to be alone, and Grant really needs to get over this thing with Bryson. There’s no reason for it. They’re grown men.”
“Oh, he knows that. He tries. But it’s not easy when Mom’s telling him Bryson pushed you out of town. That Bryson broke your heart when he cheated on you.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“We all know that now, including Grant. But Mom sometimes whispers half-truths about Bryson. Things that happened, and then she gets all quiet and tells us she can’t dare say anything else.
That it would be gossip, but that there’s so much more, and she knows things, but then doesn’t say anything.
” Erin hesitated, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup.
“I haven’t exactly been a great sister to you over the years. ”
Riley blinked, surprised. “Where’s this coming from?”
“From the fact that I finally see our mother for who she is. That my marriage is in shambles,” Erin said, her voice cracking.
“Chad’s cheating on me. And the worst part?
I believe it now—what you said when you were sixteen.
Maybe I even believed it then. That he was the one who made the pass at you. Not the other way around.”
Riley swallowed hard, the old hurt pressing at the edges of her chest. “Erin…”
“I defended him because I didn’t want to admit the boy I loved would do such a thing to my little sister. And now…” She let out a bitter laugh. “Now, I’m living with the consequences. Mom thinks I’m overreacting, says Chad provides a good life, and I’m just being dramatic.”
“That sounds like Mom,” Riley murmured.
“She doesn’t see how miserable I am. And Dad’s not here for me to talk to anymore. He always made me feel like I could figure things out. Now I just feel… lost.”