Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
Another week. And nothing.
Colton’s mind kept drifting back to the case when he should be taking part in all the Christmas morning festivities. It wasn’t as if they didn’t have the evidence. It seemed to mount by the day, making them more and more confident Warren Everett was the guy.
If only they had an inkling where he might be.
“Uncle Colton, look!”
Quinn’s voice pulled his attention to her, holding up a brand-new dress from Grandma.
He blew her a kiss. “You’re going to look like a princess in that dress, sweet pea.”
Her giggle warmed his chest. Time to put work aside. This was family time.
The holidays had been difficult the past few years, since Theresa left. And his faith seemingly went with her. He couldn’t wait to get through the days from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, when the world would finally get back to normal.
But this year … this year had been different.
Redeeming. Soul-filling. Thanksgiving at the shelter, followed by the evening with a blending of families from all walks of life at the Hudson estate.
The bone marrow donor drive that exceeded all expectations.
Spending a good chunk of yesterday cooking at the shelter.
Giving folks at least one day they didn’t have to worry about where their next meal would come from.
Or if they’d have gifts for their children.
Now, Colton sat on the floor of his parents’ living room amidst the remnants of wrapping paper and bows, boxes and packing material, as Lisa’s kids tore into their gifts. He’d already unwrapped his, including a hefty monetary donation from his entire family for Theresa’s foundation.
These were his favorite people. The ones who’d kept him together after Theresa died.
Loving him through the darkest time of his life.
By last Christmas, he’d finally found contentment in his singleness, choosing that over the idea of ever finding another.
Even watching his sister’s children squeal with glee over their gifts, having finally accepted he would never have his own.
Why, then, was he at such a loss today? When he’d come back to God and found joy in serving others? Where had that contentment gone?
After the last gift had been opened, he stood and walked over to peer out the big bay window in his parents’ living room. Gray clouds hung low, and a light rain fell on the front lawn. A great backdrop for his mood. Not at all Christmas-like.
He sipped from a mug of hot chocolate and turned when a hand clapped on his shoulder. “Dad.”
“Son. You seem a little distracted today. Anything I can help with?”
“No, sir. A lot on my mind, I guess.”
“Riley?”
“Riley?”
“Her case. I know you’ve been putting in a lot of hours on it.”
“Right. Her case. Yes, we’ve been working day and night on it. And we know we have the guy. We just can’t find him. I hate that we have to wait for him to do something and hope we catch him before he can …” Looking down into his cup, he shook his head.
“She must be frightened. Poor girl.”
“She is. But she’s a trouper. Won’t let him keep her down. I know she’s canceled some of her non-essential outings, which for Riley are few. Everything she does is essential to somebody.”
“She’s a jewel, that’s certain. The whole family is rather special. In fact, her parents sent us an invitation to their New Year’s Ball, with a handwritten note. They’re nice folks. Very down-to-earth for people who have so much.”
“You’re going to the ball?”
“Planning to. Could be rather fun, your ma and me hobnobbing with the cream of Houston society, getting all decked out for the evening, eating gourmet food. Sent back our response last week. We’re going shopping tomorrow for a gown for your mother.
I’ve never bought your mom an evening gown. I’m quite looking forward to it.”
“You need a tux?”
“Renting one. Figured you’d be wearing your own.”
“I have two. I’ll go grab it later, and you can try it on.”
“All righty. Thanks.” They stared out the window, listening to the rain splatter against the glass. “So, the last time you talked to Riley, she was doing well?”
“Appeared to be, as of last week.”
Dad’s forehead creased. “You haven’t spoken to her since last week?”
“Hasn’t been any need to.” Other than his desire to hear her voice. To bridge the distance between them. Completely selfish and not at all what Riley needed. “I check in with Cooper from time to time.” Or every day, if truth be told.
No, better to keep his distance. At least until the New Year’s Ball, where he was running point on event security. He’d have to see her then. Dancing the night away with the likes of young Dr. Bellows. Maybe even Pretty Boy Gentry.
“I see.” Dad stuck his hands in his pockets and stared out the window.
“You know, we never did quite understand why you left her detail. You don’t have to explain to me.
It was just unlike you. You always see things through.
We figured something happened that made it impossible for you to continue. ”
“You could say that.” He sighed and peered down into his cup, even the sight of the rich cocoa bringing her to mind. How many cups of hot chocolate had they had together? “We got too close. Nothing inappropriate, don’t get me wrong. But she thinks she’s in love with me.”
“She thinks? Or she knows?”
“How could she know, Dad? How could we fall in love in four weeks? It doesn’t happen that way.”
“We?”
“Excuse me?”
“You said we. ‘How could we fall in love in four weeks.’”
“I mean her. How could she know she was in love with me in only four weeks?”
“But you said we. I think you need to quit worrying about Riley and start trying to make sense of what it is you feel. Can people fall in love in four weeks? I believe they can fall in love in four hours, if it’s meant to be.
I was with you two for an entire evening at Thanksgiving.
And what I saw, even after you’d been together less than two weeks, was more than two people with a professional relationship. ”
Colton couldn’t argue. “I respect her. A lot. She’s an incredible lady, and, in all honesty, that came as a surprise to me.
She’s not living off her name and social status.
That woman would give her right arm to somebody if she believed they needed it more than she did.
We’d developed a friendship, which was fine.
I just let things get out of control in a weak moment.
She’s a beautiful woman, and I’d have to be dead not to notice. But that’s as far as it goes.”
Dad nodded, but his gaze remained fixed. “If you say so. We’d just like to see you with a good woman, Colton, my boy. And Riley’s as good as they come.”
Colton stared after his father as he walked back over to the children still playing in the remnants of their gift-opening. Riley’s as good as they come. He didn’t disagree. She was everything a guy could want in a woman. Everything he needed.
But could he be everything she needed?
Riley laughed as she blew bubbles into the air for her nieces and nephews.
Every member of the family had received a bottle of bubbles in their stocking, and they now sat around the fire and the Christmas tree in the cozy family room.
Colorful paper, bows, and boxes of every size lay strewn on the rug as the kids chased bubbles they would never catch. Still, they never gave up.
Yesterday afternoon and evening had been spent at the shelter, as they always did on Christmas Eve, serving dinner, handing out gifts and clothes, and singing carols into the night.
Knowing the creep—no, Warren—had made an appearance at the Thanksgiving dinner, Mack had supplied two additional teams besides hers for the Christmas event.
She’d been hyper-vigilant herself, but nobody spotted anyone they believed could be her nightmare in skin.
But today was all about family. While the kids chased bubbles, Grandpa Kevin sat in the middle of the mess, putting together all the toys as he’d done for Riley, Alex, and “Little” Kevin in years past.
From as far back as she could remember, the Hudson family tradition had been to come down to a hearty Christmas Day breakfast in their matching pajamas before opening gifts. That’s probably where she’d learned to stuff her food down as quickly as possible, so they could get to the fun part faster.
Yes, today was all about family. Except for the usual rotation of guards in the security room, watching the gate and the grounds.
Riley had promised her guys she wouldn’t even peek out a window so they could spend the day with their families.
Even Nowell had been with his family since leaving her back at the estate last night.
She closed the bottle, put it aside, and joined her grandfather on the floor. “Thank you again for my beautiful locket. That it was Grandma’s makes it even more special.”
The wistfulness in his eyes made her heart catch. “She was thirty when I gave it to her for Christmas, with each of our pictures from our wedding day. I know she’d love for you to have it, to put your own pictures in there when the time comes.”
“If the time comes.” If she could ever lay aside the conviction that she’d already met the love of her life. A man who chose to walk away instead of staying to discover what they could become. Together.
“It’ll come. And if God has something else for you, He’ll fill your heart so much, there’s no room for anybody else.”
A tear escaped, and she swiped it away. “I love you, Gramps.”
“I love you, too, Riley-girl. Now, help this old man with this dollhouse.”
“You got it.”
Twenty minutes later, the dollhouse built and put aside, Riley returned to the loveseat. Hilda, who was more family than employee and always opted to stay on holidays, brought in a tray full of cups of hot cocoa and coffee.
Mom thanked her and brought her cup of coffee over to join Riley. “You look like you’re doing so much better today, sweetie. I was a little concerned yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
“At the shelter. You’ve always loved the time spent there on Christmas Eve as much as the time spent here on Christmas morning. But you seemed a little distracted.”
“I hope nobody else noticed. I would hate it if anyone thought I didn’t want to be there.”
“I’m your mom. I notice things about you others don’t.”
“I guess I was a bit distracted. I kept looking around at everybody, wondering if they were … you know.” Saying his name always put an acid taste of fear in her throat.
“I hated being suspicious of every man I saw. And I was worried about my family, and my friends, and the people at the shelter. I know everybody at the Christmas Ball was okay, but I kept thinking maybe I should stay in until this is over, to make sure nobody else gets hurt. I was so stressed by the time we got home, I did a half hour of laps in the pool, then sat in the spa with Delia and Sadie for some girl time.”
“You shouldn’t worry about us or anybody else. The Petersen guys are on top of things, and John had half a dozen officers there yesterday.” She paused for a moment. “I thought maybe you were searching for someone else. Someone you hoped might be there.”
Riley bowed her head and took a sip of her hot chocolate. The warmth cascaded down her throat but did nothing for the ache in her chest. “Colton. He loved being at the shelter on Thanksgiving, so I wondered if he would show.”
Mom pulled her close. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry this is so difficult for you. Not only with this guy making your life miserable but the way your heart hurts. I understand it. I loved your father for months before he finally came around.”
“You didn’t give up hope?”
“I couldn’t. I was in love. Nothing changes that except time. And the more time that passed, the more I loved him. I simply had no choice but to wait.”
Riley shrugged. “Then I guess I have no choice.”