Chapter Forty-seven
I have no energy to do anything. Seeing River sucked every bit of energy from me, pretending to be strong and okay is exhausting. I cried the whole way home and I can’t get this awful pain to stop.
He looked so good, with his disheveled hair and oil-stained clothes, those overalls tied around his waist. His eyes never left mine and I felt them to my very soul, he sees everything all at once and I don’t know what to do with it.
I can see his regret and I know he’s sorry, but I don’t know how to forget it. If I give him another chance and he hurts me again, I don’t think I’d survive it.
I finish pouring my iced tea and head toward the porch where a cute rocking chair sits, looking out onto the front yard. I have my book, my drinks and hours of isolation ahead of me. But as I go to sit, I hear the buzzer for the gate and remember I ordered some food since I hadn’t eaten today. I hit the button to let them through and then go back to my seat, curling my legs under myself as I open my book and take a sip of my drink.
Goose bumps rise across my skin when I hear the familiar purr of the engine, eyes snapping up to see the neon green Plymouth slowly working its way up the drive.
Frozen, mouth hanging open, I watch River advance, coming to a stop next to my grandmother’s old Mini Cooper.
“What the…” I stand and lean over the railing, “What are you doing here!?”
River grins at me, still dressed in his garage clothes, oil all over him. The sun gives his skin a golden glow, highlighting the paler areas where his scars are.
“Your car is kicking out smoke, princess,” He shrugs, “Thought I’d come give it a service.”
“I – is it?”
“Mm,” He nods, “Think it may be the oil. Don’t want you breaking down again.”
He doesn’t come up onto the porch, just heads straight for the Mini that’s a fair few years older than I expected it to be. I never saw my grandmother use it, but it had been well loved, she’d even left me a little note I’d found in the glove box.
Her name is Cindy and she’s been reliable for me all these years. She gets a little wobbly over seventy, but she’s never failed me and she’ll never fail you either. Treat her well. Grams.
It had made me laugh that she’d given the car a name and a personality and I knew immediately I wanted to drive it over the Mercedes which I plan to sell at some point.
“Right,” I nod, still confused, “How did you find me?”
“I have my ways, princess,” He shrugs, “Mind unlocking the car so I can get inside?”
Maybe my brain has stopped working because I head inside and grab the key for him, tossing it over the railing for him to catch.
“Thanks, princess,” He carries on like nothing is amiss while I stay standing and staring at him. “Don’t mind me, Marly, sit down, read, I’ll be here a couple hours.”
Shaking my head, I head back to the chair and take a seat, unable to take my eyes off him. He pulls a bunch of tools from the Plymouth and starts working on the car, his focus on that and not me.
There’s only one way he got my address. Zara.
Ditching the book, I head inside and grab my cell, dialing her immediately.
“I am going to kill you.” I snap the moment she answers.
“Woah,” She gasps, “What happened?”
“River is here!” I hiss, “You gave him my address!”
“I – well he – you see–” She stammers, “You’re really sad, Marly! He makes you happy!”
“Zara!” I chastise.
“I love you, I really do,” She goes on, “But maybe you should give him another chance and stop being so stubborn. You’re miserable, he’s miserable and as much as I hate to admit it, you were cute together. I’m not saying forgive him immediately, make him work a little but that boy is obsessed, and I know you well enough that you’ll stay miserable unless someone stepped in.”
I groan, “I didn’t want you to do that.”
“Yes, you did,” I hear her moving around and then the sound of a little girl’s voice fills the background, “You’ve had your whole life dictated to you, you’re scared now so I helped a little but you’re free now, Marly, make your own choices and your first one? It should be to let him back in because you deserve to be happy.”
Silence stretches between us for a second.
“I’ve got to run; me and Jake are taking Amy to the park but call me later. Love you!”
“Love you too,” I grumble and hang up.
Heading to the kitchen, I make another glass of iced tea and grab some water from the fridge. It’s hot out and he’ll get dehydrated if he doesn’t drink something.
“Here,” I place the glass and water on the top step of the porch, catching his eyes as he looks up from where he is bent over the hood.
He gives me a smile and gets back to work and that’s how much of the day goes, he works on the car while I sit and pretend to read, my heart hammering inside my chest. When it gets close to five, he slams the hood down, startling me on the porch.
“All done, but it needs new tires.”
“Are you just making this up now?” I ask.
“Me?” He blinks at me innocently, “Never.”
“I don’t think it needs new tires.”
He points to the front left, “This one is bald right here and the others are close to being so. It needs new tires, Marly.”
“Okay well, I’ll take it to a shop then.”
“Absolutely not,” He growls, “I will order your tires and come back tomorrow to change them.”
“You don’t have to do that, River.” I sigh, chewing on my lip.
“I do.” He wipes his hands, “I let you down, Marly. I’m not going to let you down again. See you tomorrow.”
I open my mouth to make him stop, maybe invite him to stay for dinner but the words get lost in my throat. I know he was also waiting for them because the disappointed sag of his shoulders matches mine.
“Bye, Marly,” He smiles at me, climbs in his car and leaves.