“Thanks, Mom.”
“I heard what you said last night. You can’t protect Avery from getting upset now and then. You have nothing to be guilty about. You deserve to be happy, Heather. You and Avery. And Ryker is making both of you happy—I’ve never seen you two like this. And he wants to be there for you through everything.”
I chuckled. “That sounds like something he would say.”
Mom averted her gaze.
“Wait a second... that sounds exactly like something Ryker would say. Mom..., have you talked to him?”
She didn’t answer. My ass slid so close to the edge of the chair that I nearly fell off.
“Mom?” I urged.
“Well, I’m not supposed to tell you anything about it.”
“Mom!” I repeated, tone stronger this time. “Tell me everything. When did you talk to him? What did he say?”
“He called me last night.”
“What? How did he even have your number?”
“Asked for it on Facebook.”
“What did he want?” My heart rate was out of control. I placed a hand on my chest, as if that could help calm down my pulse.
“I can’t say.”
“Mom!”
“Stop Mom-ing me. I won’t tell you anything, except that he was very charming.”
I chuckled, dropped my chin to my chest. “Of course, he was.” Then I decided to try another angle. “Why did he call you and not me?”
“Because he needed to know—” Mom stopped midsentence, narrowing her eyes. “Heather! This is foul play.”
I held up my hands in defense. “I had to try.”
I climbed down from the chair, suddenly feeling jittery and so pumped up with energy that I could run a marathon. I felt as if the walls of the house were closing in on me.
“I’m going for a swim in the pool,” I announced. Swimming was even better than running when it came to calming myself down. The community had built a residential pool two decades ago. It had been the highlight back then.
“Oh, now you’re going to leave me? Just when I’m about to start cooking lunch?”
“Would you rather I stay and help you?”
Mom waved her hand dismissively and teased me. “Go, go. You’re not needed here. Are you going to stay at the pool the entire time?”
“Probably. Why?”
“So I know where to find you if I do need you. Your dad and I will take Avery and Jill to the fair as soon as she wakes up, so we might not be home when you come back.”
Jill was Avery’s best friend in Phoenix.
“Okay.” I took another muffin from the plate Mom had carefully arranged.
“Hey!” Mom admonished.
“What? I deserve this for having to live knowing that you’ve been having conversations behind my back.”
Mom laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Are you sure you can’t tell me anything?” I asked, gripping the muffin so tightly that the base disintegrated between my fingers.
“No.”
“Not even a hint?”
Mom shook her head. I stole yet another muffin. “You know what? I don’t think I’ll need lunch after all.”
“That is not a healthy meal, young lady.”
“Oh, I know. But it’s food for the soul, you know? Especially when you discover that your own blood is up to no good.”
Mom didn’t have any comeback. After finding a bikini in my room, I darted out of the house.
The heat in Arizona was so different compared to New York. I’d gotten so used to the humidity permeating the air in the summer months, it was shocking how dry it was out here. It was almost as if I could feel the dust particles from the scorched earth whirling in the air.
I walked lazily toward the pool, soaking in the sun. Why had Ryker called Mom? She’d called him charming, so it had to be good, right?
My heart felt lighter with every step. I hadn’t even realized it had felt heavy as a stone until now.
***
Ryker
I flew into Phoenix early the next morning, then took a cab to Heather’s parents’ hometown. The driver had no problems finding the address Mrs. Prescott had given me. I got out of the car in front of a white house with a bright green roof and a generous front porch. The door opened just as I reached the landing.
Mrs. Prescott came out, smiling at me.
“I see you found the house easily,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am. Nice to see you again.” We shook hands just as a man I assumed was Mr. Prescott joined us.
“I’m Ryker, sir. Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand firmly.
“Son, you just missed Heather. She went to the pool.”
“I’ll just meet her there, then.”
“Nonsense. Come in and have a drink first. You must be tired,” Mrs. Prescott said.
She was right. I was tired, but not because of the journey. I’d been up with my siblings until late. Then I headed home, packed a small bag, slept a few hours, and after I got up and showered, I went straight to the airport. I called in sick at work.
Following the Prescotts inside, I dropped my luggage next to the entrance and then went into the kitchen.
I took the glass of lemonade Mrs. Prescott handed me, gulping it down. I didn’t want to sit, though. I wanted to see Heather, but first I wanted to talk to them both about their daughter and Avery before doing anything else.
“Is Avery with Heather at the pool?” I asked.
“No, actually Avery just woke up. She’s in the back yard,” Mr. Prescott said. “We’re going to pick up a friend of hers and then go to the fair.”
“I’d like to talk to her before, if there’s time.”
“Sure,” Mr. Prescott said. “We weren’t planning on leaving for another fifteen minutes or so. Come on, I’ll take you to her.”
He led me to the back of the house, out the door where we stepped onto another large porch that spilled into a huge yard, with a doghouse on the side. Three golden retriever puppies were poking their heads out, looking at Avery.
Avery was sitting on the steps of the porch, sorting out straws.
“Hey, Avery. Look who’s here,” Mr. Prescott said.
“Ryker!” Her eyes were wide and probing. She also gave me a smile, but it was small and tentative, as if she wasn’t sure she should smile. Damn it!
“Avery, Ryker wants to talk to you.”
“Okay. You don’t have to stay, Pops, I’m a big girl,” Avery replied, gathering her straws closer to her.
Mr. Prescott opened his mouth, closed it again. He gave me an encouraging look before going back in the house.
“Can I sit next to you?” I asked Avery.
She nodded, shifting a little to make space for me. The second I sat down, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk to you and your mom.”
She looked down at her hands, playing with her thumbs. One of the puppies came running out of the doghouse, straight into Avery’s lap.
“But why? You didn’t want to see us at the office.”
“I couldn’t, Avery. I was in a meeting. I’m sorry I forgot you and your mom were coming for lunch.”
“But that man said that you don’t have time for children.” She hugged the tiny furball tightly to her.