“What about Jane?”
Riley startled and straightened herself when her sister approached. “I was just saying how nice it’s been to see you and Mindy,” she said, painting on a smile. “I feel like I’m getting to know you all over again. Isn’t that crazy?”
“Totally, me too. And I’m loving Riley 2.0.” Jane sank onto the couch next to the dining table and propped her feet on a stool. “Want to have a nightcap together? It’s so quiet without screaming kids around, and the view is gorgeous.” She spread her arms. “I mean, look at this.”
“I know, I feel very lucky,” Riley said, sitting next to her and propping her feet up beside her sister’s. “You know you’re welcome here anytime, right? Whenever you need a break.”
“Thank you. You know what? I’ll take you up on that offer. I feel like I’m on vacation, but it doesn’t come with the stress of being somewhere with a child and having to entertain her.”
Jane looked at Riley affectionately, and Quinn smiled, seeing the love between them. It was a peaceful night, and the sudden silence was indeed a welcome break. The river lay still, and there was a gentle rustling in the trees overhead.
“How about a glass of port?” she suggested. “I have that nice bottle from when Grandma was here.” She shook her head when Riley was about to get up. “Stay there and let those pills do their work. Would you like a cup of chamomile tea instead? It might be better with your indigestion.”
“Yes, please. You’re the sweetest.” Riley blew her a kiss, and Quinn beamed as she walked to the back entrance of the house and heard Jane whispering, “I fucking love that woman. If you ask me, she’s the best thing that ever happened to you.”
It was a great week. Riley’s sister approved of her, and Mindy had taken a liking to her too, following her around with her dolls all weekend. Furthermore, her parents were delighted that she’d finally found someone to settle down with. It felt like everything was naturally falling into place, as if it was written in the stars that she would be with Riley. A destined journey of two lives intertwining. It was almost too good to be true.
66
RILEY
“Can we go set up the pool now, Aunt Riley?” Mindy stuffed the last piece of toast into her mouth and pointed at her plate. “I’ve finished my breakfast.”
“Sure, we can, if your mom is okay with it.”
“Why not?” Jane said. “It’s going to be the first warm day of the year, and I wouldn’t mind going in there myself. If I’ll fit in,” she added with a chuckle.
Riley laughed when Mindy sprinted toward the big box leaning against the kitchen counter. It was way too heavy to pick up, but she kept trying anyway, pulling at it with her full body weight. It was going to be warmer today, and the pool Mindy had picked was most certainly big enough to fit all three of them.
Mindy had been up at the crack of dawn, waiting for the delivery, waking them up each time she heard a noise. When it finally arrived by courier at eight a.m., Riley had no choice but to make breakfast so they could get their day started. “Can you swim?” she asked.
“I can with armbands.” Mindy turned to Jane. “Mom, where are my armbands?”
“They’re in the big suitcase, honey. Go get them. Your swimsuit is in there too.” Jane finished her coffee, got up, and sighed as she glanced from the box to Riley and back. “You think we can do this? No, wait,” she corrected herself. “Wehaveto do this. Mindy’s mood depends on it, and I don’t want to have a sulking child on my last few days here.”
“Come on. I’ve decorated half the house. I’m sure I can manage to get a simple paddling pool up and running.” Riley yawned as she picked up one side and waited for Jane to take the other side.
“Are you tired?” Jane asked. “You keep yawning, and it’s making me yawn too.”
“A little,” Riley said, noting her body felt achy. It wasn’t just the yawning; faint spells of dizziness had bugged her all morning, but she’d ignored them. She had no reason to be tired; if anything, she’d had lots of rest while Jane and Mindy were here. A little voice in the back of her mind told her to see a doctor and have herself checked out, but she was having such a nice time with her family that she didn’t want to ruin their carefree vibe now that they were finally getting on so well.
Although she’d had dizzy spells many times before and felt fine the next day, they were still warning signs, so just in case, she stopped halfway down the hallway. “Hang on, I forgot something.” Riley went back and grabbed her phone from the kitchen table before they headed into the yard. Perhaps she’d get a quiet moment to call the doctor’s practice to make an appointment for next week, after Jane and Mindy had left.
“Right. Where shall we set it up?” Jane asked, panting as they put the box down to rest for a beat. “And why is it so heavy? I thought it was just an inflatable paddling pool.”
“No, it’s a puncture-resistant base attached to a metal frame, and it’s quite big,” Riley said, hoping it came with a clear manual. Feeling light-headed, she blew out her cheeks, then painted on a smile. Nothing was going to ruin this beautiful day, and she was going to be fine.
“Yay! I’m going to swim!” Mindy came tearing out in her swimsuit. In her rush, she’d put it on back to front, and she looked adorable, waving her armbands in the air. “Can we put it under the swing, Mommy? I want to jump in the pool from the swing.”
“I don’t think that’s safe, honey,” Jane said with a chuckle as she looked her over. “You might hurt yourself.”
“But I can swim!” Mindy jutted out her bottom lip.
“I know you can, but you’re also a bit of a monkey, and I don’t want you landing on the frame.”
“How about by the river next to the seating area?” Riley suggested. “Then we can keep an eye on her while we’re having sundowners later. Maybe under the—” She stopped herself when she suddenly felt shaky. The tremble that grew in her limbs made it hard to stand.Fuck. It’s happening again. Cold sweat broke out as she sank onto the lawn and held her chest. Her heart was beating abnormally fast, randomly skipping a beat every few seconds. It was bad, and she knew it.
“Riley, what’s going on?” Jane kneeled next to her and held her with a worried frown between her brows. “What’s wrong?”
