Her breath quickened, and her heart hammered against her rib cage at the mere thought of seeing Daniel again. The emotions flooding through her were a lot more than anxiety.
She’d stood up to Collin, surely she was brave enough to talk to Daniel?
Daniel stopped shortwhen he pushed through the kitchen door of the ranch house to find Riley sitting at the dining table surrounded by Jake, Emily, and his parents. His lungs seized at the same moment his heart rate skyrocketed, making him feel like one or the other—or maybe both—might burst any second.
Riley's long, dark hair that was usually pulled back in a ponytail or a braid hung down, framing her face in gentle waves. Her beautiful blue eyes held his gaze for a moment, before lowering. The light that he loved to see there—the one he'd come to associate with the woman he loved—was absent. Her hunched shoulders curled forward, her whole demeanor guarded. She reminded him of a skittish colt, but she looked absolutely beautiful.
His stomach sank. Riley may be home, but she wasn't truly back yet. Would she let him help her find herself again? Did he even dare try?
Everyone else must have known she was coming home, or at least had a chance to greet her already, because he seemed to be the only one surprised to see her. He ached to walk around the table and pull her into his arms, but something told him if he did, she'd run straight back to her Aunt Charity's house. Or maybe even Seattle now that Collin was in jail.
He gave her a gentle smile across the table as he took his seat. "Welcome home, Riley."
A small nod accompanied her hesitant smile.
Either Emily had warned everyone not to talk about things that might upset Riley, or they all understood, as he did, that a certain name and subject were off limits, because conversation was stilted.
"So, how are the plans for the rec center coming?" Riley finally asked, and it felt as if a collective exhale circled around the table.
"Great." Jake beamed. "Daniel finished them this week. They're amazing."
Riley asked the right question because the conversation concerning the rec center lasted the entirety of the meal.
They all chipped in to clear the table when dinner was over. Daniel made sure not to crowd Riley as he followed her to the kitchen, but he couldn't take his eyes off her. He kept hoping for a signal of some sort. Some indication that she wanted to spend a little time with him or a hint that they were going to be able to work through this.
When she looked at him over her shoulder and tilted her head toward the backyard before pushing through the swinging door, he wanted to cheer and hive-five everyone in the kitchen. He resisted for fear of looking like an idiot.
Jake elbowed Daniel in the side. "Well, if that isn't an invitation that says, 'Follow me,' I don't know what is."
"You think?" A sudden flood of uncertainty swamped Daniel.
What if I say or do the wrong thing?
Emily stepped close. "Take it slow. Let her set the pace." She handed baby Adam to Jake and put a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Let her decide what you talk about, how close you sit. Don't touch her unless she touches you first. Respect the boundaries she sets." Then her hand shifted to his back, and the next thing he knew he was being pushed through the swinging door. "Just be yourself."
Daniel quickly scanned the family and dining room to make sure Riley wasn't there before walking to the back door. He swiped sweaty palms on his jeans before grabbing the knob. His heart skipped a beat when he stepped out and spotted her sitting on the porch swing.
She sat sideways with her bare feet on the seat, arms wrapped around her knees. It was a protective gesture that prevented him from sitting too close, but he was grateful she left him any space at all on the swing, otherwise he'd have to sit in a lounge chair several feet away.
"May I?" he motioned to the end of the swing near her feet.
"Please."
That sounds encouraging.
Careful not to move too quickly or sit too closely, he took a seat.
They sat in silence for almost a full minute, during which Daniel grew more and more tense, before she finally spoke. "I've missed you."
The corner of his mouth hitched up as he sucked in a deep breath. A part of him still feared she would tell him to take a hike, so those three words elated him.
"I've missed you too." Careful not to touch her, he shifted slightly to face her. "I've prayed for you every day."
"Thank you." She lowered her gaze. "I prayed for you too. I worried that pushing you away would make staying sober harder, but I was afraid I would hurt you worse if I was around you."
"Not gonna lie, Pockets, staying sober this week has been a challenge."
"I know. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I knew you could do it though. You are so much stronger than you think."
