“Rile. I’m not sure about any of this. I’m just giving you my best guess.”
Ana chose that moment to appear in the wide arch that opened into the living room. “Snacks, please,” she said.
“Yeah, snacks!” Dillon concurred as he stepped up beside her.
“To be continued,” Macy said.
“Sure,” Riley agreed glumly.
The kids got juice boxes from the fridge and Macy brought out cheese and crackers. After their snack, Ana decided they should all go outside to visit the horses and throw sticks for the dogs to fetch. The opportunity to continue the discussion about how Riley could make it right with Josh never presented itself.
Riley drove home feeling edgy and unhappy. She’d never before been on the outs with Josh. And now that she was, she didn’t like it one bit.
But she did decide that Macy had a valid point. Since Riley wasn’t going to change her mind about the marriage thing, she needed to give Josh the space to make peace with her decision.
* * *
Sunday was awful. She wondered constantly how Josh was doing. Was he okay? Or was he miserable, too?
She got through the day, though. Somehow. Then at five in the evening, Annette appeared at her door.
Riley had not forgotten her mother-in-law’s part in the problem between Riley and Josh. She greeted Annette with a scowl. “What?”
Annette actually winced. “I take it you’ve spoken with Joshua.”
“Yes, and I—”
“Grammy!” Dillon came pounding down the stairs. “You came to see me!” He made a beeline straight for her.
“There’s my boy!” She scooped him up in a hug.
He wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. “You came for dinner!”
Annette slid a hopeful glance at Riley, who offered grudgingly, “Roast chicken. There’s plenty.”
Annette put on her sweetest smile. “Smells delicious. I’m in.”
Was she ever. Annette was astonishingly agreeable that evening—and so helpful. She tossed the salad. She set the table. She also hung on Dillon’s every word. After the meal, she worked alongside Riley clearing off and loading the dishwasher.
Then she asked Dillon, “Shall we go upstairs?”
Dillon nodded firmly. “Yes!”
Annette turned to Riley. “We’ll play for a while, then I’ll hang around while he gets ready for bed.”
“And then you can read me a story, Grammy…” Dillon said with an angelic smile.
“I absolutely will.” She held out her hand, and Dillon took it. Off they went.
An hour and a half later, Annette came down alone. “He’s all tucked in bed,” she said. “And he wants you to kiss him good-night.”
Riley went up and tucked him in a second time. When she returned to the first floor, Annette had made decaf. Riley turned on the fireplace, and they sat in the living room.
Annette spoke first. “Feel free to express your displeasure with me.”
“Thank you, I will. Josh told me everything. He said you encouraged him to ask me to marry him.”
Annette didn’t even have the grace to look uncomfortable. On the contrary, she seemed pleased with herself. “Yes, I did.”
