I lead her inside the house, cringing at her loud exclamations as she takes in the grandness of the place. When we enter the kitchen, Riley appears from the laundry room, tucking the baby monitor under her arm.
“So, this must be the famous Zoe. Not what you were expecting, huh?” she says with a warm smile that has Zoe blinking.
“Honestly, I was expecting a hell of a lot more leopard print and leather.”
“Oh, my god,” I groan, but Riley snorts.
“Oh, I like her,” she says to me. “She can come again.”
I look around the empty kitchen. “Where’s Ciara?”
“Ooh, yes, I want to meet my new online bestie.” Zoe rubs her hands together.
I scoff. “You’re fickle, you know that?”
Riley smiles. “She was outside, setting up the patio for you, but I think I heard Nico crying, so who knows… Either way, we thought you might want somewhere to talk privately.”
Something in her tone makes me frown.
For a split second, I wonder if Ciara has told her the truth about me or if Riley has simply put the pieces together on her own.
I swallow, suddenly unsure whether she knows more than she’s saying, or if she’s deliberately choosing to avoid the subject.
Either way, the message is clear. When it comes to Riley, I’m not on the outside.
“Make yourself at home. And I apologize in advance for all of the screaming children. Apparently, my calling in life was to run an in-house daycare.” She sighs before padding over to the coffee machine.
As I lead Zoe toward the patio, Riley calls after us. “Elena will bring drinks out! It’s freezing, and I’m not losing anyone to hypothermia today!”
I glance back, looking at Riley through the window.
She’s moving about the kitchen, completely at home in the chaos.
Zoe laughs. “I like her.”
Outside, there is no sign of Ciara, but I can see her touch in the fairy lights that are strung across the covered patio. The stone floors are warmed from beneath, with more discreet heaters lining the beams overhead so even in the February chill, we can comfortably sit outside in nothing more than a sweater.
Zoe takes it all in as she sinks down onto the couch, sighing as she looks around. “I could get used to this.”
Elena appears out of nowhere, carrying a tray with all sorts of goodies. “I hope it’s all right, but I made you both hot chocolate.”
“It’s more than all right,” Zoe’s face lights up as she takes in the spread of treats. “Do I smell cinnamon?”
Elena winks. “It’s my secret ingredient. You can’t have cocoa without it.”
I smile at her. “Thanks, Elena. You’re the best.”
Zoe looks at me like I’ve betrayed her. “Okay, where do I get myself an Elena?”
“Get kidnapped by an Irish crime family. The perks are inconsistent but worth it.”
She laughs but quickly sobers now that we’re alone.
“So…” She sets down her mug and tucks her feet up underneath her.
“So…” I mumble.
“Want to tell me what’s been going on? Because I can see in your eyes that it’s not been all sunshine and rainbows, even with a real-life Mary Poppins.”
