Chapter Four
Riley pulled up to the inviting white house with the baby blue shutters. It was a nice-sized house with a beautiful flower garden in the front. All of the windows at the front of the house had flower boxes. A myriad of colors-violet, red, pink and white—were on full display. Mums. Pansies. The flowers added such warmth to the place. Much like the woman who owned this house, the flowers were stunning.
Georgia’s house. It looked cozy and warm and inviting. Something unfurled inside his chest at the sight of it. Hadn’t he once had dreams of living in a place like this with Georgia? But then he’d gotten scared of the idea of such a huge commitment to another human being and bailed. Fight or flight. He’d chosen to flee. And although the workings of the heart were never easy to decipher, Riley knew he had allowed fear to trump the love he’d felt for Georgia.
Riley wasn’t sure he would ever truly get over how he’d burned bridges with Georgia. Sometimes in life you made mistakes you couldn’t ever recover from.
He stood in her yard and surveyed her house. The red door made him grin. It was Georgia’s favorite color. Back when they were together she’d been living with her mom. Now, according to his own mother, she was living with Eden in this bright, charming house. Maybe he was being fanciful, but it looked like the sort of house a person settled down in. It was perfect for a growing family. The white picket fence would be perfect for kids and dogs. Aidan would love the place.
He shook off the tender feelings. He’d only come here today to bring Georgia her inheritance from Aunt Libby. The fragile figurines were too delicate to be shipped or sent over by a service. Riley had offered to bring the collection over to Georgia’s house rather than run the risk of damaging the glass figurines.
Was she even home? There was a car parked in the driveway, but he wasn’t sure if it belonged to Georgia or Eden. He walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. After waiting a few minutes, he pressed again. Just when he was about to give up and head back home, the door swung open. Georgia was standing there with flour on her nose and a pink apron tied around her waist. She looked adorable.
“Riley! Have you been standing here long? I had the radio turned up in the kitchen while I was baking.”
“No, not long at all. I stood outside for a while admiring your home. It’s beautiful,” he said, shifting the box so he didn’t lose his grip.
“Hey, come on in. That box looks heavy,” she said, waving him inside.
“Don’t mind if I do,” he said, stepping over the threshold. “It wasn’t heavy at first, but my arms are feeling the burn now.”
“What do you have there?” Georgia asked. “You can put it down on the table,” she suggested, jutting her chin in the direction of the living room.
Riley took a few steps and ended up in the living room where he placed the box down on the end table. “Phew. This is heavier than it looks.” He turned back toward Georgia, who was standing behind him with a perplexed expression on her face. “It’s your inheritance from Aunt Libby. The glass figurines.”
Libby let out an excited sound. “Oh, how wonderful. I wasn’t expecting them so soon. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t think you would be hand delivering them to my house.”
Riley shrugged, suddenly feeling sheepish. He’d come over here in order to see Georgia. The figurines had given him a reason to make an appearance at her house. He’d been curious once his mother had told him she’d settled down into her own home with Eden. And every time he saw Georgia, she left him wanting more. More time. More conversation. Just plain more. It had always been like this with Georgia. She mesmerized him like no other. Having missed her like crazy over the past few years, he felt like a man dying of thirst. He needed to be in her presence.
“I know how fragile this collection is,” he said, hoping she didn’t see past his pretext for being at her house. “I wanted to make sure it made it here in one piece. Aunt Libby loved this collection.”
“That was thoughtful of you,” Georgia said, wrinkling her nose and cocking her head to the side. Her eyes went wide. “Oh my goodness! I forgot that I have something baking in the oven.”
Like a whirlwind, Georgia turned on her heel and ran from the room. He watched her run down the hallway and disappear into a room on the left. He followed behind her, eager to see what she was baking and whether or not she’d managed to salvage it. The room to the left was a brightly lit kitchen. It was all white with a few bursts of red in the backsplash and the tea kettle. Georgia was taking something out of the oven and praying out loud. “Please, Lord, don’t let the lemon bars be ruined. Hope Valley Church is counting on them for the bake sale.”
Riley stood back a few feet, waiting with bated breath for Georgia to make an announcement about the lemon bars. He sniffed the air. Nothing smelled as if it had burned.
“Are they all right?” he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
Georgia let out a deep breath. “They were spared.” She looked upward. “Thank you, Lord, for small mercies.” She placed the rack on the stove and closed the oven.
His stomach grumbled noisily at the smell of baked goods, earning himself a look from Georgia. “Those look scrumptious. If you want I can be a taste tester.” He winked at her. “Just in case you cooked them too long.”
She shook her head and giggled. Georgia reached for a spatula and lifted up one of the lemon bars and placed it on a napkin. “You never could resist sweet treats. You might need to blow on it until it cools down a little.”
Riley blew on it for a few seconds then took a big bite. Even though it was a bit hot, the sweet flavor hit his tongue immediately, overriding any other sensation. “Mmm. This is delicious. The folks at Hope Valley Church are very fortunate.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve had to cut back on sugary treats. It’s hard taking the weight off now that I don’t play basketball every day. I don’t want to be in that position.”
Georgia cast him a quick glance. “You look great to me.” Her eyes widened. “I mean…you don’t look like you’ve gained weight or anything.”
Riley chuckled at the stricken expression etched on Georgia’s face. She seemed slightly embarrassed to have given him a compliment on his physique. Knowing he still looked good in her eyes tickled Riley. It made him want to puff his chest out.
While he’d been living in Hope Valley, Riley and his friends had played basketball every day at the rec center. It had been his way of staying in great shape. Now that he’d moved away and was raising a little one it was getting harder and harder to stay in great shape.
“So, I heard through the grapevine you’re actually in the bakery business. You’re not just baking for the love of it anymore. Congrats,” Riley said. He felt proud of Georgia for taking the necessary steps to make her dream a reality.
“I have a small business. It’s only been up and running for a few months.” She wrinkled her nose. “It started as a hobby, but it’s blossomed into something wonderful. I make baked goods for parties, bridal showers, receptions, retirement parties. You name it, I’ll bake it.”
Riley scratched his jaw. “I had no idea until Charlie told me. Of course Aunt Libby didn’t talk about you much. She thought I was a plum fool to leave town.” He quirked his mouth. “Now that I think of it, Mama didn’t mention it either.”
“I’m not exactly Martha Stewart. I don’t even have a shop front. I bake out of this very kitchen.” A sheepish expression was stamped on her face. “It helps cut costs. Most businesses flounder in the first year. I don’t want to end up a statistic.”
“Very wise,” Riley said with a nod. He could imagine Georgia having a shop on Main Street. A bakery with a big front window and pretty flower boxes. Customers could peek through the window and see all the baked goods lined up behind the counter.
“I think so,” she said in a chirpy voice. “And as soon as I can save up a chunk of change, I’m going to open up a shop. Until then I’m still working part-time at Just Smiles.”
Riley let out a groan. Just Smiles was a popular dental office in town. Georgia was a dental hygienist, but she didn’t enjoy working in the field. She’d always dreamed of having her own bakery. Riley shook his head. “But you hate working there.”
“It’s a means to an end,” she said, her expression guarded. “It allows me to pay my mortgage and save up for a shop.” He thought he detected a defensive tone in her voice. Riley prayed Georgia didn’t think he was being dismissive. He wanted her to be happy in all areas of her life. Even though she might doubt it, he’d always been firmly planted in her corner.
“Why not just take out a loan to open up a shop?” He blurted out the question.
Georgia ducked her head and began focusing on the lemon bars. “I-I wouldn’t feel comfortable assuming so much debt. That’s one thing I learned growing up as the child of divorce. My parents struggled financially. My mother was raising us as a single mother and she had tons of bills that racked up.” Georgia shuddered. “We went through some hard times.”
“I remember you telling me that, Georgia. I imagine it scares you to think you might be in debt, but it’s important to remember that expanding to a storefront will increase your revenue which will allow you to repay your loan at a fast rate.”
Georgia bit her lip. “I’ve thought about it, Riley, but what if the shop doesn’t take off? It feels safe to keep doing it here out of my house.” She wrapped her arms around her middle. “The thought of stepping out on my own is scary.”
“I understand,” he said, moving toward her so that there was virtually no space between them. He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. She was looking up at him with such a troubled expression on her face. It was obvious that Georgia wanted to reach out for the brass ring, but she was afraid to do so. “It’s hard to do something when you aren’t sure what the consequences will be.”
“Sounds like you’re speaking from personal experience.”
“I am,” he said. “When I left Hope Valley I was leaving everything I held dear behind. At the time I was confused about the future. I didn’t really consider how much I’d be losing in the process.”
Tears pooled in Georgia’s eyes. He raised a hand and swept it across her cheek. “Georgia. I wish I’d thought things through before I left. I wish—”
The sound of the back door opening interrupted him. Georgia took a huge step back away from him. She darted a nervous glance at the door. Her sister, Eden, was standing there with an arm full of groceries.
“Oh brother,” Eden muttered. “I would say I’m sorry for interrupting, but I think my presence is a God-send.”
“Hello there, Eden,” Riley said, stepping toward her to help her with her bags.
She sidestepped him and placed the bags down on the kitchen table. She sent Georgia a pointed glance. Georgia’s cheeks turned red. Clearly, Eden was sending Georgia some signals.
“Hey, Riley. Welcome back,” Eden said. Riley winced. Her voice didn’t exactly sound welcoming. He really couldn’t blame her. He’d broken her sister’s heart into a million little pieces.
“How’s everything?” he asked, trying to stem the tide of awkwardness flowing in the room.
“Not much has changed in Hope Valley. Same old, same old.” Her gaze narrowed. “I suppose you can’t say the same. I hear you have a kid now.”
Eden’s salty tone left no doubt as to her feelings toward him. He shouldn’t be surprised. Eden was Georgia’s sister. They were best friends. Eden was the type of sister who would take a bullet for her sibling. She was now letting him know in no uncertain terms what she thought of him. And it wasn’t much.
“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I have a son, Aidan. He’s a great kid.” No matter what anyone in this town thought of him or the way he’d left Georgia in the lurch, he would never let anyone diminish his son. Aidan was blameless in this whole entire mess between him and Georgia.
His son. He had assumed that role from the day Aidan came into the world. His promise to Molly had to be upheld, even during awkward moments such as this one when he could easily set things straight.
But he couldn’t. Wouldn’t. He could take the slings and arrows thrown his way. His love for Aidan trumped anything else.
Anything? Even Georgia? The question popped into his mind. It made him feel slightly dizzy. Georgia’s gaze narrowed as she stared at him.
“Are you all right, Riley?” she asked, her beautiful face filled with concern.
He sucked in a fortifying breath. Lord, please help me. For so long now it’s been all about my son. Raising him. Filling the void in his life left by not having a mother. Making sure his world was filled with joy and light and love. But now that I’m back in Hope Valley, Georgia is on my mind. Day and night.
Two pairs of eyes stared at him. “I-I’m fine. I just remembered another errand I have to run.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Have a nice afternoon.” He locked gazes with Georgia. “I hope you enjoy the figurines. Aunt Libby really loved them.”
Georgia flashed a warm smile in his direction. “I’ll treasure them always. I can’t wait to find a curio cabinet so I can display them.”
Riley began moving toward the entranceway. He needed to get out of this house as fast as he possibly could. Strange thoughts were running through his head. Thoughts of kissing Georgia.
With a feeble wave of his hand, Riley turned around and headed toward the front door. What had he been thinking in coming over here today? Spending time alone with Georgia only served to complicate matters. Who was he kidding? He could never think of her as a friend. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get past thinking of Georgia in a romantic way.
And he was beginning to wonder if she would always be the one that got away? The one he had been extremely foolish to let slip through his fingers.
Some things in life a person couldn’t go back and change. Or could they? He wondered. Wasn’t life all about second chances? Opportunities for redemption? If there was even a small shot at getting back what he’d so foolishly tossed aside, he would grab ahold of it in a heartbeat.
**
The moment the front door closed behind Riley, Georgia felt tension hovering in the air between her and Eden. It didn’t take long for Eden to make her feelings clear.
“What in the world was going on here between the two of you?” Eden barked, looking as imperious as a drill sergeant. Her nostrils were flared and her cheeks were flushed. Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Georgia felt as if she’d been caught with her hands in the cookie jar.
She rolled her eyes at her sister’s overly dramatic attitude. “Riley brought over the figurines Aunt Libby left me in her will. I was baking lemon bars so we made our way into the kitchen. Is there something wrong with that?” She folded her arms across her chest and began tapping her feet. She didn’t like her sister’s tone. Why was Eden always treating her as if she lacked common sense?
“Did you kiss him?” Eden asked in a curt voice. “I really hope you didn’t lose your head and kiss him.”
Her cheeks felt flushed. “No! Of course not! What kind of question is that?”
Eden threw her hands in the air. “The two of you looked pretty intimate.”
“Eden! You need to back off. If I had kissed Riley—which I didn’t—that’s my business.”
Eden’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “I can’t believe you! I’m the one whose shoulder you cried on when he high tailed it out of town and broke your heart. I’m the one who held your hand and prayed with you and cried with you. Now it’s none of my business?”
Georgia sighed. She hadn’t meant to hurt her sister’s feelings. Eden was her best friend. She loved her sister dearly. Georgia wasn’t sure what she would have done without Eden and Kit by her side during her breakup with Riley. But she was a grown woman. She wasn’t going to be treated like a little kid.
She reached out for her sister’s hand and squeezed it. “I’ll never forget how you supported me during one of the worst times of my life. I would have crumbled if it hadn’t been for you and Kit. But what I learned during that time is I’m stronger than I know.”
Eden’s lips began to tremble. “But what if he hurts you again?”
It wasn’t easy seeing her sister so vulnerable and knowing it was due to her. Ever since they were toddlers, Eden had fought Georgia’s battles for her. Maybe it was high time she fought for herself.
“What if the sky falls in? What if I stub my toe on the living room sofa?” Tears gathered in her eyes and she blinked them away. She and Eden were children of trauma. When their father had walked out on their mother in order to be with his secretary, their lives had exploded. He and Lucy had ended up having a child together—their half- brother, Josiah. Their father hadn’t stayed with Lucy for long—he’d moved on to numerous other women.
Their mother had sunk into a depression that had made everything ten times worse. Having an absentee father had left both of them with issues regarding men and happy endings. Georgia knew deep in their hearts both of them feared they would relive their mother’s experiences all over again.
“Part of living is opening ourselves up to the possibilities. I’ve decided I’d rather be friends with Riley than bear the weight of this anger I’ve been feeling toward him. I don’t think it makes me weak, Eden. I think it makes me strong. Working toward forgiving Riley isn’t just a gift for him. It’s for me as well. That’s what my faith tells me.”
Eden heaved a tremendous sigh. “You’re right. Holding onto anger isn’t good for the soul. Maybe one of these days I’ll manage to forgive Daddy for all of his sins.”
Georgia wasn’t sure that was possible for either of them. He’d done way too much damage over the years. Sadly, Georgia wasn’t sure he was finished. Every time he popped back up in their lives, drama ensued.
“Just be careful with Riley,” Eden warned. Her eyes flashed with the wisdom of the ages.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got this,” Georgia said, wishing she felt as confident as her voice indicated. Being around Riley was a heady experience. In many ways he was her Kryptonite. His very presence made her feel weak in the knees.
On the other hand, she’d learned so much from the mistakes of the past. She was determined never to repeat them again. Showing Riley a measure of grace wasn’t falling back in love with him or giving him a pass for anything he may have done to betray their relationship. It was allowing herself to let go of all the pain and loss she’d been holding onto. It was moving forward with her life. For the last few years she had been stuck in quicksand. She was tired of it pulling her down.
Georgia had plans for her future. She was going to reach for her dreams. And nothing was going to get in her way. Not even the only man who had ever owned her heart.