Chapter Seven
As October turned to November, Georgia and Riley’s relationship blossomed and deepened. For all intents and purposes, Riley had relocated back to Hope Valley with Aidan. They were living at his mother’s house until he found a property to purchase.
Georgia had known for weeks that heart still belonged to Riley. Even though she kept telling herself not to fall completely over the edge, there was no way of stopping it. The night they’d attended the opera and kissed in the moonlight had cemented her feelings.
Her feelings for Riley had never truly died. Real, enduring love didn’t fade even in the harshest of conditions. It blossomed and swelled. It endured.
Spending time with Aidan was a blessing. He was sweet and funny and he was so very much like his father. They had taken him on an outing at the apple orchard so he could pick the last apples of the season. Aidan had been filled with delight at the sight of all the apples. Georgia had enjoyed watching him sneak bites of different types of apples when Riley wasn’t looking. Aidan was a total charmer—just like his father. Although it felt a little strange not to know anything about the circumstances of his birth or who his mother was, Georgia felt strongly that Riley would tell her everything in due time. Patience was a virtue.
Clearly, there was something troubling about Aidan’s mother. If not, Riley wouldn’t be so close-mouthed about it. It was clear she wasn’t in her son’s life, which was tragic in Georgia’s opinion. She was trying not to judge her without knowing all of the circumstances, but it was difficult. Aidan was such a lovable boy. Every child deserved a mother’s love.
Tonight she was at a carnival in a neighboring town with Riley and Aidan. Aidan seemed mesmerized by the rides and the cotton candy and the bright lights. They were having a wonderful time. It made Georgia feel as if she was a big part of Aidan and Riley’s lives. It brought into sharp focus what she wanted in her life. It was the same thing she’d wanted four years ago. A husband and a family. Riley! And his son.
Being with the two of them felt so natural. Was she being fanciful? Once before Riley had blindsided her by walking away from their relationship. Shouldn’t she be protecting her heart against it happening all over again?
Give me direction, Lord. You command us to love one another, and I’ve followed that command. But in the past I’ve done so blindly and I’ve been hurt because of it. How do I protect my heart when it feels so natural to love Riley?
“Mmm. Those corn dogs smell good, don’t they?” Riley asked, his question pulling her away from prayer.
“Corn dogs. My favorite,” Aidan said, his eyes lighting up at the mention of the delicious treat.
“You don’t have to twist my arm,” Georgia said, reaching out and tweaking Aidan’s nose. He giggled and covered his face with his hands. He was such a sweetheart, Georgia realized. So innocent and pure. His heart was solid gold.
They walked over to the corn dog truck and stood in line to buy three of the treats.
Suddenly, Georgia stiffened as she caught sight of a familiar face and frame standing by one of the rides in the distance. With his salt and pepper hair and strong features, there was no denying his identity. Suddenly, her breathing was shallow and her palms were moist.
“Would you excuse me for a moment?” Georgia asked. “I need to take care of something.”
Riley frowned. “Are you okay? Your face looks pale all of a sudden.”
“Oh I’m fine. But I can’t say the same for my father,” she said, her voice full of anger. Her heart began to beat really fast and she felt slightly dizzy. She prayed it wasn’t an anxiety attack, because she needed to confront her father.
Riley’s eyes widened. Georgia stalked off toward her father, her movements full of fury. She could hear Riley calling after her, but her anger propelled her forward.
How dare he do this again to Mama!
Within seconds, Georgia was standing next to her father, Benjamin, and a brunette woman who wasn’t much older than herself. The moment her father spotted her, he stopped holding hands with the woman. He looked as guilty as sin.
“What are you doing here with her?” Georgia asked, her arms folded across her chest. She was tapping one foot on the ground.
“Georgia!” Her father’s face was turning several shades of crimson. “W-what are you doing here?” he stammered.
Georgia wasn’t in the mood to play games. She wanted to cut straight to the chase. Her father clearly wasn’t interested in protecting her mother’s heart. She had to assume that role herself.
“Who is she?” Georgia said with a growl. She glared at her father.
“A friend. Just a friend,” Benjamin said, his face turning as red as a beet.
The brunette stepped forward, clearly having overheard their conversation.
“A friend? Is that what you’re calling it now?” The woman stood with her hand on her hip, a look of utter shock etched on her face. “We’ve been seeing each other for six months, Benjie. I thought we were exclusive.”
Benjie?? Her father hadn’t changed one bit. He was still a liar and a cheater. Her poor mother had fallen for his routine yet again. Georgia had no right to be annoyed at the woman. Clearly, he’d lied to her as well.
Georgia swung her gaze back to her father. “Six months? I can’t believe you! How could you do this to Mama all over again?”
“Georgia, I never promised your mother exclusivity. It’s a casual sort of thing,” he said, sheepishly shrugging his shoulders. “I’m not a one-woman man. I never have been.”
“She loves you,” Georgia said through gritted teeth. “Even a man as self-centered as you are can see that.”
“We’re just having fun together, Georgia. It’s never been serious.”
She let out a brittle laugh. “Too bad you never told her that. She’ll be crushed.” She shook her head. “Not that you care!”
With a disgusted shake of her head, Georgia walked away from her father as quickly as her legs could carry her. Although he would always be her father, Georgia didn’t respect the man. He was selfish and dishonest.
Georgia felt a pain in her belly. In a strange way she could relate to her mother. She knew what it felt like to have your heart ripped out by someone who didn’t love you the way you loved them. Standing here facing down her father caused painful memories to wash over her. Memories of the dissolution of her parents’ marriage. Memories of Riley walking away from their relationship.
By the time she reached Riley’s side, her emotions were all over the place.
“What was that all about, Georgia?” Riley asked with a frown.
“My parents have been dating again.” She jerked her chin in the direction of her father and his mystery date. “He failed to tell Mama that he’s seeing other women. She’s going to be so hurt.”
“Don’t be sad, Georgia,” Aidan said in a voice full of empathy.
Georgia reached down and ruffled his dark head of hair. “I’m fine, Aidan. You’re so sweet to worry about me.”
“He’s not the only one,” Riley said. “What can I do?”
“There’s really nothing to be done. I’ll have to tell my mother about what I’ve seen tonight. She’s at the house now with Eden working on a quilt they’re making together.” She bit her lip. “Do you mind if we call it a night? I can’t get my mind off what I just witnessed.”
“Of course I don’t mind,” Riley said. “Aidan looks pretty sleepy. Little man is about to conk out. Let’s call it a night.”
Shortly after Riley brought her home, Georgia sat her mother down and told her about seeing Benjamin at the carnival with another woman. Eden’s anger threatened to blow the roof off the house. It was such a complicated issue, since it brought back major feelings of helplessness and loss that both Eden and Georgia had endured as a result of their father walking away from the family.
Rosalie seemed to be in shock at the news. Although it took a while, Georgia was finally able to get her mother to see the truth. Benjamin hadn’t been honest with her. He had lied. And cheated. And he had no intention of riding off into the sunset with her. Georgia’s heart broke as she and Eden held their mother and listened to her distraught sobs. Something inside of Georgia broke right open.
For the next few days, Georgia felt as if she had a heavy weight sitting on her chest. It was as if her father’s betrayal had caused her to question her own relationship with Riley. It was painful to see her mother so broken down and depressed. It felt as if a dark cloud was hovering over Hope Valley.
One evening, Riley showed up at her doorstep, bringing a box of apple cider donuts along with him. He looked so incredibly handsome in dark jeans and a sky blue, long-sleeved shirt. Her heart threatened to jump outside of her chest at the sight of him.
“I brought your favorite donuts,” he said, holding up the box of donuts.
“Hey, Riley. Thanks for the donuts. Come on in,” she said, waving him inside.
“What’s wrong?” Riley said as soon as he stepped inside. “You’ve been avoiding my calls for the last few days.”
Georgia shrugged. She wanted to be completely honest with him. “I don’t know. I just haven’t felt up to seeing you. I’ve been dealing with a lot on the family front. My mother is heartbroken about my father.” She shook her head. “Mama honestly believed they were going to walk down the aisle again. He was incredibly dishonest.”
“I’m sorry about that, Georgia. Your mother is a good woman. It’s terrible she’s been hurt again.” He made a tutting sound. “But I don’t want this to get in between us.”
“I don’t either, but I have to admit, I feel a little gun shy. We’ve been down this road before. I don’t want to get hurt.” She tried to be brave but her voice was cracking with emotion.
“Georgia, you can trust me. I know I hurt you before, but the truth is, I hurt myself as well. Not having you in my life was incredibly painful. I’ve never stopped caring about you. I never stopped loving you. I ran from Hope Valley because I got cold feet.” He let out a brittle laugh. “Aunt Libby told me I would regret leaving and she was right. I knew how deeply I loved you, but I started worrying about being too young for marriage and commitment.”
“I wish you had talked to me about it. Maybe we could have worked our way through it,” Georgia said. “I’ve never stopped loving you either, Riley.”
“I don’t know if life really gives you the chance at a do-over, but if it’s possible, I would love to have another shot at a future with you. And I know maybe you’ve lost trust in me, but I want to show you that you can believe in me. That doesn’t mean I’m perfect, but what it means is that I’ll walk the walk with you. I won’t forsake you.”
“I do trust you, Riley. And I want to move forward with you.” She bit her lip.
“Is there a but coming?” he asked. She could see the tension on his face and the worry lines hovering around his mouth.
“I think at some point we do need to talk about Aidan and his mother. How it all happened.” She felt her cheeks blush. “Not how it happened,” she corrected. “But what the circumstances were…and where she is now. I’m falling in love with your son, Riley. And you know I’ve never stopped loving you, but I don’t want to be blindsided again.” Her heart wouldn’t be able to withstand any more attacks. If there was a chance for her and Riley to be together, they needed to face everything head-on without flinching.
Riley took her face between his hands. “I promise you I’ll tell you everything one day. But for now, I’m asking you to trust me. I never betrayed you with another woman. Not once.”
Georgia was nobody’s fool. She could almost hear Eden’s voice buzzing in her ears. You’re not going to fall for that line, are you? But she was falling. Correction. She’d already fallen.
The truth was, she couldn’t imagine loving any other man but this one. And she believed in him. The very word belief meant you trusted in something with a deep certainty. Georgia had friends who asked her about her faith. Oftentimes, they would question why she believed in something intangible. She had a hard time telling them why she loved the Lord and how she knew with an unshakeable certainty that He was her father and savior.
Some things you just knew down to your very soul. In this moment, she knew Riley was being truthful with her. He wasn’t a liar. She had known this man since she was a child. Some things were engrained in a person’s soul.
“I believe you, Riley,” she said. “You’ve never lied to me. Even when I was pushing for marriage and kids, you didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear. You gave it to me straight. I know that couldn’t have been easy.”
He leaned down and brushed a tender kiss across her lips. “It wasn’t. But I had to do it because the love I felt for you made it impossible for me not to be honest with you. Just like now.”
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but honesty trumps everything else. It’s not always easy to hear certain things, but truth is important. I respect that.”
He dipped his head down and brushed his lips over hers. “Thank you for believing in me, especially after everything I’ve put you through.”
“You’ve given me a lot, Riley. Love. Laughter. Unbridled joy. I can’t look at you and simply see the bad times. Because the good ones far outweigh the ones that tore us apart.”
He ran his fingers across her lips. “I wish I’d remembered that before I hightailed it out of town. I wanted to reinvent my life outside of Hope Valley. The truth is I was running scared. Not only of a commitment to you, but my family was expecting me to take over the cider company. There was a lot of pressure. That felt like such a weight on my shoulders. I wasn’t sure I wanted that life. I had to make sure I wanted it for me and not simply for what was expected of me.”
She frowned. “And now? What’s changed.”
He grinned at her. “Everything. Life forced me to grow up. Aidan showed me what it was to love unconditionally. And you made me a better man, Georgia Ballou. The years we spent together were some of the best years of my life. I miss Hope Valley. And most especially, I miss you. Now, I want nothing more than to be at the helm of the family business. If they still want me.”
Georgia reached up and placed her arms around Riley’s neck. “Of course they want you. We all want you to be here, Riley. And Aidan too. He’s the center of your heart.”
He grinned at her. “My heart is really big, Georgia. There’s room in the center for more than one person. I want you to know that. I ran away from my feelings once before. I don’t plan to ever do that again. And if you give me the chance, I’m determined to show you that I can be a man you can count on.”
“Oh, Riley,” Georgia said, her voice choked with emotion. “I know I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve, but there’s nothing I’ve ever wanted more than to be with you. I never dared to think we could actually start over again. I thought those dreams died when you left town.”
“Georgia, I want it all. The house. The kids. The big wedding at Hope Valley church with all our friends and family members in attendance. I want to raise Aidan with you. You’re the most loving person I’ve ever known. We both need you in our lives. Not hearing from you in the past few days put everything into sharp focus.”
He reached his hand into his pocket and pulled out a navy blue velvet box.
Georgia let out a gasp and raised her hands to cover her mouth. Her knees felt weak. Riley was gazing at her with a look of such love and devotion. Should she pinch herself to make sure this wasn’t some elaborate dream? Before she could do it, Riley had dropped down to one knee.
Georgia looked down at the man she had loved for almost as long as she could remember as he opened up the box. An elegant diamond ring stared back at her. It was shimmery and brilliant. Classic and elegant. It was a princess cut diamond surrounded by a diamond band. She wasn’t sure if she had ever seen anything quite as beautiful in her entire life. It felt surreal to have Riley on bended knee before her. She needed to pinch herself to see if it was truly happening.
“Georgia, I’d be honored if you would be my wife. Several years ago I made a foolish choice. I was scared. It’s hard to admit it, but it’s the truth. I’ve grown up a lot since then. Being a father has changed me. Being loved by you has transformed me. Please allow me to be your husband. I promise to never forsake you. I want to help you make all of your dreams come true. Please say yes, baby.”
Tears blurred her vision. She knew that she must look a mess. Her face was sopping wet with tears. “Yes, Riley. Of course I’ll marry you,” she cried out. “That’s all I’ve ever truly wanted for as long as I can remember. And I promise to be devoted to you and Aidan.”
Riley let out a ragged breath. He took her hand and slid the ring onto it. She looked down at it, filled with admiration. She flexed her finger, loving the way the light hit it as it shimmered and shined.
Riley stood up and took her hand in his. “I’m still in shock you said yes.”
Georgia giggled. “That’s how I felt when you dropped to one knee. Total and utter shock. I can’t wait to share the news.” Suddenly, she thought of Aidan. “Wait a minute. Shouldn’t we talk to Aidan before we tell anyone about our engagement?”
Riley’s expression turned sheepish. “I talked to him before I bought the ring. Even though he’s only three-years old, he’s a very smart little boy.”
Georgia’s heart began to thunder inside her chest. “W-what did he say?” Suddenly, her throat felt dry. Her palms were moist. There was so much riding on Aidan’s reaction. What if he didn’t want her to be his mother? It would be heartbreaking. And in good conscience, she couldn’t move forward with the engagement if that was the case.
Riley reached out and placed his hand under her chin and lifted it up. The grin on his face was infectious. “He gave me a huge thumb’s up. He’s crazy about you, Georgia. I know the two of you need more time together to really bond, but that will come in the days and weeks moving forward.”
“Oh yes,” Georgia cried out. “I can’t wait for our future to unfold.”
“We’re pretty blessed aren’t we?” Riley asked. “Most people don’t get second chances like this to get things right. God is good!”
“Yes, He is, Riley. He’s blessed us in so many ways.”
Georgia stood up on her tippy-toes and pressed a kiss against Riley’s lips. The kiss sealed the deal. She was engaged to Riley. After all these years they were finally moving toward a shared future. But now, they were both older and wiser. They both knew their lives were better with each other in it.
**
After Riley left, Georgia couldn’t stop looking at her ring finger. The diamond flashed and winked at her. As she changed into her pajamas and began brushing out her hair, Georgia couldn’t help but wonder what Eden would say about her engagement to Riley. She knew Mama would be deliriously happy, despite her own disappointments in the romance department. Her mother had always firmly believed that she and Riley were destined to be together. She hoped the timing of the engagement didn’t add to Mama’s heartbreak. Georgia prayed it would give Rosalie something to rejoice over.
Would her sister be happy for her? Or would she think Georgia was a fool to get back with someone who had wounded her so terribly once before?
The sound of her sister coming into the house diverted her attention. She could hear Eden rustling around in the kitchen. She bit her lip. She might as well tell Eden the news. Dear Lord. Please let Eden share my joy. I want my family to love Riley as much as I do. I’m not sure I can do this without Eden’s approval.
“Hey there,” Eden said as Georgia walked into the kitchen. “How are you feeling?”
Georgia couldn’t help but grin. “I feel terrific.”
Eden’s eyes widened. “That’s great. I know you were feeling down for the last few days.”
Georgia knew her smile must be overtaking her entire face. “Riley came by to see me. It turned into the best night of my life.”
Eden frowned at her. “Slow down, sister. You’ve got stars in your eyes.”
“And a ring on my finger,” she blurted out, holding out her hand to show Eden her ring.
Eden let out a cry and clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes went wide. Tears streamed down her face. “Georgia! You’re getting married,” she cried out.
Tears pooled in Georgia’s eyes. She nodded at her sister. “Yes, Eden. I am. Riley proposed to me tonight. And I know you might think I’m all sorts of crazy, but I said yes. I love him. Matter of fact, I never stopped loving him.”
Georgia felt herself being swept up in an embrace by her sister. They held on tightly to one another for what seemed like an eternity.
When their embrace ended, Georgia could see the happiness radiating from her sister’s eyes. “I’m so thrilled for you. I know how much this means to you.”
“Riley’s the one,” Georgia said. “Despite what happened between us in the past, he’s the one who holds my heart.”
“I know he is. When I look in your eyes I see the truth shining back at me. You love Riley. And he loves you. There’s nothing more powerful than love.”
“You’re right. And I’m willing to start fresh with Riley. A brand new page. That’s how much I love him.” She didn’t tell Eden she knew in her heart Riley hadn’t betrayed her. It was something she knew with a deep certainty, but she didn’t need to shout it from the rooftops.
“I believe in forgiveness. The love you two felt for one another has endured,” Eden said. “I hope to find that kind of love for myself someday.”
Georgia squeezed her sister’s arms. “I have no doubt you will, Eden. No doubt at all.”
A little while later, Georgia lay down and tried to sleep. Her excitement made it difficult. She ended up tossing and turning. She relived the moment Riley got down on bended knee. First thing tomorrow morning she would head over to Mama’s house to tell her the joyful news. And Molly!! She couldn’t wait to see her expression when she learned the news.
Suddenly, Georgia sat up in bed. Something had been bothering her ever since meeting up with Molly for coffee. It had been lurking under the surface and she hadn’t been able to put her finger on it. Until this very moment.
When they’d discussed having children, Molly had said she wanted more children. More. It had been a strange turn of phrase. Georgia had heard it come out of Molly’s mouth, but she had figured it was a mistake. But now, she thought it had been a slip of the tongue. More children.
Riley had insisted he hadn’t betrayed her. And he hadn’t spoken about the identity of Aidan’s mother. Why hadn’t he? It was a strange omission. Why hadn’t Libby ever mentioned Riley’s son?
Was she going crazy? Her heart was pounding fast and furiously. Did it make sense? She thought back to when Molly had been MIA from Hope Valley. It matched up with her being pregnant with Aidan since he was three years old.
Molly was Aidan’s mother! Riley hadn’t betrayed her after all. He was raising Molly’s child as his own. Georgia lay back down and tried to no avail to fall back to sleep. What if she was wrong? Should she confront Riley about it? Was it really any of her business one way or the other?
She knew it was her business now that she was going to marry Riley. Aidan would be her son. She deserved to know his back story. Tonight had been such a momentous occasion. Although she didn’t want to do anything to spoil things, Georgia knew she needed to talk to Riley about Aidan’s paternity as soon as possible. She loved him unconditionally, but she needed answers.