Chapter Fifteen

They sat down to a lunch of tomato soup and sandwiches. Mrs. Jameson apologized that it wasn’t anything special but Stella told her that it was indeed special because it meant that she didn’t have to prepare lunch.

Adam watched Brianna’s dad load his sandwich with ham, roast beef, and turkey. And then he added slices of tomato, lettuce, onions, mustard and mayo. He mimicked him and his mother warned that he had better eat all that he put on his plate. Adam assured her that he would but she ended up splitting half of the sandwich with him and then having some soup.

When the baby woke up Christopher put him in his high chair and they laughed at the mess that he made with his little cup of soup and crackers.

Brianna was a chatterbox and once they discovered that Adam was learning Japanese he was persuaded to share some words and phrases with them.

There was a great deal to talk about, especially since both families lived in Cincinnati. They finished up lunch by enjoying the homemade ice cream and both women were pretty sure that they had made a new friend. It was hard to tell over just one visit, but Stella liked the petite woman with eyes that softened whenever they settled on her husband and kids. And Ashleigh really liked the way Stella carried herself so eloquently. Stella was naturally beautiful without a face full of makeup, and she was stylish in a low-key manner. Her height and weight seemed to be an asset—something that she wish she had learned back when she had struggled with her weight.

Brianna didn’t want Adam to leave. Ashleigh and Christopher had made them promise to come back to visit soon and Stella said she would. She meant it too. Ashleigh explained that no matter how nice it was on Cobb Hill, kids still needed other kids to play with and Christopher Jr. just wasn’t old enough to keep his sister’s attention—at least once he got tired of playing dress up with her.

As Stella and Adam drove back to the gingerbread cottage he yawned tiredly.

“Are you ready for a nap?” Stella asked pleased that for two days in a row she’d found things to keep her son occupied.

“I’m too big to take naps.” He replied.

“Well I could use a nap and I’m much bigger than you.”

He just grinned but before they reached the cottage he was fast asleep.

“You’re getting too big for this,” she said to herself while lifting him up and out of his seat. But then he wrapped his arms around her neck and snuggled against her shoulder and she smiled. Nope, never too old for this.

 

 

Riley looked out the window when he heard the SUV drive up. He had wondered where his boarders were, but was pleased to know that they hadn’t just been cooped up inside the cottage all day.

He saw Stella carrying the boy and it caused him to smile. He was a big boy but she didn’t look like she had any trouble managing his weight. Where was his father? She hadn’t mentioned it the day before. He blew out a long breath at the memory of how disastrous their evening had turned out. He was ashamed at how it had turned out.

He returned to his meal. It was delicious, as usual. But he didn’t enjoy it. He chewed while staring at nothing in particular.

After cleaning up the dishes and pacing for a few minutes he got up the nerves to go over to the cottage and to apologize again. After mulling over it for the last few hours he realized that his last apology had been weak and he’d come off as defensive.

When he was standing on the porch of the cottage he abruptly stopped, turned and started walking back to the main house.

This was stupid! He turned again and headed back to the cottage. Then he knocked before he could chicken out.

When Stella answered the door he saw that her hair was wrapped in a colorful silk scarf and that she was wearing shorts and a t-shirt with socks on her feet.

He realized with a blush that he’d taken all of that in before even speaking.

“Hey.” He finally said.

“Hey,” she said. Now that she’d discovered so much more about Riley she looked at him with a new appreciation—although it was hard not to appreciate his big toned torso in a faded t-shirt and worn jeans that seemed to hug his legs and butt perfectly. “Come in.” She stepped aside and he walked into the room.

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting.” He asked.

“No. It’s fine. I wanted to talk to you…about last night.”

He bit his lip. “Me too.” He looked around. “Where’s Adam?”

“Napping.” She gestured for him to come into the front room and to sit. She sat on the loveseat, folding her long legs beneath her. He noted that her legs took up the entire seat whereas the average woman would have just taken up a corner.

She was so graceful, he thought. She was probably the tallest woman that he’d ever met but she carried herself as if she was petite and as delicate as a piece of china.

He sat down in one of the armchairs, remembering how hard it had been for his grandparents to afford the monthly payments for the furniture. Paying it off was like how it was for some people to make their last payment on a car loan. He sat gingerly as if his grandmother was about to round the corner and reprimand him for allowing his jeans on the fabric.

“We went on a hike and then met the Jamesons and had lunch with them.” Stella said.

“Yeah the Jamesons are the family I was telling Adam about yesterday--the one with the little girl his age. I didn’t think he was much interested at the time….little girls and all.”

Stella smiled. “Well they hit it off.”

“That’s good.” There was a pause and Riley cleared his throat.

“You don’t have to apologize for what happened yesterday,” she interrupted. “I know that I came off rude to you. But it really wasn’t anything that you did wrong. I was still angry. But at him, not you.”

“I feel really bad about what happened,” he said.

“I know Riley. But…” she paused.

“What?”

“It’s just that your cousin-”

“I set him straight. He will not give you or Adam any more problems. I promise.”

She blew out a relieved breath. “Can you…”

“What?” He asked.

“Can you keep him off the property while we’re here? I know it’s a lot to ask—” she looked him square in the eye. “I heard about the trouble he got into.”

Riley nodded right away. “Under the circumstances I think your request is warranted. He won’t be around here as long as you or Adam are here. Okay?”

She finally smiled. “Okay.”

“Did my cousin say…say anything to Adam?” If he did then he’d let Sully have it for sure.

“No. I sent Adam back to the house once he implied that Adam was a mistake because he’s mixed race.”

Riley gnawed his lip, his face felt like the color was draining from it as his anger began to once again rise.

“I sent Adam back to the cottage once I realized where the conversation was going. And that’s when you came out. Later I talked to him about it but he didn’t understand any of it.”

“Okay.” Riley said shortly. “Thanks for telling me. I’m sorry I left you with him even for the short time that I did. I realized when I got back that he’d just sent me on a wild goose chase just so that he could do his dirt. If I thought he’d do something like that I swear to you that I would have never left like that.”

She was utterly surprised at his confession. Riley Pranger was just like her, straight to the point, no chaser. It was a rare thing to see in a man.

“I believe you,” she said. “I can’t be mad at you. I saw the shock on your face. I don’t blame you for any of it.”

He stood, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. “I better get going.” He headed for the front door. “If you need anything just let me know.” She followed him.

“Riley?”

He turned and looked at her. “Yeah?”

“What happened to your leg? I noticed you limping. It’s worse today.”

He looked down at his knee. “Playing college ball. I took a bad hit. It still hurts sometimes.” He looked suddenly uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry for being nosey.”

“No, you’re fine. It’s just that I had a promising career…and now I don’t.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m over it.” He shrugged. “Let me know if you need anything.” He turned and left. She watched him for a few moments and realized that she felt sorry for him. He was a nice man, a little sad, a little lonely. Yes. She would tell him about Adam. She didn’t hold any expectations whatsoever. But she would tell him for better or for worse.