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by J. A. Armstrong

“Fallon will show you,” Andi said.

  Riley looked between Fallon and Andi. Andi’s tone was playful. Fallon’s expression was unreadable. Riley tried to surmise whether she saw anger or pain in Fallon’s eyes. Perhaps it was a mixture of the two.

  “Do you have it?” Fallon asked Riley, her gaze still locked with Andi’s.

  Riley reached in her bag and pulled out the box that held Carol’s ring. Fallon accepted it and took Riley’s hand, leading her a few feet away.

  “Pay attention, Charlie,” Fallon said. “This is something you hopefully only do once.”

  “Fallon,” Riley pulled Fallon down and whispered in her ear. “You don’t have to do this.”

  Fallon took a step back. She looked at Riley and smiled. Okay, Andi. Riley’s concerned gaze touched Fallon. Then again, everything about Riley Main seemed to touch Fallon. Goddamn you, Andi. She took a deep breath. Riley smiled at her and her heart immediately sped up without warning. Oh, no. No. Shit. Two more deep breaths and Fallon began to speak.

  “I’m not particularly good with words,” Fallon said. She took another breath.

  Andi watched, the truth she’d suspected tugging her heart. Fallon wasn’t ready to face her reality. In truth, neither was Andi. No one could outrun the truth. And, Riley? Andi was positive that Riley hadn’t begun to explore her feelings for Fallon. That much Andi did know. She also was sure those feelings existed. It was written across both their faces. A gentle nudge was in order. It hurt like hell to give it. She needed to. Both Riley and Fallon were reluctant to let go, to allow themselves to take a risk with their hearts. Loss could do that to a person. It was the guilt brought on by that loss that held Riley and Fallon back; Riley fearing she might somehow betray her husband despite the reality that he was gone, and Fallon? Fallon continued to see the failure of her relationship with Olivia as her fault. She sang a different story when she discussed their parting, but Andi was aware that deep down Fallon blamed herself. If love was God’s greatest gift; guilt was the devil’s greatest weapon. Guilt led to fear and doubt. Fear and doubt prevented a person from living fully.

  Riley held her breath. This isn’t real. It wasn’t real. It was make-believe. Why did her chest suddenly ache with anticipation? No one had ever looked at her the way Fallon was right now. Or maybe it was that she’d never felt quite the way she did looking at Fallon. I’m losing my mind.

  Ida glimpsed Andi’s expression from the corner of her eyes. Oh, Andi.

  Fallon’s brain seemed incapable of making her mouth work. She closed her eyes for a second. What the hell is wrong with me? Riley’s hand found hers and Fallon’s eyes opened. Riley’s smile banished thought. Suddenly, Fallon found her voice. “If I’ve learned anything in my life it’s that you never know what the next moment is going to bring. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I do know that I want you to be part of it—tomorrow and the next day and the next day after that.”

  Riley’s hand trembled as it held Fallon’s. Why am I shaking?

  “Every day,” Fallon said. She let go of Riley’s hand and opened the box. “Will you? Marry me?”

  Riley stared at Fallon. Why did she feel like crying? Would anyone ever want that from her again? Would she be able to give it to anyone? Fallon. Would Fallon ever want to share that with anyone? With her? Riley, snap out of it!

  “Umm, Riley?”

  Riley snapped to attention. “Yes,” she whispered. Someday I want to share that—someday.

  Fallon slipped Carol’s ring onto Riley’s finger and pulled her close.

  Riley’s breath caught.

  Andi bit the inside of her lip.

  Fallon searched Riley’s eyes for a moment. Riley. She caught herself and took a step back. “And then you kiss the girl,” she said. She turned to Charlie.

  Charlie’s chin nearly touched the floor. “Wow. Wow,” he said. “That’s… Wow. She said yes, Fallon.”

  Riley chuckled. She took the ring off her finger, placed it in the box, and handed it to Charlie. “And so will Carol.”

  “Yeah.” He looked at Fallon. “Could you write that down for me?”

  Fallon rolled her eyes. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

  Riley steadied her breathing. “I’m going to go call Marge and check on Owen,” she said.

  Ida turned to look at Andi. “Why did you do that?”

  Andi’s eyes glistened with sadness. Underneath it Ida saw something else—love.

  “Because I love them both,” Andi said.

  Ida nodded. “I do too. She does love you, Andi.”

  Andi smiled. “She deserves more than I can give her.”

  “And, Riley? You know, Riley has had…”

  “If I had to place a bet, I would bet that Riley accepts it before Fallon.” Her eyes found Riley in the distance outside the door. “If I had a daughter…”

  “Mmm.” Ida followed Andi’s gaze. She took Andi’s hand and held it. “You deserve more too.”

  Andi smiled. I’m not sure I know what more there is.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “Hey!” Fallon called for everyone’s attention. The dull roar of the crowded pub continued to hum.

  “How does she expect to quiet them down?” Riley asked.

  Ida stood up, put her thumb and forefinger to her lips and whistled.

  “You could always do that,” Riley commented.

  Fallon shook her head. “Thank you, Mom.”

  Ida took a slight bow.

  Riley laughed. “This whole town is nuts.” She glanced at Andi and took hold of Andi’s arm. “Hey, are you okay?” Riley asked.

  Andi winked and pointed to Fallon. “Let’s see if Fallon’s proposal helped.”

  “Carol,” Fallon said. “Charlie wanted this to be a special birthday for you so I will give him the floor. Charlie…”

  Charlie stepped up and looked at Carol.

  Carol’s smile was infectious. That’s what Riley thought. It had been a lively party so far. Riley guessed the crowd at about sixty people. Calling it close quarters would’ve been an understatement. Riley scanned the crowd. Charlie was a nervous wreck. Fallon looked amused. Pete and Dale looked confused—a permanent state of being from Riley’s perspective. Ida appeared to be slightly inebriated and ready to whoop with excitement at any second, that or fall over. And, Andi, Andi was quiet. Riley couldn’t recall a time when Andi had remained silent for more than a few minutes. She was smiling, but Riley detected sorrow in her friend. What’s that about, I wonder? She loved Andi. She’d told Andi more about her feelings than she had anyone. Andi was open with her about nearly everything. Andi was also protective. Perhaps Andi felt their sisterhood similarly. I wish you’d talk to me.

  “Stop worrying about me,” Andi whispered. “Listen.” She gestured to Charlie.

  Charlie stuttered. “I… Well, I… I know it’s your birthday and you’re not supposed to combine things or whatever. I heard that I think. You know, like you shouldn’t do it on Christmas or Valentine’s Day or whatever, but I know that your birthday hasn’t always been the best day so I thought… You know…”

  “Charlie!” Carol called for her boyfriend’s attention.

  Charlie froze.

  Carol shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

  Charlie sucked in a long breath and dropped to his knee.

  Carol’s hand covered her mouth.

  “I’m not as romantic as Fallon. She has this thing down.”

  Fallon shook her head.

  Riley laughed. She certainly does.

  Carol looked at Fallon curiously.

  “Don’t ask,” Fallon said.

  Charlie took another deep breath. “Anyway. I want this day to be special from now on—a day you can look forward to. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky,” he said. “I love you. I mean, I really love you. I want all those things we’ve talked about. You know, kids and a house of our own with a front porch swing. So… I… Will you marry me, Carol?”

  A fe
w tears slipped over Carol’s cheeks. “You know I will.”

  Charlie let out relieved breath. His hand trembled as he took the ring from the box and slipped it on Carol’s finger.

  Carol giggled. “Are you going to stand up and kiss me?”

  “Oh.” Charlie found his feet. He pulled her close and kissed her softly.

  “That was perfect,” Ida called out her approval. Thunderous clapping and whoops of congratulations erupted.

  Andi finished the last sip of her margarita. “On that note.”

  “Andi.” Riley caught her friend by the arm.

  Andi smiled. “I told you to stop worrying about me.”

  “Are you okay to drive?”

  “I think I’m going to take a walk first,” Andi said. “I’ll see you later.”

  Riley’s forehead crinkled with concern. She watched as Ida gently squeezed Andi’s hand as Andi left.

  Ida found her way back to the bar and picked up her margarita. “She’ll be okay.”

  “I wish she’d talk to me.”

  “Mm. She cares about you, Riley.”

  Riley’s heart dropped. Something is wrong. “I tell her everything.”

  “I know you do. You look up to her.”

  “More like I trust her.”

  “With good reason,” Ida offered.

  Riley’s voice dropped to almost a whisper. “She’s like the big sister I always wanted.”

  Ida patted Riley’s hand. And, you are the daughter she’s always wished she had. “Come on, I’ll buy you a free drink.”

  Riley nodded.

  “Where’s Andi?” Fallon asked when she reached the bar.

  “She had some things she needed to take care of,” Ida said.

  Fallon was about to question her mother. Ida’s gaze told her to let the subject drop. Guess I’ll have to wait to find out what that’s about. Jake was due early the next morning. She would have to wait a week to talk to Andi freely.

  “Oh, my God, Fallon.” Carol came up behind the group and spun Fallon to face her. “Thank you for everything.” She looked at Riley. “And, thank you.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Riley said.

  “Charlie said you helped him with the ring.”

  “Nothing more than moral support,” Riley assured her.

  “Anyway, thank you,” Carol said. She hugged Riley and then Fallon. “It’s the best day of my life,” she said before being pulled away.

  “I’m happy for them,” Riley said. “Ida’s right; it was perfect.”

  “Oh?” Fallon began. “More perfect than mine?”

  “Yours?”

  “Yeah, my proposal.”

  Riley smiled. “Some woman is going to count herself lucky one day.” She kissed Fallon on the cheek and hopped off the barstool.

  Fallon watched as several people stopped Riley on her way to the jukebox. When she turned back around, Ida handed Fallon a beer. “What’s that look for?”

  “What look?” Ida asked.

  “That one.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Right. How much of my tequila have you consumed?”

  “Not enough to get me to tell you what you want me to.”

  “Which is?” Fallon asked.

  “What you need to hear but won’t listen to.”

  Fallon rolled her eyes. “Has anyone paid for a drink today?”

  Ida shrugged. “You said to keep the tab open.”

  “Charlie’s tab, Mom.”

  Ida shrugged again.

  “I don’t know how I ever make money in this place with you around.”

  “Drink your beer.”

  Fallon took a sip. Her eyes drifted to Riley. Now, what is going on there?

  “Hey, Riley.”

  “Hi, Jerry. How are you?”

  “Good. Good. Pretty good. You?”

  Riley smiled. “I can’t complain.”

  “Where’s your little guy?”

  “Oh, Marge offered to watch him,” Riley explained.

  “Ah… So…”

  Riley raised her eyebrow.

  “I was kind of wondering if maybe you might like to have dinner sometime… With me, I mean.”

  Riley forced herself not to laugh. She wouldn’t have imagined that Jerry Walker would be nervous to ask anyone on a date. She doubted that many women would refuse. Jerry was about 6’1 with sandy-brown hair and hazel eyes. She could easily imagine him donning a page in a construction worker’s calendar. He possessed rugged good looks, completely different from Robert. Robert had been handsome, but slight in his build. Funny. Robert had bordered on cocky when he first approached Riley. Jerry was stumbling. Never judge a book by its cover.

  “Jerry, are you asking me out on a date?”

  Jerry blushed. “Well… I mean, it’s dinner with me so… But, I mean if you want to bring Owen…”

  “I’d love to,” Riley said. You have to start somewhere.

  “Really?”

  Riley chuckled. “You still have my number?”

  He nodded.

  “You let me know when,” Riley said. She offered him a smile and headed off to dance with Carol.

  Fallon sighed.

  Ida’s lips tightened thoughtfully. “She’s quite the catch.”

  “What?”

  “Riley,” Ida said. “She’s quite the catch.”

  Fallon’s stomach flipped violently. “Yeah.”

  Ida shook her head. Sometimes, Fallon, I could just smack you.

  ***

  May 15th

  “What are you doing?” Carol laughed. Fallon was putting the finishing touches on what appeared to be a birthday present. The two packages were wrapped in a watercolor print paper with purple bows. “It’s a kid’s party. A little boy’s party with a car theme. What is that?”

  Fallon felt her face flush. She’d found out purely by accident that Riley’s birthday was the week after Owen’s. For some reason, Riley hadn’t shared that with anyone. Fallon wasn’t certain why. She’d asked Andi if there was some reason that Riley would want to keep her birthday a secret.

  Fallon finished tying her shoes and leaned over to kiss Andi. “Everything okay with you?”

  Andi smiled. “Not you too.”

  “Me too?”

  “You and Riley. Stop worrying about me.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Fallon said. “Ever.”

  “I’m fine. I’d be better if you climbed back in this bed.”

  Fallon grinned. “Yeah, so would I.”

  “Duty calls?” Andi guessed.

  “Carol and Charlie are visiting her mother in New York tomorrow. I told her to take tonight off. They already set a date for the wedding.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  Fallon groaned.

  “What is it?” Andi wondered.

  “Did Riley mention anything about her birthday?”

  “Her birthday? No. Why?”

  “She tells you everything, Andi.”

  “She hasn’t said a word.”

  “Weird.”

  “Why is that weird?” Andi wondered.

  “Her birthday is the week after Owen’s.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “She didn’t mention anything to me.”

  “She didn’t to me either,” Fallon said.

  “Fallon, don’t make something out of nothing. She might just be so busy concentrating on Owen’s birthday that she didn’t think about it.”

  Fallon stared at Andi.

  “Okay, I’ll admit it’s a little strange. If there is a reason she hasn’t told us, it’s hers to tell when she’s ready,” Andi said.

  Fallon sighed.

  “What?” Andi asked.

  “Do you remember when Charlie proposed?”

  “How could I forget?”

  “Yeah, but do you remember that he said Carol didn’t always have a happy birthday?”

  “I seem to recall that; ye
s.”

  “What if that’s it? What if the reason she hasn’t said anything is that she has some bad memory of that day?”

  Andi smiled at Fallon. Fallon was falling in love. Andi had known it for a while. Every day she seemed to find more evidence glaring at her. If she dared suggest the possibility to Fallon, she would be met with forceful denials; denials that would likely push Fallon to bury her feelings deeper. Part of Andi was tempted to do that. It would benefit her, wouldn’t it? No. It wouldn’t. She loved Fallon. She loved Riley. Andi guessed that she understood Riley better than most people. It was odd, even to her. She’d always thought that if Fallon met someone, she would harbor some amount of resentment. She did feel a modicum of jealousy. Resentment? Not a drop. Andi could see the wheels turning in Fallon’s head. The fact that Riley might hold back from Fallon didn’t surprise her. Riley was falling too—hard. Where Fallon sought to suppress, ignore, or deny her feelings, Riley had yet to examine them at all. That was one of the reasons that Riley shared facts and tidbits, engaged in banter and flirtation with Fallon but chose to confide her fears and feelings to Andi. Riley loved Andi. Riley was falling in love with Fallon, and while it was not conscious, something within Riley kept pressing the brakes. Whatever Riley’s reason for not sharing her upcoming birthday, Andi thought it wise to tread lightly.

  “If you want my advice, don’t make a big deal about it,” Andi said.

  “You don’t think we should say something?”

  “We? I’m not pressing this with Riley. When she’s ready to talk, if there is anything that she needs to talk about, she will let one or both of us know.”

  Fallon grumbled.

  “If you really feel that you should say something do it gently. Don’t ask her what the issue is, Fallon. Just mention that you know. How do you know?”

  “She left her license out on the table the other night. She was looking all over for it. I noticed it when I handed it to her.”

  Andi nodded. “Do what feels right,” she said.

  “I don’t know what feels right,” Fallon replied.

  “Yes, you do,” Andi disagreed.

  “Are we still talking about Riley’s birthday?”

  Andi smiled. “Just do what your heart tells you to do.”

  Fallon shook her head. She leaned in and kissed Andi.