by Nance Sparks
Sydney and Olivia were already unzipping the main flap and inspecting items in each compartment.
“It’s a blowout game, like the Bears would win anyway. Why wait until halftime? I’d like to stretch my legs a bit after sitting on an airplane all morning. How about I walk them over to the park and show them a few things?” Jodie winked at Riley.
“That would be so cool. Can we, Mom?” Sydney asked. She stuffed items back into the correct spots and zipped up the pack.
“Yeah, can we, Mom?” Olivia jumped up and down.
“Yes, but please don’t make Jodie crazy.” Andrea smiled and nodded to Jodie. “Riley and I will be over in a few minutes.”
“No rush,” Jodie said and headed toward the door, her arm up like some kind of tour guide. “Come on, this way.”
Riley heard the lower-level door click shut. She turned to Andrea. “Is it bad that I want to drag you into the bedroom and make love to you?”
“It’s only bad if you had to drag me. I’m willing. I may drag you. God, I’ve missed you.” Andrea wrapped her arms around Riley’s shoulders.
“It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you too. I’m not sure what is and isn’t appropriate in front of the girls, so forgive me if I’m messing up.” Riley had a new respect for parents. She had always assumed it was so easy to set rules and have them followed, but seeing the different personalities helped her realize that everything wasn’t so easily planned. Her admiration for Andrea continued to grow.
“You’re being very respectful, and I appreciate it. The girls aren’t here this minute, so will you just kiss me?”
Riley kissed Andrea with all the pent-up passion she’d been feeling since they’d separated. She lifted Andrea’s shirt, needing to feel the warmth of her bare skin. She heard the click of the lower-level door and froze.
“Mom, are you and Riley coming? I told Jodie we had to wait. You said a few minutes.” Olivia called from the bottom of the stairs.
Andrea pulled away from the kiss and exhaled. “You’ll have to accept a rain check for what I was planning on doing to you next.” She leaned her forehead on Riley’s shoulder.
Riley held Andrea in her arms. “If we ignore her, will she think we didn’t hear?”
“We’ll be down in a bit, Livy. Go ahead without us,” Andrea yelled. She turned to face Riley again. “I’m sure you already know Livy enough to know that answer, but before we head down, can you show me what’s behind your bedroom door? I feel like it’s something I should see without the girls around.”
Riley led Andrea into the bedroom. She opened the blinds and the room filled with light. Riley stepped past Andrea and swung the bedroom door shut. No one but Andrea would know how much this black-and-white photograph of their apple tree held her heart.
“Holy shit, it takes up most of the wall,” Andrea said. “When did you take this?”
“The summer after I graduated college. I went back to get the rest of the stuff out of my old bedroom. I ran over to your folks’ place and found out they had moved to Florida. So, before I left town, I stopped by the school and walked back into the woods one last time. That spot always meant a lot to me, a sanctuary of sorts. So, after being ignored for a few years, this is what our tree looked like.”
“It looks so sad, neglected…forlorn. Everything is so overgrown that it’s barely recognizable. Of all the shots you have of our tree, why on earth would you have this version in here?” Andrea asked.
“You’ll laugh and think I’m nuts.” Riley swallowed the emotion in her throat. She’d felt just as forlorn as this shot for so many years.
“You said I could ask you anything and you’d answer.”
“Already using that one against me, eh?” Riley smiled. “When I took the shot, what I saw matched the way I felt without you. I felt like our special place missed you as much as I did, but the memories of us were still there if you looked hard enough. See, our log bench is visible in the tall grass, behind the saplings. The tree is still our tree, the limbs are thicker and the trunk stouter, but it’s still the same tree. Our heart and initials are still carved in the bark, they’ve just taken on a different shape and have grown over some. Our spot evolved over time, much like we did.” Riley swallowed, wondering if she sounded too sappy or soft. But it was true, and she didn’t need to hide that part of herself from Andi. “Anyway, when I bought the studio and started traveling quite a bit, I decided to enlarge the print and hung it up in here. It might sound silly, but it gave me a little bit of home and helped me feel grounded. Besides, it wasn’t anything I had to explain to anyone. Jodie knows about it because she recognized it from the shots on my wall in college.”
Tears were running down Andrea’s cheeks. “I’m crying because what you said was beautiful and sweet and touched my heart and made me sad, all at once. I’m still the same red hot emotional basket case that I’ve always been.” Andrea wiped away the tears.
Riley wrapped her arm around Andrea’s shoulder. “Your emotions are one of the many, many things that I adore about you.”
Andrea smiled and wiped a stray tear away. “Come on, you, let’s go run around the park for a bit before Olivia hunts us down. You know the girls will be tormenting me with those cameras trying to capture candid shots just like you do.”
“I’m counting on it. I may have to show them how to upload to my cloud account so I can see what they capture.” Riley laughed.
“Don’t you dare! No doubt there will be a photo of me in my not so sexy underwear, or worse!” Andrea chased her down the stairs.
Riley enjoyed having Andrea and the girls in her world. It was nice that Jodie made it back and was able to meet them. The more time they spent together, the more she was willing to admit that she wanted more. Her mother’s words echoed in her ears, “Work isn’t all there is to life.” Truer words were never spoken. Work was fun and rewarding, but days like these were the stuff life was made of. It reminded her of when her family and a handful of friends would gather around to watch a game or enjoy a Sunday barbeque. That’s the stuff that made memories.
They played around outside for a while until everyone got hungry, then they headed in and put on the last quarter of the game while munching pizza.
Before the last of the game, Andrea tapped Riley on the arm and nodded toward the kitchen. They left Olivia and Sydney in the living room chatting with Jodie.
“When can I see you again?” Andrea whispered once they were out of sight in the kitchen.
Riley pulled out her phone and moved to the calendar so Andi could see it. “I’m on the road for the next seven days and then back out Wednesday through Saturday morning, but I could switch that flight for late Friday night. What’s that weekend look like for you?”
“Actually, that might work perfectly. Scott has to travel for work and needs me to keep the girls this next weekend, so he’ll take that one instead. We could finally get some alone time! Plan on the weekend at my place.” Andrea smiled and clapped her hands together silently. “I know it sounds needy, but will you still call me whenever you can? I look forward to hearing your voice before I go to sleep.”
Riley was glad she wasn’t the only one who needed that time each night.
“I look forward to our talks in the evening too. I’ll definitely call, including later tonight at our usual time.” Riley leaned over and kissed Andrea’s lips tenderly. “I’m already looking forward to our weekend.”
The day had been so much fun. The need for another photographer continued to become more evident with each passing day. She’d work on an ad tomorrow and get a position listed. She loved her career, and she was starting to figure out that having a life, maybe even a family, could be just as important.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Andrea set her tablet behind the counter at the nurses’ station and stretched her back. It had been a long shift. A couple of nurses and an as
sistant were out sick, and the floor was near capacity. She was too tired to care that it was her birthday, well, tired and perhaps a bit disappointed. So far, she’d received birthday wishes from her parents, her daughters, and her best friend, everyone except the one she most wanted to hear from, Riley. She hadn’t brought it up last weekend because Riley had always made such a big deal about it. Cute little handmade cards, notes, flowers, really any romantic gesture imaginable always made her birthdays super special. It never dawned on her that she wouldn’t remember. She shook her head. They weren’t kids anymore.
Still, even Sara had reached out, and she was on the tail end of her honeymoon. She wouldn’t come back to work until the following Monday, but that didn’t stop her from sending a short flurry of happy birthday texts and some fun party emojis. She could use a dose of Sara about now. They hadn’t talked since before last weekend and so much had happened. No doubt she’d have some unsolicited advice about everything. Andrea smiled. Sharing a shift with her always made the day go by faster. Just a couple more days solo and she’d have her bestie back.
She looked at her watch. Three thirty. There was still plenty of time to get home, relax for a moment, and then get dinner started before she had to rush out to pick up the girls from volleyball practice and dance. Their schedule was always so hectic this time of year, and she was already looking forward to the summer months when the activities quieted down and things weren’t always so rushed. What she wouldn’t give for a quiet evening at home. She pulled her jacket off the back of her desk chair and grabbed her purse from her bottom desk drawer. The phone on her desk started ringing. She was tempted to ignore it and walk away, but that wasn’t something she’d ever been able to do. She sighed and set her purse on the desk.
“Nursing station, third floor east, this is Andrea.”
“So glad I caught you. You have a delivery at the welcome desk in the lobby.”
“A delivery? What is it?” Annoyance crept in. Now she’d be late and wouldn’t have those few precious minutes of quiet time before having to start dinner, since the reception desk was on the opposite side of the hospital to where she needed to go to get to her car. Maybe she’d pick up subs or something.
“I only know that it’s perishable, so you should pick it up before you go today.”
“Thank you, I’m on my way down.” Andrea hung up the phone and picked up her purse.
Who would send her a perishable delivery? Probably some tropical fruit or something from Sara and Kay. She stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the lobby, and leaned up against the side rail for support. Her feet throbbed. Maybe she should splurge on herself and get a new pair of shoes. She’d had these for at least a year now. The elevator chimed and the doors opened. Andrea stepped out and headed down the long hallway toward the lobby and the welcome desk.
She was just a few feet away when she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Her heart rate shot up and she looked around the lobby. The top half of a person was completely hidden behind a monstrous bouquet of flowers. A pair of hands supported either side of the large round vase. The arrangement lowered and a pair of green eyes peered over the top of the flowers.
“I hope you still enjoy birthday surprises.” Riley lowered the flowers to reveal that amazing half grin.
Andrea stood there in shock, her hand covering her mouth. Riley twisted and set the flowers on a table between two chairs. She looked sexy as hell, dressed in jeans and a nice collared shirt. Andrea was no longer tired. She darted across the lobby right into Riley’s open arms.
“You remembered. I’m so happy that you’re here.” Emotions made it hard to speak. She hadn’t forgotten after all. She was here, in person, which was so much better than a text or even a phone call. “How long can you stay?”
“I have to fly out tomorrow morning. Would it be okay if I take you and the girls out for a birthday dinner?” Riley held her close in her arms.
“That sounds heavenly. Where are you parked? You can follow me.”
“Actually, I took a taxi on the off chance that you’d give me a ride if I agreed to hold the flowers.” Riley kissed the side of her forehead.
“I don’t have to pick the girls up until five. Come on, let’s get out of here! Where’s your luggage?” Andrea stepped back out of Riley’s arms. “What can I carry?”
An expert traveler, Riley spun the suitcase and equipment tote back-to-back so that both handles could be managed with one hand. Her briefcase and the camera bag were secured on each of the larger luggage pieces. She picked up the flowers in one arm and rolled the two large pieces of luggage along with the other.
“I’m good, lead the way, birthday girl.”
Andrea led them out the front doors toward the parking lot. Even though she had her hand covering Riley’s on the luggage, she kept looking over to make sure it wasn’t a dream. This was the life she dreamt of. The life where her sweetheart showed up at work to surprise her with flowers and a dinner date. It just didn’t get any better than this.
* * *
Andrea sat on the couch next to Riley and handed her a glass of whiskey on the rocks. Riley had planned a perfect evening. The restaurant was casual enough for Syd to go in her volleyball sweats and sweatshirt, Olivia in jeans and the top half of her dance leotard, and yet the food was better than several nicer restaurants that she’d been to. Even the dessert was amazing and served with a lit candle, though she’d been spared the singing.
“I didn’t think I’d ever get them to bed. Your being here midweek is such a treat. What a wonderful birthday surprise. Thank you.” Andrea kicked her shoes off and leaned back into the couch. “Oh, it feels so good to get those damned shoes off.”
“Swing your legs up here. Let me see if I can help.” Riley cupped one of Andrea’s feet in her hands and began kneading the tension away.
“That feels amazing.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Definitely the best birthday ever.
Andrea woke up on the couch beneath a blanket a few hours later, but Riley was nowhere to be found. She got up off the couch and found a note on the kitchen counter.
Sweet dreams, birthday girl. You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you. I also didn’t want to leave. It took a lot of willpower not to curl up next to you. We haven’t talked about me staying when the girls are home, so I forced myself to go to the hotel. I’m looking forward to our weekend in a few days. Happy birthday.
Riley
Andrea held the note to her chest. She wished she had stayed awake long enough to ask her to stay. What she wouldn’t give to be curled up in her arms tonight. To know she was in town and alone in a hotel room was almost too much. They’d decided not to label what they had, but there was no question her heart was fully engaged. And for some reason, she had a feeling Riley was in a similar place. It had been so thoughtful that she’d booked dinner not just for the two of them, but she’d included the girls, too. She was clearly trying to fit into Andrea’s world. What did that mean? She placed the note on her bedside table and smiled at it as she drifted back to sleep. Things weren’t perfect, not yet. But hope made her dreams happy ones.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Riley sat in the window seat on the airplane. Her laptop was open on the tray table connected to the plane’s Wi-Fi. She clicked through the portfolios of applicants for the positions she’d posted. The first two took clean shots, but the photos lacked emotion. The third applicant looked more promising. She seemed to shoot memories instead of typically posed photography.
She’d been to three states in five days, and she was completely fried. She’d rearranged things and caught a flight into Madison late Friday night. Her desire to spend more time with Andrea was making for an exhausting travel schedule. The events over the past week and a half were a series of shoot and fly scenarios with no time to sleep, rest up, or explore. She’d had no trouble turning down the unsubtle invi
tations for companionship at every shoot, preoccupied with thoughts of Andi. The time she’d get to spend with her was better than none, but this kind of thing couldn’t continue. It was exhausting, and their time felt rushed and strained.
An email alert popped up in the lower corner of her screen. Riley clicked on the notification and opened the email.
Riley, I can’t pick you up at the airport. Scott flipped out. Sydney took off and she’s missing. I need to look for her. I’ll email as I know more. Please call as soon as you land.
Riley’s heart hammered in her chest. She’d never felt more helpless. The plane app on the screen showed that they had another twenty minutes before they landed. Suddenly, that seemed like an eternity. She kept the email up on her screen while the plane started the descent into the Madison airport. It was like watching paint dry. She couldn’t imagine what would cause Sydney to take off. She’d only spent a couple of days with the girls, but they seemed like happy kids, neither of them seemed to have an attitude or any particular baggage. Like she knew what baggage looked like for a fourteen-year-old. She still felt inept around children of any age. Regardless, this didn’t make any sense.
The moment the plane touched down, Riley took her phone off airplane mode. It buzzed nonstop in her hand while texts and missed calls popped up on the screen. Texts from an unknown number caught her attention.
Riley its Syd where r u. Need help.
Riley didn’t take the time to read any of the other messages, she pressed the phone icon next to the number. It rang twice.
“Riley?”
“Hey, Syd, are you okay? Where are you?” Her stomach was in knots. Was this what it meant to be a parent? All-out panic and distress?
“Are you flying to Chicago tonight? I’m at the airport. I’m trying to get to your house,” Sydney said.
“Which airport? Chicago? Where are you?” Riley was grateful for the first-class upgrade. She hooked her briefcase onto the camera case and was standing in the front of the line waiting for the door to open.
