My hair still wrapped in a towel, I pulled out my day planner and flipped to the correct date.
I grabbed one of my color-coded markers and wrote Date Nate Mercier in the top priority box.
Capping the pen, I set it down and studied the words on the page. I picked up a second colored marker and wrote Stop living in fear of what could be.
With a final pep talk to myself, I closed the notebook and headed out the door. It had been three days since I’d spoken to Nate. Nola was married now. And I’d missed her wedding. But I wouldn’t miss out on the life in front of me.
Nate would not be my dirty little secret. And I was going to tell him. Right after I bribed my way into his house.
Chapter Nineteen
Nate
Knock, knock, knock.
I stopped unpacking my bag and walked into the living room to open my front door.
Riley stood on my porch, a paper bag in one hand and a drink tray in the other.
“I come bearing a peace offering.”
I nodded slowly and opened the door wide, letting her in. She made her way to the beanbag couch and sat down. “When are you going to let me decorate this place?”
I didn’t say anything, just sat down next to her. I didn’t know what to say. I’d made things clear. I knew what I wanted out of our relationship. Now it was up to her.
She passed me a milkshake cup then opened the bag of fries.
She got right to the point. “I don’t want you to be my dirty little secret anymore.”
“You don’t?” I sipped the caramel milkshake she’d handed me.
“No.” She popped the lid off of her cup and dipped a fry in the chocolate. “You were right to be mad. I would have felt the same way in your place.”
I reached over and dipped a fry in her shake.
“But Nate, I’m scared. I’m scared of what will happen when Nola finds out. I’m worried about what Frank will say when he finds out.”
I reached over and took the cup and bag from her hands, setting them down on the floor. I tugged her close to my chest. “It’s okay to be scared. But Riley, you can’t keep living your life in what-ifs.” I felt her head nod against my chest. “You can’t let those fears win. You’re too young to give up on life.”
“I’m not giving up on life. I’m keeping my sister safe.”
“Have you talked to her?”
Riley mumbled against my shirt.
“I couldn’t hear what you said.”
She groaned. “I talked to her last night.”
“And what did she say?” Though, I was sure I knew the answer. Wren wasn’t a coward.
“She said Frank could go to Antarctica for all she cared. She said we should be out living our lives, not waiting on a plan. Which only makes me think I’ve been a horrible guardian these past couple years!”
I leaned back and placed a hand on either side of her face. “You have not been a horrible guardian. You’ve done what you needed to do to take care of your sister. However, now you have a boyfriend who wants to help you. And you have a family who wants to take care of you. Dad and Mom are ready for you to come home. Dad wants you for Christmas—he even promised to not cheat at Monopoly. They want to meet Wren.”
“You didn’t tell Nola yet, did you?”
“No, I was waiting until you wanted me to. I made you a promise. I’m not going to break that.”
“Thank you.”
“You know, you coming over here has completely ruined my persuasive speech I’ve been working on.”
She looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes. “Don’t let that stop you. I’d like to hear this speech you’ve been working on.”
“I don’t know if you’re ready for this speech.”
“Oh, please. Just give me the speech.”
I cleared my throat—three times. Riley squirmed impatiently.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Imagine we’re walking through a dark fog. There’s only one flashlight.”
She frowned. “Why aren’t there two flashlights? I would have packed a second one.”
I held a hand over her mouth to stop any other unneeded outbursts.
“We’re walking in the fog, and I’m the only one who can see, but you don’t want to take my hand because you want to prove that you can find your way out of the woods by yourself. So, you don’t take my hand. What happens?”
“I probably stay lost in the fog.”
“Knowing you, you’d find a way out, but it’s going to take you way longer than if you had taken my hand and we both used the light to find our way. If you take my hand and stretch out your hand to the person behind you, then the three of us will make it out of the woods together.”
“So, what you’re saying is that not everything is a competition.”
“I’m saying not everything is better alone. And you know that I value being alone. But there comes a point where it’s okay to rely on the people around you.”
Riley sat there, staring at me.
“Well, what did you think about my speech?”
She grinned. “I’m glad I decided to keep you before I heard that speech.”
“Oh really? I worked hard on that.” I pulled her closer and began tickling her ribs mercilessly. “So, you don’t like my speeches?”
She shrieked and flailed at me, trying to escape my hold. I’d forgotten how quick she was—and how bony those elbows were.
“Ouch!” I let her go after one extra-hard elbow caught me under the chin.
She hurried to her feet. “I’m not apologizing for that. You started it.”
“That’s true. And I can finish it.” I made a half-hearted grab for her that she easily dodged.
She headed to the kitchen, and I followed her, pulling out the coffee supplies.
“Do we drink coffee after a milkshake?” Riley asked.
“Yes, all the time is coffee time.”
“So...Wren’s dad.”
“You met him, didn’t you?”
“Yup. I think he took my favorite travel coffee mug.”
“You’ll never see it again.” Riley shook her head. “He used to come into the market when I worked there. He’s the kind of guy who literally, every time, empties out the “take a penny, leave a penny” container. He was a big motivator for me to move when Wren came to live with me.”
“You think we haven’t met other people like him?”
I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “But they weren’t people you’d have to deal with on a regular basis. He’s Wren’s dad. I can’t just tell him to go take a hike.”
“Why not?” He shrugged when he saw my glare. “Okay, well, I see your point. But I think you’re going to be surprised at how he doesn’t care. He’s probably forgotten all about us.”
Riley grimaced. “I wouldn’t count on that. You might not like me when you have to deal with him.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that?”
She propped herself up on an elbow and studied my face before she answered, “I think I will.”
Chapter Twenty
Riley
Wren and I sat next to each other on the couch, watching episode 549 of our favorite BBC show.
“We really need to branch out,” I said as I grabbed a handful of popcorn.
“Let’s start that one Turkish show we’ve heard so much about,” Wren suggested.
“You know I don’t like subtitles.”
“Well, I guess you’ll just have to learn Turkish then, because that’s the show that I want to watch next.”
I glared at her. “You’re annoyingly stubborn sometimes. Why can’t we pick another country where we can understand what they’re saying? Does Ireland produce any shows?”
She pulled the bowl of popcorn out of my hands. “We’re going to watch the show. You’ll get used to the subtitles.”
As the current show ended on the laptop, Wren leaned forward and began typing away. Eventually, a show appeared on the s
creen. Bright colors and a catchy theme song greeted me. I didn’t want to like it, but I had to admit, even the opening credits were pulling me in.
But then a loud knock interrupted the new show. I paused it and looked at Wren. “Was Macy coming over tonight?”
Another loud knock echoed through the trailer. Wren shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s me, Frank!” a voice called.
We both groaned. “Quick, hide your wallet.”
Wren closed the laptop, and I grabbed both of our purses from the countertop. We carried our precious loot to the bedroom, and lifting the queen-size bed, we hid it in the cubby beneath there.
“Phew, that was a close one. Good thing he knocked.” I sighed. Wren nodded and went to the front door.
Wren whispered, “He was already here this week. Why’s he back so soon? We could pretend like we’re not home.”
“My Jeep’s kind of hard to miss.”
Wren’s shoulders sagged as she opened the door. “Hi, Frank, how—“
Wren’s words cut off abruptly as she looked past Frank.
At the bottom of the stairs stood a woman who was smiling so broadly I wondered how her teeth managed to stay in her mouth. Her blonde hair had a tint of orange to it.
Frank climbed down the steps to stand by her. Frank was not a small man, not by any stretch of the imagination. Well over six feet tall, he had a broad chest, and his middle wasn’t exactly flat. But the woman next to him was at least a foot shorter than him. And wider. And happier, judging by the look in her eye.
“Wren,” Frank said. “I’d like you to meet my fiancée. Tia. Tia, this is my daughter, Wren. And this is Riley.”
Tia didn’t pay attention to Frank.
“Oh, you precious little darling.” The woman swallowed Wren up in a hug the second she reached the bottom steps, patting her back and squeezing her tightly. For a moment, I thought I’d have to save Wren from suffocation in that ample bosom.
When Tia finally released her, Wren had a look of horror stamped on her face.
“You are just so beautiful.” She grasped Wren’s cheeks in her hands, squishing her lips together. “I’ve been so excited to meet you.” She released Wren and turned toward me. “Oh, come here, honey. I’m happy to meet you, too!” I barely escaped her smothering hug by grabbing our lemonade pitcher off the counter and thrusting a cup toward her when I descended the stairs. “Lemonade? Why don’t we sit down out here and get to know each other?”
Wren—not so discreetly—shut and locked the door to the trailer.
“You’re just so sweet. You belong in Southern Living magazine,” Tia said as she pinched my cheek. She sat down on the wicker couch, and Frank sat down beside her.
It creaked ominously.
We sat there in silence, Tia smiling ridiculously at us and, every once in a while, leaning across the distance to pat Wren’s arm.
“We’re getting married,” Frank announced without preamble.
Wren caught my eye and winked. “Wow. Congratulations, Frank. I hope you guys will be happy,” Wren said magnanimously. I smiled through clenched teeth. Wife number six. She must have some money or something to lure Frank in. He only ever tried to marry someone who could give him something in return.
“I’m just so happy,” Tia gushed. “I can’t wait to be one big happy family. I’ve already bought my wedding dress, and I can’t wait to see you two in your bridesmaids’ dresses.”
I choked on the last sip of lemonade. “Bridesmaids’ dresses?”
“Yes, I picked polka dots. Isn’t that so perfect?”
Wren looked positively horrified. I couldn’t tell if it was because of having to be in the wedding or having to wear polka dots.
I tried my best to salvage the situation. “You know, I’m not sure it’s the greatest idea to have us in the wedding. Wouldn’t it be better for it to be just you and Frank? That way, you can be the center of attention.” I smiled and hurried on at her confused look. “The way it should be. The bride and groom. Just you two. Alone. At the front of the ceremony. With no bridesmaids.”
I kept nodding, hoping she’d agree.
“Oh no, honey, I’m so happy to be adding two more girls to my family.”
This did not sound good. Frank never said a word, just kept drinking lemonade.
“Two more girls?” Wren finally asked.
“Oh, sweetie pie, Frank hasn’t told you?”
Frank hadn’t even mentioned Tia to us, much less her girls.
“I have four girls! I know you’ll all get along wonderfully. We’ll be one big happy family.”
Wren looked like she might be sick.
Yeah, that wasn’t happening. I stood up. “Oh, I just remembered—Wren!”
Wren looked at me sharply.
“Remember our appointment?” I raised my eyebrows so high that they might have been touching my hairline.
“That important appointment!” Wren nodded enthusiastically. “We can’t be late. See you, Frank. Tia, nice to meet you.”
I grabbed the pitcher of lemonade and carried it inside, grabbed my purse, then headed outside. I locked the door—again. I’m sure Nate would never have let me hear the end of it if he saw me locking the door, but if Frank was still hanging around, there was no telling what he would “help” himself to. One time, he cleared out our entire toilet paper stash.
Wren and I waved—maybe a little too happily—at Frank and Tia as I put my Jeep into reverse, did some expert maneuvering to get around Tia’s giant SUV, and backed us all the way out of our street, not bothering to turn around until I got to another side street.
Wren doubled over with laughter. “How in the world did he end up with her? She’s awful!”
“Okay, let’s not be too mean. She probably meant to be kind.”
Wren looked at me with a deadpan look in her eye. “I’m disowning you. You’re not getting a single penny from me when I die.”
And then we both cackled like crazy people as we peeled out of the trailer park.
Chapter Twenty-One
Riley
Wren and I ended up going to the theater and watching a scary movie. It was a poor choice. I ended up lying in bed, texting Nate late into the night, until he finally asked what was wrong. He kindly came over and slept on our couch at two in the morning.
“Hey, I’ll make breakfast,” Nate offered when we finally dragged ourselves out of bed. “Sam and Elise have been giving me lessons.”
I kissed his cheek and squeezed past him into the kitchen. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll make breakfast.”
I pulled out three different types of cold cereal and a gallon of milk. “Ta-da.”
Nate chuckled and squeezed my hip when he leaned past me to grab a bowl out of the cupboard. “You little chef extraordinaire.”
“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
We sat down to breakfast, ate in relative silence, thanks to the late night of worrying what was under our bed, then Wren headed over to Marni’s to help do a bride’s wedding makeup. I wondered what the women thought when they pulled into the trailer park to get their wedding makeup done. But you couldn’t argue with the magic Marni conjured up.
Once she left, I got ready for the day while Nate did—well, I’m not sure what he ended up doing, but when I came out of the bathroom, he’d made another pot of coffee and had his laptop open, editing photos.
I sat down next to him and opened my laptop. I needed to put the finishing touches on my social media marketing course.
“I told Dad to tell Nola and Bane this morning,” Nate said in between clicks.
The air seemed thinner in the trailer. Someone must have been sucking the oxygen out with a garden hose or something like that. It was the only reasonable explanation why I was having difficulty breathing.
“Right. Right.” I smiled brightly. “That’s great. Thanks for doing that for me.”
“Stop smiling like a drunk monkey. It’s okay to be nervous.”
/>
He set both of our laptops down and pulled me against his chest, wrapping those long arms around me and holding me close. “This is nice,” I said.
“I know; I’m pulling out all the stops on this hug.”
“Well, you’re doing great. As far as hugs go, I’d give it a ten out of ten.”
“Was it the small back circles that made a difference or the intermittent squeezes?”
“I think a combination of the two. And you smell good. Hugs aren’t as beneficial when you have to hold your breath.”
“You’re a goof.” He leaned back. “Why don’t I pour you some coffee? Sound good?”
“Yes, please.” He pressed a kiss against my forehead and busied himself making coffee for me.
A knock sounded on the door. I turned around three times, trying to decide what to do—where to stand, where to sit. How to not look like the world’s biggest coward who ran away. I settled on taking both our laptops into the bedroom then trying to quickly polish my coffee pot.
Nate squeezed my shoulder reassuringly as he walked past and opened the door.
“We were expecting you.”
Nola and the man with her stepped through the doorway. My trailer was growing smaller by the second. How many people could you fit in a travel trailer before you screamed hysterically? Was a trailer big enough to handle a possibly irate best friend?
She looked great. She’d matured in the past couple of years. Her features were more refined—along with her eyeliner. Her brown hair had grown out of the short, A-line haircut she’d had the last time I saw her.
She stopped in front of me, the man with her standing right behind her. They made a formidable couple.
Nola dropped her purse and launched herself at me. I caught her just like I had every other time she’d launched herself at me. It didn’t matter that she was several inches taller. She still acted like I was as tall as her brother.
“You’re alive!” Her arms tightened around my neck. I wouldn’t be for long if she kept this up.
My face heated as I realized tears were running freely down my cheeks. I tried to take a deep, steadying breath. I furiously blinked at the tears. But it was too late. I couldn’t stop the floodgates.
Miss Trailerhood Page 14