He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I miss those things too.”
She shook her head, her honey blonde hair swirling about her shoulders. “I’m just not sure we can be friends, Riley. Not after everything we’ve meant to one another.”
“But isn’t that why we should try to be friends, Georgia? Our history bonds us. We grew up together. Our memories go all the way back to the sandbox.”
A hint of a smile twitched at Georgia’s lips. “They do.” She wrinkled her nose. “That’s pretty funny considering you used to eat sand. Remember?”
Riley threw his head back and laughed. “How could I forget? I used to get the worst bellyaches. And Mama wasn’t impressed at all. After several trips to the ER, she told me if I ever ate sand again I was going to be in a world of trouble.”
“Well, it made you stand out in my mind. Before I knew your name, I thought of you as sandbox boy.”
Riley grinned at her. “And I thought of you as the girl with the twinkling eyes.”
Something hovered in the air between them. The memories from the past would always be a bridge between them. It was one of the reasons Riley had never been able to move on with another woman. Sometimes—in the hours between darkness and dawn—he would toss and turn, thinking about Georgia and kicking himself for allowing fear to get in the way of their love. What might have been if he hadn’t been so conflicted about pledging forever to Georgia.
But he couldn’t go back in time and change things. The man of four years ago had acted on his feelings at that time. He shouldn’t beat himself up about it. Life was about growth and change. Life and time had transformed him.
“That’s the thing about you, Riley. I could never stay angry at you for long.”
Riley pressed a hand over his heart. “That’s a relief to hear, Georgia, because you’re the last person I ever want to be at odds with.”
Tears shone in Georgia’s eyes. She nodded at him. “I don’t like it either, Ry,” using her pet name for him. “In Libby’s name, I’ll do my best to be your friend, even though I still have unanswered questions.”
Riley knew she was referencing Aidan. He didn’t want to get into a discussion about his son, not when there were so many things he couldn’t fully explain to her. It would be like getting too close to a fire.
For now, he was simply overjoyed that Georgia had decided they could be friends. In a perfect world, Georgia would be much more than a friend. But, for now, he would take friendship. He just wanted to be in her orbit, to soak her in like a warm summer rain.
**
One look into Riley’s mesmerizing eyes and Georgia had caved in like a house of cards. She knew Eden would have a fit if she’d seen her being so cordial to Riley. Georgia smirked. Her sister was the type who would have read him the riot act for even suggesting friendship.
She let out a ragged sigh. The effect Riley had on her was unnerving. Friends? It was a stretch to think she could ever view Riley Somers as merely a friend. He was the guy she’d hoped to walk down the aisle toward wearing the lace ivory gown she had inherited from her grandmother. Georgia Somers. Hadn’t she written that name on a pad of paper over and over again until her hand cramped up? Hadn’t she envisioned living in the big, sprawling family house owned by Riley’s parents? She let out a sigh. It had all slipped through her fingers like grains of sand.
And now, she might have to face Riley’s permanent return. Hadn’t it been a tad bit easier when he wasn’t physically around to distract her? A man like Riley wouldn’t stay single for long in a town like Hope Valley. Georgia grimaced at the thought of at least a dozen women here in town who she knew would be over the moon to date him. Ugh. The very thought of it made her nauseous.
But she had no right to be territorial over Riley. He hadn’t been her man for a very long time. He had every right to date whomever he pleased. Surely at some point he would want a mother for Aidan.
Georgia made her way into the The Copper Kettle. It was a quaint tea shop that also offered a gourmet lunch. She was meeting Kit so she could check up on her. Although she knew her mother tended to be a busy body, she was still worried about Kit. She was such a romantic at heart. It would tear her friend’s world apart if things didn’t work out with her and Jayden.
Georgia had extended the invitation to her best friend so she could offer herself up as a listening ear. At the same time, she couldn’t wait to tell Kit all about Riley’s return. As soon as Georgia entered the tea room, she spotted Kit sitting at a table by the window. With the sunlight streaming in, it made her friend appear even more dazzling than usual. With her warm brown skin and doe-like brown eyes, Kit was stunning. A heart-shaped face and a pair of dimples added to her overall charm.
Kit waved to her from the window table. Georgia quickly made her way over to the table. Kit stood up and the two friends warmly embraced. The scent of jasmine—Kit’s signature scent—hovered around her like a halo.
Georgia sat down across from Kit and heaved a heavy sigh.
“What was that sigh about? Rough morning?” Kit asked.
“Sort of. I went to the reading of Libby’s will. Of course I came face to face with Riley.”
Kit made a face. “I still can’t believe he has a child. Of all the twists I wasn’t expecting that has to be it.”
“Tell me about it. I was tempted to do something that would make news all over town.”
Kit leaned forward in her chair. Her eyes were lit up with interest. “What? Tell me. I could use a distraction.”
Georgia laughed. “I don’t know. Kick him in the shins. Scream at the top of my lungs. Pound my fists against his chest. Throw a pie in his face.”
Kit burst into giggles. “A pie? Where would you have gotten a pie standing outside of the church?”
Georgia laughed. “I don’t know, but the visual in my head is very satisfying. It makes me feel…vindicated.”
“I’m sorry,” Kit said, reaching across the table and squeezing her hand. “I know it must have been incredibly painful to see Riley’s child, especially when no one gave you a head’s up about it.”
“I feel so selfish saying it, because that little boy is adorable and a gift from God, but his very presence represents Riley’s disloyalty toward me. How am I supposed to feel about it? And Riley?”
“Maybe it’s not as bad as it looks,” Kit said. “Perhaps he didn’t betray you.”
Georgia met Kit’s gaze across the table. She shook her head. “You are the most positive person I’ve ever known. Only you would try to spin it in a good light.”
“I just hate to see you hurting. And I’ve always liked Riley. To be honest, I’m a bit shocked. He always seemed like such a stand up guy.”
“He was. Maybe he still is.” She shrugged. “I don’t know, Kit. It’s all so confusing. When I saw him, all the old feelings came back. I must be a glutton for punishment.”
“Stop beating yourself up. You two were in love. You had a great relationship for such a long time.”
Georgia quirked her mouth. “Until everything came to a crashing halt and I scared him away.”
Samantha, the waitress, suddenly appeared at their table with a bright smile and a peppy attitude. “Welcome back to the Copper Kettle. I’d love to start you ladies off with some tea. Have you decided what you want?”
Kit looked at Georgia. “I’m going to have the mint tea as usual. You?”
“I think I’ll try the white peach tea,” she said. “Could you bring an extra tea bag?”
“Sure thing. I’ll be back with your tea and ready to take your lunch order,” the waitress said.
“This place is so calming,” Kit said. “Just being here almost makes me forget all of my troubles. If only for a little while.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Georgia asked. “I know things have been tense at home.”
“I feel like I don’t even know Jayden anymore. We’re on completely different pages with almost everything in our lives. He’s been talking
about moving away from Hope Valley. He’s considering free agency. He has some notion about us moving to Los Angeles so he can pursue high profile endorsements.”
“Move to LA? Wow,” Georgia said. She couldn’t even imagine her best friend living in a big city like Los Angeles. Kit loved the small town community of Hope Valley. She was a Colorado girl born and bred. The very idea of it seemed off. It didn’t mesh with Kit’s personality or the things she held dear in her life.
“Yes. Jayden thinks living here is limiting his career.” Kit bit her lip. Georgia could tell she was trying not to cry. “Trying to have a baby under these circumstances is so stressful. Things are so strained we really aren’t trying at the moment.” Kit let out a tremendous sigh. “I just don’t know how things crumbled so fast between us.”
“Oh, Kit. You and Jayden have been through so much. I’m so sorry. I know how much you want a baby,” Georgia said in a low voice. She didn’t want anyone to overhear their private conversation, especially since Jayden was a famous athlete. It would be a mess if the news spread all over town and was picked up by the media.
“But maybe God is trying to tell me something,” Kit said with a sob. “It’s not fair to bring a child into a rocky situation.”
“God brought the two of you together, Kit. I know I’m far from an expert on relationships, but dig down deep. Fight for what the two of you have built. Remember why you exchanged those wedding vows. Can you really imagine your life without him?”
“I love Jayden. I love being his wife. But I never imagined things would get so tough, so fast. I never thought in a million years there would be such a wide chasm between us. It’s like there’s this huge rushing river standing between us and I don’t know what to do to make things better.”
“Have you prayed?” Georgia asked.
“Yes,” Kit said with a nod. “I have. But sometimes it seems as if God isn’t listening.”
“He is, Kit. I’ve been in your shoes before and I know what it feels like to pray for answers and solutions that never materialize. It’s frustrating. I’m here for you. And I just want to let you know that if you ever want me to pray with you, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. Just know that each and every day I’m praying for you and Jayden.”
Kit wiped away a few stray tears that had slipped past her lids. “Thank you, my friend. It means the world to me.”
Just then the waitress appeared at their table with their tea. As Kit asked the waitress about an item on the lunch menu, Georgia let her mind wander to Riley. Years ago she had been under the belief that marriage would have solved all of her problems in life. She’d thought it would serve as a magic wand, turning her life into something magical. Kit was showing her that even when you thought you had the fairytale in the palm of your hand, that wasn’t necessarily the final chapter.
Life was hard. And love was even harder.
Chapter Four
Riley pulled up to the inviting white house with the baby blue shutters. It was a nice-sized house with a beautiful flower garden in the front. All of the windows at the front of the house had flower boxes. A myriad of colors-violet, red, pink and white—were on full display. Mums. Pansies. The flowers added such warmth to the place. Much like the woman who owned this house, the flowers were stunning.
Georgia’s house. It looked cozy and warm and inviting. Something unfurled inside his chest at the sight of it. Hadn’t he once had dreams of living in a place like this with Georgia? But then he’d gotten scared of the idea of such a huge commitment to another human being and bailed. Fight or flight. He’d chosen to flee. And although the workings of the heart were never easy to decipher, Riley knew he had allowed fear to trump the love he’d felt for Georgia.
Riley wasn’t sure he would ever truly get over how he’d burned bridges with Georgia. Sometimes in life you made mistakes you couldn’t ever recover from.
He stood in her yard and surveyed her house. The red door made him grin. It was Georgia’s favorite color. Back when they were together she’d been living with her mom. Now, according to his own mother, she was living with Eden in this bright, charming house. Maybe he was being fanciful, but it looked like the sort of house a person settled down in. It was perfect for a growing family. The white picket fence would be perfect for kids and dogs. Aidan would love the place.
He shook off the tender feelings. He’d only come here today to bring Georgia her inheritance from Aunt Libby. The fragile figurines were too delicate to be shipped or sent over by a service. Riley had offered to bring the collection over to Georgia’s house rather than run the risk of damaging the glass figurines.
Was she even home? There was a car parked in the driveway, but he wasn’t sure if it belonged to Georgia or Eden. He walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. After waiting a few minutes, he pressed again. Just when he was about to give up and head back home, the door swung open. Georgia was standing there with flour on her nose and a pink apron tied around her waist. She looked adorable.
“Riley! Have you been standing here long? I had the radio turned up in the kitchen while I was baking.”
“No, not long at all. I stood outside for a while admiring your home. It’s beautiful,” he said, shifting the box so he didn’t lose his grip.
“Hey, come on in. That box looks heavy,” she said, waving him inside.
“Don’t mind if I do,” he said, stepping over the threshold. “It wasn’t heavy at first, but my arms are feeling the burn now.”
“What do you have there?” Georgia asked. “You can put it down on the table,” she suggested, jutting her chin in the direction of the living room.
Riley took a few steps and ended up in the living room where he placed the box down on the end table. “Phew. This is heavier than it looks.” He turned back toward Georgia, who was standing behind him with a perplexed expression on her face. “It’s your inheritance from Aunt Libby. The glass figurines.”
Libby let out an excited sound. “Oh, how wonderful. I wasn’t expecting them so soon. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t think you would be hand delivering them to my house.”
Riley shrugged, suddenly feeling sheepish. He’d come over here in order to see Georgia. The figurines had given him a reason to make an appearance at her house. He’d been curious once his mother had told him she’d settled down into her own home with Eden. And every time he saw Georgia, she left him wanting more. More time. More conversation. Just plain more. It had always been like this with Georgia. She mesmerized him like no other. Having missed her like crazy over the past few years, he felt like a man dying of thirst. He needed to be in her presence.
“I know how fragile this collection is,” he said, hoping she didn’t see past his pretext for being at her house. “I wanted to make sure it made it here in one piece. Aunt Libby loved this collection.”
“That was thoughtful of you,” Georgia said, wrinkling her nose and cocking her head to the side. Her eyes went wide. “Oh my goodness! I forgot that I have something baking in the oven.”
Like a whirlwind, Georgia turned on her heel and ran from the room. He watched her run down the hallway and disappear into a room on the left. He followed behind her, eager to see what she was baking and whether or not she’d managed to salvage it. The room to the left was a brightly lit kitchen. It was all white with a few bursts of red in the backsplash and the tea kettle. Georgia was taking something out of the oven and praying out loud. “Please, Lord, don’t let the lemon bars be ruined. Hope Valley Church is counting on them for the bake sale.”
Riley stood back a few feet, waiting with bated breath for Georgia to make an announcement about the lemon bars. He sniffed the air. Nothing smelled as if it had burned.
“Are they all right?” he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
Georgia let out a deep breath. “They were spared.” She looked upward. “Thank you, Lord, for small mercies.” She placed the rack on the stove and closed the oven.
His stomach grumbled noisily at the smell of
baked goods, earning himself a look from Georgia. “Those look scrumptious. If you want I can be a taste tester.” He winked at her. “Just in case you cooked them too long.”
She shook her head and giggled. Georgia reached for a spatula and lifted up one of the lemon bars and placed it on a napkin. “You never could resist sweet treats. You might need to blow on it until it cools down a little.”
Riley blew on it for a few seconds then took a big bite. Even though it was a bit hot, the sweet flavor hit his tongue immediately, overriding any other sensation. “Mmm. This is delicious. The folks at Hope Valley Church are very fortunate.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve had to cut back on sugary treats. It’s hard taking the weight off now that I don’t play basketball every day. I don’t want to be in that position.”
Georgia cast him a quick glance. “You look great to me.” Her eyes widened. “I mean…you don’t look like you’ve gained weight or anything.”
Riley chuckled at the stricken expression etched on Georgia’s face. She seemed slightly embarrassed to have given him a compliment on his physique. Knowing he still looked good in her eyes tickled Riley. It made him want to puff his chest out.
While he’d been living in Hope Valley, Riley and his friends had played basketball every day at the rec center. It had been his way of staying in great shape. Now that he’d moved away and was raising a little one it was getting harder and harder to stay in great shape.
“So, I heard through the grapevine you’re actually in the bakery business. You’re not just baking for the love of it anymore. Congrats,” Riley said. He felt proud of Georgia for taking the necessary steps to make her dream a reality.
“I have a small business. It’s only been up and running for a few months.” She wrinkled her nose. “It started as a hobby, but it’s blossomed into something wonderful. I make baked goods for parties, bridal showers, receptions, retirement parties. You name it, I’ll bake it.”
Georgia On His Mind (Hope Valley Book 1) Page 4