Riley felt a slap on his shoulder and looked up to see Jason. He stood and hugged his brother.
“Hey, man. Thanks for checking on Chelle and putting Katie’s mind at ease, I owe you one,” Jason said as his new wife joined them.
“Yes, thank you so much Riley! We owe you,” Katie said as she hugged both him and Grandpa J.
“No, you don’t. Chelle’s my friend, too.” Well at least he hoped she still considered him a friend. “Anyway. Congratulations, you two. I really wish I could have made it to the wedding.”
“Oh, it was a beautiful wedding. We missed you. I’m just so glad you’re home safe and sound, now,” Katie said, just as someone across the yard called her name.
“Come on, Kit Kat. We better go make the rounds.” Jason leaned down and kissed her briefly and Katie smiled up at his brother like he was her hero.
Chelle had looked at him like that. The difference was that Jason deserved that title. Riley, on the other hand, did not.
“How long are you in town?” Jason asked Riley.
“Just until tomorrow afternoon.”
“Breakfast at Gerard's Diner before you head out?”
“Sounds good.” Riley watched as Jason and Katie made their way down the steps of the deck. They looked so in love, so happy. And Riley was happy for them, they deserved all the happiness in the world. But for some reason, seeing them together just made him miss Chelle even more.
As they sat back down in their chairs, Grandpa J cleared his throat, “So, you were the one who went out to take care of our Chelle in California.”
“I was already out there to visit some friends. Since I was coincidentally headed her way anyway, I just stopped by to make sure she was doing alright.” Riley said, clarifying and trying to downplay the whole thing.
“Well, how’s our girl doing?”
Riley didn’t know how to answer that. Last he had seen her she was crying and had shut a door in his face. He didn’t want to tell The Colonel that.
“I haven’t seen her since we got back a few days ago.”
“I see,” The Colonel responded sagely, eyeing Riley closely.
For some reason, the way he said those two words ‘I see' caused Riley to have the sudden urge to spill his guts. Tell him everything. The man had straightened things out in Riley’s head when he was younger. Hell, maybe he could help him again?
Not to mention, the sly look The Colonel was giving him told him that he may have guessed the lion's share, anyway. It would feel good to unburden himself. He took a deep breath.
"When we were in…” Riley began, but was interrupted by a tornado of color that whipped up the steps of the deck.
“Gentleman, inside please,” Katie’s Aunt Wendy clapped her hands excitedly, “I have prepared a surprise for my buttercup and her hubby.”
Oh well, Riley thought as he and Grandpa J made their way inside with the rest of the crowd, I’m used to figuring stuff out on my own. Why should this be any different?
Jason and Katie were ushered to the middle of the family room by a very excited Aunt Wendy.
“Everyone take a seat, or stand, or whatever...I don't care if you squat...but get comfortable,” Wendy directed.
Riley watched as Jason bent down and whispered something into his new bride’s ear. Katie’s eyes brightened and a flush rose up her cheeks. She leaned up and kissed his brother, who had his arms wrapped protectively around her.
Riley had never been too big on public displays of affection. But, after spending those amazing days in San Francisco with Chelle, he understood it. He knew that if she was his, he wouldn’t ever be able to keep his hands to himself. He would hold her every second he could, whether they were in a crowd of people or not.
As if on cue, the front door opened and Chelle walked in wearing a white sundress and carrying a tray of her famous peanut butter fudge.
The second he laid eyes on her he wanted to wrap his arms around her and breathe her in. In fact, he had to stop himself from pushing through the crowd of people gathered to see Aunt Wendy’s surprise and doing exactly that.
She smiled and, even though he could tell that it was just a polite smile as opposed to one of her ‘real’ smiles, it still knocked the wind right out of him.
“Hey guys, sorry I’m late. I got called in last night. Then, of course, I had to make these.” She lifted the large plate she was holding.
Katie pushed her way through the crowd and gave Chelle a big hug. When she did, Chelle’s mouth lifted into a genuine, full blown, knock-you-flat-on-your-ass smile. Riley felt its effects as a warmth spread through his entire body.
As Chelle made her way through the mass of people, most of them greeted her in the same way, saying it was good to see her and asking her if she was okay or how she was holding up. She was her usual friendly self and answered everyone, telling them she was great and holding up just fine. Then she would ask them how they were, usually asking about something specific in their life.