“No need, I’m really fine. I already spoke to Jason and told him that I would be handing over the reins of Sloan Construction to him. The doctors think that with medication, diet and exercise - if I take care of myself - I’ll be around for quite some time. But that’s not why I called.”
“What else is wrong?” Now Riley really felt nervous.
“Well Bobby and Alex came by the hospital last night. We started talking about your mom, and they told me that you thought you were like her, because I had told you that you reminded me of her.”
Damn, his brothers were worse than gossiping school girls.
Riley remained quiet.
“Riley, if I ever gave you the idea that you had the same issues your mom had, I’m sorry, son. The only reason I ever said that is because you have her eyes. That’s all. None of you, thank God, have any of the symptoms of her disorder.”
Riley felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him. He didn’t know why hearing his dad say the same words that his brother had said over a month ago hit him so differently, but they did. Maybe they were all right. Maybe he really wasn’t like her.
“You know Chelle stopped by my room, too. She was working the night shift. That girl kept me company on every one of her breaks and even snuck me in an extra Jell-O.”
Yep, that sounded like Chelle. Riley smiled as he pictured her sitting beside his dad, handing him the clandestine Jell-O and swearing him to secrecy.
“Please don’t let your mom’s troubles dictate your future, Riley.”
“I won’t, Dad.” Riley assured his father.
“I know I didn’t handle things that great when your mom left, and then later when she passed, but I want you to know Riley - if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
As Riley and his dad ended their call his mind was spinning. Did what his dad just tell him really change anything? Or was Riley just trying to make it that way because he missed Chelle so damn much?
He sat absentmindedly scrolling through his text messages when he saw the message that Mindy had sent him after he and Chelle had had dinner at her and Tommy’s house.
'Great seeing you 2night. So glad you got to meet the little princess. LOVED Chelle! She is a keeper! SO get your head out of your ass and make that happen! Luv Ya! XOXO'
He sighed, and then a chilling thought hit him. When he'd been speaking with Eddie at the barbecue, he'd said something that just now struck Riley as telling. In his efforts to remind Riley that he wasn't good enough for Chelle, he'd said, “Dude, it's nothing personal. It's not like you're a bad guy. You're just like me. But look how that turned out. We're just not cut out for relationships, and I don't want my sister getting caught up with someone like us.”
But the truth was – Eddie had not done anything to end his relationship. Lacey had left Eddie and her small baby daughter because she was not cut out for relationships! Apparently, the end of his marriage had given Eddie some deep-seated issues about himself and his worthiness to find happiness and give it to his partner, and he had projected those issues onto Riley, as well, as a way to protect his sister.
Damn it! And Riley had been quick enough to believe him because of his issues with his mother...but that didn't make it true.
Riley realized that he had been keeping himself away from Chelle because of the issues of two women who had left their families – one of whom he barely remembered and one of whom he had not even met - but those were NOT his issues! He could see that clearly now. He felt free.
Shit, what the hell was he doing in New Orleans!?
--- ~ ---
Chelle splashed water on her face as she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth.
She looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. There were dark circles under her eyes and her face looked a little thinner. She was tired. Exhausted, really. It had only been a month and she knew she had a long road ahead of her.
The doubles she was working weren’t helping, but after yesterday, she knew that wasn’t the only reason she felt like this.
She walked into her bedroom and put the last of her toiletries in her overnight bag.
Her phone beeped, alerting her that the cab should be here any minute to take her to the airport.
She wasn’t looking forward to this trip. She had no grand illusions that things were going to work out. She didn’t believe in fairy tales…at least not for her. But she needed to face this, and hopefully get some kind of closure. Yep, she was a realist. Closure was probably the most she could hope for.
She grabbed her bag, her purse and her phone. She didn’t think she was forgetting anything. She was pondering this as she heard a loud knock on her front door. Weird. Wouldn't the cab just honk?