Chapter 2      

For a man who’d never much thought about having kids, Riley had fallen hard for his daughter. How could he not have? He pushed back the strand of hair covering Jess’ cheek, picked her up, and wrapped her in a blanket, gazing at her sweet heart-shaped face. 

The sight of his sleepy daughter every morning pretty much rocked his world. 

And he was in an especially good mood this morning because Sadie had agreed to go out with him Friday night. He’d called her after Jess had gone to bed, the feeling in his gut both excited and nervous.

They hadn’t talked long, but he had a good feeling about her—one he hadn’t had in a long time. His trust in the opposite sex had gotten messed up, but he finally felt ready to start looking for a serious relationship again. Two years after Jess’ birth and the split with his ex, he’d dated a few women, but it hadn’t felt right. He had a new life with a young daughter. He’d needed more of a time-out to focus on Jess and figure out what he really wanted in a committed relationship. 

After all, any relationship he formed now wouldn’t just affect him.

He finally felt ready to meet the right person, something he’d admitted to Mark and Paige a few months ago. They’d offered plenty of help and encouragement, including babysitting, thank God. Never once had they offered to set him up with their friends, and for that he was grateful.

Jess had been supportive too. Just look at how she’d talked to Sadie for him last night. He kissed her forehead because he couldn’t help himself.

“Mmm…Daddy,” she murmured and nestled into his arms.

“Mornin’, princess,” he whispered, smiling. 

He took the stairs slowly, careful to let her sleep. The weather was hot and muggy when he opened the back door and crossed his driveway to the Bradshaws’ back door. Monday through Friday, he brought a still-sleeping Jess over to their house so he and Mark could take a long run. He was right on time this morning, already dressed in his running outfit. If he got to drawing early, he sometimes lost track of time. 

Mark promptly opened the door in response to his light rap. His friend gave him the proverbial man nod, and Riley took the back stairs and walked quietly to Haley’s bedroom down the hall. His daughter’s best friend had a foot thrust out from under the blanket, her purple Disney princess nightgown visible. Man, did that girl love purple. Her room was a temple to all things purple, and as an artist, Riley could analyze the different shades—aubergine, lavender, grape, and violet. He pulled out the already-made trundle bed and laid his daughter on the mattress.

He heard the shower running as he left the room. Paige was already up, like usual, and she’d have the girls fed by the time he and Mark returned. All Riley would need to do was help his daughter get dressed. Not that he’d have to do much. She had strong opinions about what she wanted to wear, and he always let her choose. Now that she was seven, she was more than capable of handling buttons, zippers, and tying her shoes. His little girl was growing up, and damn if he hadn’t cried after he’d dropped her off the first day of school.

That was one of his jobs. Paige fed the girls in the morning. He dropped them off, picked them up, and watched them until his friends got home. In return, they would sometimes babysit in the evenings or on the weekends so he could get some overtime work done. He wasn’t sure what he would have done without them these last five years. When he first moved in next door, he’d been struggling to get back on his feet after taking on full responsibility for Jess, a decision he’d never regretted. 

When he strolled into the kitchen, Mark was stretching his hamstrings. “Thank God our daughters love each other.” The girls had taken one look at each other as toddlers and, without any prompting, hugged. It was like it was meant to be.

“You’re telling me,” Mark said, glancing up. “Did you drink enough water this morning?”

“Yes, Mom, I’m good,” he teased. “You need to stop worrying about me getting dehydrated.”

“It’s hot out. Okay, let’s roll.”

Once outside, they hit the pavement with a good stride, easing into the run. They both liked to warm up before increasing their pace.

“I’m feeling pretty spry this morning,” Riley announced as they made a left off their street, following their normal route.

“Work going well?” 

“Yes,” Riley said, feeling a bit like a rooster as he stuck out his chest. “And I have a date Friday night.”

“Hey! Way to go, man. Who is she?” Mark slapped him on the back as they jogged, causing him to laugh.

The image of Sadie in her yellow sundress came to mind again. Man, she was beautiful—and artistic too. Plus, his daughter had all but set them up.

Online dating might be practical, but he’d heard stories about people lying about everything from their age to their relationship status. After the mistakes he’d made with his ex…well, now he was an old-fashioned guy with trust issues. 

Until last night. He’d wanted to ask Sadie out from the minute he’d set eyes on her.

“Sadie, the woman from last night,” Riley said. “Jess outed that I liked her, and I asked for her number on the spot. We talked a little last night, and she agreed to go out with me on Friday. By the way, did Paige decide to join her quilting class? I don’t know if she leans toward that kind of hobby, but Sadie’s work is stunning. Jess was on me all night to order a princess quilt from her, but I don’t want to muddy the waters until we get to know each other better.” His daughter hadn’t liked the thought of waiting, and Riley knew she was going to be back on him like a duck on a June bug.

Mark didn’t respond right away, and Riley turned his head to study his friend. Mark noticed and flashed him a quick smile. Too quick.

“Something wrong? You didn’t see something in her that I missed, did you? She’s not some kind of closet psychopath?” 

Mark was a proverbial wizard when it came to reading people.

“No, I think Sadie is a lovely woman,” Mark responded, patting him on the back more casually this time. “And Paige did agree to attend her quilting class.”

“I can hear the ‘but’ a mile away,” he said, running a little faster from his jitters. “Tell me what you really think.”

Mark went silent again for a few more long moments, and Riley resisted the urge to press the man. When his friend was like this, he wouldn’t be rushed.

“Let’s head back to the house,” Mark said. “I need to talk to Paige before I can respond, and I don’t want to keep you on the line.” Pivoting his head to meet Riley’s eyes, he added, “It involves a confidence. Otherwise, I would tell you. You know that.”

Yes, he did. He and Mark didn’t make hearts out of construction paper and write ‘BFF’s on them like their daughters did, but he knew they were as close as brothers. Heck, they spent the holidays together. Whatever this involved, it was serious. What in the world was going on?

Mark turned around and picked up the pace, which Riley was happy to match. When they reached the Bradshaws’ driveway, Mark said, “Better wait here. If the girls see you, we won’t have another moment alone.”

Riley nodded as Mark took off toward the house. His mind spinning out a dozen different scenarios, he crouched down and pulled a few of the never-ending weeds that always shot up back between the cracks in the sidewalk in front of his house.

“Hey!” Mark called, making his head shoot up. “Let’s take a walk. We’ve got enough time.”

Walk, not run. “Sure.” Riley threw the weeds aside and brushed his dirty hands on his shorts.

Mark took off at a stroll, his arms locked behind his back. Dread rolled through Riley. Something was definitely off. 

“There’s no easy way to say this, but I think you should know… Sadie is Paige’s half-sister.”

He stopped short. “You’re kidding! Why didn’t she say so?”

Paige had told him about her messed-up mom and absentee dad, which had made her more than sympathetic to his situation with Mandy, his ex. But she’d never told him the full story. This was the first he’d heard about any half-siblings.

“They’d never met until last night.”

“Oh. Wow. That’s like… I’ll just shut up now and let you talk.”

Mark looked him in the eye, and they started walking again. “Paige’s mom became pregnant when she was in high school. The father was much older and married with four young children. They met at church, and though it’s unclear from Paige’s mom who seduced whom, she wasn’t old enough to properly consent.”

It was statutory rape. A crime. Riley stopped walking again, the injustice rolling over him. “That’s…that’s…utterly despicable. What kind of a man does that?”

“Well, knowing Paige’s mom, she wasn’t totally a victim, but that doesn’t make it right. Suffice it to say, from what Paige and I managed to piece together after we got married—her mom’s not one for truth—it affected Sadie’s family very seriously. The man in question disappeared, and his ex-wife ended up remarrying and becoming a minister. After meeting Sadie last night, it appears the family turned around a tragedy and did just fine.”

“So has Paige, if you ask me,” Riley said. “I mean, she’s one of the best people I know, and you guys are like the rock of Gibraltar as a couple.”

Mark smiled. “Yeah, we’re really lucky to have each other. I hope you find someone you feel that way about too.” 

“Can I do anything for you guys about this?” Riley asked. “I mean, I should probably cancel my date with Sadie, right? I don’t want to get in the middle of anything.” It gave him a sinking feeling to even say it, but Mark and his family were his support system. He owed them so much more than that.

“No, Paige and I talked about this. We don’t want you to cancel anything. It’s only one date. Go out. See how you feel. See how she feels. We know this is rare for you. Like I said, Paige is going to go to the quilting circle and keep an open mind and heart. Sadie was so earnest—and brave—to show up like she did. The quilt she gave to Haley…”

“The one with the moon and starts?” Riley asked. “Her artistry is incredible.”

Mark nodded. “You know better than anyone how much a person’s art is a reflection of them. It takes a special person to make a quilt like that for a sickly baby in the hospital.”

“Yes, it does,” Riley said, remembering the phrase stitched in the corner of the quilt. “Precious One” took on an even greater meaning. 

“Of course, you spend most of your time drawing comics about maiming and killing people,” Mark drawled, “so clearly you have more inner demons than you like to let on.”

“Comic books always tell the tale of the fight between good and evil,” he said, one corner of his mouth tilting into a smirk. “When it comes to channeling anger, I just have to think about my ex. Gives me all the fuel I need.”

Mark glanced over at him.

“I’m kidding!” He held up his hands. “Mostly. I only have those thoughts at holidays and on Jess’ birthday when I can’t explain why her mom’s not around. Why she doesn’t even send cards.” 

“It’s only natural to be angry,” Mark said. “Paige used to get angry around birthdays and holidays too, waiting to see if her mom would call her or send anything. Then she decided she was sick of all the lies and the drama. She realized family doesn’t need to be determined by blood. Now, Skylar has no power over her.”

“She’s not wrong,” he said, looking up at the hazy sky. “I just hope I can help Jess feel that way too. I…worry…about her. You know?”

Mark put his hand on his shoulder. “I know. You guys are going to be fine, and we’re here to help in any way we can.”

“Ditto. And I’m serious about not going out with Sadie. This might be too complicated.” He felt he had to say it again, after everything they’d discussed.

“No, you should give it a try,” Mark said. “It’s not going to be a problem for us.”

Riley thought Mark was being more than optimistic.

Complications were what had landed him where he was today, raising his daughter by himself.