Page 31 of New Hope

Chapter Eleven

FORD

The sky was a spectacular kaleidoscope of pale pink, navy blue, and deepening purples as the sun made its descent over the horizon. The aroma of fish and salty sea grew stronger as we neared the harbor. A large fishing boat was pulling into the docks, its crewmen scrambling around on the upper deck as they prepared to unload their precious haul.

We sped by them, driving through the center of town and past storefronts and restaurants whose owners I now knew by name. The scene in town was less frantic than on the docks, as people leisurely walked their dogs and stopped to look at the displays in the shop windows. I recognized several of them. I’d never experienced anything like it living in the big city, this feeling of familiarity, this sense of belonging. It was as foreign as it was wonderful.

We turned left when we reached the outskirts of town. Businesses and houses gave way to rolling hills and patches of dense woods. I watched out the passenger window, catching a glimpse of sparkling ocean every so often as we wound our way up a steep road.

“Are you alright?” River asked quietly.

I swiveled my head in his direction. “What?”

“Your fingers haven’t stopped since we left your house.” I followed his pointed gaze to where my fingers were indeed tapping out a frantic rhythm against my leg. I’d been so caught up in my own thoughts, I hadn’t even noticed my body trying to expel some of its nervous energy.

I folded my hands in my lap, clenching my fingers together so they wouldn’t start up again. “Sorry. I guess I’m more nervous than I realized.”

River’s eyes were full of understanding as he glanced at me then back at the road. “It’s only natural to worry, especially since you haven’t met my parents yet. That’s why I decided to leave early. I want to give you time to get to know them, make sure you and Ellie are both comfortable. If not, we’ll take the girls back home, no questions asked, okay?”

“Thanks,” I murmured, turning my face toward the window again so he wouldn’t see my guilt.

I felt bad making him think I was worried about Ellie staying with his parents, especially since that wasn’t it at all. I wasn’t worried that his parents were going to turn out to be ax murderers or take off with my daughter to join a cult or whatever other nonsense he thought might be going through my mind. Even without having met them, I knew they must be special people to have raised an incredible man like River and besides, Ellie was excited to go. In fact, she’d barely talked about anything else all week. There was no way I was going to take this away from her.

No, his parents had nothing to do with my mounting anxiety. The real culprit was River himself, or more specifically, my responses to him. After finally being honest with myself about my feelings toward my friend, I’d become hyper aware of him. The motion of his hips when he walked, the cadence of his voice, the way his hands gesticulated in the air as he told a story. Even the tiny freckle that peeked out at me from beneath his left ear lobe, just begging to be kissed. I took every detail in, all of them, committing them to memory and storing them away within a secret space in my heart.

I’d been excited when River suggested we have a night out to ourselves, but as the week wore on, the more anxious I’d become. So far, I’d done a good job of hiding my feelings, but we’d always had the girls there as a distraction. The girls wouldn’t be with us tonight. It would be just the two of us. No distractions if he caught me staring, nothing to stop me if the urge to touch him became too strong.

Nerves roiled inside my gut and I shifted in my seat, wiping my sweat slickened hands down my pants. River drove down a long gravel driveway revealing a beautiful home with a wide front porch, several large barns and an honest to God tire swing hanging from a tree. If New Hope was Mayberry, then this place was certainly Andy Griffith’s home. I half expected Aunt Bee herself to come waltzing out the front door with a pie she’d just pulled from the oven. I smiled to myself at the thought.

The girls hopped out of the back seat as soon as the engine cut off, excited to begin the epic slumber party they had planned. River turned to me, and my breath caught in my throat. He looked stunning in dark jeans and a soft blue sweater that fit him perfectly and matched the color of his eyes.

He’d gotten his hair trimmed recently, the sides cut short while the top remained a bit longer, a few golden strands flipping down over his forehead. My fingers itched to run through them, learning their texture and tousling it wildly. As good as he looked right then, I had a feeling he’d look even better all messed up. I swallowed a groan, gripping the handle of the door to prevent myself from doing something stupid right there in his parents’ driveway.

River laid a hand on my leg, the heat of it searing me through the denim of my jeans. “You say the word, and we’ll leave, I promise.”

Guilt washed over me at the look of concern on his face, helping to clear my addled brain. I forced myself to relax, pasting a smile on my face. “I trust you and I’m sure they’re lovely people. Plus, I don’t think I’d be able to pry Ellie away if I tried.”

River chuckled. “I’m sure you’re right. Not many people can resist my mother.”

Or her son. I kept that thought to myself as we climbed from the car and made our way towards the house. The girls were already inside, and I could hear their animated voices through the open screen door. Ellie had seemed to blossom over the last week, acting happier and more carefree than I’d seen her in a long time. I wasn’t sure what had caused the change, but I was grateful. She deserved to be happy, to be a kid for as long as possible.

The interior of the house was just as welcoming as the outside. A wide staircase led to a second floor right off the entryway, but River led us deeper inside, giving me a quick tour as we went in search of the girls. He pointed out the dining room which included a large antique cabinet with glass doors displaying a set of fine china within and a matching buffet that ran the length of one wall. But it was the table sitting in the center of the room that caught my attention. I did a double take when I realized that it was actually an old piano that had been repurposed into a table, the delicate inner workings of the instrument in full view through the glass tabletop.

Next was a spacious kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, marble countertops, and a large bay window that held colorful glass figurines. I imagined the morning sun shining through them, casting a sparkling rainbow around the room. I found myself smiling as I moved through the house, taking note of each new and wonderful thing, like the sink in the bathroom which was made from an old Singer sewing machine or the shower curtain in the same room with the periodic table of elements on it.

I tried to pinpoint the design of their home, but it was a unique blend of classic and funky which shouldn’t have worked so well together, but somehow, it did. Much like the people who owned it, according to River. It wasn’t designed to impress others, but to be enjoyed by those who lived there, and yet I found myself in awe. It reminded me of our own cottage, the feel of love and family emanating throughout each room.

We found Ellie and Hannah in the living room talking to an older couple. They stood as we walked in, the man thrusting his hand out to me. “I’m Jed Adams. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He was fit and trim for someone his age, his handshake firm. His blond hair was streaked with silver and his intelligent blue eyes were as sharp as any twenty-year-old man. Dressed in navy blue slacks and a beige sweater, I felt like I was seeing what River would look like in thirty or forty years.

I smiled back. “Ford Scott. It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Ford, this is my mom, Helen,” River explained. For all her husband’s quiet, calm demeanor, River’s mother was the exact opposite. She exuded personality and her smile was as vibrant as her choice of clothing. I could see why the people in town had given her the nickname Sunshine. Standing next to her was like standing in the sun.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Ford. River’s told us a lot about you, and of course, Hannah has talked our ears off about Ellie.” She pulled me in for a fierce hug, bringing with her the scent of lavender and honey.

I raised an eyebrow at River as she let go. “Should I be concerned about what he’s told you?”

Helen batted my arm. “Of course not. To hear him talk, you’d think you were the best thing since—”

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