Page 112 of Follow My Heart

Technically, I’d been gone for a couple of years. I’d visited a few times so it wasn’t like we hadn’t seen each other. But my parents preferred it when I lived in Florida where they could keep tabs on me.

Mom hugged me, then pulled back. “It’s so good to have you home.”

I bit back a retort. My home was in Maryland.

“Mom, this is Ryder Calloway, my fiancé.” It felt good to say those words together.

“Theresa Pendleton. It’s so nice to meet you, Ryder.”

“Nice to meet you too, ma’am.”

“We’re sitting on the back deck enjoying the view.” Mom turned, and we exchanged a look before we followed her.

As we turned the corner of the house, the wind picked up. There was a long table with chairs on one side, and a couch with cushioned chairs on the other.

Dad stood as we approached. Ryder held his hand out to him, and they shook, exchanging names and pleasantries.

There was a plate of fruit, cheese, veggies, and meats on the table.

Mom poured us iced tea. Then we sat, admiring the view.

Ryder inclined his head toward the beach. “This is a nice place to retire.”

“What do you do, Ryder?” Mom pursed her lips because I hadn’t told her.

“I work for the government.” Ryder told them he didn’t explain his job to everyone. It prompted a lot of questions that he couldn’t answer.

“Violet said you have a daughter,” Mom continued.

“She’s staying with her mother this week. We share custody.”

Mom nodded, clearly not knowing what to say about that. I was positive she didn’t like that I’d chosen a single dad. She probably thought his attention was diverted to Faith, which it was, but he always made time to make me feel important too.

I was part of his family now, and it was the best feeling in the world.

“Well, I hope you consider getting married here in Florida. It’s the perfect location.” Dad gestured out over the water.

Ryder reached over and touched my hand. “We’ll think about it. It would be an amazing location.”

I thought he’d want to get married on his family’s Christmas tree farm. “A beach wedding would be nice. We could be barefoot on the sand.”

Ryder squeezed my hand. “Faith would love it.”

She’d wanted to join us but it was a good opportunity for her to spend time with her mother.

I wanted Ryder to meet my parents before we included Faith.

“We hope to meet her soon,” Mom said, surprising me.

“I wanted to visit Luna while I’m here, but she hasn’t been answering my messages,” I said to Mom, knowing she talked to Luna’s grandmother.

Mom’s brow furrowed. “Renee said she hasn’t been back since her trip to see you.”

“Luna said she had to get away, but I assumed she’d be back in Florida by now.” I frowned, wondering what she was doing. Had she come home to confide in me, and I’d been too busy with Ryder? The weekend she came home, Ryder proposed. Had she felt like she couldn’t talk to me, that I wouldn’t understand? When I got home, I’d need to get in touch with her and make sure she was okay.

We chitchatted for a couple of hours over the afternoon. Then Mom and Dad went inside to take a nap. We decided to walk on the beach.

“I’m glad we came. I missed the beach.” The wind whipped my hair in front of my face, and the sand stung my cheeks.

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