Page 85 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Riley finished her wine in one gulp. “You’re supposed to make me feel better, not worse.”
“Don’t you see, Riley? All you can be certain of is the here and now. The tangible, the time that you can hold on to and enjoy, one kiss at a time. You can beg for all the answers you want to, but understand that we’re all guessing at thetomorrows of the world. You have to take hold of the now and make the most of it. Savor it. Josh’s family is a testament to that. Do you think they thought they’d lose Adriana at such a young age?”
“No, but…”
“Don’t you think she told Hal a million times how much she loved him and that she’d never leave him? It’s all a leap of faith.”
Her mother refilled their glasses, then continued. “Theway I see it, you should be less worried about the shame you might bring to others and more worried about reclaiming the rights to those designs you no doubt worked long and hard to create.”
“Josh is working on it,” Riley said.
“Since when do you let other people fight your battles?”
“Kinda harsh, don’t you think, Mom?”
“No. I’m being real, Riley. You’ve always stood up for yourself. You’veconfronted bigger rivals in your life than some New York woman. Remember in fourth grade when sixth-grader Alex Harper got it in his head that he was going to make fun of Jade every day?”
“Yeah, but we were kids,” Riley said.
“Yeah, you were. But that didn’t stop you from going right up to him and socking him in the nose.” Her mother shook her head. “I still remember his mother shouting at meon the phone, and I was so darn proud of you. I didn’t love that you settled the issue with your fists, but I was proud that you had taken charge of a situation that the teachers and principal failed to handle. I have faith in you, Riley. There must be something you’re overlooking. Some proof of what you’ve created.”
“Well, if there is, I can’t think of it.”
Her mother frowned. “Then you’renot thinking hard enough, and maybe, just maybe, you’ve fallen into the victim line and can’t find your way out.”
