Page 57 of Love Deep
He pops his head around the door. “The waffles are incredible. You really should go, Vivian,” he says.
She laughs. “Maybe I will. I’m going to leave you with my husband now. He’s going to give you a quick checkup. I don’t want to disturb him. That okay with you?”
Devastation sweeps over Riley’s face.
“But I’ll make sure you and your mom get tickets to my next concert.”
Riley’s face lights up. “Thank you! Mom! Did you hear that?”
I’m not sure how we’d get there, but I figure if she plays Denver, I can probably make it work.
“That’s so kind, isn’t it?” I turn to Beau. “I don’t think there’s any point in taking her blood pressure. It will be through the roof.
He grins. “Yeah. But overall, I think she’s feeling better.”
“I think you just cured her.”
“I can’t take any credit. My wife does all the magic stuff.”
Beau seems like a great guy.
And I know Fisher is.
And now my daughter is glowing, and I couldn’t ask for more. I have no right to even dream of more. I know that Vivian Cross will leave, and so will Fisher. And I’ll be left picking up the pieces of a life that I didn’t get to live—that my daughter doesn’t get to live. But I smile and tuck the ache a little deeper inside. Because right now, Riley is okay. And that should be enough.
Right now will have to be enough for today.
TWENTY
Juniper
We’re headed to the Galaxy Grill for pancakes. It’s usually something we only do once a month, but after Riley getting so sick this week, I just want to treat her. I’m looking forward to some quality mother-daughter time.
“Mom,” she says, and I can tell by the tone of her voice she’s going to ask me for something that I’m not going to say yes to.
“Yes,” I answer back in the same tone, as we pull up in a parking spot.
“I was wondering if we should invite Fisher for pancakes. He was really kind asking Dr. Beau to come check on me.”
I’m one hundred percent sure that Fisher facilitating Dr. Beau’s visit is not the reason Riley wants him to join us for pancakes. We get out of the car and head to the diner.
“He was really kind,” I say. “But he’s also really busy.” Riley has already suggested that Fisher can be her new dad. She doesn’t need encouragement to get attached to him.
“But you could ask,” she says. “He might not be busy.”
“I’m not going to ask, sweet girl.”
“But why?” she asks. “Did he upset you, Mommy?”
“No, of course not. He’s busy. And…” I pull in a breath. “He’s not going to be in town long. He hasn’t moved to Star Falls, honey. He’s just here for work. When Vivian has finished her album, he’ll be going back to New York.”
“But you could ask him.”
We pass by Snail Trail, and Marge, the owner, comes out with a cloth. “Morning, Juniper. How are you doing, Riley?” She starts to clean down Marv the Moose.
“Good, Marge, thank you.”
“You off for waffles?” she asks.
