after the two girls.
“¡Pobrecita!” she said. “I hope she will be all right.”
Gabriela went back downstairs, leaving Riley and Ryan alone. Ryan stood staring up the stairs, looking somewhat dazed.
I hope he’s not having second thoughts, Riley thought. I’m going to need his support.
A lot had gone on between her and Ryan. During the last years of their marriage he’d been an unfaithful husband and an absent father. They’d been separated and divorced. But Ryan had seemed like a changed man lately and they were cautiously spending more time together.
They’d talked about the challenge of bringing Jilly into their lives. Ryan had seemed enthusiastic about the idea.
“Are you still OK with this?” Riley asked him.
Ryan looked at her and said, “Yeah. I can see that it’s going to be tough, though.”
Riley nodded. Then came an awkward pause.
“I think maybe I’d better go,” Ryan said.
Riley felt relieved. She kissed him lightly, and he put on his coat and left. Riley fixed a drink for herself and sat down alone in the living room.
What have I gotten us all into? she wondered.
She hoped that her good intentions weren’t going to tear her family apart all over again.
CHAPTER TWO
Riley woke up the next morning with a heart full of apprehension. This was going to be the first day of Jilly’s life in her home. They had a lot to do today and Riley hoped that no trouble was in store.
Last night she had realized that Jilly’s transition to her new life would mean hard work for all of them. But April had pitched in and helped Jilly get settled. They had picked out clothes for Jilly to wear today – not from the meager possessions she’d brought along in a grocery bag but from new things that Riley and April had bought for her.
Jilly and April had finally gone to bed.
Riley had too, but her sleep had been troubled and restless.
Now she got up and dressed, and headed straight to the kitchen, where April was helping Gabriela get breakfast ready.
“Where’s Jilly?” Riley asked.
“She hasn’t gotten up yet,” April said.
Riley’s worry mounted.
She went to the base of the stairs and called out, “Jilly, it’s time to get up.”
She heard no reply. She was seized by a wave of panic. Had Jilly run off during the night?
“Jilly, did you hear me?” she called out. “We’ve got to register you at school this morning.”
“I’m coming,” Jilly yelled back.
Riley breathed a sigh of relief. Jilly’s tone was sullen, but at least she was here and being cooperative.
In recent years, Riley had often heard that sullen tone from April. Now April seemed to have gotten past it, but she still had lapses from time to time. Riley wondered if she was really up to the job of raising another teenager.
Just then there was a knock at the front door. When Riley answered it, her townhouse neighbor, Blaine Hildreth, was standing outside.
Riley was surprised to see him, but hardly displeased. He was a couple of years younger than she was, a charming and attractive man who owned an upscale restaurant in town. In fact, she had felt an unmistakable mutual attraction with him that definitely confused the issue of possibly reconnecting with Ryan. Most importantly, Blaine was a wonderful neighbor and their daughters were best friends.
“Hi, Riley,” he said. “I hope it’s not too early.”
“Not at all,” Riley said. “What’s up?”
Blaine shrugged with a rather sad smile.
“I just thought I’d stop by to say goodbye,” he said.
Riley gaped with surprise.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He hesitated, and before he could answer, Riley saw a huge truck parked in front of his townhouse. Movers were carrying furniture from Blaine’s home into the truck.
Riley gasped.
“You’re moving?” she asked.
“It seemed like a good idea,” Blaine said.
Riley almost blurted out, “Why?”
But it was easy to guess why. Living next door to Riley had proved to be dangerous and terrifying, both to Blaine and his daughter, Crystal. The bandage that was still on his face was a harsh reminder. Blaine had been badly injured when he’d tried to protect April from a killer’s attack.
“It’s not what you probably think,” Blaine said.
But Riley could tell by his expression – it was exactly what she thought.
He continued, “It has turned out that this place just isn’t convenient. It’s too far away from the restaurant. I’ve found a nice place that’s much closer. I’m sure you understand.”
Riley felt too confused and upset to reply. Memories of the whole terrible incident came flooding back to her.
She’d been in Upstate New York working on a case when she’d learned that a brutal killer was at large. His name was Orin Rhodes. Sixteen years earlier, Riley had killed his girlfriend in a gunfight and sent him to prison. When Rhodes was finally released from Sing Sing, he was bent on revenge against Riley and everyone she loved.
Before Riley could get home, Rhodes had invaded her home and attacked both April and Gabriela. Next door, Blaine had heard the struggle, so he came over to help. He’d probably saved April’s life. But he’d gotten badly hurt in the attempt.
Riley had seen him twice in the hospital. The first time had been devastating. He’d been unconscious from his injuries, with an IV in each arm and an oxygen mask. Riley had blamed herself bitterly for what had happened to him.
But the next time she’d seen him had been more heartening. He’d been alert and cheerful, and had joked a bit proudly about his foolhardiness.
Most of all, she remembered what he’d said to her then …
“There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for you and April.”
Clearly he’d had second thoughts. The danger of living next door to Riley had proven too much for him and now he was going away. She didn’t know whether to feel hurt or guilty. She definitely felt disappointed.
Riley’s thoughts were interrupted by April’s voice behind her.
“Oh my God! Blaine, are you and Crystal moving? Is Crystal still there?”
Blaine nodded.
