A Tattered Love (31 page)

“I’m going to tell Dustin right now. He’ll take care of you, Riley! We’ll take care of you, we love you!”

“No!” I vehemently shouted. I realized I had to make up an excuse now. “It’s not his!” I cried out. This was so embarrassing. I pulled her to the side in an open alleyway. I didn’t want the whole town eavesdropping on our conversation.

Abby looked at me, and tears fell and stained her face. I had done this to her. I was making her cry. I didn’t realize I had meant that much to her. I felt horrible. She was speechless. I knew she wasn’t stupid.

“Why don’t you want me to tell Dustin? Why don’t you want to tell Dustin? Why did you leave, Ry?” She cried again barely able to speak. “Why did you leave us? Why didn’t you tell anybody? You hurt us. Gosh, I have so much I want to say to you and ask you. I’m so confused and lost. Please, Ry, we need to talk about this.”

“I’m sorry, Abby, I am. Look, let me call my sister and cancel, and we’ll sit down and talk, ok?” I looked at her and rubbed her shoulders.

“I have to tell them I found you. They will wonder where I went.”

“Them? They’re here? No, you can’t tell them anything. Not yet. Tell them something else. You were carried away shopping. Please don’t tell them about me, not yet, Abby. You have to hear me out.” I was so scared.

“Fine.” She got out her phone and sent a text message. She showed it to me before she sent it. It read,
To Evan: ‘I got carried away with some shopping, and I’ve learned some new information so I’m going to go check some things out. Love you I’ll be back in a few hours.’

I nodded in approval, and I sent my own text message to Galena canceling our day out. She actually had overslept, and it worked out perfectly. Well, I wasn’t sure who it worked out more for. This conversation was not going to be easy.

I grabbed her hand. We walked down to my car, and I told her to get in. We drove back to my Granny’s house, and I walked her up to the guesthouse. She was in awe at everything she was seeing. Granny’s house was quite impressive. It was old, but it was a Victorian, and she took great care of it. There was a beautiful archway with green flowers crawling up the edges. I led her in not wanting to introduce anyone just yet, but to show her the  place I now called home.

She walked in, and her mouth just dropped. Cooper welcomed her, and it made her smile. I had made it into my own little elegant place. Nothing like how it was in Cape Cod. I had gone a completely new route in my decorating style. My walls were colorful, and everything was updated. New kitchen with a gorgeous island. Some new furniture to make everything match. The living and dining room was open to one another, and the living room was separate. The hallway led to two bedrooms, one being the baby’s unfurnished room, and the other being the master. It was just perfect for the baby and me. Nothing came out of her mouth as it took her a while to gather it all in.

“It’s so beautiful here. I still have so many questions.” She panted.

“Sit, let’s talk. Want something to drink?”

“I’ll just have some water, thanks.”

She looked uncomfortable, but I couldn’t blame her. She just kept playing with her hands, and being fidgety. Neither of us ever realized how awkward this moment would be.

“You look like you’re ready to pop.” She smiled at me.

“I’ve been out here for almost 6 months now. I’m nearing seven months pregnant.”

“I miss you, Ry.” She started to cry again.

“You have to promise me you won’t let Dustin know.”

“Why, Riley? It doesn’t make sense?” Concerned etched all over her face.

“His mother made it very clear she didn’t want him to know. If I didn’t leave town she’d make me lose my baby. She wouldn’t let me have it. She threatened me, Abby.”

“Oh my Gosh, Dustin knew his mom said something. That’s why we came to find you. We just didn’t know details. He wants to talk to you, Riley. You have to give him that. It’s not his fault. He loves you, Riley, we all do. He has a right to know. That’s his baby, too.”

I looked at Abby and took a deep breath. “For now, you can’t.”

“Oh, Riley, help me understand.”

“This is just how it’s supposed to be. It was a stress free environment out here. I didn’t have to worry about his mother down my back. I wasn’t helping Dustin’s custody battle with my lovely restraining order that was put on me. It was just chaos, and when she actually stalked me into the drug store, and followed me into the bathroom and then threatened me, telling me that I had to leave town, I took her seriously. I was gone the next day, Abby. I had to think about my baby. I can tell you, it wasn’t what I wanted.”

“You broke Dustin’s heart, Ry, you broke all of our hearts. He got a letter, and you just didn’t bother saying anything to me. I was a wreck.”

“I’m sorry, Abby. I didn’t know what I could say. I still don’t. No matter what I said or will say to you, nothing will change the past or the decisions I made. I know it may seem cowardly, but I just felt that it was best this way. I’m so sorry for hurting everyone. I’m shocked you’re here after what I did.”

“That’s the thing, Ry, we love you. When you love someone, you try to help them. When we found out that Dustin’s mom talked to you, we knew it must have had something to do with why you left. We wanted to make sure you were ok.”

Tears started pooling in my eyes. I was so sorry for just abruptly leaving, but I knew it had to be done. I liked being back here again.  I was taking care of Gram now, too.

“Come back with me, to the hotel. You owe it to Dustin, Ry.”

I looked at her with tears falling down my face. I knew she was right. I knew I owed him that much. What would he think? How would he react to this bulging belly? How would he take the fact it’s his? What about Molly? I’m about to turn his world upside down. Abby sat close to me and wrapped her arms around me. We cried. We cried, not because we were sad, but because we were happy to be together again. Then it was sad knowing we’d have to part ways soon, too. We cried because we knew our lives were happy in two different places.

“Ok. I’ll go.” I agreed.

“I’m so happy I’m going to be an aunt. You have no idea how much of a shock this is to me. What is it, a boy or girl?” She asked barely able to contain herself from touching my belly. I was pretty used to that by now.

“It’s a boy.” I hesitated to tell her but knew she’d find anyway soon enough.

“Have you picked out any names yet? Are you feeling ok?”

I smiled at her because I missed these conversations with Abby. Here we were, just got back in touch with each other and we couldn’t shut up. We just got one another and loved to talk.

“I have a few in mind,” I laughed. “I’m not saying though!” I teased her.

We decided to go over to the hotel. I put on a white sundress that evidently showed off my baby bump, but I loved how I looked in this dress. Even though I felt extremely huge, I knew I had a cute baby bump. I loosened my hair and put some make up on for the first time in months. I hated to admit it, but I was nervous. I was more than nervous, I was scared, but at the same time, I was so happy that I would be seeing Dustin. I missed him so much. Abby calmed me down and gave me a back rub in the car as we headed over. It was a small town, so it definitely didn’t take long to get to the hotel.

We walked through the lobby heading to the third floor where Dustin was waiting, and I knew he was just seconds from seeing me and baby-to-be. I felt as if I were going to have a breakdown. These halls were so shockingly bright with awesome paintings, so I tried to focus on that for a while to calm my nerves.

She slid the key in the door, and let it fly open as the boys said hi to her after she walked in. I grabbed the door right before it bounced back to close from the spring hinges. I stood there in the doorway with a blank look on my face almost on the verge of crying. Dustin took one look at me and ran to me pushing me back out the door. He wrapped his arms around my waist as he pushed me back out in the hallway, and let the door behind us close. I was shocked by his reaction and just went with the flow. He touched my belly as I backed into the wall, and looked at me puzzled and lost. He then looked me in the eyes not saying a word as he sunk his lips to mine pressing hard.

“I’ve-missed-you-so-much-Riley.” He enunciated every word slowly as they rolled off his tongue.

I swear if he could have, he would have taken me right then, right there—big ass belly and all.

“Dustin, I’m sorry.”

He pushed his fingers to my lips and said, “Shh, don’t say anything.”

He went down to his knees, and pressed his head to my belly, and looked as though he were listening in on a conversation going on in my stomach. It was like a pure bonding moment. The funny part was, he didn’t have to ask if it was his. It was as if he knew. He just knew it had to be his. He was on his knees for what felt like twenty minutes. He even kissed my belly and spoke to it. It brought me to tears. I looked at his teary eyes, and I felt horrible for waiting so long to see him. What was I thinking holding him back from the one thing he was passionate about? He was so in love with Molly, and I should have known he would be with this baby, too. Finally, he got to his feet and he leveled with me, looked me in my eyes as he broke the silence, “I love you, Riley. I’m here now. Please, don’t shut me out. I know what my Mom did. She made you leave. I’m sorry. Please, just please be with me. I love you so much it practically hurts. I forgive you for leaving.”

I looked at him as tears rolled down my cheeks, “I’m so sorry, Dustin. I didn’t want to hurt you, but your mother made it very clear she wanted me to leave. She threatened me saying if I told you, she’d make sure I never had this baby.” I started to breathe heavily as if I were having a panic attack just thinking of the situation all over again.

“Stop, shh, its ok, baby. I’m here now. I’m going to take care of you, and this baby.”

“Your son.” I revealed.

The look in his eyes shot up to me with the biggest brightest little boy smile that spread across his handsome face. This was my moment in time where our love became
tattered
. What was he going to do now? We lived in separate states. I didn’t know what happened with his custody, and I didn’t know how he would take care of two kids in different places. I knew at this point, I couldn’t leave Gram again.

“I’m so happy boy or girl, I’m just glad you’re back in my life. I was nothing without you. I was miserable. I can’t wait for Molly to meet you.”

Dustin

Words can’t even express how happy I was to see Riley. Abby did it, she found her. We came all the way to Delaware to find her, and it was the best outcome I could have ever imagined. Well, it wasn’t over yet. We still had a lot to figure out, but I was happy to know that she was happy to see me, too. She didn’t even have to say it, because she showed me her love. She didn’t want to leave me. It was my evil mother. My evil mother had done this to me. Drove us apart for the last time. I would not accept this anymore. She lost every chance she had of seeing her grandchild. The only way that would ever work is if she learned to love Riley as I had. It seemed pretty impossible. I didn’t even know where to begin on how handle that, but I didn’t want to think about that right now. My main concern was Sabrina, and how I would break the news to her.

Riley led me through the doors to Gram’s house. Gram didn’t look the least surprised as to who I was. In fact, Riley didn’t even introduce me. Gram just walked up to me and hugged me and acted as if she already knew all about me. Actually, I knew she knew all about me because Riley had told her everything.

Then, hours later, I got the pleasure of meeting Lena. They all seemed to like me, and I tried my best to explain to them I didn’t give up on Riley. I’m sure they understood my situation, though.

I extended my trip out here for the rest of the week to spend more time with Riley, and helped her out. Abby and Evan went back because they had to get back to work. Riley and I had a lot of stuff to figure out if we were going to make this work. I was in heaven knowing I was having a son, and I was going to do everything in my power to raise him with her. I just had to figure out how to get Molly out here or Riley back there.

Riley walked into the living room where I was relaxing watching some TV. I let her sleep in because I knew her back was killing her last night. She was having it rough, I could tell, and I just wished I could have been here sooner for her.

“So can you get used to living out here?” She smiled at me.

“I want to be with you, Riley. I’ll do whatever it takes. I just have to figure out how to get Molly out here.”

“We’ll figure out a way.”

“How are you feeling, my love? Can I get you anything?”

“Olives sound amazing right now.” She laughed and looked at me with an innocent smile.

“I’ll get you your olives, but I also planned the day for you. I spoke with Granny, and she’s going to take you shopping for some clothes. You need some more, and Galena, I guess, is going to tag along. Could you do that for me? Get out and enjoy your day? Here is some money.” I handed her a check for three hundred dollars. I wanted to make sure she could get what she needed. I knew she was depending on her mother’s money, and whatever else she had saved from waiting tables. If taking care of her and my baby also meant financially, I was going to give it my all. I really did need time to wrack my brain, and make sure that I came up with a game plan. I needed to call Sabrina and talk with her. It was only my first step. We had to agree to something mutual.