Lakeshore Candy: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Book 4) Page 25

  Riley had read the letter over and over again with the slightest hope he’d missed something. But it came back crystal clear.

  I’m not a one-man woman.

  The possibility that this was to win her back didn’t exist in Riley because he knew.

  “Sit down.”

  Cece sat, but her hands wrenched together on her lap. This news would cheer her up.

  “I have spent the last two weeks re-familiarizing myself with the changes, the new bands, and the new employees. I’ve lined up private meetings with each and every employee to gain knowledge of where they are and what they need. Cece you will never understand the guilt I feel for the way I abandoned you. How I left you with all of this and didn’t give you any support or help.”

  “Riley. It’s okay. You’re back now.” Her voice hardly pushed out.

  “It’s not okay. It will never be okay but I will be by your side for the rest of our lives. It doesn’t matter who comes into my life again, I will not leave you.”

  She was quiet, nervously quiet.

  “Cece, do you understand?”

  She nodded.

  “Do you believe me?”

  She nodded again. Something was really bothering her and here was his news to lift her spirits.

  “I have lined you up with a band,” he announced. “A new band, but they’ve toured and they already have their name out there, so the audience is already forming. This is perfect for you to get back into the work you love.”

  Her mouth fell open in shock, a hint of excitement crossed her face, then tears spilled down her cheeks and she covered her face with her hands.

  Riley stilled.

  He didn’t know if she was excited or...what?

  He moved around his desk and sat on the chair beside her with one hand touching her hunched and trembling shoulder, while the other pulled her hands from her face. The few seconds of tears created raccoon eyes from the eyeliner under her eyes.

  “Riley, you did this for me?”

  “Of course.” He rubbed her shoulder. It was the least he could do. “You’ve done so much more for me that I can never repay you for.”

  “And you’re so sad. You’re miserable,” she announced.

  The confession him. He’d thought he’d been doing a good job of hiding his sadness. She apparently saw his like he saw her.

  “And it’s all my fault.”

  What was she talking about?

  “Cece...” She couldn’t blame herself. He had to tell her about the note.

  “No, Riley.” Her head flew up, her eyes wide, and she sat up straight, reaching for his hand. “Don’t use that calming tone you used to talk to me with to soothe my sadness because I don’t deserve it.”

  Her name was on his lips again, but he held it in giving her the open space to tell him what was bothering her.

  “You don’t understand what it was like not to know where your brother was. To want to find him, but not knowing where to start then to be forced into being the CEO.” The reality stung. “And learning the position...all the years just flew by. Then you came home and here you were so different, changed, and happy.” Her eyes fell. “You were happy Riley and I was jealous. You were happy without me.”

  “I haven’t been happy Cece.”

  “You don’t have to defend your happiness to me.”

  “Cece.” He lifted her chin to find her eyes. “My life has not been happy since the accident. I was punishing myself for Dani and Jenny’s death. I was living with Dani’s mother and feeling guilty for taking them away.”

  “You didn’t take them away.”

  “It took me all these years to accept that. Cece, I lost my family. I lost my daughter and after I treated her so badly. I didn’t come home, I barely held her. I was nothing like Dad. I was everything like Uncle Jack.”

  “You were nothing like Uncle Jack. You were scared, young and it was a bad situation. Jack didn’t love us and you loved Jenny. I know you did. You were just scared.”

  Riley took a deep breath. “This was the reason I didn’t come home to you. I knew your words could take away the guilt I felt I deserved.”

  “I wish you’d have come home.”

  Then he wouldn’t have met Abby, fallen in love with her and experienced how wonderful love was even if it was only for a week.

  “But then you wouldn’t have met Abby,” Cece said as if reading his thoughts. “You love her don’t you? Real love like Mom and Dad?”

  Riley swallowed away his emotions and the tears he felt trying to rim his eyes. “Yes I love her more than I even knew was possible. But Abby isn’t ready for a relationship.”

  “Abby loves you.”

  He knew she did. He didn’t doubt her love, it was her spirit that guided her feet.

  “It’s not that she’s not ready to be in a relationship with you Riley.”

  It really was. He’d read the letter.

  “This is all my fault.” Her words stilled his breath. What was her fault? He was thinking her next words were supposed to make him furious, but that tiny bit of hope he didn’t think he’d ever feel was starting to seep in.

  When she sat there not continuing, he asked, “Cece what are you talking about?”

  “It was at the party. She was looking for Avery and we bumped into each other. She made a comment that hurt.”

  “Abby did? She was mean?” That didn’t seem like Abby.

  “No. No, not at all. It wasn’t intended to hurt me. She didn’t even know it would. She told me how much she loves you and that she supports you. She put me in my spot when I tried to insinuate that you were still a player, telling me the love you two shared was far stronger than both of your pasts.”

  If she said all that, why did she leave?

  “Riley I told Abby she was holding you back.”

  Holing him back? Abby was the one who pushed him forward

  “She didn’t leave because she’s not ready, she left because I told her you weren’t ready and she knew you would fight with her.”

  Riley didn’t say a word. He was mad. He was angry. His hope was back in his heart and he was already planning his trip to Willow Valley, but he was still angry.

  “I know. See. I’m a terrible person and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “You’re going to apologize to her.”

  Cece nodded. “I will.”

  “You are never going to treat her disrespectfully again.”

  She shook her head. “I won’t.”

  “I’m going to go get her.”

  He stood and she stayed seated, her shoulders slumped, her eyes on her twisting hands.

  He couldn’t leave her like this. Not after the last time.

  Riley turned and pulled her to her feet embracing her. “Everyone makes mistakes Cece. Thank you for telling me.”

  Her silent tears turned into loud sobs and the weight of her body heaved against him just like when they were younger.

  His office door burst open.

  “You stupid ass.” Riley hadn’t heard that voice in a couple weeks, but he turned enjoying the sass.

  Izzy stared at him but there was no humor in her face and he knew exactly what she was doing in his office without even needing to ask.

  “Izzy,” he said.

  “I could say I came with Avery, but that’s a load of crap. I came because I don’t understand what the hell you’re doing.”

  At the present moment he was planning his trip to Willow Valley...like two weeks ago.

  Macy popped her head in to make sure everything was good. “Sorry Riley...she pushed her way in.”

  Riley slanted a look at Izzy. “Pushed?”

  “More like kicked. She’s being generous.”

  “They would have let you in without either.”

  Izzy ignored him and turned to his sister. “Why don’t you start talking,” she said.

  “Izzy...”

  “Don’t you Izzy me, unless you want me to walk out of here and you’ll never know t
he truth about why Abby left.”

  “I already know.”

  “You think you know.”

  “No. I told him,” Cece said. “I told him everything. The truth,” she clarified.

  Izzy waited while Cece gave a quick version then stared between them. “What the hell are we still doing here? Let’s go get Abby.”

  His thoughts exactly.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  ABBY STOOD BACK and looked over the twelve small sample loafs of the new soap line. The wholesalers would gobble this line up. Almost literally. Her Gran and Riley inspired line of twelve new scents, included caramel apple, licorice candy, lemon poppy seed, over the rainbow, cookie bar, puffed marshmallow, chocolate, ice cream and her favorite Riley super inspired, cinnamon scented hot lips. There was even one cupcake shaped soap.

  Hot lips. The memory of the spur of the moment nickname made her smile. She missed Riley. Every single day she woke up, each time she walked through the alleyway and nights when she would rather sleep with him. She felt like a part of her was missing...and no one could ever replace him.

  Fate.

  Abby had been convinced after leaving Vivette’s that fate had brought Gran and De’laine together just as it had brought Abby and Riley together...now she knew better.

  Abby’s phone vibrated and she checked the screen, anticipation gripping her fingertips as she slid it across the screen like a high school girl in the nineties checking the caller id on a landline telephone hoping her boyfriend’s number was going to flash across the screen.

  It was Izzy.

  Abby wasn’t disappointed...okay she was very disappointed...but, she straightened her slumped shoulders to prove otherwise. Izzy had been somewhat supportive of her decision to leave Riley in Oakston where he could find his life, his real life without the country girl holding him back. Alright, Izzy had been absolutely unsupportive and a rather pain in the rear sending her texts every day demanding she text Riley.

  What did Izzy even know about love? Nothing!

  Abby refused to slouch around in a pity party every time she thought she heard his bike stopping in her laneway or his fist pounding on the front door. It wasn’t him. It would never be him.

  This was your decision so stop waiting for, I miss you, I can’t stop thinking about you, we can make this work texts and move on with your life.

  Move on with her life. Ha! She wasn’t even sure how to go on living her life without him.

  You made soap. Great step.

  She frowned at the soap. Riley was her inspiration for the line. Every scent whipped up on the table had been created in Oakston, when she’d thought she would have Riley forever. What if she was never inspired to make soap again because she’d left the one man that sparked her inspiration? These thoughts were getting her nowhere and she needed a quick recap.

  It is better for everyone. It didn’t feel better for her.

  Taking a deep breath she released her self-pity and read Izzy’s text. Lunch @ Mrs. Calvert’s. Now.

  It was only lunch time?

  Abby groaned.

  How were the days dragging on so long and painful like a knife running its jagged edge across her shattered heart?

  Abby threw her apron on the table and looked at the final loaves of product each with the properties listed on the specially designed labels Kate had made and ready to be sliced in four weeks, just in time for the show. At least she’d accomplished the finished product and her sisters would be ecstatic.

  The office and lunchroom were empty. Kelly Anderson and Megan Maury, Kate’s final decision for part-time workers were standing behind the counter cashing out Elaine Patterson, recently changed to McAdams. Abby’s father’s new wife.

  She beamed her pretty smile at Abby reminding her of the rustic teddy bears she had sitting throughout her house on random shelves, always smiling. “I just bought your foot scrub and smoother. Smells delicious.”

  Abby moved to the front of the counter and found Elaine’s embrace. “Did you get the mask?”

  Elaine looked up at Kelly who nodded, and then she turned back to Abby. “Yes I did,” she said proudly.

  Elaine was in at least once a week trying something new, buying items she’d run out of or dragging one of her friends in. She was their number one supportive customer.

  “Remember leave the mask on for fifteen minutes then scrub it away before applying the sugar scrub and finish with the smoother.” Work talk seemed like the easiest conversation in the world and distracted Abby from her crushed heart that was slicing constant pain through her chest.

  “Right.”

  “In that order.”

  “Okay.”

  She was never going to remember and Abby made a note to phone Peyton, her daughter-in-law and have her explain it again.

  Abby glanced at Kelly. “Where are my sisters?”

  “They went out for lunch.”

  “All of them?”

  She nodded. “I have their cells on file and they said they were in walking distance if anything comes up and we need them.”

  “Really?” Abby was having a hard time believing all three of her sisters left these two new employees in charge.

  Kelly nodded again.

  “Where are you off to?” Elaine asked, as Abby’s phone vibrated again and she ignored it.

  “Izzy wants to have lunch at Mrs. Calvert’s bakery.”

  “I will walk with you.” Elaine took her brown paper bag with their logo stamped on the front and looped her arm in Abby’s. “I should get your dad something sweet. Maybe a croissant.”

  “Go with the apple strudel.”

  The muggy summer air only drew her mood down further. Maybe she would get the apple strudel to pick her own mood back up. It wouldn’t work. Candy didn’t seem to help her moods anymore wither. Candy couldn’t replace Riley.

  Of all the places in Willow Valley they could have had lunch why did it have to be the place she’d been ignoring because it reminded her too much of Riley and the hurt was unbelievable.

  The bell rang above the door and Izzy waved from a bistro table by the window sitting with all of Abby’s sisters.

  Elaine dragged her to the table.

  “Hey,” all the women said overly happy and thrilled.

  Abby was going to need two strudels and extra sugar in her coffee to make it through this lunch.

  “We ordered already. You will have to go get your own.”

  Abby went to slide into a chair. “I’m actually not that−“

  Peyton pulled the chair away. “That seat’s taken.”

  Abby raised her eyebrows. “For who?”

  “Not you.”

  Abby rolled her eyes.

  “If you’re not going to get yourself something at least get your dad a strudel,” Elaine said, plopping herself in the stool Peyton wouldn’t let her have.

  Five sets of eyes stared at her with strange and excited expressions.

  “I will have a strudel,” Sydney said.

  “Me too,” Kate and Peyton said in unison.

  “Better make it five,” Elaine decided.

  “You five are acting weird,” Abby accused.

  “We’re hungry. Go get us food,” Izzy swatted her arm.

  Abby backed away, feeling unsure as every set of eyes stuck to her like glue.

  Weird.

  When she turned she knew exactly why they were acting weird. Her heart began to race for the first time in weeks and in a very good way.

  Am I seeing things? Did she miss him so much that she was creating the vision of him standing behind the counter, wearing the white apron and pouring coffee for a customer? His smile confirmed his presence and she slowly weaved her way around the tables packed with the lunch crowd. The love in his eyes, the excitement and the desire was pulling out all her exact emotions.

  Why was he here? He’s back for you. Are you sure?

  His eyes told her that was the only reason he was here.

  What if I hold you bac
k?

  “Apple strudel?” he asked, when she reached the counter. His voice alone almost convinced her nothing else mattered except their love, but she didn’t want him to resent her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He shrugged. “Tourist just passing through to sweep you off your feet.”

  Abby didn’t want good times with just any man passing through...she wanted good times with the one standing before her.

  Abby sucked her lips in, not sure what to say. What he was saying?

  “I love it when I make you speechless.”

  Abby didn’t like being speechless.

  Riley leaned on the counter and reached his hand out to her. For a handshake? What was he doing? She stared down at his hand like it was foreign to her.

  “Don’t leave a man hanging,” he said.

  Abby could feel the eyes of every local focused on them, curious and waiting for something to happen. Did he not remember it was old croon hour in the corner? She could hear they’d all went very, very quiet.

  Shake the man’s hand and move along.

  Abby stepped her unsure feet onto the raised surface, extending her hand to touch the warm solitude of his grip. He didn’t shake. His other hand caught her elbow and pulled her upper torso up and across the counter, meeting with his lips in the center. Abby’s startled lips didn’t react immediately, shocked by his presence and floored by his actions. She gasped and he sucked her hesitance away as his tongue pressed to open her mouth. He tasted like the sweetness of that apple strudel and she forgot how much she missed his kiss. She opened her mouth further, forgetting everything between them and searched his mouth for the answers that could keep them together. His tongue told her to forget her worry. The sides of his mouth told her to let go of her fear. The slickness of his teeth told her as long as they had each other everything would work out.

  When she pulled away she was convinced, then she remembered where they were. They’d been open mouth tongue kissing like horny teenagers in the bakery...over the counter!

  A lot of things didn’t embarrass Abby McAdams, but damned if this was one of them.

  Abby went to pull away. Practically her whole family was behind her watching every move. Riley’s hand stayed around the back of her head and one over her hands.

  “You’re going to give the old croons the gossip of a lifetime,” she said and was only half joking.