Well, Wendy finally said to break the silence. What have you been up to during the last few decades?
Riley and Wendy both laughed a little. Even their laughter felt strained and awkward.
Wendy asked, Are you married?
Riley sighed aloud. How could she explain what was going on between her and Ryan when she didnt even know herself?
She said, Well, as the kids say these days, Its complicated. And I do mean really complicated.
There was a bit more nervous laughter.
And you? Riley asked.
Wendy seemed to be starting to relax a little.
Loren and I are coming up on our twenty-fifth anniversary. Were both pharmacists, and we own our own drugstore. Loren inherited it from his father. Weve got three kids. The youngest, Barton, is away at college. Thora and Parish are both married and on their own. I guess that makes Loren and me your classic empty-nesters.
Riley felt a strange pang of melancholy.
Wendys life had been nothing at all like hers. In fact, Wendys life had apparently been completely normal.
Just as she had with April over dinner, she again had the feeling of looking in the mirror.
Except this mirror wasnt of her past.
It was of a future self someone she once might have become, but now would never, ever be.
What about you? Wendy asked. Any kids?
Again, Riley felt tempted to say
Its complicated.
Instead, she said, Two. Ive got a fifteen-year-old, April. And Im in the process of adopting another Jilly, whos thirteen.
Adoption! More people should do that. Good for you.
Riley didnt feel like she deserved to be congratulated at the moment. She might feel better if she could be sure that Jilly would grow up in a two-parent family. Right now, that issue was in doubt. But Riley decided not to go into all that with Wendy.
Instead, there was some business she needed to discuss with her sister.
And she was afraid it might be awkward.
Wendy, you know that Daddy left me his cabin in his will, she said.
Wendy nodded.
I know, she said. You sent me some pictures. It looks like a nice place.
The words were a bit jarring
a nice place.
Riley had been there a few times most recently after her father died. But her memories of it were far from pleasant. Her father had bought it when he retired as a US Marine colonel. Riley remembered it as the home of a lonely, mean old man who hated just about everybody and a man that just about everybody hated in return. The last time Riley had seen him alive, they had actually come to blows.
I think it was a mistake, she said.
What was?
Leaving the cabin to me. It was wrong for him to do that. It should have gone to you.
Wendy looked genuinely surprised.
Why? she asked.
Riley felt all kinds of ugly emotions welling up inside her. She cleared her throat.
Because you were with him at the end, when he was in hospice. You took care of him. You even took care of everything afterwards his funeral and all the legal stuff. I wasnt there. I
She almost choked on her next words.
I dont think I could have done that. Things werent good between us.
Wendy smiled sadly.
Things werent good between him and me either.
Riley knew it was true. Poor Wendy Daddy had beaten her regularly until at last she ran away for good at the age of fifteen. And yet Wendy had shown the decency to take care of Daddy at the end.
Riley had done no such thing, and she couldnt help feeling guilty about it.
Riley said, I dont know what the cabin is worth. It must be worth something. I want you to have it.
Wendys eyes widened. She looked alarmed.
No, she said.
The bluntness of her reply startled Riley.
Why not? Riley asked.
I just cant. I dont want it. I want to forget all about him.
Riley knew just how she felt. She felt the same way.
Wendy added, You should just sell it. Keep the money. I want you to.
Riley didnt know what to say.
Fortunately, Wendy changed the subject.
Before he died, Dad told me you were a BAU agent. How long have you been doing that kind of work?
About twenty years, Riley said.
Well. I think Dad was proud of you.
A bitter chuckle rose up in Rileys throat.
No, he wasnt, she said.
How do you know?
Oh, he let me know. He had his own way of communicating things like that.
Wendy sighed.
I suppose he did, Wendy said.
An awkward silence fell. Riley wondered what they should talk about. After all, theyd barely spoken for many years. Should they try again to figure out how to get together in person? Riley couldnt imagine traveling to Des Moines just to see this stranger named Wendy. And she was sure Wendy felt the same way about coming to Fredericksburg.
After all, what could they possibly have in common?
At that moment, Rileys desk phone rang. She was grateful for the interruption.
Id better get that, Riley said.
I understand, Wendy said. Thanks for getting in touch.
Thank you, Riley said.
They ended the call and Riley answered her phone. Riley said hello, then heard a confused-sounding womans voice.
Hello whos speaking?
Whos calling? Riley asked.
A silence fell.
Is is Ryan at home? the woman asked.
Her words sounded slurred now. Riley felt pretty sure the woman was drunk.
No, Riley said. She hesitated for a moment. After all, she told herself, it could be a client of Ryans. But she knew it wasnt. The situation was all too familiar.
Riley said, Dont call this number again.
She hung up.
She bristled with anger.
Its starting all over again, she thought.
She dialed up Ryans home phone number.
CHAPTER THREE
When Ryan answered the phone, Riley wasted no time getting to the point.
Are you seeing someone else, Ryan? she asked.
Why?
A woman called here asking for you.
Ryan hesitated before asking, Did you get her name?
No. I hung up.
I wish you hadnt. She might have been a client.
She was drunk, Ryan. And it was personal. I could hear it in her voice.
Ryan didnt seem to know what to say.
Riley repeated her question, Are you seeing someone else?
I Im sorry, Ryan stammered. I dont know how she got your number. It must have been some kind of mistake.
Oh, theres been a mistake, all right, Riley thought.
Youre not answering my question, she said.
Ryan was starting to sound angry now.
What if I am seeing someone else? Riley, we never made any agreement to be exclusive.
Riley was stunned. No, she couldnt remember them making any such agreement. But even so
I just assumed she began.
Maybe you assumed too much, Ryan interrupted.
Riley tried to fight down her temper.
Whats her name? she asked.
Lina.
Is it serious?
I dont know.
The phone was shaking in Rileys hand.
She said, Dont you think its about time you made up your mind?