Riley didnt know whether to feel guilty or proud.
But during the half-hour training session, April fired with ever increasing confidence and accuracy at the target. By the time they left the gun store and drove home, Riley was definitely feeling proud.
April was exhilarated and chatty, asking all kinds of questions about the training she had to look forward to. Riley gave the best answers she could, trying not to show her ambivalence about the future April seemed to want so much.
As they neared home, April said, Look whos here.
Rileys heart sank when she saw the expensive BMW pulled up in front of the townhouse. She knew it belonged to the last person in the world she wanted to see right now.
CHAPTER THREE
As Riley parked her own modest vehicle behind the BMW, she realized that things were likely to get very unpleasant in her house. When she turned off the engine, April picked up the box with the gun in it and started to get out of the car.
Better leave that here for now, Riley said.
She certainly didnt want to explain the weapon to the unwelcome visitor.
I guess youre right, April replied, shoving the box under the front seat.
And dont forget dont tell Jilly about this, Riley said.
I wont, April said. But shes probably figured out already that you got something for me, and shell wonder all about it. Oh, well, on Sunday youll be giving her a present of her own and shell forget all about this.
Present of her own? Riley wondered.
Then she remembered Sunday was Jillys birthday.
Riley felt her face flush with alarm.
Shed almost forgotten that Gabriela had planned a family party for Sunday evening.
And she still hadnt bought Jilly a present.
Dont forget! she told herself sternly.
Riley and April locked up the car and walked on into the house. Sure enough, the owner of the luxury car Rileys ex-husband was sitting there in the living room.
Jilly was in a chair across from him, her stony expression showing that she wasnt the least bit happy to have him there.
Ryan, what are you doing here? Riley asked.
Ryan turned toward her with that charming smile that had too many times weakened her resolve to shut him out completely.
Hes still handsome, damn it, she thought.
She knew that he went to a lot of trouble to look that way and spent many hours at the gym.
Ryan said, Hey, is that any way to greet family? I am still family, arent I?
Nobody spoke for a moment.
The tension was palpable and Ryans expression turned to one of disappointment.
Riley wondered what kind of greeting had he expected?
He hadnt even been to see them in about three months. Before that, they had made an attempt at reconciling. Hed spent a couple of months more or less living here, but hed never completely moved in. Hed kept the comfortable house he had once shared with Riley and April before the separation and divorce.
The girls had been happy to have him around until he lost interest and wandered off again.
The girls had been crushed by that.
And now, here he was again, out of the blue and without warning.
The silence continued to hang in the air. Then Jilly crossed her arms and scowled.
Turning to Riley and April, she asked, Where did the two of you take off to, anyway?
Riley gulped.
She hated to lie to Jilly, but this would surely be a bad time to tell her about Aprils gun.
Fortunately, April said, We just had an errand to run.
Ryan looked up at April.
Hey, sweetie, he said. Dont I get a hug or something?
April didnt make eye contact with him. She just stood there shuffling her feet for a moment.
Finally she said in a sullen voice, Hi, Daddy.
Looking like she was about to burst into tears, April turned around and trotted up the stairs to her room.
Ryans mouth dropped open.
What was that all about? he said.
Riley sat down alone on the couch, trying to figure out how best to handle the situation.
She asked again, What are you doing here, Ryan?
Ryan shrugged.
Jilly and I are talking about her schoolwork or at least Im trying to get her to talk about her schoolwork. Have her grades been slipping? Is that what she doesnt want to tell me?
My grades are fine, Jilly said.
So tell me all about school, why dont you? Ryan asked.
Schools fine Mr. Paige, Jilly said.
Riley cringed, and Ryan looked wounded.
Jilly had started calling Ryan Dad just before he had left.
Before that, she had called him Ryan. Riley was sure that Jilly had never called him Mr. Paige before. The girl was expressing her attitude very clearly.
Jilly got up from her chair and said, If its OK with everybody, Ive got some homework to do.
Do you want any help? Ryan asked.
Jilly ignored the question and trotted up the stairs.
Ryan looked at Riley with a stricken expression.
Whats going on here? he said. Why are the girls so mad at me?
Riley sighed bitterly. Sometimes her ex was just as immature as theyd both been when they married so young.
Ryan, what on earth did you expect? she asked, as patiently as she could manage. When you moved in, the girls were just thrilled to have you around. Especially Jilly. Ryan, that poor girls father was an abusive drunk. She almost became a prostitute to get away from him and shes just thirteen years old! It meant so much to her to have a father figure like you in her life. Dont you understand how crushed she was when you took off?
Ryan just stared at her with a puzzled expression, as if he had no idea what she was talking about.
But Riley remembered all too well what Ryan had told her on the phone.
I need some space. This whole family thing I thought I was ready for it, but I wasnt.
And he hadnt shown a lot of concern about Jilly at the time.
Riley, Jilly was your decision. I admire you for it. But I never signed up for it. Somebody elses troubled teenager is too much for me. Its not fair.
And now here he was, acting hurt because Jilly didnt want to call him Dad anymore.
It really was infuriating.
Riley found it small wonder that the two girls had stormed off just now. She more than half wanted to do the same thing. Unfortunately, somebody had to be an adult in this situation. And since Ryan seemed to be incapable of that, Riley was stuck with the job.
Before she could think of what to say next, Ryan got up from his chair and sat down beside her. He reached toward her.
Riley pushed him away.
Ryan, what are you doing?
What do you think Im doing?
Ryans voice sounded amorous now.
Rileys fury was mounting by the second.
Dont even think about it, she said. How many girlfriends have you been through since youve been gone?
Girlfriends? Ryan asked, obviously trying to sound baffled by the very question.
You heard me. Or did you forget? One of them mistakenly called here while you were still around. She sounded drunk. You said her name was Lina. But I dont guess Lina was the last. How many more have there been? Do you even know? Do you even remember all their names?
Ryan didnt reply. He looked guilty now.