Page 271 of Love in Riverbend
“It is. It’s owned by our friend Justin’s sister.”
“Small world.”
“Small town,” I reply.
I’m more excited to get to my hometown than I have been, possibly ever.
Chapter 28
Ricky
Friday morning
Having spent the night at Devan and Justin’s house, I wake to the slam of the back door. Since I was the only one in the house when I went to sleep, the sound of an intruder before seven in the morning startles me and pulls me into reality. No one in Riverbend would break in to their house; then again, if word has gotten out about Justin’s accident, maybe someone could think this is an opportune time to break and enter.
Living in the city has a way of making one less trusting.
The chill within the house causes goose bumps to pepper my flesh as I push back the blankets on the bed. In my boxer briefs, I sneak down the front staircase, looking for a weapon. With each step, the wooden floor is cool under my bare feet.
Back when my parents lived here, I knew where to find a rifle. Going through Devan and Justin’s closets while someone could be stealing them blind doesn’t seem like a good use of my time. My heartbeat drums in my ears as I tiptoe down the staircase, hearing noises coming from Devan’s new kitchen. It sounds as if someone is opening and closing cabinets.
How long until that person moves up the stairs?
Everyone knows that people are most likely to hide cash and jewelry in their bedroom.
Scanning the living room, I search for anything that could be a weapon. Hell, a baseball bat would do. My sister is either too good of a housekeeper, or married couples don’t leave baseball bats and guns lying around. I search for something heavy. Finding a crystal bowl on a bookshelf, I lift it over my head. It’s as I turn the corner that I come face-to-face with my mom.
She scans from the bowl down to my toes. “Richard John, what are you doing?”
“Fuck, Mom.” I shake my head, lowering the crystal bowl. “Sorry. I thought someone was breaking in.”
“And you were going to save the day with Devan’s wedding gift?”
I look at the bowl and shrug.
Mom asks, “Would a burglar let that door slam?”
“Maybe,” I say, “if they didn’t think anyone was home.”
“Your car is parked outside.”
I set the bowl on the kitchen counter. “It’s too early for logic.”
Mom waves her hand up and down. “Maybe you could put on pants and a shirt before fighting criminals.”
“Do you think they’d wait? Like I could call out ‘Hey, I’m coming down with a dangerous weapon, but I need to get dressed first. So, could you maybe wait?’”
“It’s better if you’re polite. Always say please.” She lifts an eyebrow. “Please put on more clothes.”
I tilt my chin toward the coffeepot. “I’ll put on clothes if you make us coffee.”
“Deal.”
As I turn to go back upstairs, I stop. “Any news on Justin?”
“Last I heard, Justin was in a lot of pain. They finally got the dosage of pain meds working, and he’s getting some sleep this morning.” Mom sighs. “Devan says she’s not leaving the hospital.”
I nod. “Yeah, that’s what she told me.”
