Page 49 of A Vintage of Regret
“We’re like teenagers all over again. This is so petty.”
“I know, right?” Steph leaned back. “I do my best to avoid that drama.” She pulled out her cell. “These two take up all my time, and I love them so much I could cry.”
“Wow. They’re so cute.”
They talked for a few more minutes about Stephanie’s kids, the shop, and small-town life before Stephanie checked the time and sighed. “I should get back before my part-time help burns the place down. But I’m glad I saw you.” She reached across the table, squeezing Riley’s hand. “Really glad.”
“Me too, and I’d like to do it again before I leave.”
“I’d love that.”
When Stephanie left, Riley sat back, letting the moment settle. The past here wasn’t all bad. But it was tangled, and she wasn’t sure how many knots she had the patience to untie.
The door opened again. This time it was Erin. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, her face bare of makeup, the shadows under her eyes more pronounced than Riley remembered. Erin spotted her and made her way over, her smile small but genuine.
“I’m so glad you reached out,” Erin said as she slid into the seat Stephanie had just vacated. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had dropped the kids off at Mom’s, and that was a whole thing. Next time we get together, we’ll do it with my babies. They’re so excited to see you.”
“I can’t wait.”
They ordered breakfast, the clink of silverware and hiss of the espresso machine filling the gaps between pleasantries. Butit didn’t take long for Erin to lean forward, her voice low. “I’m having a hard time. With all of it. Dad’s gone, Mom’s acting… well, like Mom. And Grant’s… I don’t know. He’s taking it from all sides, and he’s more than twitchy. He’s downright moody.”
Riley kept her face neutral, though her mind flicked immediately to her father’s note, and the missing money. “I’m sure it’s a lot for him, too,” she said carefully.
Erin sighed, rubbing her forehead. “I know Grant has made his share of mistakes, but he’s under so much pressure from Mom about you.” She glanced up, meeting Riley’s gaze. “It’s so tough to balance. Grant and I both regret so many things about your departure. We were hurt, and we listened to Mom, who cares more about appearances than she does her own children.” Erin lifted her napkin and dabbed her eyes.
“Wow. That’s a big statement coming from you.”
“Mom’s so good at manipulating,” Erin added quickly. “It’s just… now, it feels gross. This pressure to ‘choose’ and I hate it. She’s furious you’re staying at the Boones’.”
“Wait. What? I’ve been staying at Stone Bridge Inn.”
“She drove by this morning. Saw you and Bryson carrying your bag up the front porch.” Erin shook her head. “She thinks it’s disloyal. Me, I’m glad. I’m not like her, or even Grant in that way. I’ve always liked Bryson.”
Riley’s stomach twisted. “I’m not choosing sides. I just… didn’t want to be alone, and Grant really needs to get over this thing with Bryson. There’s no reason for it. They’re grown men.”
“Oh, he knows that. He tries. But it’s not easy when Mom’s telling him Bryson pushed you out of town. That Bryson broke your heart when he cheated on you.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“We all know that now, including Grant. But Mom sometimes whispers half-truths about Bryson. Things that happened, and then she gets all quiet and tells us she can’tdare say anything else. That it would be gossip, but that there’s so much more, and she knows things, but then doesn’t say anything.” Erin hesitated, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. “I haven’t exactly been a great sister to you over the years.”
Riley blinked, surprised. “Where’s this coming from?”
“From the fact that I finally see our mother for who she is. That my marriage is in shambles,” Erin said, her voice cracking. “Chad’s cheating on me. And the worst part? I believe it now—what you said when you were sixteen. Maybe I even believed it then. That he was the one who made the pass at you. Not the other way around.”
Riley swallowed hard, the old hurt pressing at the edges of her chest. “Erin…”
“I defended him because I didn’t want to admit the boy I loved would do such a thing to my little sister. And now…” She let out a bitter laugh. “Now, I’m living with the consequences. Mom thinks I’m overreacting, says Chad provides a good life, and I’m just being dramatic.”
“That sounds like Mom,” Riley murmured.
“She doesn’t see how miserable I am. And Dad’s not here for me to talk to anymore. He always made me feel like I could figure things out. Now I just feel… lost.”
Riley reached across the table, covering her sister’s hand with her own. “You’re not alone. You’ve got me. Always.”
Erin’s eyes filled, but she didn’t look away. “I don’t deserve it, but… thank you.”
They sat there for a moment, holding onto each other across the table, two women who’d spent too long on opposite sides of old wounds finding some common ground at last.
