She shook her head and released Gabby from her arms, then stood. “Yeah, yeah . . . everything’s fine.”
“Well, we decided we’d come here and wait for you instead.”
Gabby tugged at her sleeve. “But first we went to Pizza Hut and had pizza and then we went to get a slush. I’ve got so much to tell you, Mommy! So much that we’ve done and all that Granddaddy did, and I just can’t wait to tell you everything, Mommy!”
All the weariness left Riley. “Let me grab my purse and you can talk until you can’t talk anymore.” She turned to Jeremy. “I’ll get you a room for the night at The Cove. We have plenty available. I’ll call, and they’ll have it ready by the time you get there.”
“That would be great, thanks. I couldn’t get a flight out of here tonight if I tried.”
“Sure. You head on over there and they’ll get you everything you need. Ask for Chandra; she’s on duty tonight.”
“I will. Thank you.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you so much for taking care of her.” She looked down at Gabby’s beaming face.
He patted her arm. “It sounds like it’s been a tough week.”
“Very. But beautiful,” she confirmed.
“I love you, Daddy,” Gabby said.
Her daddy took her up in his arms and kissed her. “I’ll see you soon, Gabby-girl.”
“Very soon?”
“Very soon.”
He put Gabby down and she grabbed Riley’s hand. The warmth of that tiny hand in hers refreshed her entire insides. “Let’s go talk,” Riley said. “Let’s go talk all night. I want to hear everything.”
“How’s Ted?”
Riley suddenly realized poor Ted hadn’t been fed or checked on in two days. “Fine . . . yeah . . . I’m sure Ted is fine.”
Gabby looked at her and gave her that gap-toothed smile. And with that one look, paradise was now perfect.
Epilogue
One year later . . .
Riley walked up to the low-country house; its charm fit like a picture in the historical district of Savannah. It felt so much like home. Balloons flew outside, and so many television cameras and trucks lined Abercorn Street that she had been forced to park two blocks over. She walked through the red-painted wood door into a bustle of activity. People scurried like ants on an invaded anthill. A young woman in front of her was busy writing notes on a notepad. She looked up as Riley walked by.
“Hello, I’m Savannah Phillips with the Savannah Chronicle.” The attractive young woman extended her slender hand.
Riley tried to suppress her smile.
The girl shook her head and gave an amused smile. “It’s okay. I get it all the time. You can say it.”
Riley covered her mouth and shook her head. “I won’t.”
“You’ll be one of the first. Are you a friend of Tamyra’s?”
“Yes, I am. We met about a year ago.”
Savannah’s all-American features registered a knowing look. “You were there during the attack?”
Riley wasn’t sure how much to reveal to someone from the paper. Obviously the young woman was astute at reading people.
Savannah put her pad down. “It’s off the record. I’ve already written that story. Tamyra and I have known each other for quite a while. My mother’s into pageants, which is a whole other story, one someone should write a book about one day, to be honest with you. But Tamyra and I have crossed paths quite a few times. She’s a remarkable young woman.”
“Yes, she is. And yes, I was there. It was a horrible scene.”
“She said she made some wonderful friendships on that trip.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Savannah stepped aside. “Well, I won’t keep you. Nice to meet you, um . . .”
Riley had forgotten her manners. She extended her hand. “Oh, sorry. Riley. Riley Manos.”
“Enjoy yourself, Riley.”
“Nice to meet you, Savannah.”
The young woman left her. Riley saw the back of Tamyra’s head and walked into the quaint anteroom where she was. Tamyra stepped to the side before Riley reached her and gave her an unobstructed view of Laine and Winnie.
Riley let out a squeal, ran over, and embraced her friends. They all did a happy dance in each other’s arms, knowing it was completely childish and immature and yet not caring who in the world looked on.
Tamyra squeezed Riley’s shoulder. “You look beautiful.”
Winnie gave Riley a wink. “All new brides glow that way.”
“You’d think we hadn’t seen each other in a year,” Laine spouted. “And we just saw each other four weeks ago.”
Tamyra laughed. “I know, but it’s never enough.”
“At least you waited a decent amount of time before you went off and got hitched,” Laine said, turning her attention to Winnie. “Hussy over here couldn’t wait six months.”
Winnie poked her. “When you’re my age, Laine, you don’t waste time. Plus, with the help of Viagra, we’ve got to take advantage of all of Albert’s good years.”
Their laughter erupted.
Riley turned to Tamyra. “We’re so proud of you. You know that, don’t you?”
Tamyra smiled and nodded. Riley saw a complete range of emotions brimming on the surface of Tamyra’s face. Her shoulders were slender and smooth as they stuck out beneath her yellow linen, sleeveless dress. And her face held little reminder of what had brought them here. She reached her hand out and took Riley’s. “Can I give you a tour?”
“I’d love it.”
Riley looked at Winnie and Laine. Winnie shooed her with her hand. “We just saw everything. You go.”
Tamyra took Riley through every room of the domestic violence center she had started. Each was immaculately designed, impeccably furnished, and filled with Tamyra’s warmth. “After the trial was over and I knew Jason was finally locked away . . .”
“He got twenty years, didn’t he?”
“Yes, they tried him on attempted murder,” she said, her heels clicking softly on the wooden floors as they walked.
“I’m so sorry, Tamyra.”
They stopped in the doorway of a children’s playroom. The primary colors were bold behind Tamyra’s silhouette.
“Don’t be. That trip changed me in so many ways. And that experience was so profound. Here I was thinking HIV
