“Raine what I do with my time, and who I spend it with, is none of your business. You wanted to cause trouble and you got it. Congratulations. But instead of worrying about what I’m up to all the time, how about getting your own house in order. At least Mom’s concern comes from a genuine place but I can’t seem to figure you out. It seems like when I’m happy you’re not. I love your children and for them I won’t cut you out of my life, but know this; I am through with your bullshit. If you ever pull a stunt like you did tonight, not only will I make good on my threat of kicking your butt, but I will never speak to you again. Your bitterness is no longer my problem.”
“Rachel, I’ll see you later.” Riley turned on her heels and stormed out of the kitchen.
She was halfway to her car when she heard Rachel call out to her. “Riley wait!”
Riley stopped still furious. She turned. “What?”
“She’s jealous. That’s why she acts the way she does.”
“Well, bully for her. Did you see Mom in there? She was hysterical. Raine doesn’t care who she hurts sometimes as long as she can get what she wants.”
“I know. Raine is a special kind of stupid at times, but look at her life. It didn’t exactly turn out the way she thought it would. She was always considered the pretty one and she thought she’d end as some rich man’s pampered wife. She thought she’d found her meal ticket with Jayson’s father, the wannabe NBA player. But then he ended up marrying someone else. And that’s not to mention the fact that his career went nowhere so she didn’t get the loads of child support she was expecting. And then Karsyn’s dad has been in jail more than he’s been out. And Talia’s dad isn’t worth mentioning. Let’s not forget all the other nameless men she took up with.”
Riley sighed. “I know you have a point Rachel, but I’m failing to see it right now.”
“None of those men loved her. And you had the real thing with Ethan. I doubt he was the perfect husband but you weren’t completely blameless. I’ve said it before but you let Mom and Raine get inside your head. Neither one of them is a sterling example of how to have a healthy relationship yet you were constantly whining to them about your problems. Why do you think I never told anyone about my marriage? I didn’t want those two putting in their two cents.”
Riley couldn’t deny she’d played a huge part in the breakdown in her marriage. For so many years she’d blamed Ethan for leaving but now she wondered if she could even blame him. If she had to constantly live with accusations day in and out, would she have handled the situation any better? She’d had no faith in him and it had killed their marriage. Now that she’d had a chance to calm down, her mother’s words came back to her. “What did mom mean about tearing up a ticket?”
Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her. But I do know that if you’re seeing Ethan again, don’t let those two get in between you this time around.”
Riley shook her head sadly. “We are seeing each other but it’s just a temporary arrangement until the wedding is over. It’s purely physical.”
Rachel crinkled her forehead. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. I thought…well, there’s a bit of a sparkle in your eyes when you talk about him. You haven’t fallen for him again have you?”
“Yes. I was crazy to get involved with him on this level but I was doing it to ease the tension between us until Megan’s wedding is over. At least that’s what I tried to convince myself of but that’s not the case. I wanted to be with him again. And when this is over I’ll probably be an even bigger mess than Mom.” Riley burst into tears.
Rachel pulled Riley into her arms and rocked her back and forth. “Sweetheart, tell him how you feel. You might be surprised.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know but do you want to wonder what if for the rest of your life?”
Riley sniffed pulling away from her sister. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“I know what living with regret is like.”
“What Mom said about Timothy in there… It’s not true is it?”
Rachel looked at her feet.
“Rach?”
“Let’s just say my marriage wasn’t exactly all it appeared to be. Don’t get me wrong, Timothy was a great guy but we weren’t in love with each other.”
“But you loved each other enough to make a baby and get married.”
This time Rachel looked at her nails.
Riley’s eyes widened. “Rachel, what the hell? Eli is Timothy’s right.”
Rachel grasped Riley’s shoulders. “You will not breathe a word of this to anyone. Especially Mom or Raine. Do you hear me?”