Coming Home

Chapter 11

Once again she had to walk through the open room, very aware of the fact that the other officers were watching as Riley led her into his much larger office. He didn’t say one word to her as he closed the door behind her before going around to his desk.

            Her eyes wandered around the room quickly, taking in the pictures or lack there of on the walls alongside his degree. To be honest she was just afraid to look at him again, her heart had not slowed its frantic cadence since she laid eyes on him. Against her will they turned to him anyway, a sigh threatening to escape as she took in his form behind the desk.

            He was sitting there in his slightly crumpled tan shirt eyes narrowed at her as she stood in front of him, unsure of what to say first. Shifting her feet caused the bag she was holding to brush against them, the sound reminding her of her errand.

            “Momma wanted me to bring you lunch,” her words were rushed as she placed the bag on his desk.

            “Thank you,” was his only reply and he made no move to take the bag.

            Her hands, now free, clutched each other as she searched for something to say to him, a way to ease into a conversation. It was proving too hard to think while he looked up at her, those hazel eyes watching her. Her mother opened, only to close slowly again, floundered.

            “I’m sorry,” she finally managed to sigh out.

            She waited for his reply, but he offered none, so instead of turning on her heel and running out she decided to explain her change of heart.

            “I had a dream last night,” he sat back at his desk, as if to say go on. “Clint came to me said some things…” his wide eyes made her feel just a bit crazed, her words trailing off. “ He told me I needed to stop running, so this morning I woke up feeling the need to look into Michael Kent’s eyes and let him know I was not afraid any more,” still he said nothing.

            Soft ticking from the clock behind his head was the only sound filling the room as she waited and finally he let out a long tired sounding sigh.

            “So because of a dream you felt the need to put yourself in danger?” her own eyes narrowed at his tone, but she held back her biting reply.

            “It was something I needed to do,” was her curt answer.

            “And you couldn’t have waited until I got there?” she opened her mouth with every intention of telling him that she could not wait around for him forever. “Or at the very least ask your mother to go with you?”

            “I needed to go on my own,” she could not hold back the anger any longer. “I am not a child Riley.”

            “I know that,” he surged to his feet, “God dammit.”

            “Then stop treating me like one,” she took a brave step forward, her glare every bit as intense as his.  

            “I’m sorry Chey,” her blue eyes widened, startled as his shoulders slumped. “When I heard you say that you had gone back in that place by yourself I lost it,” his large hand scrubbed down his drawn features.

            “I’m sorry too,” her voice was soft as he stared at her.

            “How did it feel?” he asked, plopping back in his chair, feeling defeated, yet exhilarated.