Riley, in the meantime, seemed to be dealing with his world the best way he knew how, one day at a time. He didn’t mention his mother once. The few times Izzy broached the subject, he steered the conversation to football or something equally less painful. He was like Cooper when it came to locking the bad stuff inside and going about his business. Izzy didn’t consider it healthy behavior for either of them, but it was how they coped. Just like she coped when it came to Avery by refusing to admit she might be wrong.
She glanced over at Riley. He was curled up in Cooper’s big recliner watching some adventure movie on TV. He didn’t seem to notice her staring at him. Boys and car chases. She smiled as she shook her head.
Izzy opened up a book on her iPad and tried to get into it, but she couldn’t. Finally she put it on the coffee table.
Riley glanced up and muted the TV. “You okay?”
“You were right, Riley,” she admitted.
“I’m always right.” He grinned. “But remind me what I’m right about this time.”
She gave him a playful sock on the arm. “My sister. I need to accept her as she is.”
Riley nodded, rubbing his shoulder as if she hurt him. “I did that with my mom a long time ago. As much as I’d love for her to be different, I have no control over what she does.”
“No, you don’t.”
“At least what your sister does isn’t self-destructive.” Riley watched her with those old eyes of his.
Izzy almost argued that point. In her mind, Avery’s pursuit of a career with horses was somewhat self-destructive, but Izzy understood what Riley was saying. Her sister could have a worse addiction than horses.
Making her decision, Izzy stood and gestured to Riley. “Are you up for a ride out to the country?”
“Yeah, sure.” Riley hopped to his feet, ready to go. “I was bored with this movie anyway. Are you going to see your sister?”
Izzy smiled at him. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
Izzy grabbed the keys as Riley tagged along behind her. The heaviness around her heart lifted slightly, and she smiled to herself. She may not like her sister’s choices, but they were hers to make, and Izzy would support her anyway.
It was time to let go of something she couldn’t control, no matter how hard she’d tried.
Somewhat like she should let Cooper go.
Only she couldn’t.
A half hour later, Izzy parked in front of the horse barn. Riley got out and followed her up the stairs, hanging back a little in case Izzy’s sisters slammed the door in her face.
“Betheni’s here, too,” Izzy noted.
“Is that good or bad?”
“Good, I guess. All three of them should hear what I have to say.” Izzy knocked on the door, and Riley noticed her hand was shaking.
Wow, that set him back on his heels. Izzy always seemed to have it together. She’d been a rock for Riley since he’d come here, along with Tanner, but he didn’t see much of Tanner now that the football season was in full swing, and Tanner was busy.
The door opened, and Betheni motioned them inside.
Pizza sat on a small kitchen table, and Riley’s mouth watered, even though he’d eaten a huge dinner a few hours ago. He couldn’t seem to get enough to eat anymore. His uncle said he’d been just like that when he’d been Riley’s age. Riley liked being like his uncle, even though he’d never tell him that.
Betheni must have caught him looking longingly at the pizza. “Riley, help yourself. We’re all stuffed.”
Riley glanced at Izzy, and she nodded her okay. He sat down and the table and dived in, pretty sure he could eat what was left all by himself. Besides, it kept him out of the line of fire. Nothing worse than a cat fight, and he avoided them at all costs. Females could be vicious.
Only no one seemed angry, more nervous, and worried, too.
Izzy motioned to her sisters to sit down, while she paced the floor in front of them. Riley ducked his head, pretending he wasn’t paying attention.
He wanted Izzy to be happy because he really liked her. She’d become a big sister to him, and sometimes more of a mother than his mother could ever hope to be. At the thought of his mother, he got that sad, painful feeling inside, the one he’d been fighting for a while now. Mom didn’t want him. She’d pushed him off on Uncle Coop so she could stay with her loser boyfriend.
And now Uncle Coop would be pushing Riley off on his parents because Cooper didn’t want him either. Riley tried really hard to be good. He tried to stay out of Uncle Coop’s way, and not make any trouble, but it didn’t seem to matter. He didn’t like Riley. No one did because Riley wasn’t worthy of love. He wasn’t sure why, but that was sure as hell the message he got from his family, if you could call them a family.
Riley’s eyes grew hot with unshed tears. He hated that. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and forced himself to focus on Izzy rather than his own problems.
“Avery,” Izzy said, “I’m sorry.”
Avery shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Sorry?”
Izzy nodded slowly and cleared her throat. “I won’t lie and say that I understand your passion for horses, but I will say that I was wrong. You have a right to do what you want with your life, and whatever it is, I’ll support you.” She looked to each of her sisters. “All of you. I’ve tried to be your parent and control your lives for too long, long after you were beyond the age to need me.”
“Izzy, we’ll always need you. We’ve appreciated everything you’ve ever done for us,” Avery said. “It means a lot to know that we’re okay.”
The other sisters dabbed at their eyes.
“I love you guys,” Izzy said.
All of sudden these women were hugging each other and crying. Riley stared at them, horrified that they might force him into this group hug, but they didn’t.
He kept his head down and wolfed down the last of the pizza while they giggled and jabbered and talked about nonsense stuff like girls did. At least everything was okay now for Izzy, and she could be happy.
Riley frowned. Okay, partially happy because Uncle Coop was still being a shit to her. Riley wasn’t sure what happened with them, but he was pretty sure it had something to do with him, and that made him sad.
Izzy and Cooper made a good pair. He liked them together. He didn’t want to be the one who’d torn them apart.
Riley sighed. Just when stuff started going good for him, he managed to screw stuff up, no matter how hard he tried to make things work.