Together We Stand by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-31T18:30:00+00:00

Two Weeks Later

Heath was due any minute. It was the first time she’d be able to hold him, touch him, to kiss him in months.

Sure, she’d seen him a few times. Once the weather had grown warmer, they’d stayed six feet apart as he played soccer with Seth. Seth was too young to really understand what was going on. He didn’t understand why Daddy wasn’t coming home with them, but as long as he saw Grandma and Grandpa afterwards, he could be easily distracted. But distraction hadn’t worked on Riley. No, she’d cried in the car each time they parted ways, and then again later each night.

Now she was waiting for him, nervously tapping her fingers against her parents’ granite kitchen island. Why she was tense, she didn’t know. They were engaged, had a kid together, and another on the way, yet here she was anxious as a teenager waiting on her first date. She’d changed her outfit three times.

The doorbell rang. Despite eagerly waiting for it, the sharp noise still caused her to jump.

Her mother placed a hand atop Riley’s. “Relax, sweetie.”

With a nod, Riley slipped from the stool and called for Seth. She wrapped her hand around Seth’s tiny fingers and tugged him toward the entry.

A bundle of nerves and excitement, Riley pulled the door open.

In the bright morning sun, he stood on the front step. His hair was still damp from the shower he’d had after work, and his jaw was absent of the scruff he’d accumulated in the past few days. In one hand he held a duffel bag, indicating just how real this was. He was home, or at least with them in their temporary home, and he planned to stay.

Their gazes raced over one another, and a smile graced his mouth. Dropping the bag, he squatted down and held out a hand to Seth.

The boy hesitated, clinging to her pant leg. It broke her heart to see Seth so unsure of his own father. This stupid virus was truly awful, on so many levels.

Heath, however, wasn’t fazed by his son’s reluctance. He glanced up at Riley. “I figured this would happen, so I came prepared.” Reaching into his bag he withdrew a big blue ball with green speckles.

Seth’s eyes lit with joy.

“Remember buddy? We like to play catch. Ready?” He held up the ball. Seth caught on quickly and raised his arms. “Bribery works every time.”

They tossed it back and forth a few times, before Riley’s mom interrupted. “Maybe Daddy would like to come in, and not stand in the doorway all day.”

Heath shuffled forward a bit and closed the door. Seconds later Seth launched himself at Heath.

Her fiancé wrapped his arms around the toddler and pulled him in for a tight hug. “I missed you, little man.” He kissed his cheek and gave him another squeeze before setting him free.

Her father walked in from the living room, phone in one hand and glanced up. “Heath, how’s it going?”

Straightening, Heath shook her dad’s extended hand.

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