Bed & Breakfast

Ch. 21 Rifts

*** Andie's POV ***

It had been a week since I kicked Bennett out. I hadn't done much but mope around the house. Bennett texted or called daily. I ignored him for the first couple days, but then decided that was childish. So I answered, but gently refused his requests to stop by or meet up.

Today, didn't look like it would be much different.

"Hello Bennett." I answered my phone.

"Hi. What are you up to?" He rushed out like he had just called me in the middle of a run.

"Watching some holiday movies." I shared.

"By yourself?" He blurted out.

I laughed. "Who else would be here? Yes, I'm alone. Why do you sound so weird?"

"Working up the courage to be rejected again." He joked. "No, seriously though, I was thinking. I know you like seeing the lights and decorations. Come out tonight. We'll have dinner and if that's too much, coffee then. And we can walk the square. It's all lit up."

My heart tugged. I did love the decorations. It always did the trick of putting me in the Christmas spirit. I bit my lip and closed my eyes. "Okay."

The word surprised me even. Bennett was quiet for a moment and then chuckled nervously. "Really?"

"Do you want me to second guess it?" I asked.

"No, ma'am. Okay, um dinner?" He asked.

"I already ate." I lied. I was honestly not feeling that hungry. "But a warm beverage and Christmas lights, I'm there."

We made plans to meet in an hour. I decided to dress a little nicer than a sweater and leggings, my usual winter uniform. I went for a sweater dress and tights with knee-high boots. I needed to feel something other than mopey and this was a good start.

I took a look in the mirror before I went. I felt glammed up even though it really wasn't much. I opened the door and had barely taken a step outside when I heard familiar voices approaching. My knees nearly buckled. It couldn't be.

But sure enough, Riley and Parker rounded the corner of the house. A little whimper escaped my mouth before it felt like my chest was caving in. They looked as though they hadn't left, natural and familiar in these surroundings.

They noticed me and started to sprint. Within seconds I was wrapped in their embrace. They were both chattering a mile a minute, but I couldn't even focus on anything that they were saying because I was still trying to process that they were physically here.

The warm tears trailing down my face felt like they instantly froze. I buried myself in their arms and it helped buffer against the cold. I finally found my words. "What... what are you doing here?"

"We wanted to come home for the holiday!" Parker announced. I noticed that in the short time we spent living apart that he started to mature more physically. He had light hair sprouting from his chin and upper lip.

"We miss you, Andie. We never got to say goodbye and..." Riley was uncharacteristically emotional.

I tightened my grasp on them both and took a minute to let our love surround us. But then it hit me. Who brought them here? Before I could ask, I looked up and had my answer.

My heart beat out of my chest as I met Lou's eyes. I could sense that he was nervous, but he bravely held my eye contact. He quietly approached. I drank in every bit of him like a depraved soul.