5 years ago, James left for the first Tour with his band. He was 21 years old and as far as we he was concerned he had his whole life ahead of him. He had his family, his friends, his band and his girl..
That was until he got a call that nobody ever...
Unsurprisingly, Piper's car was on our parents driveway and most of their lights were on. I can promise they weren't an hour ago. But Piper would have woken them up I walked into the house and could already hear Piper's rambling "James is that you sweetie?" Mum called "Yeah" I answered "Good, I think your sister is going insane" Dad said holding his head as Piper sat there with coffee in her hands while our parents looked like that had just rocked up out of bed
"What have you told them so far?" I asked her but she shook her head "She came in ranting about how someone in our family and how she is going to make them pay?" Dad asked but I sighed looking over at Piper
Of course she went off the wagon giving them little to no context
"Dad can I grab your laptop please?" I asked and he nodded "It's in the desk" He said nodding over to the little office nook he had in the dinning room Once he left the company Mum didn't want him having a way to keep tabs in the company but Dad being Dad, he certainly still does
I placed it down on the kitchen counter loading up everything I needed while my entire family stood there staring at me hoping I would give them some context
"Before we show you this, keep an open mind okay?" I warned my parents "Yeah even I didn't believe it when I first found out" Piper said making me offer her a short smile It's no hidden fact that Piper thinks Riley running again was her fault It wasn't, god it wasn't..
"James, what is going on?" Mum asked with her usual soft comforting tone "Riley was at the office the night she disappeared" I said turning the screen around so they could see the video "You mean the night she died James" Dad said but I shook my head "I heard what I said" I rebutted making them look at me confused
"James, Piper. I know that you loved Riley but she is gone.. It's hard and we know that but guys" Mum said but Piper shook her head "no she isn't mum, I saw her. James saw her! Where do you think James went?" Piper said making our parents turn to look at me
"She isn't wrong. I got a call on the anniversary from a hospital a few towns from here because I was still Riley's emergency contact from when we lived together" I explained "That was the night that Piper panic and went on a hell bent mission to track you down" Dad whispered "Is she really alive?" Mum asked, her breath hitching as she spoke
"Oh it's even better. You're grandparents" Piper said smiling making both of our parents look back to me again, I nodded confirming Piper's comment before turning my phone to show them a photo of Riley and Harrison
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That had to have been the third day I spent with them, we took the kids out to the park in town. It's where Sienna got her newest head bump after tripping on a stone she had placed in front of herself
"That's Harrison, he's four years old" I smiled "Four and half remember?" Piper said making me chuckle "He looks like you" Dad said still staring at the photo
"That's Riley.. That's really Riley" Mum said taking deep breaths in trying to calm herself down a little "that isn't all" I said making both of them turn to me again with confused expressions. I chuckled lightly to myself before Piper joined in This time I turned the phone showing a photo of Riley and Sienna
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"Oh look at her" Mum said, her lip pouting slightly as she looked at the photos "Her name is Sienna, she's -" Piper started before looking at me "18 months" I nodded
"What is going on then? Why is Riley not home with all of us?" Dad asked "That I don't know. She ran when Piper came over, She told me that someone had threatened her and told her she had to leave" I explained making both of our parents look at each other confused "Who on earth? Everyone loved Riley" Mum said and Dad nodded in agreement "She said this person had hurt her before and threatened to hurt her and me if she didn't leave. Apparently they said that she would be leaving one way or another" Piper explained making both of our parents confusion grow
"This makes no sense" Dad said, he could say that again.. None of this made sense..
--
Piper and I had agreed to crash at our parents house. It made more sense and would allow us to pick this up tomorrow morning. When Piper called the family meeting, I bet this is not at all what my parents had assumed would be happening "Hey son" Dad said knocking on the door to my old room. This place alone was covered in photos of Riley and I "Hey, what's up?" I asked "Could you go and talk to your mother for me. She's not taking the news well" He said making me purse my lips together before nodding heading out to the back garden where I could gather mum would be
Sure enough, there she was sitting on the bench swing Riley and I spent 2 days trying to build before I gave up and let Riley do it her way "Hey Mum" I smiled sitting down next to her, she didn't bat an eye lid to me joining her. Had it been any other day, I may have been offended but given the circumstances. It's understanable
"Was she okay. When you saw her? Does she hate us for not looking for her? For not helping her?" Mum asked making me sigh placing my hand on top of hers
"Riley is okay. She's a bit of a flight risk but besides that everything is okay. She isn't mad and she certainly doesn't hate anyone, especially not you" I said rubbing my thumb over the palm of her hand "She's been alone this entire time" She whispered but I shook my head "She had Harrison and then she had Sienna. They've been the two things keeping her going. She would and is gong to do anything she can to protect them" I explained
"you'll love them mum, Harrison will have you wrapped around his little finger in seconds and the moment you look into Sienna's eyes she'll melt your heart" I said making mum smile this time
"She'll come home won't she?" Mum asked turning to look at me "I'll bring her home Mum, I promise" I said placing my arm around her as we sat back against the swing looking out into the garden
Everyone needed Riley back.. not just me I'm going to bring her home that is a promise
