The Ghost Of You

Chapter Thirty Two

James 

Here she was, stood right in front of me. No guy in her apartment, no distractions, no where for her to hide. It was just the two of us right now. 
Piper headed back to the hotel after I told her this was something I needed to do alone 
I could not risk overwhelming Riley to the point she found a way to run again

"James, you can't be here. What are you doing?" She pleaded attempting to try and push me back out of the door I stood in
"I can't be here? No Riley you shouldn't be here" I reminded her but she shook her head
"Please we can't do this. You need to leave. You need to go back home to the kids, please" She begged still attempting everything she could to get me out of the door

"I'm not going anywhere Riley unless you are coming with me" I said softly
"I can't!" She yelled
"Do you really think I would be doing this if I could be there with you all James?" She panicked 

"Faith? Is everything okay out here?" A voice said behind me, I turned to see the same gentlemen Riley came home with stood with who I would assume was a his wife

"Sorry guys, I didn't mean to disturb you" Riley said bowing her head
"Nonsense honey, is this man bothering you? do you need us to help?" the lady asked but Riley sighed shaking her head opening the door motioning my inside 

I don't know who these people are but if they are the reason I now have an in, a way to get through to Riley. I owe them a lot more then I'll be able to express right now 

Looking through Riley's flat, this place was cold. It wasn't at all like the old one was when I found her with Harrison and Sienna. This was different, there were no pictures, no pillows, no blankets, nothing that would scream Riley
If this is the type of person Faith is. I don't want it to stay like this 
I need to get Riley back to being Riley 

"I'll see you guys in the morning" Riley said offering the couple a smile before shutting the door and turning to look at me 
She was hesitant to move and inch and I couldn't blame her
This entire situation was not ideal, in what world did we end up here. 
What happened to the two hopeless kids who's biggest issue was getting me to pass maths?
What happened to the kids who had their plans already in motion for the future? 
Where did we go?

"James, You know that if I could I would be there with you guys but I refuse to put any of you in danger" Riley started right as we were cut off by my phone vibrating
"It's my mum. She's with the kids, I need to-" I started and Riley nodded staying out of the frame even though all I wanted to do is pull her into the frame 

"Mum what's wrong?" I asked as her face filled the screen, there was a sound of some sniffles next to her
"A certain little lady woke up very upset that you weren't here" Mum said before trailing the camera down to show Sienna cuddled up on the sofa on Dad's lap
"Daddy?" Sienna said softly as soon as she saw me
"Hey Princess, what's wrong?" I asked looking at Riley briefly to see the smallest of smiles on her lips

"You aren't here? Where are you?" She said pouting
"I've had to come help Auntie Piper, I'll be back before you and your brother are home from the cabin" I said but her pout kept growing 

"Will you? Do you promise Daddy?" She asked making me sigh knowing why she was asking this..

"I promise Princess, why don't you and Grandma make those special cookies while you're away and we can have a camp out in the living room when you are home?" I offered hoping it would sweeten the promise
"Okay! But can I pick the movie? Bubby will pick a scary one and I don't want to be scared" She said making me chuckle
"I'm sure we can sort something out. Now I need you to go back to sleep okay? I'll facetime you and Harrison tomorrow when I have a moment okay?" I offered and she nodded before hugging Dad and jumping off his lap

"I love you Daddy" she smiled 
"I love you too Sweetheart" I replied before she ran off to her room with Dad following shortly behind her

--

"Does that happen often?" Riley whispered moments later breaking the new found silence
"Panic when I've left?" I asked and Riley nodded but I shook my head
"I don't really ever leave so that's the first time. She get's upset often when my attention is elsewhere though" I said 
"What about Harrison?" Riley asked
"Riley" I warned but she looked up at me with a pleading glance 
"Please, please just be honest" She whispered

"You don't want to hear it Riley I can promise" I reminded but she shook her head
"Please" She pleaded 

"Both of them are broken Riley. Sienna still leaves you a seat at all her tea parties, she still sleeps with the blanket you got her and will not sleep without a story about you" I said making Riley smile slightly 
"Harrison blames himself almost everyday that if he hadn't come back Sienna and I would still have you. He thinks he made you mad or angry which is why you left. He biblically reads and looks through the books and photos we have about you" I explained 

"They both need you Riley, we all do.. I do Riley" I whispered but Riley looked down fiddling with her fingers

"James if it was that simple I would come back but your Uncl-" I started
"Screw him Riley. He can't do anything if you are with us I promise" I pleaded
"I won't let anything happen!" I said moving to be closer to her
"It's not a risk I can take" She mumbled 
"It is" I reminded but Riley shook her head 

"We know you were in town the other week, Harrison saw you, so did Piper. We knew you were close by but I don't know what made you leave but-" I started before Riley cut me off
"Your Uncle found me again. He watches my every move, he reminded me if I come back, if make contact with you guys it'll be the last thing I ever do. He threated you and the kids but I can't James, I need to keep you all safe" She pleaded

I took a hold of her hands making her look at me, I had never seen her this terrified. This was a new scale one I didn't know how to fix 

"Come back with me Riley. Come spend the weekend with me and then when the kids come back we'll cross whatever bridge we need to. If after a week you still feel like you need to run, I'll let you" I whispered
"If after a week you think that you can't be with us, we won't come looking anymore" I said making Riley look at me hesitantly 

"James" She whispered
"One week Riley, that's all I need" I said before hearing a defeated sigh escape her lips with a small nod