The Ghost Of You

Chapter Thirty Three

Riley

This was a mistake, this entire thing. It wasn't going to end well. Why did I agree to this..
Not only am I putting the kids at risk, I'm putting James at risk and that is the last thing I ever wanted to do.
They mean the absolute world to me and I don't know why James can't understand that that is the only reason I'm doing this 

I didn't want to miss everything I had, I missed 2 years of theirs lives, I missed Harrison starting school, Sienna's growing confidence
I missed everything and no amount of apologies is going to forgive that 

Being away hurt them just as much as me being here
That isn't what was supposed to happened, not at all.. 

"Ri?" James said coming out onto the balcony, we had been back at his flat for an hour now. he went into the bedroom to call the kids and I couldn't stomach joining them. Not yet
He wanted a week, a week of goodbyes in my eyes
After this week is over with James will stop chasing, stop looking, he'll give up on me and finally start his life. The life I know he deserves.. 

I don't know how he doesn't hate me yet. All I've done for 7 years is run from him, 5 of those years everyone but James believed I was dead
But he held onto any of the hope he could get and he ran with it 
Then I don't doubt for a second that he's spend the last 2 years looking for me in any way he can
After all.. he managed to find me again 

"Do you want to talk about it all?" He asked coming and sitting on the deck sofa next to me
"I don't know what there is to talk about? This can't happen James. After this week is over with you'll never have-" I started but James cut me off by taking a hold of my hands

"Riley you need to keep an open mind about this weekend. You need to truly try to be here with us. You can't have it in your head that you are leaving long before you've stepped foot in the door" He warned me
"James" I whispered but he shook his head
"No, I've sat here day in and day out looking for you and this is the second time I've found you Ri. If you think I'm about to let you walk straight back out that door. God you have another thing coming to you" He said while he looked at me with a sense of Love I had missed 

"You're scared, I know you are. I am to, we all are" He said softly
"But you can't take on the world by yourself Riley. Let me help, let us take some of it off of your shoulders" He said moving a little closer 

James has always had a sense of ways about him, he always knew what to say, he always knew how to get to his way. After all I wouldn't be here if he couldn't
He puts his whole heart into all of this and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him at all 

"I don't know what you want me to do James. I can't stay, He'll-" I started
"He'll do nothing Riley, I won't let him. I will not let him close enough to touch you or the kids. You have to believe me on that" He warned me
"We all have you, my parents, Piper, the gang. Even Sienna and Harrison" He said
"Just ask Hunter, Sienna packs a decent punch now a days" He chuckled

"Please don't tell me you taught our daughter to punch" I said making James smile
"I like that" He whispered making me look at him confused
"What?" I asked 

"Our daughter" He confidently said with a grin on his face while I bit my lip

--

"What is this?" I asked James as we passed through the hall way
"Oh that, I didn't like how they looked on the arch" He chuckled
"So what did you do with them? I thought the idea was a photo arch?" I asked and he nodded
"Plans change" he winked before intertwining our hands pulling me down the corridor 

It's so strange to think about everything that's changed in this place. It started as a small flat that housed James and I through College. Neither of us anticipated it ever being anything more but instead now it's the place our kids have grown up for the last 2 years. It's where they've made their foundations 

"James" I breathed out taking a look at the once blank wall that was the wall between Sienna and Harrison's room. It was covered head to toe in photos. Photo's of James and I, the kids and I, the kids and James, just the kids. It was perfect

"Better then the arch?" He asked leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face
"Better then the arch" I said moving closer to him allowing him to wrap his arms around me engulfing me into a hug that was most certainly over due 

I looked up at him still leaning into his chest
"Did you keep your promise?" I whispered to him watching as a smile creeped onto his lips 
"I always keep my promises Ri, come on" He said leaning down and pressing his lips against mine gently 

"you'll be caught up in no time I promise" He whispered again taking a hold of my hand guiding me into our bedroom where a box of photos sat on the edge of the bed

He truly did keep his promise..