Changes

Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three

*ONE YEAR LATER*

  **Luke’s POV**

It’s nearly two years since we have seen Riley. We all still miss her, I think the longer she is gone the less likely she is to come home. I thought she would have contacted us by now.

**Jai’s POV**

I still miss Riley like crazy. I just wish I knew where she went. She promised she would come home; she has to keep her promise.

**Beau’s POV**

I wish I had protected Riley more. I don’t know if it would have stopped her from leaving but I wish I had. There is still a huge hole that is left form Riley leaving; our family dynamic changed. Not knowing is the worst.

**Riley’s POV**

A year has gone so fast, Rocco and Ezra have grown up so much; they are both walking and talking already. They both remind me so much of Daniel. It hasn’t been easy, but they are so worth it. Watching them grow has made me think about what my family and Daniel are missing out on. I have been thinking more and more about going back to Melbourne but I just can’t at the moment. I have tried writing letters to them but I haven’t got the courage to send them at the moment.

Today, it’s the twins first birthday and we are going to have lunch with Sally and Bill and then Bill is going to tattoo me. I decided to wait to get this tattoo until my body was back to the way it was before I got pregnant, now it is I feel great and I love my toned body. Today feels like the right time to get this tattoo.

We got to Bill and Sal’s for lunch, as we walked in there were blue and silver balloons and presents from Bill and Sally. Sal made an amazing lunch – for the boys she made a plate with fruit, a little chocolate bar and a sandwich for each of them and for us adults she made pasta with basil pesto and sundried tomatoes. After we had finished lunch the boys blew out the candle on their cake; then they got to open their presents. Sal and Bill got them each a toy and an outfit. Sal and Bill also got me a little bracelet with each of their names engraved on it to celebrate one year of motherhood.

It’s weird, I tattoo other people every day yet I feel nervous about getting this tattoo today. I have my boys and Sal with me. This tattoo means the most to me; it is my own design. The tattoo is one of each of the boys footprints with their names beside each one; its going on my shoulder. Right lets do this…time to get tattooed.