Aftermath Of New Year's Rucas

05

This is more of an interlude than a chapter but it stands alone from what I have planned next so I'm doing them separately Thanks for reading

Riley wakes up early on the morning of her graduation after a semi restless night with a gift box resting on her forehead She knows immediately that its a present from her dad Its one of his many traditions to speak into her room early in the morning on important days and leave her something small but meaningful Her day already feels a bit brighter just for getting the box

The gift this time is a necklace A golden four leaf clover pendant hanging on a matching chain Riley doesn't hesitate in slipping it around her neck and she hurries out of bed and down the hall to thank her dad She finds him sitting alone on the living room couch with a cup of coffee flipping through one of the family scrapbooks

Riley- You're making yourself sad by looking at my hand pictures

She leans over the back of the couch and tears her chin on his shoulder wrapping her arms around him in a loose hug

Her dad reaches up to return the embrace and kiss her cheek

Cory- My baby girl is graduating middle school today I'm allowed to make myself sad

Riley- I'm not going anywhere

Cory- Just a new school where I'm not a teacher And there'll be parties and dances and you may only be a freshman alternate cheerleader now but before you know it four years will have gone by and you'll be the valedictorian asking your boyfriend to marry you at your high school graduation before you go off to school with all of your friends and I'm left behind a while state away relegated to grandpa duty i know the story