Phoenix

R iggs made good on his promise to tow her back to Aggie’s house and put enough gas in her tank to get her to a gas station in town the next morning. Honestly, all she wanted to do was crawl into her old bed and sleep for days, but she was sure that Aggie would talk her ear off before that could happen.

Aggie met them on the porch before was even out of Riggs’ truck. She was waving like a loon, and all could do was smile back at her grandmother and shake her head. “I think she is happy to see you,” Riggs breathed. She turned to find him leaning in close and she couldn’t help herself—she took a deep breath, loving the smell of clean man and a hint of cologne.

“You smell good,” she whispered, still leaning into his body.

“Wait, did you just sniff me?” he asked. She should have told him that she didn’t, but when she found herself nodding her head, she wanted to kick herself. “You shouldn’t keep your grandmother waiting,” he whispered. looked back at the porch and Aggie was still waiting for her.

“Um, yeah,” she mumbled. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Not a problem. I’d do anything for your grandmother,” he said. “It was nice to meet you and Lydia,” Riggs said as though dismissing her. nodded, opened the door, and jumped out of the truck. Riggs helped her get Lydia and her car seat out of the back seat and she grabbed their bags. They didn’t have much, but planned on changing that soon—not just for herself but for her daughter too.

“You’re here,” Aggie said, pulling into her arms. She dropped the bags and wrapped her arms around her grandmother. She felt like home and knew that she was finally safe. She hadn’t felt that way in four years, but Aggie did that for her—gave her security.

“This is Lydia,” said, “your great-granddaughter.” Aggie released and took Lydia from Riggs. “Sorry, she’s sleeping. She’s been out most of the night.”

“Well, let's get her down for the night and then, you and I can catch up. Tommy, would you mind bringing in the bags?”

“Oh, I can get them,” insisted. She grabbed for the bags at the same time that Riggs did, and they bumped heads “Ouch,” grumbled. “You have a hard head.” She rubbed her forehead and looked up to find Riggs smiling back at her.

“I’ve been told many times that I’m hardheaded, but usually from my mother,” he said. “Are you okay?” turned around to find that Aggie had disappeared into the house, leaving her on the front porch with Riggs. She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t okay at all, but not for the reason he believed.

“I’m fine,” she insisted. “I’ve got the bags if you need to head home.” He looked over to what she assumed was his house and he nodded.

“Yeah, I should get home. I have an early start tomorrow. I guess I’ll see you later,” he said.

“Will you really?” she asked. He turned around to look at her and she suddenly regretted asking her question.

“Will I really what?” Riggs asked. She was pretty sure that he had heard her clearly, but for some reason, he wanted to play games with her.

“Um, will you really see me later?” she asked.

“I’m pretty sure that I will,” he said. “I only live right there.” Riggs pointed to his house across the yard. “We are bound to run into each other at some point since you’re living here now.”

“Oh, I see,” she said. She felt like a complete fool for asking such a silly question. was hoping that he actually wanted to see her, not that he’d run into her because they were now neighbors, and he’d have no choice.

“Good night, ,” he said as he walked over to his truck.

“Night,” she whispered as she watched him drive to the next house and park his truck in the driveway. didn’t wait to watch him walk into his house. She knew that he’d think she was some crazy stalker or something, and that wasn’t what she needed right now. Moving back in with Aggie was her fresh start and no matter what, she needed to make it work. Following Riggs around like a puppy wasn’t a good look and would only end with heartache. Guys like him always brought heartache along with them, no matter how hot they were.

Aggie walked into ’s old bedroom and sat down on her bed. “How are you not tired?” she asked her grandmother.

“Oh, I’m exhausted, but I’m so excited that you and Lydia are here.” Aggie patted the mattress, and crossed the room to sit down next to her. “You’ll stay this time, right?” her grandmother asked. didn’t know how to answer that question since she didn’t have plans for tomorrow, let alone forever.

“Aggie, I can’t give you an answer to your question. I have a lot to figure out first.” She needed to figure out how she was going to take care of her daughter and then, she wanted to find a little place of their own—not that she had anything needed to fill that place. She had to sell off most of her belongings to get back to her grandmothers, and she rolled into town with nothing—no money in her pocket and no gas in her tank. was exhausted from life and the last few years that she had to live it on her own while taking care of Lydia.

“Well, you can stay here as long as you need to, sweetheart,” Aggie said, patting her leg.

“Thank you,” said. “I promise that Lydia and I won’t be a burden. I’ll help out with the cooking and cleaning around here. Plus, I’m going to get a job, if you wouldn’t mind watching Lydia until I can find a babysitter, so I will be able to pay you rent.”

“I’d love to watch Lydia. It will give me a chance to get to know her. And you will not pay me a dime. You save your money for your and Lydia’s future.” tried to tell her that she wanted to pay her and Lydia’s way, but before she could get the words out, her grandmother put her hand over ’s mouth.

“Hush, I won’t hear you tell me no. If you want to stay here, it’s one of my conditions. I’ll take your help around the house and with cooking, but you will keep your money,” Aggie insisted. “Besides, you know that my second husband was very well off and my divorce lawyer worked his magic, and I’m set up for life, so I don’t need your money.” When her grandmother got this way, she knew that there was no arguing with her. Aggie was a force when she dug her heels in.

“I’ll agree to your terms under one condition,” said.

“What’s that?” her grandmother asked.

“That you let me go to sleep because I feel about ready to drop,” said.

“Oh, my goodness, where is my head?” Aggie asked. “Of course, I’ll let you get some sleep. And don’t worry about getting up with Lydia in the morning, I’ll get her up and feed her breakfast. What does she like to eat?”

smiled at her grandmother. “Like me, that girl eats everything.”

Aggie giggled, “I remember you just about ate me out of house and home, but I loved feeding you.” knew that was true. Her grandmother’s love language was feeding people.

“Well, I appreciate you taking care of Lydia for me. But if she wakes up and is scared, please wake me. Remember, she doesn’t know you yet,” reminded.

“This is not my first go around with a two-year-old,” Aggie insisted. “I raised you and Raven.” Hearing her mother’s name again, after not thinking about her for so many years, made her sad. Her mother was only sixteen when she had , and she knew that there would be no way that she’d be able to take care of a newborn. She was a drug addict and decided that it would be best to dump off at Aggie’s house. Honestly, it probably saved ’s life. Aggie had given her a warm, safe, loving home to grow up in and she’d forever be thankful to her grandmother.

“Either way, if Lydia needs me, just wake me up,” insisted. She was the only person her daughter saw every day and every night—the one constant in her life since she was born.

Aggie patted her hand and smiled, “Don’t worry honey,” her grandmother said. “Everything will work out the way that it should.” Aggie used to tell her that every day when she was a teenager. They fought like cats and dogs, and at the end of the fight, when they had both calmed down, Aggie would tell her that saying.

“Thanks for your help with getting Lydia and me here,” said, hugging her grandmother.

“You are welcome,” Aggie said. “I’m so happy that you both are here.” She stood from ’s bed and turned back. “I’ll check on Lydia before I go to bed, sweetheart. You just get some rest,” her grandmother insisted.

“Thank you,” said around a yawn. She didn’t even bother to change. She didn’t own pajamas anymore and usually slept in her clothes. watched her grandmother leave the room and shut the door before she slipped out of her jeans and climbed under the covers. As she snuggled into the mattress, she noted how every smell, and every touch, she was feeling more and more at home. Her old bedroom held so many memories that she wondered why she had left in the first place. One thing was for sure, she didn’t plan on leaving again for a long, long time.