Page 1 of Always Right Here

Prologue

She’s finally arrived. After years of being away from me. After years of putting me through complete agony. She is finally home. Finally, within my grasp.Finally mine.

Chapter 1

Riah

College had been a great escape for four years, but I was more than ready to be home. Coming back had always been the plan, but I underestimated just how much I’d miss it while I was gone. With my degree finished and a job in town secured, I was more than ready to settle back into the place I grew up, surrounded by the people who loved me.

After two full days on the road, I was relieved when my parents' house came into view. I almost forgot to put the car in park as I pulled into the familiar driveway. They insisted onthrowing a welcome-home BBQ the second I arrived, so I decided to take a moment to breathe before facing everyone.

Before I could fully relax back into my seat, my dad’s large, hulking frame came barrelling through the front door. His smile split his face as he half-jogged up to the passenger window. His energy was so infectious that it overcame the exhaustion in my bones and I threw the door open to hop into his arms.

“My little girl!” He exclaimed as he crushed his giant arms around me and lifted me into the air.

Even though I was almost 25 years old, I would technically always be a little girl when I stood 5-foot-nothing next to his 6’5”.

“Dad!” I giggled. “I’m agrown woman!”

“I know, I know,” he set me down with a chuckle. “But you’ll always be my little girl, Riah.”

I rolled my eyes as I watched him grab almost all my bags under his arms and over his shoulders before guiding me inside. I was truly lucky to have two parents who loved me so fiercely. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t feel grateful.

“So, is everyone here yet?”

“Not yet, Mama and Eddie are inside.” He grunted as he refused my offer to help with opening the front door.

“Did he bring the baby?!” I squealed.

He nodded with a smile as he finally got the door open. I squealed again and I pushed past him, almost knocking him over, to finally meet my baby niece.

“Riah!” My brother stood with his arms open as I ran through the house.

“Yeah, hi,” I waved him off. “Where is she?”

“Well, hello to you, too.” He shook his head as he pointed his thumb behind him.

“Hey, Eddie.” I pecked a quick kiss on his cheek before pushing past him to the little bundle of newborn baby squished into a bassinet under the living room window.

I crouched down, admiring her scrunched, sleeping, sweet face. She looked nothing like my brother and everything like his wife. She was beautiful. Perfect. I sighed, refraining from taking her in my arms, and flopped down on the couch.

“Is Chrissy here?”

“Yeah, she’s out backwith Mama.”

“Let me know when she’s awake. I can’t wait to squeeze her!”

I made my way outside where I found my mom and my brother’s wife setting up last-minute decorations for the BBQ. As soon as I slid the glass door open, my mom dropped the ‘Welcome Home’ sign she was hanging and ran over to me. Chrissy’s mouth hung open in amused disappointment as the sign fell to the ground.

“My baby is here!” She slammed into me, squeezing me tight around my waist. She was my height but much slimmer than me and I was thankful for the gentler touch as compared to my dad.

“Hey, Mama.” I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face into her soft, wavy hair. I inhaled deeply, the familiar fruity shampoo smell digging at the deepest memories in my mind.

That smell is what finally made me feel home.

Guests slowly started trickling in as the smell of hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken grilling filled the summer air. I’d told my college experience story about ten times before I finally got myself a drink and relaxed into a secluded seat next to my mom’s rose bushes. It was nice to be home and surrounded by so many people who loved me, even if it was a little overwhelming.

“Hey!” My brother jogged up to me. “The little princess is awake. Chrissy is changing her real quick, but you might want to go get your squeezes in before she starts getting passed around.”