Free Lost in Flight by Neeny Boucher

take.  A ghost of a smile crossed Steven’s face.  “I think they were hoping for a different Riley.” 
    Christina laughed – not a real one – a nervous one that sounded like “err-err-err” and fake even to her own ears.  With a piercing look, Steven said, “Our parents are well and still living on the farm.  Maybe you should drop by sometime and see them?” 
    At the mention of his parents, Christina shifted uncomfortably.  Both knew a visit from her was probably a bad idea, but Steven had to extend the invitation anyway.  Scratching for an excuse that wasn’t an outright lie, Christina said, “I can’t Steven, but maybe next time?  We’re nearly finished painting the house and I’ll be leaving Monday or Tuesday.”  He didn’t say anything - just nodded.
    They found Johnny still surrounded by people and Steven walked straight up to him.  Johnny grinned.  “Hey, Steven.  How are you?” 
    Steven nodded, gave Johnny a hard stare and handed the paint over.  As he put them in Johnny’s hands, he said quietly.  “I found Dina alone in the hardware store.  She shouldn’t be carrying this by herself, Johnny.  It’s heavy.” 
    It was as close to a scene as Steven Riley got, but the message was received loud and clear.  Johnny looked embarrassed, extracted himself from his group of admirers, and apologized.  Steven placed a hand on Christina’s shoulders, gave her a kiss on the cheek, said his goodbyes and left.  She watched him leave with a light heart and a smile on her face, comforted in the knowledge that at least one Riley in the world didn’t pathologically hate her.
     
     

Chapter Seven – Check-in
    Steven, Shanwick, The Past, Sunday, 30 September 2012, (Six days ago)
     
    Steven loaded his truck and headed north to his farm.  Running into the Martins had annoyed him.  He had some liberal views on gender roles, but also strong traditional ones.  In his mind, men didn’t let women do the heavy lifting; especially ones with stick arms and stick legs.  Steven shook his head at the Martin men’s bad manners and tried to put it out of his mind. 
    He’d always had a soft spot for Dina Martin and over the years he wondered how she was getting on.  He’d checked to see if she had a wedding or engagement ring on and was surprised that she didn’t.  He knew she was a lawyer, and lived in D.C., but she hadn’t given much away when they were speaking.  She was a forbidden topic in the Riley household, out of respect for his brother, and to keep the peace.  Steven had always liked her, even when he knew he shouldn’t. 
    Steven got up the next morning and drove toward the mountains to find his brother.  He didn’t know if he was doing the right thing or not, but the urge to check on his kid brother, after seeing Christina, was overwhelming.  He pulled into the small town of Lift and drove to the buildings his brother was working on.  He couldn’t see him anywhere, so Steven honked the horn, called out “NICK” and waited.
    When Riley heard the horn blast and someone calling “Nick,” he knew it must be his brother.  Riley’s immediate family were the only ones who called him by his actual Christian name.  He’d been given two:  Nicholas and Xavier but went by his surname.  It had started as an in-joke.  He’d been reprimanded so often by authority figures and addressed as “RILEY” that the other kids started calling him it, and the name had stuck.
    Riley found Steven eating by his truck and waved out to him.  He headed over and hit Steven up for some food.  Without a word, Steven handed a sandwich and beer over.  The Rileys were people of few words and it had taken a long time for them to understand the youngest.  He’d been the wild, bad boy of the family, but his success in business had taken them all by surprise.  When they asked for Nick’s opinion on business, they all listened.
    Clearing his throat, Steven asked, “How’s it all