DON’T STOP (Lila and Darrell) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Lila

Mom arrived just as the sun was dipping low, turning the sky a soft burne orange. I heard the car pull up before I saw her the familiar crunch of tires on gravel, and the quiet heep of the lock. I was already at the door when she stepped our suitcase in one hand, phone in the other, looking tired but smiling the moment she saw me.

We met halfway up the porch steps. She dropped her bag and pulled me into a tight hug, arms wrapping around me like she hadn’t seen me in years instead of weeks.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered into my hair, squeezing harder. “You have no idea.”

“I missed you too,” I said against her shoulder. My voice cracked just a little. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this – the normal, safe smell of her perfume and the way she always rubbed small circles on my back when she hugged me. “When’s Dad coming back?”

“Tomorrow evening,” she said, pulling back to look at me properly. “He’s wrapping up the last meeting in South Carolina I wanted to come sooner, but work…” She sighed, then smiled again. “But I’m here now. And I brought you something”

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small paper bag. “From Aunt Delaney. She said you’d like it. Natural honey real stuff. And some of those little pastries and fruits you love.”

I took the bag, smiling despite the knot in my chest. “She’s so sweet. I’ll thank her later.”

Mom cupped my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks. “You look tired, baby. Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a brighter smile. “Just… long days. Ranch life, you know?”

She studied me for a second longer, then nodded. “Okay. But if anything’s wrong, you tell me. Promise?”

“Promise.”

We went inside together, and I helped her with the suitcase.

The house smelled like the chicken I’d thrown in the oven earlier. It was simple, safe, and normal.

the

Mom set her things down and hugged me again, tighter this time. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered. “I was worried after that call.”

“I’m okay now,” I said. And part of me meant it. Having her here, real and solid and smelling like horhe, made everything feel less sharp.

We spent the next hour catching up in the living room. She told me about work, about Dad’s trip, and about how the neighbor’s dog had puppies again. I told her safe things the horses, the sunsets, how pretty the fields looked at dawn, I didn’t mention Ryder. I didn’t mention anything that happened between us. I didn’t mention anything that would make her ask questions I couldn’t answer. I mean, why would I? I was just being careful with my words.

Ryder came home just as the sky turned fully dark.

The front door opened. Footsteps. Then his voice from the hallway.

“Martha?”

Mom stood up immediately, smiling wide. “Ryder!”

40

Chapter 40

Lila

Mom arrived just as the sun was dipping low, turning the sky a soft burnt orange. I heard the car pull up before I saw her. the familiar crunch of tires on gravel, and the quiet beep of the lock. I was already at the door when she stepped out, suitcase in one hand, phone in the other, looking tired but smiling the moment she saw me.

We met halfway up the porch steps. She dropped her bag and pulled me into a tight hug, arms wrapping around me like sh hadn’t seen me in years instead of weeks.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered into my hair, squeezing harder. “You have no idea.”

you too,” I said against her shoulder. My voice cracked just a little. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this – the ate smell of her perfume and the way she always rubbed small circles on my back when she hugged me. “When’s ing back?”

orrow evening,” she said, pulling back to look at me properly. “He’s wrapping up the last meeting in South Carolina. I ted to come sooner, but work…” She sighed, then smiled again. “But I’m here now. And I brought you something.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small paper bag. “From Aunt Delaney. She said you’d like it. Natural honey- the real stuff. And some of those little pastries and fruits you love.”

I took the bag, smiling despite the knot in my chest. “She’s so sweet. I’ll thank her later.”

Mom cupped my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks. “You look tired, baby. Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a brighter smile. “Just… long days. Ranch life, you know?”

She studied me for a second longer, then nodded. “Okay. But if anything’s wrong, you tell me. Promise?”

“Promise.”

We went inside together, and I helped her with the suitcase.

The house smelled like the chicken I’d thrown in the oven earlier. It was simple, safe, and normal.

Mom set her things down and hugged me again, tighter this time. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered. “I was worried after that call.”

“I’m okay now,” I said. And part of me meant it. Having her here, real and solid and smelling like horhe, made everything feel less sharp.

We spent th

neigh

up in the living room. She told me about work, about Dad’s trip, and about how the

‘d her safe things – the horses, the sunsets, how pretty the fields looked at dawn. I

ything that happened between us. I didn’t mention anything that would make her hy would I? I was just being careful with my words.

lly dark.

ootsteps. Then his voice from the hallway.

immediately, smiling wide. “Ryder!”

Chapter 10-

#hey hugget. The kind of hug people who’ve known each other forever give. She pulled back and patted his arm. “Thank yout for bringing her home safe I was so worried?

He nodded. “Of course, She

ily.

The word landed heavy in my chest. Family.

Mom didn’t seem to notice. “Come on, dinner

dmost ready, Lila tnade chicken.”

We moved to the dining table. Ryder sat across from me. Mom sat at the head. The food was simple

roasted chicken, rice.

and steamed vegetables. We ate quietly at first. Normal things. Mom asked about the ranch. Ryder answered in shor sentences. I mostly listened, pushing rice around my plate.

After a while, Mom turned to me. “Lila, can you excuse me and your uncle for a minute?”

I froze for half a second. Then nodded. “Sure.”

I drank the last of my water, stood up slowly, and walked toward the stairs. I didn’t look back right away. But when I reached the bottom step, I paused. Turned just enough to see them.

They were talking quietly. Mom’s face was serious. Ryder’s was unreadable. His eyes flicked up and met mine for one brief second. Something passed between us.

I looked away first.

I climbed the stairs. Closed my bedroom door behind me.

And stood there in the dark, listening to the muffled sound of their voices below.

I couldn’t just sit in my room and wonder. The voices downstairs/were too low, too careful, and too serious. I needed to know what they were saying.

I slipped off my slippers so they wouldn’t make a sound on the floorboards. Then I crept to the top of the stairs and crouched low, bending forward so I could peer through the banister rails. From this angle I could see most of the living room – Mom sitting on the couch, Ryder standing near the window, both of them facing each other.

Mom’s back was to me, but her posture was stiff. Ryder’s arms were crossed. His face looked hard, jaw tight.

I held my breath and strained to hear.

Mom’s voice came first, sharp and disbelieving.

“…what did you just say?”

Ryder’s answer was calm. Too calm.

“You heard me right.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. I gripped the banister so hard my knuckles turned white. He told her. He actually told her. About us. About everything. The kissing. The sex. The way I’d confessed I loved him. The way he’d pushed me away. Everything. Did he really tell her??

Mom sank down onto the couch like her legs had given out. She ran both hands through her hair, frustration written all over her face. When she spoke again, her voice trembled.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked. “Are you sure you want to take your name out of the family register?”

Chapter 40

ystonia ir dropped

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