Laney And Riley: Friendly Valley Romance

By Braylee B. Parkinson

In "Laney and Riley," the sequel to their enchanting holiday romance, Laney McGee and Riley Crist find themselves grappling with the realities of love's complexities. After a whirlwind and passionate affair last Christmas, the couple faces unexpected trials that test their bond. As they encounter each hurdle, doubts creep in, casting shadows over the bright future they once envisioned. Can they rediscover the magic that once brought them together? Dive into their journey as Laney and Riley strive to reignite the spark that lit up their hearts during that unforgettable Christmas season. Join them as they learn if true love can indeed triumph over all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Braylee Parkinson
• Release date: Mar 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224511853

Book preview

1

Laney McGee perched on the tiny balcony of her apartment, sipping ice tea and decompressing from a stressful semester as the Friendly Valley High School theater teacher. She was enjoying a lazy Sunday, reminiscing about how much her life had changed over the past several months. It had been a rewarding year, but being back in the classroom had been difficult. The warm sun poured over her skin as she enjoyed the freedom of the first Sunday of summer vacation.

Below her feet, Afton Murray’s coffee shop murmured like a distant lullaby through the floorboards of her apartment. Her gaze drifted across the room, catching glimpses of Friendly Valley’s rustic charm in the worn wooden furniture and the sun-bleached curtains fluttering at the window. Friendly Valley, so saturated with simplicity and quietude, was worlds apart from the relentless pulse of her hometown, Kansas City.

While she had an affinity for the relaxing life Friendly offered, she wondered if she’d made a mistake moving to the small mountain town. Feeling homesick, Laney reached for her phone resting on the nightstand and swiped the screen. She stared at memories, wondering what her friends were up to that evening. Scrolling through old pictures, the city unfolded before her in fragments of time: friends clinking glasses in rooftop celebrations and the glittering skyline hemming in the rush of crowded streets.

Each photo was a whisper of what had been. Laughter trapped in a digital echo. Faces frozen mid-smile. Another swipe, and the contrast, seared her—the stark emptiness of an apartment void of feeling, save for the bouquet her boss had given her, wilting on the counter.

Laney’s heart thumped around the question that gnawed at her resolve: Had she made the right choice? Here, nestled amidst the rolling hills and endless skies of Friendly Valley, love had beckoned her with a promise as warm as Riley Crist’s steady gaze. She could still feel the imprint of his hand in hers, the rough calluses speaking of hard work and tender care, the legacy of a man who shouldered the weight of loss and responsibility far beyond his years. He’d swept her off her feet like a prince from a fairytale, but now doubt crept in like the chill of dusk. After moving to Friendly, the flame that flickered during her vacation seemed to die down. They saw each other sporadically, and Riley often had to leave early when they had plans. Theirs was a love story penned in the margins of two contrasting worlds. Riley was a cowboy working to build his ranch while servicing several other ranches to make money. He also was beholden to his younger sister, Deidre, since their parents had died in a car crash. Laney spent most of her time focused on work or hanging out with the ladies of Friendly. Many of them had moved to the town after falling in love—just like her. The difference was that most of her friends had their cowboy. There were no questions about where their relationships were going. Now Laney had a head full of doubt.

The vibration of the phone interrupted her trip down memory lane. She glanced at the screen, Riley’s name lighting up against the digital backdrop. A simple question: Lunch today at Hometown Heroes?

Her heart skipped a beat. Not just at the sight of his name, but that he’d extended an invitation. Riley had been distant lately. Lately, Deidre had consumed his time. She couldn’t hold down a job because of her attitude and life choices, and Laney felt that Riley was hindering his sister from growing up, but she hadn’t gotten up the nerve to tell him.

The invitation was a lifeline thrown into the swirling current of her uncertainty. Sill Laney felt herself hesitating. To accept was to dive deeper into the life she had chosen here in Friendly Valley; to refuse would be to admit her growing apprehension.

She bit her lip, contemplating the diner with its cozy booths and the familiar aroma of home-cooked meals. Would she snuggle up next to Riley like she wanted to, or would she sit across from him to portray the distance she felt growing between her life in Friendly, and the life she thought she and Riley would have after she moved?

Sounds good. She responded, keeping the tone casual.

As Laney hit send, her heart somersaulted with a blend of anticipation and trepidation. She finished her lemonade and headed to her closet, choosing a pale yellow summer dress and a pair of metallic sandals. She changed clothes and ventured out into the warm afternoon air.

She lived in the closest thing Friendly had to a downtown. The old mining claims building where the apartment was located was just a few blocks from Hometown Heroes, the town’s main eatery. She strolled through the empty streets of Friendly, each footfall bringing her closer to her meeting with Riley. This time, she was going to confront him with her concerns.

The bell above the diner’s entrance tinkled a merry greeting as Laney stepped inside. The savory scent of sizzling burgers on the grill enveloped her in a warm embrace. Lucian, the son of her good friend Maribel, balanced a tub of dishes he was hauling around on one knee, and waved at her. She smiled and returned the gesture, amazed at how much Lucian had grown just since she’d moved to Friendly.

Laney’s eyes swept over the room until they found Riley, his earnest gaze meeting hers with a flicker of passion in his eyes. She wondered if he would bring up one of the difficult topics they’d recently discussed—their relationship status, his desire for a Catholic wedding, or how rude his sister had been to her—but no. As soon as Laney sat down, Riley said,

My sister finally found a job. Isn’t that great? I think she’ll be good at it, too.

Laney nodded, hiding her eye roll with a downward tilt of her head. She felt exhausted from constantly hearing about Riley’s sister.

She mustered a smile, masking the weariness that lingered beneath as she listened to Riley gush about how proud he was of his sister. As Laney navigated the tide of the news about his Deidre’s latest job, her mind drifted to the unspoken truths that lay nestled in the hollows between their conversations. A tall girl with blonde hair swept up into a massive bun at the back of her head was on her way to their table.

Hey! Elsa Peterson said. Her face breaking into a smile. She had a short black apron with pockets tied around her waist.

Hi Elsa, Laney responded. When did you start working here?

Yesterday. I’m working on saving up money for after graduation. As you can see, Lucian is also working here for the summer. His mom wouldn’t let him take the job unless one of us worked alongside him, Elsa said, referring to her other siblings. Elsa was Blake Peterson’s younger sister. Blake had moved back to Friendly after spending years abroad in the military. Now he and Maribel, Lucian’s mother, were married and the Skyes and Petersons were one big happy family. They got married so fast, Laney thought before immediately feeling guilty for being jealous that one of her friends had found true love.

Riley said you’d probably want coffee, so I brewed a fresh pot.

Elsa headed to a counter across the dining room and grabbed a steaming pot. She returned to the table with a big smile and filled Laney’s cup.

Perfect. Thank you for the coffee, Laney said.

Are you ready to order? I can come back if you’re not.

Riley looked at Laney. He was staring at her which made her blush. She could see the passion in his eyes. At least he still was in love with me, she thought.

I’ll have a burger and fries, Laney said.

Same for me, Riley added.

Coming right up, Elsa said before taking off for the kitchen.

With a casual sip of her coffee, Laney summoned the courage to broach the uncharted territory that loomed between them. Riley, she began, her voice steady despite the tremor of uncertainty that threaded through her words, I’ve been thinking about us...

The shift in Riley’s expression was imperceptible, a subtle tilt of his head that beckoned her to continue. Encouraged by this silent invitation, Laney forged ahead, her gaze fixed on a point beyond the dimly lit booth they occupied.

Do you think we made a mistake?

Riley’s brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion clouding his gaze as Laney’s words hung between them like a delicate veil of uncertainty. The clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation around them seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the weight of her question suspended in the charged air.

The silence was thick with unspoken truths. Lingering doubts that cast a shadow over their once-bright future. Riley’s jaw clenched.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of held breaths, Riley exhaled heavily, his gaze searching Laney’s face for some semblance of clarity. A mistake? he echoed. Laney, I thought we had something real. You know how I feel about you, don’t you?

Laney’s heart skipped a beat at the raw vulnerability in his voice. The bare honesty that colored his words tugged at her heartstrings.

Riley, I just don’t know where things are going. My life here in Friendly is so different from the life I had in Kansas City. I miss my family and I don’t know if we’re…going anywhere.

Riley ran his hands through his sandy brown hair and sighed.

Laney, I want you to be my wife. What do you mean, you don’t know if we’re going anywhere?

Where’s my ring? Laney thought, but held her tongue. They’d discussed marriage, but Riley seemed to want assurances before he even proposed.

Okay. Well, how do we move from this impasse? Laney asked.

He reached across the table and said, Will you come with me to meet with Father Andrew?

Why?

There’s some pre-marriage prep we should complete before we get married. It takes months, so we should start on it now.

She was madly in love with Riley, but she didn’t know if she wanted to get up every Sunday morning and go to church.

I don’t know that going to church will do anything for my life, she said.

Riley remained quiet, as if waiting for more information. Surprised by his silence, Laney stumbled over the rest of her words.

"You seem to love your faith and I respect that, but it’s foreign to me, and I don’t know