Chapter 15

Dawn broke, painting the world in soft light as the earth shimmered with morning dew, each grass blade wearing its own delicate droplet. A ghostly veil of fog unfurled over the meadow, and Ryder cradled his warm mug of coffee, eyes fixed on a spirited foal prancing in the mist's embrace.

The crunch of gravel snapped him back to reality as his mother's truck wove its way up to his abode. Celeste ascended the porch where Ryder lounged, her presence momentarily disrupting his tranquil observance.

"Bright and beautiful morning, eh, ma?" he greeted, settling his cup upon the nearby table.

Celeste responded with a smile as she nestled into the opposite chair, her attention captured by the playful colt. "It's quite the spectacle." Her gaze shifted to Ryder. "Has Isobel been by recently?"

A pause lingered before Ryder met her inquisitive eyes. "She's sorting things out on her end; she hasn't swung by."

A sigh left Celeste's lips as she leant forward earnestly. "You know Ryder, I worry for your well-being," her voice carried a weight threaded with concern. "There's been talk...and your path seemed treacherous for too long."

Ryder could feel a warmth creeping onto his face, an acknowledgment of truths unspoken. "I get it, ma," he said softly, covering her hand with his own. "I'm piecing myself back together."

Celeste's expression softened further, reflecting years of maternal love and unvoiced fears. "I remember when you arrived with Isobel—how astonished I was," she reminisced, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

A flash of humor gleamed in Ryder's eyes despite the somber atmosphere. "I could tell you were surprised."

"I had hopes," Celeste admitted with regret tinting her voice. "Hoped I'd see her here today again."

But Ryder gently shook his head in dismissal, dispelling any lingering expectations regarding Isobel's presence.

"She truly is a refreshing presence, don't you think?" Ryder's grin blossomed into a full beam, "Without a doubt, she is," he affirmed to his mother, his affection for her crystal clear.

As they sat together, Ryder opened up about the strides he was making in therapy and the positive transformations in his life.

His mother's eyes shone with pride. "Ryder, hearing this warms my heart. You know you're my whole world, right?"

"Of course, mom. I feel the same about you."

She glanced at the calendar, noting an upcoming milestone. "Your birthday's just around the corner. How about inviting Isobel over to ours for a barbecue?"

"I'll see if she's free. She might like that," he said thoughtfully.

"And don't forget Wren! It's been ages since I've seen that whirlwind of energy and I find myself missing him dearly." Her smile was tinged with nostalgia.

"I'll make sure he comes too," Ryder chuckled, picturing Wren's antics already.

Isobel eagerly grasped her phone and punched in Fancy's digits.

"Hey there, sis. How's life treating you?" Fancy inquired.

"Hey, Fancy! I'm on cloud nine. How about you? It feels like ages since our last chat."

"Tell me about it. I'm swamped with little Skylar. She's a tornado in a tutu!"

"I'm so excited to catch up with her. She must be three now, correct?"

"Yep, three, but acting like a teen already!" Fancy's laugh bubbled over the line. "Gets her cheekiness from someone we know."

"Oh, you're a riot, Isobel. Switching gears, how have you been spending your time?"

"You won't believe it—I've taken to horseback riding!"

"No way! I can't picture you trotting along on a horse."

"But honestly, I've fallen for it—cantering around at Rose's farm has become my daily escape."

"Wonderful to hear, Isobel. Anything else fresh and exciting?"

"Well... there's a new guy in my life."

"Do spill the beans!" Fancy squealed delightedly.

"His name's Ryder; you'll never guess his gig—he rides bulls."

"No way!" exclaimed Fancy. "You've got a thing for a bull rider?"

"We're kind of seeing each other—it's complicated."

"What do you mean by that?"

Isobel carefully recounted her budding connection with Ryder, selectively omitting the less appealing chapters of his history—she wasn't quite ready to divulge those details.

"Fingers crossed for you, sis—I'm really rooting for this to work out. Dying to meet Ryder!"

"You will soon enough. He's truly one of the good ones. And hey, let's keep this under wraps from mom and dad until I'm ready to open up."

"You've got it—my lips are sealed tight."