Reckless Radiance by Kate Roth

Valerie in a swift hug. Apparently it’s a hugging kind of day. He released her and gripped Russell’s hand as they introduced themselves. Zach tilted his chin up to Russell before he spoke. “Girlfriends just can’t keep their opinions off our wardrobes, can they?”
    Russell was overcome by a hearty laugh and shot Valerie a look seeing the color drain from her face.
    “We aren’t….” Valerie corrected Zach. Russell was trying failingly to hide his smile.
    Zach laughed it off and apologizing for assuming. Emily leaned into Valerie’s ear as the guys started chatting. “Unless he’s gay or your cousin, you’re nuts,” she whispered.
    Finally she cracked a smile and playfully shoved Emily’s shoulder as if no time had passed since high school. Looking over at Russell, she got lost for a moment taking in his face as he so easily fit in yet again.
    Emily glanced at her phone. “Zach, we need to hit the road. We need to pick up the programs from the printer.”
    “Programs?”
    “Yeah, the wedding is next week,” Zach replied.
    “Oh wow. I had no idea. Congratulations you guys,” Valerie said.
    Emily scoffed sounding only slightly irritated. “It’s not our wedding. Pastor Clemens and Alicia Jarrett—” She stopped as soon as she said the name. Her eyes closed and her lips went tight.
    Valerie’s chest tensed and she forced a smile. Alicia, Gabriel’s mother, had been on her mind a lot since she’d left Greensburg. She worried about her being alone. The thought of her finding love, especially in Zach’s father, Pastor Clemons, pleased her. Alicia deserved to be happy.
    Zach chimed in. “They’re really sweet together. When we lost my mom I didn’t know if I would ever see love in my father’s eyes again. He was counseling Alicia after ... well, and they ended up falling for each other. Heaven sent. Meant to be. All that mushy stuff.”
    “It was really good to see you, Valerie. I hope we can catch up while you’re in town,” Emily said as Zach went to pay for his clothes. She put a hand on Valerie’s arm before hurrying off to Zach’s side. She took a seat near the dressing room waiting on Russell to change again and her mind started to wander. Second to her immediate family, Alicia Jarrett was the only other person Valerie felt immense guilt for leaving behind. During Gabriel’s last few months, they’d spent countless hours together both caring for him and leaning on each other during the roughest days. As much as it made her feel like an elephant was sitting on her chest, she knew she needed to reach out to Alicia.
    “Are you all right?” Russell asked. He’d changed back into her father’s ill-fitting clothes and had an arm full of black and gray items he was ready to purchase.
    A sigh escaped her lips and she met his gaze.
    “I guess,” she replied.
    His lips turned up on one side. “All things considered, you are holding up rather well.”
    All things considered , she thought, you don’t know the half of it. She watched him pull out his wallet and saw a shocking amount of bills. He thumbed through at least ten one hundred dollar bills before finding a mass of twenties, handing the cashier enough to pay for his new wardrobe. She was sure her mouth was open staring at his loaded wallet when he turned to her. Her eyes tightened on him as he lowered his head.
    “I’ll just add that to the list of things you can explain to me later. You know, when you feel like it,” she retorted. She turned her back to him and headed to the car. When he got in the passenger seat she heard him swallow hard. “Valerie …” Russell’s voice died out as quickly as it sounded.
    She glanced at him before turning the key. “I’m gonna drop you off at the house. There’s something I need to do,” she said icily. She waited for him to object. She thought maybe he would probe her for details but clearly her tone told him enough.
    When they pulled up to the house he looked over at her and Valerie