Riley’s fingers danced across the piano keys, the final notes of Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat major lingering in the air. She exhaled, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she closed the sheet music.

“That was beautiful, Brent,” she said, her eyes twinkling with pride. “You’ve made incredible progress.”

“Thanks, Riley,” Brent replied shyly. He was only eight years old, the same age as her nephew Landon, but so talented. A total protégé.

“Same time next week?” Riley asked.

“Yes,” Brent nodded, smiling. “See you then.”

After Brent left, she made her way upstairs toward Tiffany’s room. The door was ajar, and she could see her stepdaughter sitting on the bed, shoulders slumped.

She looked upset, Riley thought.

Her heart began to race, concern flooding her chest. What could be wrong? She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to intrude or give Tiffany space. But the sight of the young girl looking so dejected made the decision for her.

Taking a deep breath, Riley gently pushed the door open. “Tiffany?” she called softly. “Is everything okay?”

Tiffany didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the floor. Riley’s worry intensified as she approached the bed, her pulse quickening with each step. She perched on the edge of the mattress, close enough to offer comfort but not so near as to overwhelm her.

“Sweetheart,” Riley tried again, her voice thick with concern. “What’s going on?”

Riley reached out, gently placing her hand on Tiffany’s arm. The touch was light, meant to comfort, but Tiffany was startled as if she’d been shocked. Her head snapped up, wide eyes meeting Riley’s, surprise etched across her features.

“Oh, Riley,” Tiffany breathed, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Riley’s heart clenched at the vulnerability in her stepdaughter’s eyes. She squeezed Tiffany’s arm softly.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Riley asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. She leaned in slightly, searching Tiffany’s face for any clue to her distress. “You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?”

Tiffany bit her lower lip, a telltale sign of her inner turmoil. Riley waited patiently, her thumb tracing small circles on Tiffany’s arm, silently encouraging her to open up.

After what felt like an eternity, Tiffany took a shaky breath. She looked up at Riley.

“I… I don’t know if I should say anything,” Tiffany whispered. “It’s probably not a big deal.”

Riley nodded encouragingly, her heart racing with worry and the desire to help. “Take your time, Tiffany. I’m here to listen, no matter what it is.”

“It’s Jacob. He won’t leave me alone at school. He’s always there, watching me, following me between classes,” she said.

Riley raised an eyebrow. “Who is Jacob? A boy in your class?”

Tiffany nodded. “Yeah. He is…he is a moron!”

Riley couldn’t help but laugh at the way she said it but then stopped. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed. You are upset about this.”

Tiffany nodded seriously, but a corner of her mouth lifted with a slight smile. “It’s fine. It’s just high school drama, I guess.”

“You know,” Riley said gently, an idea forming in her mind, “we should talk to your dad about this. River would want to know, and he could help put a stop to Jacob’s behavior.”

She watched Tiffany’s face carefully, hoping her suggestion would bring relief.

“Dad? No way,” Tiffany said.

“Your dad loves you so much, Tiffany,” Riley continued, her voice soft but firm. “He’d do anything to protect you.”

Tiffany shook her head vigorously, her hair whipping around her face. “No! We can’t tell Dad!” she gasped, her voice tinged with panic.

Riley leaned back, surprised by the intensity of Tiffany’s reaction. “Why not, sweetie?” she asked gently, trying to understand.

Tiffany’s fingers twisted nervously in her lap as she explained, “If Dad finds out, he’ll go ballistic. You don’t know how he gets when he’s angry, Riley. He might…he might hurt Jacob.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And that would only make everything worse.”

Riley’s brow furrowed as she considered Tiffany’s words. She was right. River had a temper. “You’re right,” she agreed softly. “We don’t want to escalate things.”

Tiffany’s shoulders relaxed slightly at Riley’s understanding. She took a deep breath and looked up, her blue eyes shimmering with determination. “I want to handle this on my own,” she declared. “I know it won’t be easy, but I need to learn how to stand up for myself.”

Riley watched her stepdaughter. Tiffany was showing such maturity, but Riley couldn’t help worrying about her safety.

“This boy isn’t dangerous, is he?” she asked.

Tiffany winced. “No, I don’t think so. Just a typical arrogant jerk.”

Riley nodded slowly, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Kind of like your dad?”

Tiffany groaned. “You know what…yes. Kind of like him. They would’ve been best friends if they were the same age.”

Riley laughed. “Well, if you can’t handle him alone, let me know. I will personally go to your school and beat him up.”

Tiffany smiled and hugged Riley. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice muffled against Riley’s shoulder. “You’re the best stepmom ever.”

Riley’s heart swelled with affection as she returned the embrace, gently stroking Tiffany’s hair. A lightness settled over the room, the earlier tension dissipating.

“Hey,” Riley said playfully, leaning back to look at Tiffany with a grin. “How about we bake some of those double chocolate chip cookies you love? I think we both deserve a treat after this heavy conversation.”

Tiffany’s face lit up. “Can we add extra chocolate chips?” she asked eagerly.

Riley laughed, feeling a surge of warmth at the sudden shift to normalcy. “Extra chocolate chips it is,” she agreed, standing up and offering her hand to Tiffany. “Let’s go raid the pantry.”

“Where’s Sky?” Tiffany asked as they walked over to the kitchen.

Sky, the newest addition to the Foster clan had just turned two this year. She was beyond adorable and held a special place in Tiffany’s heart. Tiffany had always wanted a little sister, and because of Riley, her wish came true.

“I put her down for a nap,” Riley said.

“She should be up soon though,” Riley added with a smile as they reached the kitchen.

Tiffany’s face softened at the mention of Sky. “She’s so cute, I can’t get over it. I love how she always wants to follow me around.”

Riley grinned as she reached for the mixing bowl. “She adores you. You’re like her hero, you know?”

Tiffany blushed, clearly pleased by the thought. “I don’t know about that. But I love her to bits. I remember how Lucas used to be like that. Now, all he wants to do is play video games.”

Riley chuckled as she grabbed the ingredients for the cookies. “That’s typical for his age. But you know what? He still looks up to you, even if he’s glued to that screen most of the time.”

Tiffany smiled, her mood visibly brightening as she began measuring the flour. “I guess. It’s just nice to have Sky around now. It reminds me that I can still be important to someone.”

Riley paused, watching Tiffany thoughtfully. “You’re important to all of us, Tiffany. Sky, Lucas, your dad, and me—we all need you in our lives.”

Tiffany looked up. “Thanks, Riley. I don’t say it often, but I’m really glad you’re here. You’ve made everything…better.”

Riley felt a warm surge of affection. “I’m glad to be here too, sweetie,” she said softly. “Now, let’s focus on these cookies before we get too sappy. Extra chocolate chips, remember?”

Tiffany giggled and dumped the chocolate chips into the bowl. “You got it!”