Chapter Twenty #2
“Pipe, I wouldn’t change one minute of my life.
I regret losing my sister and her husband.
It makes me incredibly sad that you grew up without them and that you witnessed what you did.
” They both looked through the front window as if seeing the ghosts from their past. “I didn’t give up my life to raise you, Piper.
You just became my life. I don’t feel like I lost anything to be your surrogate mom; I only gained the most amazing daughter.
That’s how I think about you, Piper, as my own.
I know we don’t talk about this stuff, but I guess I never wanted to step on your mom’s toes.
But I need you to know that I love you with my whole heart.
” Piper’s tears were now falling freely down her cheeks.
Lorna pulled her closer, giving Piper a bear hug.
“How about I go over there and sit on that bench?” Lorna motioned to a bench that sat just underneath a huge oak, the only tree still left on the street. Piper nodded.
“You take all the time that you need, Pipe. Tell them both goodbye and let them finally rest in peace. Then, you and I are going to find that handsome fella of yours so that you can tell him that you love him.” Piper smiled through her tears and nodded her agreement.
Lorna watched as her niece bravely squared her shoulders as if daring the demons from her past to come at her.
Piper stood in front of the store for a long time, crying and talking to the ghosts that haunted her nightmares.
At one point, she screamed so loudly that Lorna was sure that the police would be called.
She didn’t count on Piper’s behavior being normal for New Yorkers.
It was still early enough in the day that not many people were on the streets yet.
Just after the sun came up, Piper turned from the store, wiped her tears from her face, took a deep breath, and walked towards Lorna.
Lorna stood and met her halfway and pulled her in for another long hug.
“Thank you, Lorna, for everything.” Piper squeezed Lorna and released her.
“Just so you know, I feel the same way about you. You have been my mother longer than my mom was, and you have been one kick-ass mama.” They both laughed, starting for the car that waited for Piper in the adjacent vacant lot.
“You have a car and driver now?” Lorna nodded in the direction of the waiting SUV.
“Yeah, his name is Jonathan Sawyer. He’s not just my driver, he’s also my bodyguard. Apparently, having money makes me a target.” Lorna looked Jon Sawyer up and down, causing a laugh from Piper as if she could read her mind.
“He’s a nice-looking man, Pipe. How old did you say he is?” Lorna stopped walking towards the car. She needed a minute to get herself under control. There was something about a man in a suit, with the brownest soulful eyes she had ever seen, that just did it for her.
“Well, I didn’t say his age, but I know from his employment application that he’s thirty-five.” Piper side-eyed Lorna as if waiting for a response. If she were being completely honest, Lorna would have to admit that she was a little disappointed.
“Well then, that is that. He’s too young for me.
” Yeah, she was more than just a little disappointed.
She looked Jon Sawyer up and down once more and wished she were just a few years younger.
What was the point? Someone who looked like him would never want an older, frumpy woman who’d spent the last fourteen years raising her niece.
He probably liked women like Piper—young, thin, and gorgeous.
“Oh, give me a break, Lorna! You just turned forty, and you look like you’re my age. Don’t you think you deserve something good in your life? Besides, if you haven’t noticed, Sawyer hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you,” Piper said.
Lorna barked out a laugh. “Yeah, I think it’s you that he can’t take his eyes off.
Isn’t he paid to watch you? I’m just in the way of him doing his job.
” Lorna was only thirteen years older than Piper, but most days she felt so much older.
She was only twenty-five when she gained custody of her niece.
It was time for her to remember that she still had a lot of life left in her, but hoping that Mr. Sawyer could help her remember how to live was just a fantasy.
“Okay, we’ll just see about that. I’ve got a plan.
” Lorna didn’t like the determined look on Piper’s face.
When her niece was up to something, she didn’t give up.
It would be fun to keep Sawyer around for a bit.
He was nice to look at, and he looked capable enough to protect Piper if things ever came to that.
“So, do we get to bring him home with us?” Lorna whispered as they started walking towards the car again. Sawyer held the door open for them.
“Well, I haven’t given that much thought.
I will need to get my new car across the country and back to Colorado.
” Piper stopped in front of Sawyer and introduced him to her aunt.
Lorna shook Sawyer’s hand, not missing the instant attraction that she felt for the man.
She almost didn’t want to let go of his hand, but didn’t have a choice as Piper pushed her into the back seat.
“So, Sawyer, how do you feel about Colorado?” Sawyer looked a little flushed as Piper questioned his background, even asking personal questions about his family.
Lorna was happy to hear that the hunky bodyguard didn’t have a girlfriend or a wife.
In fact, he was looking forward to some time away from city life.
After he agreed to Piper’s job proposal, he helped her into the back of the car and shut the door.
“Sawyer can stay in my old house with you if that’s okay?” Lorna met his eyes in the rearview mirror and didn’t miss the heat that felt like it scorched her from just his gaze.
“Sure,” Lorna stuttered. Having Jon Sawyer staying under the same roof with her was going to be interesting. She didn’t miss the little smirk on Piper’s face. Her niece was up to no good, and truthfully, she liked it.