24. Piper
Chapter 24
Piper
W hen Ren and I arrived at my grandparents’ house behind the Honeybrook Inn, the weenie roast was in full swing. The bonfire crackled heartily, sending sparks dancing into the twilight sky. Chairs had been arranged around it in a semicircle. My sisters were there, and my mother, their laughter bright and infectious as they chatted animatedly by the fire’s glow.
Lucy and her boyfriend Spencer were sitting on a blanket off to the side of the bonfire, engrossed in conversation with her mom, their faces occasionally illuminated by the flickering flames.
Grandma’s pugs scampered about, their playful barks adding a cheerful melody to the evening. They tumbled over each other, their energy boundless, chasing their tails and each other in an adorable frenzy. Cody was at home. I decided that I’d bring him by when it was quiet to introduce him to the puppies.
Ren squeezed my hand, a smile spreading across his face as he took in the scene. “This is amazing,” he murmured.
I grinned, my heart swelling with happiness. “Welcome to my childhood,” I replied.
The backyard at my grandparents' place was expansive. Nestled in one corner was a small barn, its red paint weathered but still vibrant. Adjacent to the barn was a chicken coop. A fenced-in area stretched along one side of the yard, providing a safe haven for Grandma’s menagerie of rescues, including Larry the Llama.
Near the house, the outdoor kitchen was a hub of activity and warmth. Built from rustic stone, it featured a large grill and a wooden table. A canopy overhead provided shade for those rare sunny Oregon days.
As Ren and I walked through the yard, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. Each corner of this place held a piece of my past, and I hoped Ren loved it here as much as I did.
“Hey, sugar! My grandfather stepped out of the sliding door that led to the back of the house. “Is this your new fella? Your mama told me all about him.” He stuck his hand out, and Ren took it. “Nice to meet you. I’m Joel.”
“This is Ren,” I introduced them.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Ren smiled as they shook hands.
“Welcome to the Honeybrook. Make yourself at home. What’s mine is yours.” He took off, heading for the fire to sit by my grandma, who waved us over, gesturing to the chairs next to her.
“Oh, hey.” My eyebrows raised in surprise when I spotted Hunter Cassidy sitting next to Paige. They’d gone all through school together from kindergarten to high school graduation. They’d always been friends. Hunter, much like Ren, was nothing but tall, dark, and handsome, as were all the Cassidy brothers, including Spencer. Their family owned an auto body and repair shop between Sweetbriar and Honeybrook Hollow.
“You know Hunter Cassidy, right, Ren?” Grandma introduced him. “Spencer’s brother. He’s helping Piper’s grandpa restore that old Cadillac he got back when he was going through his car show phase.”
“There are no ulterior motives at all, right, Grandma?” Paige playfully called her out.
“Nice to meet you,” Ren said.
Hunter laughed. “You too. It’s good to see you, Piper.”
“You too,” I answered as my grandmother winked at me.
“I do what I do, and I hardly ever think about it,” she said airily.
“Things usually work out, so quit your fussing, Paige. I have a knack.”
“I’m not fussing?—”
Hunter choked on a laugh as he slid an arm around Paige’s shoulders.
“Yeah, quit your fussing,” he chimed in, nudging her gently with a playful light in his eyes.
“Where are the kids?” I asked. I was a good sister; I could tell she was getting overwhelmed by the attention.
“Down at the pond,” she told me. “They’re letting the goslings crawl all over them.”
“I thought geese were mean?” Ren said as he took a seat next to my grandma.
“Not when they grow up like pets,” I explained. “Every animal out here has Grandma and all of us to love on it. They’re all pretty friendly. And when the mama goose trusts you, then you have fluffy little balls of feathers to cuddle.”
Paige looked up at Hunter, a soft smile crossing her lips. “Do you remember when we used to come out here and play for hours?” Her gaze was distant as she spoke.
I wanted to hug her. It was like for the first time since her divorce she was feeling something besides pissed off.
He nodded, his arm still resting comfortably around her shoulders. “Of course. We had a lot of adventures out here. Remember that time we tried to build a raft in the pond, and it sank immediately?”
She shook her head. “How could I forget?”
“Maybe we should try again sometime?” He said, his voice warm.
Paige rolled her eyes, but her soft smile didn’t waver. “Maybe, but let’s not involve the kids. I don’t want to be responsible for any disasters.”
“The two of you were always so cute together,” Grandma mused with a satisfied smile flitting across her face.
Hunter studied Paige with mock seriousness. “I don’t know about me, but she’s still pretty cute.”
“You’re adorable,” Spencer shouted from his spot on the lawn where he and Lucy were currently sprawled on a blanket.
“Thanks, I feel so much better now.” He chuckled.
“Well, the last thing I am is cute,” Paige huffed, snapping back to reality. But I could tell it was all for show; her pink cheeks and sparkling eyes told the true story. She wanted Hunter here. They’d been circling each other ever since they were kids, but they had only ever been friends.
“Anyway,” Grandpa cleared his throat. “Who is ready for weenies?”
“Well, I for one am glad two weenies will not be coming here anymore,” Paige cracked as she referenced her ex and Richard. Like me, she made jokes to hide her feelings. “Even though one of them does have the perfect name for the occasion, just saying.”
“God, Paige,” I groaned.
“I know. I’m punning. I’m so ashamed.”
“Moving on,” Grandma said. “Let’s not roast her too much for making bad jokes.”
“Noooo,” I joined the collective groan.
“I forgot the skewers, dang it.” Grandpa moved to get up, but I held out a hand to stop him.
“I’ll go get them,” I offered. “Stay right here. Be right back,” I said to Ren.
I took a deep breath as I headed towards the garage to grab the skewers for the barbecue. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the driveway.
I stepped inside, the cool air greeting me, and wandered over to the workbench where the skewers were usually kept. As I reached out for the drawer, I felt a presence behind me. I turned to find Richard standing there.
"Richard," I breathed out, my heart pounding. "What are you doing here?"
He stood there, a look of determination in his eyes. The dim light from the overhead bulb cast eerie shadows on his face. I could see the tension in his posture, the way his hands clenched at his sides.
"I need to talk to you," he said, his voice low and steady.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. The memories of our last encounter flooded back, mingling with the present. I had hoped to avoid him, to keep the peace for just a little longer. At least until Jake got everything settled.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I managed to say, trying to keep my voice calm and composed. “You startled me.”
Richard took a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the confined space of the garage. I felt trapped, unable to escape the confrontation I had hoped would never have to happen.
“We need to sort this out,” he insisted. “We can't keep doing this.”
I nodded slowly, clutching the drawer handle for support. The skewers were forgotten now, overshadowed by the tension between us. This wasn’t the time or place, but I knew there was no avoiding it by the determined look in his eyes.
“I understand,” I whispered, meeting his gaze. “Let's talk.” I wasn’t afraid of him. He’d never hurt me before, plus with one loud yell, I’d have my entire family, and Ren, rushing into the garage to help.
“I don’t appreciate the stunt at the opening, Piper. You made Dana look like a fool. And me too, for that matter. We can’t go anywhere without hearing something.”
“I’m so sorry.” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Wow. And how did I look? The two of you there, together, with my dog. She called him her baby, Richard.”
“She’s treated him like her baby. And meanwhile you’re here and you left him home. He was outside by himself, so I took him home to Dana, then came straight here?—”
“Wait? You took him? He has a doggy door, which you’re aware of. He can go to the garage whenever he wants. What the hell is going on? Explain. Now.”
“I stopped by your house to talk this through and try to come to an understanding, about the bakery opening and the lawsuit, then I got pissed that you left Cody outside and you weren’t there. I figured you’d be here. You’ve fucking sued me; I got the papers. I know everything, okay? What the hell, Piper?”
“Wait. Back up. Are you telling me you trespassed on my property and took Cody? How dare you?”
“You should have brought him with you.”
“You know how the pugs are. They’re puppies. They still have to get used to other dogs, which they would be by now if you hadn’t kept Cody away from me. A big party is not the time to get them accustomed to each other. Did you dognap him from my backyard?”
“Dognap? Hardly. He’s mine too. You’ve always had a problem with me wanting to take care of him.”
“What are you talking about? No, I didn’t?—”
“You never let me in, Piper. You were always so closed off. So I had to turn to Dana. She can’t handle working with you anymore, so I’ll let you buy her out, we’ll agree to that. But I’m keeping Cody. She needs him.”
“Like hell you are. She doesn’t give a shit about Cody. She just wants to hurt me for some reason. And you? You’re talking about ten different things right now. What is the real problem, Richard?”
“She’s not the one responsible for your daddy issues, Piper. I want you to leave me and Dana out of all your drama.”
“Dana has nothing to do with this. You keep bringing her up as if she’s the main issue. The real issue here is your complete disregard for my feelings and the way you’ve treated me,” I retorted, my voice trembling with frustration.
Richard’s face contorted with anger. “My disregard for your feelings? That’s rich coming from you, Piper. You never cared about what I was going through. You only ever thought about yourself and your precious bakery.”
“How dare you! I’ve always been there for you, but you never let me in. You’re the one who shut me out and turned to Dana. You’re the one who betrayed me,” I shot back, my eyes blazing with fury before narrowing on his face as I studied his reaction. “Are you trying to gaslight me? Because you suck at it.”
His face reddened as his anger became palpable. “You think you know everything, Piper, but you don’t. You’ve never tried to understand the pressure I’m under. Dana was there when I needed someone. You weren’t.”
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my composure. “Pressure? Stress? That doesn’t excuse your behavior. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you talk it out. You don’t betray the people who care about you and then expect sympathy.”
“I tried to apologize to you. I accepted the blame for my part in this situation, but for some reason, you can’t let it go. Dana has done nothing wrong here. This was all about me, looking for some affection. Someone who cared just a little bit about how I felt and what I needed. She was there for me when you weren’t. Can you blame me for?—”
Grandpa’s voice interrupted our escalating argument. “Funny,” he said as he came stomping around the edge of the garage door. “You’re acting just like her father right now and trying to blame your failings as a man on her daddy issues. You’re the one who lied and cheated. You’re the one who betrayed her trust, and now you’re trying to manipulate her into doing what you want her to do. That’s all this is, Piper, and he’s a weak, pathetic excuse for a man. That’s what this is about. Don’t try to make any sense of it because it's all a crock of shit. Like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what will set you off so he can pick it apart and try to get at you.”
“That’s not it,” Richard insisted. “If she had just listened to reason and forgiven Dana, none of this would have had to happen?—”
“You mean, if I accepted your bullshit lies and excuses and let you walk all over me… go on, Richard. What else is my fault?”
“God. Nothing.” He took a step back, his expression hardening. “I don’t have to stand here and take this. Just like always, I can’t talk to you. I’m leaving.”
“This isn’t over, Richard” I snapped. “You don’t get to declare you’re keeping Cody and that’s it.”
“I said I’m leaving.”
“You can’t?—”
He spun back around to face me. “Why couldn’t you just forgive and forget? How hard is that? Damn. I have to live in this town too.” He flung his arms out in frustration before stomping off toward the Inn’s parking lot.
“I’ll never forgive you,” I shouted to his retreating back. “But I’m going to try like hell to forgive myself for falling for your bullshit.” I started to run after him, but Grandpa stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm.
“Let him go, sugar. No use trying to talk to him right now.”
“But he has Cody,” my voice trembled. I hated how weak I sounded.
“You’re taking care of that, yeah? No way Jake is going to let this slide. You’ll give him a call and let him tell you what to do next. Okay?”
“Okay, you’re right. That makes sense.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. Just then, I heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching from behind. I turned around to see Ren, his face a mixture of concern and determination.
“Hey,” he said softly, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of distress. “We heard yelling. Are you okay?”
I nodded, grateful for his presence. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just think I need to go home and call Jake. I need to think, I?—”
“Richard was here,” Grandpa explained. “He went to her place and took Cody and said some shitty things.”
Ren’s face hardened, and then I looked beyond him to see each member of my family, plus Spencer and Hunter, standing there wearing similar expressions.
Oh shit.
“I need to go home,” I whispered.
“I’ll take you,” Ren immediately offered.
“No, I need to go home alone. Without you.”
For a moment, he looked stricken, but then he hid it. “Anything you need.”
“I’m not—I mean, this isn’t over, me and you. That’s not what this is about. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“I know.” But did he?
“Okay, let’s all back off and give them some space.” I smiled gratefully as Paige herded everyone out of the garage.
“This isn’t about you,” I tried to explain. “I mean, it kind of is. I’ve never seen you mad. I’ve never upset you, well, except for maybe right now.” I met his eyes, biting my lip to keep from crying. “What if I do something wrong? Do you yell? Do you go silent? Will you go crazy and say mean things like Richard? I can’t stop thinking about it.” I drug my hands through my hair and spun away from him. “I swore I wouldn’t do this. I promised myself I wouldn’t mix up what I have with you right now with the past. I never wanted to drag you into all the things that have hurt me, but I can’t stop the thoughts, Ren.” I turned to face him. “I need to get rid of them, and I have to be alone to do it.”
His eyes softened as he listened to me. “I get it,” he said gently. “You’ve been hurt, and it wasn’t that long ago, and it’s still going on. It’s inevitably going to color your perspective on what we have now.”
I felt a twinge of guilt. “I'm sorry, Ren. I never wanted to make you feel like I don't trust you. I just need to get my head on straight. I need my rational mind to come back before I go nuts.”
He stepped closer, pulling me into his arms. “Listen, I’ve done it too. I’ve lost a lot, and I rushed you. I was so afraid of losing you that I held on too tight. That is my issue. I understand what’s happening, okay? I’m not upset with you, sweetheart. I swear.”
“Do you know how amazing you are?”
He shook his head, mouth forming into a flat line of determination. “I know that I’m going to get Cody back, and you’re going home with Paige. Or your mom, or maybe you should stay here. You shouldn’t really be alone.”
“I can take care of myself. I know I’m a mess right now, but I have this handled. Jake has already sued for the bakery, and I’m going to call him about Cody as soon as I get home?—”
“I know you can take care of yourself. And I know you’re good at it. But maybe you could let me take care of this because it’s what I’m good at. In fact, I fucking love it. And I’ve had it with that asshole jerking you around.”
“This is kind of your life’s work, isn’t it?” I murmured.
“Yes. It is. Exactly. And since I don’t technically work for you as your attorney, I can do whatever I want this time without pissing off a judge and ending up in contempt of court. We both know that motherfucker won’t turn me in.”
“Okay, fine. Maybe go talk to him. It doesn’t look like I could stop you if I tried. I mean, thank you, Ren. Seriously. But don’t tell me you were going to do it anyway. That might make me mad and I don’t want that asshole to be the cause of our first real fight. Maybe you could call Jake to go with you.”
“No, he’s your attorney?—”
“Well, I’m not her attorney. Let’s go.” Hunter said as he stepped into the garage with Paige trailing behind him.
“Everyone else is at the bonfire. Waiting for you to come back.” She told me.
“And you had to listen in,” I accused.
“No, well. I mean, we heard some things, but I didn’t mean to listen. Fine, I was worried, okay? I’m sorry. Can I drive you home? Please? The kids are staying here tonight.”
“Yes,” Ren answered. “You go home with Paige. I’ll drop Cody off later?—”
“I don’t know if?—”
His eyes locked on mine. He was not backing down, that much was clear. “I’ll drop him off,” he repeated. “Then I’ll go home.”
“Okay…” I whispered.
“Take her home, Paige,” he ordered.
He pulled me in for a quick kiss on my forehead then he let me go and headed toward his car.
“I’m coming with you,” Hunter ground out.
“Oh god.” I worried. “What the hell is happening right now, Paige?”
“You finally got yourself a man worth the trouble is what’s happening. Good for you.”
“I want to go home.”
She took my hand, squeezing it gently. “I know. We’ll figure everything out from there.”
She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I’ll text everyone and let them know we’re leaving and that you’re okay.”
As we walked toward her car, the night air seemed to envelop me in darkness, filling me with more unsettling thoughts.
“Thank you. I can’t think anymore.”
“I got you. I have a feeling this will all be over soon.”
She unlocked the car and we slipped inside. As we drove away, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight had changed everything. I just hoped it was for the better.