Chapter 2
Chapter Two
When Piper went to the lobby the next morning, she found Layne waiting.
“Keaton’s gone to get the truck,” her friend said. Her cell chimed, and Layne glanced at it. “Okay. He’s outside. Here, I’ll roll one of your suitcases for you.”
She followed Layne out the front doors of the hotel, a little sad to be leaving her old life behind. She had become comfortable with it, but she was ready for new challenges.
Keaton lifted her two suitcases with ease, placing them in the bed of the truck. Piper kept her backpack and climbed into the back of the cab as Layne joined her husband in the front.
They talked for a few minutes, and then she noticed the direction they were headed. It was in her nature to be organized, and she had called up the directions to the Bay on her map app last night, wanting to see where they would pass.
“Uh, Keaton. Wait. I think you took a wrong turn.”
“Nope,” he said cheerfully. “The airport is this way.”
“Airport?” she said. “I’m confused.”
Layne swiveled around. “Keaton knows the trip is about fourteen hours, and that’s with no stops. We took two days to drive up so we wouldn’t be so exhausted.” She glanced over, smiling. “So, he decided to fly you and me to Corpus.”
“Wow! You are a keeper. If Layne hadn’t already laid claim to you, I think I’d want you for myself,” Piper declared.
“You just ended a long tour,” Keaton told her.
“You’re exhausted. You and Layne have a lot to do and go over regarding running the inn.
Plus, there’s the wedding next week. I thought it would be easier to fly you ladies home.
I’ll drive straight through, just stopping for gas and grabbing a few snacks.
If I have smooth sailing, I should be back in the Bay by nine or ten tonight.
I’ll bring your luggage. Why don’t you stay with us tonight?
That way, you can see the house, and if I get home later than planned, Layne will have some company, and she can even loan you some PJs. ”
“This is amazing. You’re the best, Keaton.”
They entered the airport, and he dropped them at their terminal. Layne kissed him goodbye, and Piper hugged him tightly.
“I’ve already arranged for a ride home, so you ladies don’t need to rent a car or do a ride share.”
“Okay, where can I clone this guy, Layne? I want one just like him,” she joked.
“I shared your boarding passes to your wallet,” Keaton told Layne. “Also forwarded the email confirmation. Holler if you need anything.” He kissed her. “See you late tonight.”
Check-in was a breeze since neither of them carried any luggage. Piper even left her backpack in the truck, feeling footloose and fancy-free. They went through security and found a place to grab coffee and croissants, which they took to their gate.
Once they settled into their seats, she said, “Not that I had any doubts—but if I did—Keaton dispelled every one of them with such thoughtfulness.”
Layne smiled. “He’s been like that from the beginning, Piper.
I was the lowest I’ve ever been. I swear I cried more the day I ran into him than I had in the previous thirty years total.
Keaton rolled with everything. He’s smart.
Nurturing. And talented as hell. Sometimes, I wonder how I could get so lucky. ”
“You deserve every good thing that comes your way,” Piper insisted. “You’re going to have a wonderful, strong marriage with an amazing man. I hope I’ll get to know him well enough to call him friend.”
“He can be a little on the quiet side, but he’s really opened up around you.
I know you didn’t get to come to Mila’s wedding because of touring, but you’re going to see how great she and Carson are together, too.
And we’re going to find you a terrific guy, Piper.
Maybe he’ll be a teacher at the high school with Mila and Carson.
Or a cop from your dad’s police department.
It could even be someone new to the Bay who lands a job at Tidewater.
The manager. The chef. A hot tennis pro. ”
“I hadn’t thought about all the staff which will be needed at the new resort. I might need to look into it. See what might be available. After all, I’ll be coming from hospitality myself, managing a B&B,” she teased.
“Sullivan can help you there, “Layne said. “As the architect, he’ll know every nook and cranny of Tidewater. Plus, he’s designed several resorts for Wagner Enterprises. You can pick his brain at dinner.”
“I plan to do that.”
They boarded their flight, and Piper pulled up her Kindle app on her phone.
Layne leaned over. “What romance novel are you reading now?”
“I’m on a Regency kick. I was reading romantasy for a while, but I cut my teeth on Regency historicals back in high school.
No matter how many times I read a romantic suspense or a small-town romance series—or even a medieval or historical western—I always seem to loop around to my beloved Regencies.
Give me a hot duke in a ton ballroom, and it’s like I’m addicted all over again. ”
She buried herself in her novel, only pausing to order a sparkling water and accepting the biscotti the flight attend passed to her.
The plane made a stopover in Dallas, but they didn’t even have to deplane.
Some passengers got off, while other ones got on.
Then their flight left for Corpus. By the time they reached their destination, the total trip had only been a little over three hours.
Layne called Keaton the moment they hit the tarmac, learning he was in Oklahoma City. She told him they had just landed and that she would wait up for him, no matter how late he arrived.
“Love you, too,” Layne said, ending the call. “I wonder who he has picking us up. It’s a school day, so it won’t be Mila or Carson. Maybe Sullivan.”
They left the plane and went through the doors separating the gates from the rest of the terminal, and Piper squealed, running and throwing herself in her dad’s arms. He lifted her off the ground, swinging her around.
“How’s my little girl?” he asked.
“Better, now that I’ve seen you. Oh, Dad. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Not half as glad as I am, baby. Hey, Layne.”
“Hi, Chief. I’m glad Keaton called you. He didn’t tell us who’d be picking us up. This is a nice surprise.”
“It was fun cooking it up.”
Dad slipped an arm about each of them. “Come on, girls. Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll use the lights and siren and get us home faster.”
They laughed, accompanying him to his department-issued vehicle. On the way home, he asked a dozen questions about her last few months.
“I’m glad your mom and I flew out to see you perform in San Diego. Are you gonna miss singing and acting, honey?”
“Probably,” she admitted for the first time. “But right now, I’m running on empty. I needed a break from the stage. Being a nomad isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Layne tells me you’re gonna manage the Bay Breeze for her.”
“I am. I’ll be living there. The manager needs to be on site.” Piper made sure to mention this so there’d be no talk about her moving home. “But tell me about retirement. Do you and Mom have any trips planned?”
“Two,” he said, grinning at her. “We’re going to go to Yellowstone. I’ve always wanted to see Old Faithful and all the other geysers and hot springs. We’ll do a little hiking and even some horseback riding.”
“You know, Keaton lived in the Grand Tetons,” Layne said. “I don’t think that’s too far from Yellowstone. You might want to talk to him and extend your trip a little.”
“Not a bad idea. We don’t have a timetable. Except for going with Bill and Laura on a river cruise.”
“Ooh. Where? When?” Piper asked.
“It’s something your mom and Laura cooked up,” Dad explained.
“Bill and I are just along for the ride. We’ll be gone the first week of December, cruising along the Rhine River.
It’s Christmas market time, so the ladies want to see all the markets and do their Christmas shopping.
It’s mostly in Germany, but we will also see a little of Switzerland and France. ”
“Boy, I’m already jealous of this retirement,” she said. “Two fun trips planned. I’m glad to hear it, Dad. You and Mom never really go much of anywhere. And that’s crazy, with Don being a travel writer.”
Her brother was ten years older. Because of the age gap, she and Don had never been close. Still, she followed him online, where he wrote a travel blog. He’d also authored numerous travel guides, concentrating mostly on Asia and Eastern Europe.
“Your brother is actually going to meet us in Basel, where the cruise embarks. We’re coming in a few days early, and he’ll take us to Lake Lucerne. It’ll give our bodies time to acclimate to a new time zone seven hours ahead, plus we’ll also get to visit with Don.”
Dad looked to Layne. “Tell me about the Bay Breeze. I know you’ve been working hard to finish the renovation.”
“It’ll open soon. We painted the entire interior and exterior. All new furniture. The floors have been refinished. It’s got a new HVAC system. The bathrooms and kitchen were pretty much gutted and redone. It’s fresh and modern, yet it still retains all of its small-town charm.”
Piper began asking questions about the inn, and Layne easily answered them. They were still talking about it when they arrived in Driftwood Bay. It had been years since she had been here, and she fell silent, studying the passing scenery.
“Some things have changed, but I still recognize most of what I’m seeing.”
Layne nodded. “I was the same way. I hadn’t come back often to visit.
My fault. Jeremy didn’t like it here. He thought it was too boring, and I let him influence me.
You’ll see a few new shops on the square.
The Sonic has expanded some. They’ve also added on a new wing to the high school. Other than that, the Bay is the Bay.”
She liked that. It was good to come home and be familiar with where she was. Piper rolled down her window and took in a deep breath, catching the scent of salt and sea.
“Oh, I’ve missed the water,” she declared.
Of the three friends, Piper had been the one who most enjoyed living near the beach. The Gulf seemed to run in her blood.
“I feel centered,” she said.
“Keaton is the same way,” Layne said. “He grew up in Dallas before moving to the mountains. Had never lived near the water, yet when he arrived in the Bay, he said it spoke to his soul. It calms him. Helps him to focus. That’s why he was so eager to find oceanfront property and move permanently to where he could wake up and see the waves washing onto the shore. ”
“I’m gonna drop you girls off at your house, Layne,” Dad said. “Ellen will make a beeline over here as soon as she gets out of school since I told her I was picking you two up.”
“Why don’t I order pizza?” Layne suggested. “You and Mrs. Roberts can come for dinner. I’ll ask Mila, Carson, and Lily to come, too.”
“Pizza is always fine by me,” Dad said as he pulled into the circular drive in front of the house. “I’ll head over here when I get off work.”
They got out of his SUV and waved as he drove off. Layne was already texting Mila, who answered right away, saying they would come by around five.
“I’ll go ahead and put in an order with Pizza Perfecto,” Layne said, unlocking the door and leading them inside.
Piper was impressed with the house. Not just because it was large and had a wonderful floor plan, but it already looked like a home.
“I can see your touches here,” she told her friend. I know you haven’t lived here long, but it’s homey.”
“We’ll gradually add to each room. We don’t want to rush it.”
She walked to the wall of floor to ceiling windows, which overlooked the water. “This is a spectacular view!”
“It’s nourishing for Keaton’s soul. He’s itching to get back to painting after all the work he did on the inn.
Though he had enjoyed getting his hands dirty again, with placing backsplash and sanding floors, he’s definitely ready to begin his next series of landscapes.
Let me call in our order, and then I’ll give you the grand tour. ”
Once she had seen the entire house, Piper said, “I would live outside. This outdoor kitchen. This view. And it’s great that Keaton has a studio which is separate from the house.”
“He likes the space. The light.” Layne chuckled. “And the commute.”
They returned to the great room and talked some about the wedding and the honeymoon.
“We won’t go unless you feel perfectly comfortable running the B&B,” Layne said.
“I’m going to be fine. Your honeymoon sounds amazing. While I’ve been all over the country with touring, I never got to really see any of the places I performed in. I may have to see the US first, then I’ll work on Europe.”
“Keaton and I have never left the country. That’s why I’m excited about seeing Italy and France.” Layne sighed. “Actually, I’m just happy to be wherever Keaton is. We could stay home, here in the Bay the rest of our lives, and I’d be perfectly content.”
“Hey, go and do while you can. Before kids come.” Piper paused. “Unless perhaps there’s already one on the way?”
Layne laughed. “Not yet. But I think we’ll be trying soon. We’re ready to fill this house with little Maxwells.”
“And Auntie Piper will spoil every last one of them.”
The doorbell rang, and Piper said, “Let me get it.”
She opened the door, finding her mom on the porch. They hugged one another tightly.
“I can’t believe you’re here, Piper. You’re finally here.”
“Hopefully, I’ll be staying, Mom. Come on in.”
“In the kitchen,” called Layne.
They entered, and she saw Layne had opened a bottle of wine and was now taking out crackers and cheese.
“We can nibble and talk,” she said.
They did so for the next hour, and Piper’s gut told her coming home had been the best move. Especially with her parents retiring soon, she would be able to spend more time with them. While the Bay Breeze would take up some of her time, she didn’t think it would be like a full-time job.
Soon, her dad returned, and the Andrews’ family arrived right after him. Pizza Perfecto delivered five pizzas with varying toppings, and they all grabbed slices as Layne poured iced teas for everyone.
As she sat eating and talking with her parents and friends, Piper knew she had been meant to return to Driftwood Bay.
Now, she was eager to see what this next chapter in her life brought.