Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Piper thanked Keaton for the ride, telling him that she was going to look for a car.
“No rush on that,” the artist told her. “Both Layne and I have cars now. Since we’ll be gone a good six weeks, we can leave you the keys. You’re free to use either of our cars.”
“That’s a generous offer,” she told him. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” She took his hand and squeezed it. “And thank you for being there for Layne. The two of you go together like peanut butter and jelly.”
He laughed heartily. “That’s the best compliment you could have given us, Piper. Peanut butter got me through a lot of hard times. I guess I’ll think of my sweet wife as the jelly who completes me.”
They went inside the house, and Keaton excused himself, going out to his studio to work, leaving her alone with Layne.
“I’m so glad you volunteered to do this,” her friend said.
“Layne, honey, you could wear zero makeup on your wedding day and still be the most gorgeous bride. Part of it is your natural beauty, but the biggest thing is the glow you wear all the time. I can just say the name Keaton, and you light up like a Christmas tree.”
Layne did that very thing now, causing Piper to laugh. “See? Let’s go sit at the kitchen table,” she suggested. “The light coming in from the bay window is good. We need to decide the mood we’re going for.”
“I got online and googled wedding day makeup after we talked,” Layne confessed. “There were so many ideas, I finally closed out of all the tabs. You know me, Piper. You’ve been there practically from the beginning. What do you suggest?”
“We’re going to try a few different palettes, but I can tell you that I’m leaning toward a soft palette which plays up your amazing green eyes. I think they’re your best feature. Whatever look we go with, I want to emphasize them.”
Piper opened the makeup case she had brought, which included a hand mirror. She placed it on the table in front of her friend.
“I don’t claim to be an expert. Stage makeup is radically different from what we’ll be doing today, but I have learned some tricks about contouring and lip lining.”
For the next hour, she applied different kinds of makeup on Layne. They talked as she worked, and Piper was thankful she would be present to celebrate this wedding.
“I hated missing Mila and Carson’s ceremony, but it couldn’t be helped.”
“Oh, honey, Mila understood. They decided to do it so quickly. They didn’t expect you to leave your musical and fly back to the Bay.
Especially with them getting married right before Thanksgiving, you might not have even been able to get a flight with so many people traveling during that holiday time. ”
“Well, I’m here now. You’re not getting rid of me.”
Layne looked in the mirror after each step, and she talked about what she liked and didn’t like. Her friend settled on what Piper had known she would, a soft, romantic look which made Layne’s perfect complexion dewy. It played up her eyes, causing them to pop.
Piper said, “We definitely will use this waterproof mascara. I always wear it onstage. The lights can get really hot and melt makeup. Besides, if you do shed a few tears, you don’t want rivers of mascara cascading down your cheeks.”
Though they had tried a bold mouth, Piper went with a lighter shade which complemented Layne’s caramel hair. She handed her friend the mirror one last time, and Layne’s pleased smile let her know this was what they would go with for the wedding.
“This is absolutely perfect. I couldn’t do this myself. Please say you’ll be my makeup artist on my wedding day.”
“Just tell me when to be here, and I’ll have you ready in no time. How about your hair?”
“Leave that to me,” Layne said. “It’ll be how I usually wear it. That’s Keaton’s request.”
“I want to leave this makeup on so that Mila and Kylie can see me,” her friend said.
“Do you have any idea why Kylie is back in the Bay? I mean, come on. She was homecoming queen and class valedictorian. I never saw her being a full-time resident of the Bay as an adult, working for her parents’ charter company.”
“I thought that very same thing when you mentioned she was here and wanted to get together. It’s not like I’ve booked anything through Mayfield Charters since I’ve been home, and I haven’t needed to use the ferry, so I haven’t run into her. I wonder if Kylie will be open to talking about it.”
“She was always so nice to me,” Piper said. “Kylie never stayed in that popular girl bubble, ignoring everyone else. She was friendly to everyone.”
“Maybe she needs friends now,” Layne said. “We can be here for her.”
Fifteen minutes later, Mila arrived.
“Layne! You look gorgeous.”
“Piper has promised to do my makeup for the wedding. This is what she came up with. Any feedback for her?”
Mila smiled. “Layne Larson, you’re going to be the most beautiful bride the Bay has ever seen.”
The doorbell rang again, and Layne admitted Kylie into the foyer. She carried a white bakery box.
“Hi, everyone. Thanks for letting me crash the Three Musketeers’ dinner.
The three of you were so tight in high school.
I was a little jealous of how close y’all were.
I remember when we studied in history about the formation of NATO.
That an attack on one was an attack on all. Immediately, you three came to mind.”
“Kylie, you were the most popular girl who’s ever graduated from Driftwood Bay High School,” Piper said. “You had friends everywhere.”
Kylie smiled wistfully. “I had a lot of acquaintances, not really good friends the way the three of you were. I spent most of my time with the cheer squad or the track team. The cheerleaders were really cliquish. I might’ve been their captain, but if I’m being honest?
They excluded me from all their whispering and secrets. ”
Piper put her arm around Kylie. “They could be a bunch of mean girls. You’ve got us now, though. It’s funny how we’ve all returned to our hometown. How long have you been back?”
She felt Kylie stiffen slightly. “I think it’s been about a year now,” she said, a little too casually, causing Piper’s gaze to flick to Layne and then Mila.
The subtle message hit home, and the three of them knew not to ask Kylie any more intrusive questions.
If they were destined to become close friends with her, it would be up to Kylie to open up.
For now, they would protect her and make certain she was comfortable in their presence.
“You all look amazing,” Kylie told them. “But Layne looks better than she ever did in high school.”
“It’s the makeup,” Layne credited. “Piper came over this afternoon, and we’ve been playing with the makeup for my wedding. It’s in a few days.”
“I learned from different stage makeup artists and simply applied that knowledge today,” she told the others. “I think it’s a fantastic look for Layne.”
“Let’s move from the foyer,” Layne said. “I’ve got wine breathing, along with cold Dr Peppers and bottled waters. Come into the kitchen. We can get drinks and relax. Kylie, you can put dessert on the island.”
As they walked through the house and entered the kitchen, Kylie said, “This house is incredible, Layne.”
“It’s got a small cottage in the back. Keaton is using as his studio. He draws inspiration from being so close to the water.”
The kitchen door opened at that moment, and Keaton appeared. He kissed Layne’s cheek.
“I know these two. Who’s the newcomer?” he asked.
Kylie offered her hand. “I’m Kylie Mayfield. I grew up in the Bay and was a year ahead of the Three Musketeers.”
He cocked one brow. “Oh, is that what they were called? I should’ve guessed.”
“Kylie’s going to be our fourth,” Layne told him. “You can call her d’Artagnan.”
Piper noticed the pleased look on Kylie’s face.
“Well, I’ll leave you musketeers to it. I’m heading over to your place, Mila.”
“Carson said he was ordering from Pizza Perfecto,” she said. “Sullivan will be there, too.”
At the mention of his name, Piper felt her cheeks grow warm.
Keaton grabbed a six-pack of beer from the fridge and told them goodbye.
Layne said, “King Ranch casserole is in the oven. That gives us time to sit and visit a little before it’s ready. Let grab drinks and go gab.”
She noticed everyone but Mila opted for a glass of wine, setting off her radar since Mila had always been fond of a glass of wine and often sipped one during their bi-monthly FaceTime chats.
She wondered if her friend might already be trying for a baby—or even pregnant.
She kept quiet, knowing Mila would share any news she had when the time was right.
Piper sat on a love seat with Kylie, while Layne and Mila settled themselves on a nearby sofa.
“How is it being back in the Bay, Piper? Your mom pretty much let the entire high school know you were returning,” Mila revealed. “She was so excited.”
“That’s Mom for you,” she said, chuckling. “We actually had dinner with my parents last night.”
“We?” Layne asked.
“Sullivan and I took out Dad’s fishing boat yesterday. He’d never gone fishing before, and I thought it was something he should do before he left the Bay. Afterwards, Mom had us stay for dinner.”
Layne studied her intently. “What are you leaving out?”
She decided to be open with her friends and said, “Sullivan and I are seeing each other. It’s…casual. He’ll be leaving for New York in the near future, so we’re just enjoying one another’s company for now.”
“I’ll bet he’s a great kisser,” Mila said. “He’s got kissable lips.”
“Mila!” Piper cried.
“Hey, I’m just making an observation. I may be married to the most gorgeous man on the planet, but I can still appreciate a handsome guy—and that’s definitely Sullivan Shepherd.”
“You looked good together on the ferry,” Kylie noted. “When you went to go see Tidewater.”