“I’ll do it.” She looked over to the Captain. “Thank you so much for everything, Sir. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you agreed to meet us today.” She stood with Tag by her side.
“Thank you for coming to see me, Miss Flynn. It’s so good to see that you’ve grown into such a fine young woman.” Captain Kennedy walked them out to her car, and Piper hugged him, promising to keep in touch. Tag helped her into the car and ran around to the other side. Piper fidgeted with her seat belt and turned to find Tag watching her.
“You don’t have to do this, Pipe. We can figure something else out if you need to. I just want you to be happy.” Piper reached up to cup Tag’s face with her shaking hands.
“I know that, but I need to do this. I want to find closure so that I can move on. I want to finish this for us. We deserve a fresh start, Tag. I owe this to me and you.” Tag nodded, pulling her in for a soft kiss. “Can we go back to the hotel and order room service?” Piper asked. She felt on the verge of collapse. Today drained her, and the only thing she wanted was to eat a greasy cheeseburger and watch some mindless television with Tag, preferably in bed.
“We can do whatever you need, Honey. As long as we do it together.” Tag gave her another quick kiss and nodded to the driver.
“Thank you, Tag. I just need a day or so to get myself together. Then, I’ll face my past, and we can move on with our future.” Tag smiled at her, and she knew that she had no other choice because she would do just about anything for him. She would start with banishing her demons.
Chapter Twenty
The next morning, Piper woke before dawn. She tossed and turned and finally gave up on sleep. She slipped from the bed to get dressed and thought about waking Tag, but the thought of dragging him out with her again today didn’t seem fair. Since she wasn’t sure what to expect, it was probably best to go it alone. She knew that Tag would be upset, but she also knew that he couldn’t protect her from everything. She was going to need to learn to take care of herself at some point. It was time that she stopped letting her past control her present. This was her fight, not Tag’s. Piper showered and dressed in the guest bathroom so she wouldn’t wake Tag. She pulled her long blond hair back into a ponytail and slipped on her favorite pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She tugged on her well-worn Converse and grabbed her purse, chancing one last glance back into the bedroom where Tag still slept. As she reached for the doorknob, her heart felt like it would beat out of her chest, but she knew that she had to walk through the door. She closed her eyes and silently willed herself forward—it was now or never. She texted her driver before her shower, so finding him standing next to her new SUV wasn’t surprising. Hiring himas her driver and bodyguard was the best suggestion she had from her lawyer. She couldn’t believe that in just days, she went from being a small business owner to an heiress with more money than she would be able to spend in a lifetime. She didn’t discuss her new financial status with Tag. Bringing up the fact that she was now worth millions proved to be difficult. She worried about how he would take the news. Would he change his mind about her? He told her that he loved her, and she wanted to believe it. For years, she believed that she was cursed. She felt that anyone who loved her would ultimately end up regretting it. Her parents loved her with every fiber of their being. Their love was tangible; she felt it even after they were gone. But it left her with only sadness. Lorna loved her as her own child, but her aunt gave up her happiness to raise Piper. She never found the man of her dreams or had children of her own. Piper knew that Lorna must have regrets. And then there was Sunny. Her best friend had to fend off other kids who made fun of Piper. They were mean, calling her the Angel of Death among other harsh names. Sunny stood up for Piper to the point of alienating herself from other kids in their town. She made herself the butt of their jokes, along with Piper, to protect her. Everyone who ever loved her always ended up worse for wear, and Piper needed to break that cycle. Today was a new start. She would go to the place where her parents were killed and tell them goodbye. She wanted to go back to Colorado with Tag and give him the happiness that he deserved. She wasn’t able to find the courage to tell him that she loved him too, but today she would. She was going to find the strength to move forward, no matter how much it hurt.
Lorna was grateful that Tag called her yesterday afternoon. He explained what happened with the police officer who found her all those years ago. She agreed that Piper shouldn’t face her past alone, but Tag knew that Piper wouldn’t let him help her through her sadness. He knew that she had made him promises that she wouldn’t be able to keep. Lorna was thankful that Piper found someone who understood her so completely.
When Piper was a teenager, navigating her grief by herself, Lorna worried that her niece wouldn’t find her way out. She was a loner, her only friend being Sunny. Lorna was afraid that Piper would stay buried in her pain, never to find any happiness. When Tag entered the picture, Lorna felt bad for him. He was big, strong, and incredibly hot, but none of that seemed to have any effect on Piper. Once she caved into Tag’s charms and his knock-down, drag-out persistence, Lorna felt that she could finally breathe. It was almost like a burden was lifted from her soul. For the first time in fourteen years, she was starting to think about her future. That was part of the reason that she wanted to get on the plane to New York. She needed to help Piper face her demons so they could both move into the future. Tag texted her thirty minutes ago, letting her know that Piper snuck out of their hotel room. He wouldn’t follow her. He knew that she needed space to face everything, but he didn’t want her to be alone. That’s where Lorna came in. She was around the corner, staying in the same hotel that her sister and brother-in-law stayed in fourteen years ago. She pulled herself together and left through the front lobby to meet Piper at the corner store that held so many painful memories. She rounded the corner,and as the new Rite Aid came into view, she saw Piper standing in the parking lot. She stopped to watch her for a moment, not knowing whether to give Piper time or to rush over to her and wrap her in a big hug. She chose the latter, always trusting her feelings to lead her when it came to taking care of Piper. She knew that one way or the other, they would work through everything together, as they always did. She sent Tag a quick text letting him know that she found Piper. Lorna loved the way he wanted to protect her girl. That’s what Piper was—her girl.
When Lorna finally couldn’t take it anymore, she walked over to where Piper stood frozen in place and wrapped her arms around her. Piper hesitated at first, causing Lorna to hug her tighter. “What are you doing here?” Piper seemed confused by Lorna’s presence. “You’re supposed to be in Colorado.”
“I know, but Tag called me yesterday and told me about your meeting. He knew that you would try to ditch him and face this part of your journey alone,” Lorna said.
Piper laughed, shaking her head at Lorna’s words. “Tag is too smart for his own good. He told me that he loves me, you know.”
Lorna shook her head. “I didn’t know that. I had a pretty good hunch about how he feels about you, though, Pipe. He wears his heart on his sleeve,” Lorna said.
“Yeah, I guess I should have realized it before now. I didn’t say it back to him, though. I don’t know why I didn’t, because I do. I’m in love with him.” Piper’s trembling hand covered her mouth as a sob escaped. “Now, what if it’s too late? What if he gets angry that I snuck away to do this on my own after I promised him that we are a team? Or what if he finds out that I’ve inherited millions from my grandmother and decides that I’m not the same person who left town a couple of weeks ago?” Lorna almost wanted to laugh at Piper’s last statement. She couldn’t see any situation in which Tag would walk away from Piper, but that truth needed to come from him. Piper and Tagneeded to have an honest conversation to let all the skeletons out once and for all.
“You need to give Tag a chance, Pipe. You need to tell him everything and let him prove to you what a good man he is. And he is, Piper. I couldn’t have chosen anyone better for you. He’s your person. He’s the one you are supposed to be with. You need to tell him everything you just told me and let him show you that you’re wrong about the what-ifs,” Lorna said. Piper held Lorna’s hand and walked the last few steps to the front door of the new pharmacy.
“I know this sounds crazy since this is a completely new store, but I only see the way it was. I can see the front window of the old convenience store. I see the store’s owner slumped down behind the counter, dead from that monster’s rage. I see my mother’s pleading face begging for my father’s life. You know, she begged that asshole not to kill him? She didn’t care about her own life, just his and mine. They both signaled for me not to come into the store. They must have known that it was my first instinct to run in and make it all stop. They didn’t need to worry; I was too chicken to move.” Lorna could see the terror and extreme sadness in Piper’s eyes. She wished like hell that she could take some of that pain from her.
“Pipe, I knew my sister just about as well as anyone could. I know without a doubt that she would have done anything to keep you and your father safe—anything. That included giving up her own life. She wouldn’t have wanted to live if you were the one who died that day.” Lorna wrapped her arm around Piper.
“I know that, but I should have been in the store with them, not sitting on the sidewalk. I should have died with them that day. Then, you wouldn’t have to give up your own life to raise me. You didn’t think twice, just moved in with me and didn’t look back. Lorna, I owe you everything.” Lorna shook her head. The last thing she needed was for Piper to think that she “owedher” for taking care of her. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Piper wasn’t an obligation—she was her life.
“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 theway 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.
