“I see.” She dips her head, trying to hide a smile that I’d swear is knowing. I’ve gotten more than a few of those. “New Hope has a way of luring in people who are alone in the world.”
“I’ve heard people say there’s magic here.”
“Only if you’re to become one of us.” She gives me a serious look. Yeah. Tinsley definitely gets her humor from her mom.
“You make it sound like he’s getting abducted by aliens.” Buck finally speaks, not that his quietness bothered me. I used to enjoy the quiet. Not so much anymore. I look forward to Tinsley rambling on and on.
“I mean, that would account for all the strangely interesting people I’ve met here.”
“Oh, you met Mittens.”
“Can’t say I have.” That one's not ringing a bell.
“Oh, well, if you’re here and she’s missing, ignore it. She always turns up.” I don’t ask. “But you must have met Gertrude, then. She is, uh, yeah. You know.”
“I don’t have—I haven't met her either. Should I have?”
“I’m not going to ruin that for you.” Piper pats my knee. “You don’t have to share, but?—”
“He’ll share,” Buck grunts, his attention never leaving the television, letting me know I’ll be telling her my life story if she wants to know it.
I have learned fast in my line of work when to push back and when not to. I won’t be pushing back with Piper on this one, but that doesn’t mean when it comes to Tinsley that I won’t.
"My memories of my mother are hazy, but when I was about eight, I was dropped off at a police station, and that was that." There's not much more you can say. I’m not a person that usually opens up to others, but Buck and Piper are family now.They’ll be the grandparents to my kids, so they are entitled to know about me.
"Oh my goodness, honey. I'm sorry." I can see genuine sadness in her eyes.
"It doesn’t matter. What I can recall is the foster system was no better or worse than when I was with her." I swear I have vague memories of more family at one time, but I don't know if they’re real memories or ones I'd made up or possibly gotten people confused. There was a lot of shuffling around even when I was with my mother.
"Sorry to hear that too." This time it's Buck who speaks, and Piper gives him a warm smile. He rests his hand on her thigh. The love they share is palpable.
"Thanks."
"Tell me more. I would like to know all about you. Where did you go to school?" I give her the CliffsNotes of getting into college and how I dabble in finance and investments. I tell her the names of a few invention items my name is attached to that she's likely heard of or might even have. "You're very driven, Pierce." I feel a strange twinge in my chest at her approval.
"When I see something I want or know it's worth the chase, I don't hesitate. That's how things can slip through your fingers." That same intuition is why I'm here in New Hope.
"Tinsley can be like that. She has two modes: full force ahead or getting the hell out of Dodge." A small laugh leaves her. "But the run-off is short-lived. She'll hatch a new plan and be heading for it once again. She’s always been that way.”
"I've noticed." Tinsley will be crawling all over me one second and then trying to get the hell away from me another.
"She can be hard to keep up with, but I can tell you one thing: New Hope is a part of Tinsley."
“She’s a part of the charm around here.” I take my voice up a few notches. “You think she’ll stop hiding in the hallway?” Mylittle spitfire will learn very soon that I can sense when she’s near.
“I wasn't hiding.” She pops right into the opening to the living room. The house is older but holds a rich history, the same as the bed and breakfast. “I was lingering.”
“I take it you had a good evening,” Piper says before glancing at me. “I’ve never caught her sneaking out of my window here, but the town caught her creeping out of yours.”
“It was daylight. When I used to sneak out of here, it was in the cloak of shadow deep into the night.”
“Eleven, she means around eleven p.m., and she was back by one,” Buck says. Picking up the remote, he flips the channel.
“At least I’m not sneaking around making out in corners like teenagers,” Tinsley tosses back at her dad. Last night she told me about her parents and their growing PDA. She may have been complaining about it, but I can tell that she loves the way they love each other.
“I guess she hasn’t seen the pictures from the bar because that’s a bold accusation to assume.”
“There are pictures!” Tinsley squeaks, her eyes going wide. “Mom.”
