“Maybe not tough—just gritty.” She looks at me, then back to Paisley. “I just haven’t analyzed my relationship with my parents like this before. I’m lucky to have them. I mean, I’ve always beengrateful for their support, and they know that. But the ongoing support they’ve provided has been such a steady flow, I haven’t stopped to notice it.”
“You should read her profiles,” Hudson says. “You really feel like you know the person.”
“I did.” Piper laughs self-consciously. “I wanted to know what I signed up for, and I was super impressed.”
Paisley grins. “So, books. Let’s talk about your life’s work.”
Piper’s expression freezes.
“What made you choose a bookstore?”
The relief on Piper’s face is faint, but I don’t miss it. What did she think Paisley was going to ask? I focus on my slips of paper and writing names while she talks about her creative writing major in school, her mom’s influence as an English teacher and hobby poet, and her love of reading.
We move into the living room, and Carrie takes the stage to start us off, setting the bowl on the edge of the pulled-out piano bench. I sit on the end of the brown leather sectional, and Piper takes the seat next to me, scooting closer to make room for Paisley and Hudson. I catch a whiff of her familiar Daisy scent and want to lean into it.
“Okay, who’s timing?” Carrie asks.
Luke raises his hand.
She rolls her eyes. “How about someone who doesn’t cheat?”
“Knock it off. Annnnd go!”
Carrie scrambles to open a paper. “Case in point,” she says. “Okay, Mickey’s girlfriend.”
“Minnie Mouse!” Paisley shouts.
Carrie drops the paper and picks up another, then looks at Piper. “Oh! She wroteThe Bodyguard.”
“Katherine Center?”
Carrie hurries for another paper.
“You have to choose peopleeveryoneknows,” Luke reminds us.
“I know her,” Hudson says.
I lift my hand. “So do I.”
Luke shoots me a scowl. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Paisley shushes us.
“Oh!” Carrie looks at us, then her paper. “Uh…it’s our…he almost had a heart attack. Like a few months ago.”
“Dad!” Paisley shouts.
Carrie drops the paper and goes for another one. “Disney villain.”
“Ursula!” Paisley shouts.
“The one with the heart.”
“The Queen of Hearts?” Piper asks.
“You can’t say heart if it’s on the page,” Hudson reminds us.
Carrie’s doing a motion like she wants them to keep guessing.
