After finding some pancake mix in the pantry, I had Ollie measure out the milk. “You kept my mom company over the weekend?” he asked as he stirred the batter.
“I did. We had a nice time.” Wow, was that an understatement. It had been the best three days of my entire life. “Sounds like you did too.”
“Yeah.” He tilted his head and peered at me through his dark blond bangs. “Maybe the next time I hang out with Callum, you can come too. Since he’s your brother and all.”
“I would love that.”
By the time Piper wandered out of her bedroom, we had a stack of pancakes ready, and Ollie was setting the table. “What’s all this?” she asked. “Is it my birthday or something?”
“Nope, just Monday.” Ollie smiled at her. “I better get the chocolate syrup!”
I handed Piper her coffee. We sat at the kitchen table to eat, and the quiet beauty of this moment hit me.
Piper’s knee touched mine beneath the table and she smiled behind the rim of her coffee cup. Like shecould feel it too.
Ollie shoveled down his breakfast in about five minutes and dashed off to get ready for school. I got up to rinse the dishes, and Piper leaned against the counter beside me.
“Hi,” she whispered. She cast a glance over her shoulder, making sure we were alone, and leaned in for a kiss. It was far more chaste than heated. Full of tender affection.
“I’ll miss you today,” she said.
I stroked her cheek. “I’ll miss you more.”
I thought of Danny Carmichael and the twisted offer he’d made me.Pay me off, and I’ll never see Piper or Ollie again. You can have them.
Piper and Ollie weren’t his to bargain with anyway. But they were priceless.
Danny would always be Ollie’s father, but I hoped I could have a role in Ollie’s life too. If I earned it.
“I’ll see you soon,” I said after another quick kiss. I’d be counting the minutes.
But a few days apart might be a good thing. It would give Piper a little time to consider all I’d said to her this weekend.
“Do you want to come over for dinner tomorrow?” she asked.
My heart did a flip in my chest. The things this woman made me feel. “Absolutely.”
“Where’s your backpack?” Piper called out, grabbing Ollie’s lunch from the counter.
The sound of running feet echoed through the hall. “Am I taking the bus today, Mom?” he called out.
“Doubt it, Ollie-bear. Pickup at the bus stop was five minutes ago. I’m driving. Let’s roll!”
I smiled and picked up Piper’s coat, holding it open for her to slide in. “Anything I can help with?” I asked. “Want me to look for the backpack?”
“Nope, we’re just about set. Come with us. I’ll drop you off at your place after I take Ollie to school.”
“Nah, that’s alright. You’ve got enough on your plate, and I could use a walk.”
“That’s like, eight miles!”
“I’m capable of walking eight miles. Looks like a beautiful day out there. I could use some exercise. I’ve spent way too much of the last few days horizontal.”
Her frown shifted at the edges, almost turning to a smile. “I don’t like the idea of you walking along the road. It’s not safe.”
Ollie still wasn’t here, so I kissed her forehead. I liked when she was protective of me. “I’m not actually going to walk the whole way. I was thinking I’d stop by Callum’s, and he or Zandra can probably give me a ride. I’ll be fine.”
Once Piper and Ollie were both piled in her car, they took off for school. I waved goodbye from the sidewalk.
