I detect a Russian accent and can't help the curious look I give my mother. She just smiles wider. Who is this man? And why does my mother look so damn happy?
"When did the two of you meet?" I ask.
"Oh, some years ago,” Mom says. “Victor's wife Mariaand I used to be acquaintances. She passed three years ago, and we got back in touch recently, didn't we, Victor?"
"Indeed." He looks at my mother so adoringly that it makes my chest hurt.
Is my mother…dating?
"That's wonderful. I'm so glad you both could come to the fundraiser this evening."
My mother lowers her voice. "He left a very generous check in the donation box.”
He puts an arm around my mother and gives her a squeeze. "That was our little secret, solneeshka."
I don’t know Russian, but I don’t even need to. I’m sure he just called her by some cutesie term of endearment, because my mother is blushing like a schoolgirl. I feel a flurry of sudden mixed emotions, but I block them all. She deserves to explore this new life she's living. She's allowed to date different types of men, men who are definitely not my father, and find out what she likes. She’s allowed to live her life as she sees fit.
Jesus, she’s really starting over, and I'm sitting here stuck on a date with a bland accountant who will never start a fire in me like Nate did.
If my mother can start over and live a life she always dreamed about, why can’t I?
Maybe she and I can find a way to divide and conquer Nana's rent and make sure she's comfortable for the rest of her life. There's got to be a way to figure it out.
My mother checks her dainty gold watch. "It's getting late. We should be going, Victor." She pulls me in for a hug and kisses my cheek. "This was a wonderful evening, Piper.Congratulations on a job well done. You danced so beautifully."
I stare after her once she's gone, suddenly missing her with a fierce ache in my chest. I'm still standing there when Andrew returns with two crystal dishes of chocolate mousse. He offers me one and I thank him even though I have no intention of eating it. Before we can sit down again, Cleo and Mark appear and announce that it's time to go. Since Andrew rode with them, he has no choice but to follow. He hitches a brow and looks at me.
"If you'd like to extend our evening, I can stay here and Uber home later on."
"Oh, gosh, that’s okay,” I say. “I have a lot to do to wrap up the event. Cleanup, sorting out the costumes, that kind of thing. I won't be very good company, I'm afraid."
"I understand,” he says.
“Let me walk you out, though," I say.
Cleo gives me a side eye, smiles, and walks ahead with Mark.
Andrew falls well behind and puts a hand on my arm to indicate that I should keep pace with him. And then he stops completely and turns to me. I draw back, dreading what he might do next. But he looks so hopeful and so innocent. His soft face and passive expression are such a far cry from Nate's assertiveness and dominance. And I know in my gut that I could never, ever see myself with a man like this.
"It was really a pleasure to meet you, Piper-Lily. May I see you again?"
"My schedule is going to be packed for the next fewweeks, actually. But I’ll get your number from Cleo and call you if something opens up."
It’s the best I can do to let him down gently, even though I have no intention of calling him. His face lights up, though, as if he doesn't understand that I'm putting him off. Before I can react, he pulls me in and plants his lips on mine. Putting a hand against his chest, I'm about to push him away when he backs off. He’s still smiling, even though that was probably the deadest dead fish kiss I could imagine.
"Good night, then. Sweet dreams, Piper."
“Right. You too.”
I've never been so happy to see someone leave. Turning my back, I wipe my mouth with my sleeve and hurry toward the dressing room. The quicker I forget that kiss, the better.
My mother might be out there navigating men and new relationships. But how will I ever do the same?
No one will ever, ever live up to Nate Windemere.
39
PIPER-LILY
