by Wendy Vella
“You’re welcome.” He leaned in and kissed her again.
Slow and soft, it made her head spin. She pulled back again, because now more than before there could be no hot sex in her future. Grace was her priority.
“You can go now, Dylan, and I’ll call my family.”
“I’m not leaving you until they get here, Piper.”
“You need to get back to your dad.”
“I’ll call and tell him I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“I-I can’t ask that of you.”
“You didn’t, I offered.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, I’m going to get some food. Is there anything in particular you want me to get?”
“I don’t know. Let me check the bag again.”
There was no food in there, or bottle, and only two nappies.
“There’s nothing in there she needs but a few clothes. I’m sure in time everything of hers will be sent to me, but for now I need to buy some things.”
“Of course, and we’ll talk to them tomorrow about getting the rest of her stuff.”
“Maybe I should go to the supermarket. Not that I know any better than you what to get.”
“No, Grace will be happier if she wakes up and finds you here.”
“Then take some money.”
“I’ll run a tally and you can pay me back.”
He left before she could stop him, and Piper fell into the nearest seat.
Dear Christ, she now had a child in her care.
Joanie is dead.
Visions of her friend’s lifeless body slipped into her head, but she pushed them aside. Dylan was right, she had to remember the girl she’d known.
She couldn’t delay it any longer, and needed to call her family. Punching in her mother’s number first, she felt the tears again as she heard the familiar tones of the woman who had raised her. The woman she would lean heavily on now raise her friend’s daughter.
“Mom, Joanie’s dead.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dylan took a basket and headed into the supermarket and down the first aisle. He grabbed a few things he thought Piper would eat, and he knew he would. Then found a couple of meals they could heat in the microwave. Toiletries were next, and he found a man’s T-shirt and chucked that in the basket too, in case Piper wanted it to sleep in.
Chocolate was necessary. Today was not a day for thinking about his waistline, or Piper’s.
She’d kissed him in gratitude, and then he’d kissed her because he’d had to. It was as simple as that.
“And now she has a child in her care, so it’s time to back away.”
But the hell of it was, he didn’t want to. Now wasn’t the time to worry about this either; now he needed to get supplies before Grace woke.
Picking up a sachet in the baby food section, he read the contents, then replaced it and went for another. His head was spinning by the time he’d made his way down the row. Should he get sachets or boxed meals? Food in a jar, or packet?
“Need any help?”
He turned at the voice and found a woman standing behind him. Middle-aged, she had a small girl child with her.
“I need to get food for a one-year-old just like that one.” Dylan pointed down and smiled. “I have no clue what she would eat, so any help is gratefully accepted.”
The woman was efficient, and his basket was full in no time. He even had a sipper cup for Grace to drink from, and snacks. Plus breakfast food.
“Now, do you have bottles and formula?”
Dylan shook his head, because he had no idea what formula was.
“Right, come with me.”
He changed his basket for a trolley.
“Does she need clothes or pajamas?”
“I have no idea.”
“Okay, we’ll get a couple of things, and you can come back if you need more.”
Twenty minutes later he’d thanked Melody—they were now on first-name terms—and headed for the checkout. He’d chucked in a few more supplies for him and Piper too. Once he’d paid and loaded it into the car, his phone rang. Noting the number, he answered.
“Joe.”
“Thank you seems a bit inadequate right now, but thank you anyway, Dylan.”
“No big deal.”
“It’s a huge fucking deal!”
“Okay, it’s big and you’ll owe me a massive favor, and probably the keys to your ATV.”
Dylan started the car and put the call on speaker.
“Jesus, I can’t believe Piper had to identify the body. She must have been terrified.”
Dylan let Joe talk as he drove slowly back to the motel. The man was like a brother to Piper, and hurting because he wasn’t there for her.
“It’s going to take us seven, maybe eight hours to get to you, or longer. Dylan, I know it’s a lot to ask, but will you stay with Pip and Grace until we arrive?”
“Go home to Ryker and set everything up for the baby’s arrival, Joe. Piper has to meet with the social worker in the morning, and then she’ll bring Grace home. I’ll wait and drive her, as I’m here.”
Joe was silent for several seconds, but Dylan knew he was there.
“I can’t ask you to do that. My cousin has just become guardian to a one-year-old girl and her best friend is dead. She needs her family.”
“I’m not disputing that. But it’s late, and Piper will likely fall asleep as soon as Grace does. Besides, it makes sense. You’ll arrive here in the morning for a few hours, then leave again. I’ll bring her home as soon as I can, and we’ll head straight to Ryker.”
Joe argued some more, said he needed to get there and help her; Dylan reasoned, and he won. But Joe wanted a call first thing in the morning.
“Will do.”
He used the last few minutes of the drive to think about what the hell he was doing. Dylan Howard, major commitment phobe, was committing to helping Piper get that sweet little girl out of Rummer and safely back to Ryker.
“I’m losing it,” he muttered, pulling into the parking space outside their unit.
“I have supplies,” he said, opening the door. Piper was sitting on the bed looking at her phone.
“I was making some calls about Joanie’s funeral. I’ll have to come back for it, because this is where she lived. But I really want to bring her to Ryker. Really want her where Grace and I can visit her. Would it be wrong to do that, Dylan?”
“Is there anyone here who cared for Joanie?” Dylan put the bags on the table.
“No. She was a loner.”
“Then you have your answer.”
“She didn’t say what she wanted.”
“Then do what you think feels right.”
The eyes she turned on him were red-rimmed from crying, and fatigue was in every line of her face.
“I don’t know what feels right.”
He moved to sit beside her on the bed. Not touching, but close enough so he could.
“Leave this until you get home, Piper. You have family to lean on there, and they can help you make decisions.”
“I spoke to Joe.”
“I know, me too.”
“He wants to come here now.”
“I told him to go home and get things ready for Grace’s arrival. I’ll stay tonight, and drive you home in the morning.”
Her eyes searched his face as if she could read his thoughts, which he knew was impossible. Dylan could hide easily; he’d been trained to do it.
“I’m too tired to fight you.”
“Then don’t.”
“Did you call your family, Dylan?”
“They know I won’t be back tonight.”
“Your mom’s not going to like this.”
“I’m not fifteen anymore, Piper.”
“I’ve been wondering if I should tell you this or not, but Joe thinks you should know that not all your mother’s anger toward us is because of you.”
“Okay.” Dylan wasn’t sure he wanted to know what she was going to say next.
�
��Your mother and Joe’s father had a thing. She wanted to marry him, and our guess is his refusal, and then subsequent relationship with Joe’s mom, plus what happened with you, is why she’d like the Trainers run out of town.”
“No way... really?” The thought of his rule-following, do-the-right-thing-at-all-times mother involved with Tim Trainer was a hell of a shock.
“Really.”
“I can’t imagine my mom young, but I’m sure she was.”
“And maybe pretty.”
“Maybe, and thanks for telling me, because it does help to know there’s more at the root of her anger than just me. But I still need her to stop hounding you guys.”
They both looked to the door as Grace started to cry. Piper got there first.
“Hey there, baby girl.”
Dylan looked over her shoulder at the little girl. Her hair was like a halo, face red, eyes squinty. In fact, she looked like he did after a night on the drink, minus the halo.
“I guess she needs to eat now, then have a bath?”
“Sounds the right order from memory with Ava. Let me get some food for her. I got enough to supply the local school, and had help from Melody.”
“Melody?”
“A local with a child Grace’s age. Did you know that some brands have 50 percent more sugar than others, and that it’s really best to stick with milk and water? She said Grace should still have a bottle but that it’s to supplement the food, as that’s the most important thing at her age. I bought a formula she suggested and bottle. I need to boil it though.”
“But we’re adults right, we should be able to do this?”
He turned and gave her a reassuring smile he didn’t feel. That woman had been scary in the supermarket. Who knew there were so many ways you could poison a child with just a jar of baby food that had too many calories? Dylan kept those thoughts to himself.
“Totally. I brought these hard biscuits Melody called Zwieback’s, because she’s probably teething.”
“Did you get her number?”
“No, but I know Dr. Google intimately.”
When he had everything ready he took Grace and held her on his knee, as they had no high chair. Piper put a small white bib trimmed in pink with three cute kittens on it around her little neck. Then she picked up the spoon and loaded it with baby food.
“Okay, sweetheart, you need to eat this now or the two inadequate adults who are caring for you will be at a loss what to do next.”
“Hey, speak for yourself,” he said, watching Piper’s face. Emotion was written all over it. Joanie’s loss cut deep, plus there was worry for Grace, and lastly herself.
Dylan saw a row of white teeth as Piper opened her mouth the same time as Grace did.
“She ate it.”
“Melody said it was the best brand.”
“God bless Melody.”
When the bowl was cleared she went for a sachet that held fruit and yogurt. That went down the same way. She then drank some water.
“She was hungry.”
“What worries me is that it will come out in a diaper next, and I’m putting my hand up right here and now to say I am not changing that one.”
Piper gave him a look. “I thought you said you were evolving into a better man.”
“Not that much!”
“Chicken.”
Dylan made small clucking noises as Piper cleared away the mess. Grace looked at him, so he turned her to face him, and they studied each other.
“How you doing, sweet cheeks?”
He touched her chin; it was like silk. Her big eyes looked at him solemnly.
“You play pat-a-cake?”
Taking both her little hands in his he began to sing the song and clap her hands together. She enjoyed it, because he got that soft little chuckle he’d received at the police station when the blocks tumbled over.
So small, he thought. So vulnerable and trusting. She had to rely on Piper now for her care, because there were no other options.
“You got her a bunny onesie.”
“Melody said her daughter liked it, and Bicky weighed heavily in the bunny’s favor. There’s plenty of nappies, and an extra blanket too.”
“Thank you.”
Piper gripped the onesie hard, her eyes on Grace.
“It’s okay,” Dylan said.
“Nothing is okay.”
“Not today maybe, but next week it will be better.”
Piper bathed Grace with Dylan watching, then it was bedtime again.
“I got a book in there somewhere. Melody said she’d want a bedtime story.”
Dylan got it for her, and fixed the bottle. Piper went into the bedroom and sat with Grace on the bed. He heard her soft voice talking as she fed Grace the bottle.
Hell of a day, he thought. But one he would walk away from unscathed, unlike Piper.
Dylan cleaned up then went out to his car to retrieve his wallet, which he’d left in there. Piper was on the phone when he came back.
“Joe,” she said, finishing the call. “He’s worried.”
“Understandably.”
“You okay to listen for her, and I’ll shower? She’s sleeping.”
“Of course, and I got you a T-shirt and toothbrush, plus some other girlie stuff.”
“Oh, Dylan.” She didn’t continue, instead taking the bag he held out to her and heading for the bathroom.
He spent some time clearing his emails, of which there were plenty. When he surfaced, close to forty minutes had passed and Piper still hadn’t returned.
He gave her another ten minutes, then knocked.
“You okay?”
He got no reply, but the shower had stopped running.
“Piper?”
Something muffled came back.
“I’m coming in.”
She didn’t reply. Pushing open the door he found her on the floor, arms wrapped around her legs, crying. She wore a towel and nothing else.
“Hey.” He dropped down before her. Stroking the damp black curls, he talked softly to her until the tears eased.
“S-sorry.”
“No need to be. I’d weep if I’d been through what you have today.”
“Joanie was my friend, and I should have tried h-harder—”
“To do what? You couldn’t have stopped her unless she wanted to, Piper. You have to know that.”
“But I could have tried, and I knew something wasn’t right that day.”
She was exhausted, all defenses down. The sassy side to Piper Trainer had been momentarily snuffed out, all fight gone.
“But she told you she was doing good, didn’t she?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then what more could you have done?”
“I should have called her more often.”
“Guilt is going to play a natural part in this, Piper. You’re alive, and Joanie’s not. But none of this is your fault. She took the drugs, not you, and unless you’d been with her 24/7 you couldn’t have stopped that.”
“When the grief has eased slightly, I’m going to be angry with her again.”
“And likely she deserves that.” Dylan continued to stroke her head while he attempted not to notice the damp skin and curves rising above the towel.
The woman did not need that from him now. Not when her life had just fallen apart. The hell of it was, he couldn’t seem to get his body to behave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“You go on now and get into bed. I’ll take the floor.”
“Dylan, we’ve had sex, we can share a bed,” Piper said as he pulled her to her feet.
“Okay, sure, but I was being nice.”
“Thanks, but... but it’s okay,” Piper said, instead of what she wanted to say. Don’t go too far away from me right now, Dylan. I really need to know you’re close.
Fear was eating away at her. Fear that she was now responsible for a small child, when sometimes she struggled to look after herself.
“I’m dyslexic,” Piper blurted ou
t as Dylan led her to the bed.
“Okay.” He grabbed the shirt he’d bought and handed it to her.
“How can I help Grace with her schooling if I don’t understand it?”
She struggled into the shirt, then pulled on underwear.
“When were you diagnosed?”
Piper watched him pull back the bedcovers and urge her onto the bed.
“I was a teenager. I’m a lot better now after years of working with people, but still sometimes, it’s a struggle.”
“I’m sure it is, but I think you’ll be better than most parents at helping Grace because of it, Piper, and if not you have a house full of adults who can help too.”
Piper didn’t speak, she just watched him go and grab something from a shopping bag as she struggled to grasp the fact that this morning she’d woken up worrying about what to wear, and tonight she was going to bed a... a mother.
“Here, eat this, but you have to save me some.”
She caught the bar of chocolate, and then he was gone. The bathroom door had shut, and seconds later Piper heard the shower.
Opening the chocolate wrapper, she ate it straight from the block while she thought through what needed to be done. What she would need to do for Grace.
“I do that.”
Dylan came out of the bathroom, hair damp, jeans sitting on his hips, but no shirt. Even with all the stuff going on in her life at that moment, her mouth still went dry. She knew he had a nice body, because she’d seen it wet, in the shower, but seeing all those wonderful slopes and planes of muscle had her aching to touch him again.
“What?” She dragged her eyes up his body to his face.
“Eat the bar, instead of breaking it off.”
“I don’t at home, because I have to share.”
“Ah, see I don’t have to do that, because I live alone.”
He moved to his side of the bed and sat on top. Piper had never spent the night with a man in her bed.
Breaking off a piece of chocolate, she handed the bar to him.
“You should try and sleep, Piper.”
“I know, but what if Grace wakes and I don’t hear her?”
“You will.”
“I have to thank you—”
“Again? I think we been over that already.”
