by Harlow James
“Piper! Piper!”
I pop up instantly, reading the panic in his voice.
“Baron? What’s wrong?”
“Birdie. She slipped and fell on some ice outside. The sidewalks are wet and she didn’t see it. Come quickly! I know you’re a nurse… you need to help!”
Instantly the items in my hands fall to the floor as I rush out the door of the craft room and run through the hall leading to the outdoor pavilion part of the complex. A circle of people to my left pulls my attention as I notice Birdie on the ground and Samuel crouched down next to her.
“Samuel, what happened? Is she hurt?”
“Her head… she… she hit her head when she fell.”
“I’m fine, you knuckle heads,” Birdie declares softly from Samuels lap, but the blood gushing from her forehead indicates the opposite.
“Has someone called 9-1-1 yet?” I ask, dropping to my knees by her head and examining her using the flashlight on my cell phone. Laceration to the forehead, her pupils are dilated, possible concussion for sure. Her hip also looks like she landed pretty hard on it, already bruising from the fall.
“Yes, someone called. What do we do?” Samuel peers up at me with fear in his eyes, pleading with me to fix her, but the first order of business is to stop the bleeding.
“Baron, can you get a few clean washcloths or rags for me?” I look up at him, knowing I need to wipe some of this blood away and apply pressure to the wound. Baron scurries away to the rack that holds the pool towels outside and returns rather quickly, handing me a few towels. These will have to do. I swipe blood away to assess the cut and then press the towel to her head to add pressure. Just as I get the majority of the blood cleaned, the paramedics arrive behind me. I fill them in on her stats—her pulse I calculated, her age, approximate weight, etc. as they move to assess her and load her on the stretcher.
“Can you call Cash, Piper? Tell him not to freak out, but at least let him know I’m going to the hospital,” Birdie asks through slurred words as they load her on the stretcher and make their way to the ambulance.
“I already called him, Birdie,” Samuel chimes in.
“I’ll drive right behind the ambulance, Birdie. Samuel, go inside there with her.” I direct him to climb into the ambulance, his tall frame taking a seat beside her and reaching for her hand on instinct. “You’re gonna be alright, Birdie.” I give them a small smile, then run for my car, taking off for the hospital behind the emergency vehicle, my heart racing with every mile—fearful that her injuries are worse than I presumed and what Cash’s reaction may be.
Once we arrive, I’m grateful Alice in on shift.
“Piper, what are you doing here on your day off?” She chastises me, knowing it’s a cardinal rule for us to get as far away from the hospital as possible when we’re not on the clock.
“A friend of mine was just brought in from Sagewood.”
“Oh yes, the woman with the concussion? I didn’t know you ran with the older crowd,” she winks. “I think they just took her back for a CT scan. I’ll keep you updated, okay?”
“Thanks, Alice. Is Jess on tonight?”
She shakes her head. “No. She said something about a family friend stopping by in town that she wasn’t thrilled about seeing. Can’t wait to hear that story when she returns.” Turning on her heels, she walks away to tend to a patient in one of the bays.
“Thank you, Piper, for taking care of her,” Samuel comes up behind me, wrapping his large palm around my shoulder, reaching for comfort that I’m fighting to offer myself right now, knowing that Cash will be here any minute and I don’t know what reaction from him to anticipate.
“I didn’t do much, but stopping the bleeding was number one.”
“You did more than I knew to do. I love that woman, Piper. She made me smile again after I lost my wife five years ago. We were right on the verge of retirement, ready to travel and spend the time together we always planned to have. And then one routine mammogram turned into stage four breast cancer, and she was gone in six months.”
“Oh God, Samuel. I’m so sorry.” I pull him in for a hug now, soothing him as best as I can.
“It’s alright. I had twenty-five beautiful years with my Marlis, but then I met Birdie, and I found someone else that made the darkness fade away. I can’t lose her too, at least not yet. I know we’re not getting any younger, but she’s my entire world now.” Samuel’s eyes begin to blur behind his tears, bringing moisture to my own.
“She’ll be alright. It looked like just a concussion and probably a bruised hip, which is still serious, but she should bounce back from it with no problem. As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know.”
After sitting in the waiting room of the ER for about an hour, a different perspective than working behind the scenes for sure, Birdie is set up in a room and we’re allowed to visit. Samuel rushes to her side, reaching for her hand and kissing the top of it, lingering with his lips pressed against her skin. The move is so genuine and underrated, because as I watch him worship her with just the kiss of her hand, I realize I’ve never felt that way about anyone—a person that you’re so afraid of losing, your fear swallows you whole—until Cash.
“Your vitals look good, Birdie. The doctor should be in shortly to go over everything with you. Dr. Turner is awesome, so if you have any questions, make sure to ask her.” I reach over and brush her hair from her face, keeping it from the stickiness of the bandage on her forehead covering the fresh sutures closing her wound. This woman has become someone I care about deeply in my new life here and seeing her hurt brings a familiar pang of worry that generates when you care about someone that much.
“Christ, Birdie? What the hell happened?” The panic-stricken voice behind me has me turning in a heartbeat, taking in a frantic Cash in his uniform with a fear in his eyes I’ve never seen.
“I’m fine, Cash. Just a little fall,” she says wearily, her eyes attempting to close.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Samuel shakes her easily, trying to keep her awake. “She has a concussion.”
“Fuck. How did you hit your head?” He barks, moving further into the room without even acknowledging me, giving me enough to conclude that he’s not just been busy, but something happened to shift his reaction to me. Either that or he’s so fixated on Birdie right now, that his focus is nowhere else. But the tension between us is palpable, a feeling that makes my heart race and my stomach twist, a far cry from the passion I felt just weeks ago.
“I slipped and fell on some ice on the sidewalk going back to my room. I’ll be okay. I’m a tough old bird, you know that,” she teases him as he closes in on her bed, completely immersed in her presence.
And in that moment, I realize that maybe I should leave, let the three of them have their space as a family and hope Cash will come to me soon so we can talk. I don’t know what happened, but my gut is telling me he knows more than he should.
“I’m going to go, you guys—let you have your time together. I’ll check in soon,” I say softly, retreating from the room backwards.
“Thank you, Piper, for all of your help.”
“Of course.” Twisting on my feet, I exit her room and make my way down the hall, noticing how fast my pulse is racing as I increase the distance between Cash and myself. I feel like my heart is about to break through my ribcage, the fear over losing what we just started has me speed walking away from the turmoil I felt in that room. I never should have let him in. I never should have allowed myself to fall for him.
With the doors leading outside only a few feet away, the sound of Cash’s words stop me cold.
“Where are you going, Pfeiffer?”
His voice makes me freeze—not only from the commanding tone, but from his use of my real name. Shit, I knew it.
“We need to talk, and I think you know just what we need to talk about.”
Chapter 24
Cash
When Samuel called and told me Birdie was on her way to the hospital
from a fall, I instantly felt like I was about to murder someone. Anger mixed with fear swirled in my body, causing me to freak out in a way I didn’t know I could. Birdie is the closest thing I have to a parent, replacing the space in my heart I should have for my real mom and dad, because she has cared for me in a way they never managed. My number one goal in that moment was to get to her, but I was following a call on a suspected drunk driver, so I had to finish my job before I could leave. Luckily, the retrieval was quick and Luke came by to finish processing and arresting the man so I could rush to the hospital.
I sprinted through the doors like a person does in the movies for dramatic effect—head twisting from side to side, breathing heavy, panic clearly visible on my face. As I asked the receptionist where Birdie was, the idea of running into Piper here never crossed my mind. We haven’t seen each other in days because I’ve been avoiding her and picking up extra shifts to keep my mind off how I want to address her lies and give me a valid excuse as to why I couldn’t see her. It’s also prevented me from acting like an asshole and ruining what we have—if there still is an us after my discovery.
But when I make my way to Birdie’s room and peak inside, I’m granted with the image of Piper leaning over Birdie in her bed, brushing her hair from her face covered in a bandage, and smiling down at her like Birdie means something to her too. Her long blonde hair falls over her shoulder that she has it draped over, her long lashes stand out against her porcelain skin, and the care I see on her face even from the side tells me her heart is the most beautiful thing about her.
And in that moment, I know I’m fucked—because I love her.
That word has meant nothing to me until right now. Watching this woman that has altered my existence show admiration and care for the most important person in my life makes me realize that she is a part of my life now too. I’ve denied myself love because of the marriage my parents portrayed to me, making me fearful that I could treat someone else like that someday. And even though I’ve never claimed this emotion before, I know without a doubt that this is what I’m feeling. It’s inherent, cemented in the fact that although I don’t have a clue about who this woman truly is, what her life was like before I met her, and what has led her to the point where she had to change her name—I know that I love her and can’t ever imagine my life without her in it.
But as this overpowering emotion hits my body, it is quickly accompanied by frustration and irritation again. Because although I know I love her, she lied to me, has been lying to me from the start and I can’t understand why. I know I just need to ask, but that requires getting a handle on my emotions, which has never been my strong suit. In my job, I’m tough as nails and nothing can penetrate the brick walls I erect to keep the tough shit from getting to me. But in my personal life, I tend to react to things like a tornado—fast, furious, and unpredictable. It has taken everything in my power not to race to her apartment, bang on her door, and demand answers. And if it weren’t for Cooper convincing me to give myself some time, I would have already been there.
But what the fuck is she doing here at the hospital with Birdie and Samuel? She’s not in her scrubs, so she obviously isn’t working. And then I see the paint on her fingers, which answers my questions instantly. Tonight was the paint night at the center, and Piper must have been there when everything happened. I thank my lucky stars that she was, because who knows what could have happened if she wasn’t trained in handling situations just like that which happened to Birdie.
However, I can’t focus on that right now. I can deal with her later. Right now, the only thing that matters is that Birdie is going to be alright. That’s my number one priority and always has been.
“Christ, Birdie? What the hell happened?” I march into the room, pushing away the drama with Piper and demanding some answers. Just as I speak, Piper twists to face me, but I avoid her eyes.
“I’m fine, Cash. Just a little fall,” she says wearily, her eyes attempting to close. She looks weak and tired, providing just a small reminder that Birdie is not getting any younger and her injury has rattled her.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Samuel shakes her easily, trying to keep her awake. “She has a concussion.”
“Fuck. How did you hit your head?” I say a little too loudly, moving further into the room, still avoiding Piper. I know she can sense the tension I’m giving off because she slowly cowers away from the bed, hanging her head low and moving towards the door. I just continue to fixate on Birdie, assessing her injuries and thinking about how I can alter my schedule to help her recover.
“I slipped and fell on some ice on the sidewalk going back to my room. I’ll be okay. I’m a tough old bird, you know that,” she teases me as I close in on her bed, reaching for her hand which finally helps calm me down, being able to physically touch her and realize she’s still breathing and alive.
“I’m going to go, you guys, let you have your time together. I’ll check in soon,” Piper mumbles, retreating from the room backwards, and drawing the attention of Samuel and Birdie to her. But I don’t turn in her direction because if I look in her eyes, I’m afraid of what I might say or do.
“Thank you, Piper, for all of your help,” Samuel offers on a tight-lipped smile.
“Of course.” Twisting on her feet, she exits the room as Samuel and Birdie turn to face me now.
“What the hell is going on? Just a few weeks ago, you couldn’t keep your hands off of her, and now you’re giving her the cold shoulder. She also didn’t know you were working tonight, so I assume you aren’t speaking right now? What the hell happened, Cash?” Birdie’s concerned words come out slowly, but I can still hear the worry in her voice.
I let out a long breath. “It’s complicated.” I don’t want to offer up too many details until I know exactly what the truth is myself. Birdie and Samuel love her, so I don’t want to persuade their opinions of Piper if there’s a logical explanation as to why she changed her name.
“Relationships are. And I would hate to see you lose what the two of you have by acting a fool. Talk to her. That’s the only way to move past whatever has come between you two.” Birdie’s words mirror Cooper’s—fucking talk to her—yeah, like that’s so easy. What do I say?
“Hey, Piper. I overheard you talking to your mom on the phone and realized she called you by a different name, so I lifted your fingerprint from my truck and ran it through the system at work, confirming that you actually have two identities. Care to tell me what the fuck is going on? Why you’ve been lying to me since day one about who you are? Or better yet, what the fuck are you hiding?”
“I don’t know how to have the conversation we need to. It’s… it’s just fucking complicated, alright?” I raise my voice, but instantly regret it.
“Go talk to her right now. I’m not asking, I’m telling you, Cash Williams. Do not let that woman walk out of your life.” Birdie is definitely more awake now, the sternness in her voice a command I can’t deny—because it never occurred to me until she said it that Piper could walk away if I don’t find the fucking balls to talk to her.
“Okay, fine. But I’ll be right back.” I kiss her forehead beside her cut and then walk away, looking to my left and right for a glimpse of which direction Piper went as soon as I exit the doorway.
The hips and curves that I’ve committed to memory taunt me in the hallway to my left as I watch the woman I can’t seem to fight my feelings for walk away from me in a hurry, almost like she’s trying to escape. My feet move on instinct towards her, my mind deciding to play this in a way where she can’t leave once I let her know the truth. As I close the distance between us, I decide to rip the band aid off, revealing our reality.
“Where are you going, Pfeiffer?” My voice makes her freeze, her shoulders rising like she’s anticipating a physical connection, but I can’t reach out to her just yet. “We need to talk, and I think you know just what we need to talk about,” I finally say, lifting some anxiety from my body over this situation, but not yet c
alming down my pulse.
She slowly turns to me, eyes wide, full of surprise and then fear as we lock our gazes, studying each other in a silent stand-off.
“What did you just call me?” She whispers, like she’s afraid to ask the question because she already knows the answer.
“You heard me. We need to talk.”
She shakes her head, her lips trembling. “Not here, Cash. Please. This is where I work. I know you have questions, but I can’t do this here.”
“Then when?” I fold my arms over my chest, standing tall and not letting her panic get to me. Because although part of me wants to wrap her in my arms right now and tell her everything is going to be alright, I don’t fucking know that and I can’t make that promise. I’m fucking pissed. I love her and am so goddamn mad at her at the same time, my mind doesn’t know what to think, my heart doesn’t know what to feel, my body doesn’t know what to do, so I trap my hands from making any movement for her.
“How about tomorrow night? Come by my place and I promise, I’ll tell you everything, okay?” She’s pleading, reaching for me, her gentle hand resting on my forearm, heating up every miniscule inch of skin beneath it, reminding me of our connection.
“No more lying, Piper. I can’t fucking handle it. This right here,” I gesture between us with one hand, “Is exactly why I don’t do relationships. You pulled me in, I’m invested now, but my head is spinning in a fucking circle and I don’t know what to think.”
“You heard me talking to my mom, didn’t you?” She mumbles, dropping her eyes to where her hand is still resting on me.
“Yeah, I did. But part of me didn’t think I heard correctly. But I did a little research, and let’s just say, I know you’ve changed your name. I just need to know why before this goes any further.” I unfold my arms now, causing her hand to drop, and stand there, fists clenched at my sides.
“I promise. I will tell you everything, Cash. Tomorrow. I have to go, though,” she turns away, finally breaking the barrier of the automatic doors and striding into the blackness of the night.
