“Don’t be so sure,” her father said. “I’d imagine when Bridgette’s children are all grown up, she and Bodhi will go on some exciting adventures together and rediscover all the parts of herself she put aside to raise their children.”
Emerson stuck her hands out, reaching for Piper. Piper picked her up and nuzzled against her cheek, kissing it repeatedly, causing the munchkin to squeal with delight.
“I totally get it, you know, the appeal of raising tiny humans,” Piper said, settling Emerson on her lap with the noisy doll. “But do you think Bridgette regrets that she no longer has all that freedom now?”
“You tell me.”
She followed her father’s gaze back to the picnic table, where Bodhi was helping Bridgette to her feet. His arm circled her waist as he lowered his lips to hers. After a kiss, Bridgette headed their way with a dreamy expression on her face. Piper knew her sisters were happy, and they loved being wives. Bridgette loved being a mother, and she was good at it. She’d given up freedoms, but Harley was right—she hadn’t given up her career to make it happen, and neither had Delaney or Aurelia. Although Ben had made major changes to his life when Bea and Aurelia had become part of it.
“I think you’re looking at things from a builder’s perspective,” her father said. “You see the changes in Bridgette as tearing out the old and rebuilding with new, different stock.”
“Because it seems that way to me. She might be the same person she was inside, or some version of that, but she’s no longer a musical groupie.”
“She’s grown up, sweetheart. That would have happened with or without marriage and babies.”
“I guess. But it seems like everyone’s life changes a lot when they get serious enough to get married. Look at Ben. He moved from an enormous house to a two-bedroom apartment in the next town over to be with Aurelia. He completely revamped his workload, delegating travel and numerous responsibilities so he could be there for her and Bea. I think he did the right thing, and he’s obviously happy, but what if one day he resents them for that?”
“Honey, your brother and sisters are stronger than you give them credit for. Ben built a billion-dollar business from the ground up. He gave it everything he had, and he still does, but what he has to give a business has changed. Do you really think he’d ever make changes he didn’t want to make? Bea came into his life, and suddenly he had a chance to love the daughter he never realized he’d had, and to love and be loved by the only woman he’d ever wanted as his wife.” Her father paused as Bridgette approached.
“I came to borrow our little one long enough to nurse her before we have brunch,” Bridgette said.
“Mamamamama.” Emerson bounced on Piper’s lap.
Piper smothered her chubby cheeks with kisses and handed her over to Bridgette, saying, “Thanks for sharing her.”
“Anytime.” Bridgette rubbed noses with Emerson and said, “Did you have fun with Grandpa and Auntie Piper?”
After Bridgette walked away, her father said, “Honey, about Ben. He didn’t change because Aurelia asked him to or because the courts demanded it for his daughter. He discovered parts of himself that had always been there, and he rearranged his life in such a way that would allow him to become the man he wanted to be for them.”
“I guess that’s true.” Her mother’s laughter sailed loudly through the air. “Did you change when you met Mom?”
Her father laughed. “Believe it or not, you and Bridgette are a lot like your old man.”
“That’s weird, because Bridge and I are nothing alike.”
“Hm. I’m not so sure. But I never thought I’d settle down. I used to love to have fun and run around with women before I met your mother. I was pretty wild.”
Piper tried to stifle her disbelieving chuckle.
“I was. Just ask your mother, or better yet, don’t. I don’t want to relive those years. You asked if I changed when I met her, and the answer is yes, but my changes came from within. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see the man she deserved. It was simple. I loved her, and I wanted her to be proud to be with me.”
“Did you want Mom to change when you met her?”
“Never. She was the brightest star in the sky, and I wanted to reach her so badly, I’d have climbed mountains, swam across oceans. I needed your mother’s earthiness in my life. She centered me in a way I never knew I needed. We had wild times together, and as the years passed, I found a more serious and responsible side of myself. An undiscovered part of myself that had always been there, just like Ben and the rest of your siblings have. I just lost touch with that responsible side of myself for a while when my father lost his job and things got hairy, which was about the time I met your mom. But we don’t need to talk about that. Here’s a bit of reality for you, pumpkin. If your mother told me she wanted me to get out of the contracting business and move to Africa, or take a flight to the moon, I’d do it, because other than our children and grandchildren, she’s all that matters.”
“You’d give up contracting?” Piper couldn’t imagine that.
“In a heartbeat, and here’s why.” He glanced lovingly at her mother; then he looked thoughtfully at Piper and said, “I was worried about retiring from my position with the university to start Dalton Contracting. Starting a business is risky, as you know. We had to take those loans, and there was always the chance that we could fail. But your mother convinced me to take those risks. She made it clear that if we lost the house and had to start over, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, because we have only one lifetime to fulfill our dreams. She said if I didn’t try, I’d always wonder what if . . . If she wanted to travel, how could I leave her wondering what if?”
“So you’d change for her.”
“No. I’d be the man I wanted to be for her. When you love someone, you want them to be happy. Does it take concessions? Sure. But that doesn’t mean changing who you are. It means deciding whether you possess the qualities they need at that time, and shifting priorities. And sometimes that changes, too.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. I feel myself changing, and it kind of scares me.”
“Ah, now I see where you were headed. We’re talking about you and Harley.”
She glanced around the yard and said, “I didn’t expect it to be this easy.”
“I don’t imagine Harley thinks it’s been easy.”
“Dad! Am I that bad?”
“No, pumpkin. You’re that smart and that strong. You won’t put up with nonsense, and you demand respect. Those are good qualities. But if you think any of my girls are easy, you’re wrong. It takes strong men to handle Dalton women.”
“Come on. Bridge is as gentle as they come, and so is Talia. Even Willow is sweet, although she does have a mouth on her. I’m the only one who doesn’t have a sweet bone in my body.”
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “I really don’t like when you say things like that. You have spent a lifetime watching out for everyone else, making sure your sisters didn’t get hurt, showing up to help everyone whenever they needed anything. You are a sweet, caring person, Piper.”
“It’s okay, Dad. I know who I am. I was just pointing out that my sisters are sweet, and that makes them much easier for relationships.”
“You are tough by nature. I’ll give you that. But you have to possess tenderness to be a bighearted, thoughtful person. You have to care. Look at how you jumped in to help Harley with the girls. Someone who isn’t sweet wouldn’t give up so much of their time to do that. Debra told your mother that Jolie raved about shopping with you for her dress, and we both know you hate shopping.”
It was true, Piper wasn’t a big shopper, but she’d had a great time Thursday afternoon shopping with the girls and Delaney. Jolie had been happier than Piper had seen her in a very long time, which Delaney had said was because she and Jolie had shared a good cry and Jolie had admitted how scared she’d been about losing her. Piper was glad Jolie was doing better, and she was glad to have been included in
their shopping trip. The girls had been hilarious. Sophie picked out dresses, some of which were meant solely to make everyone laugh, and Jolie had been a great sport, trying on each and every one. In the end, they found a simple light purple dress for the father-daughter dance, and when Jolie refused every pair of sandals, Piper suggested ballet flats. Jolie had wrinkled her nose at that, too, just like Piper would have at that age. Piper went with her gut and suggested a pair of light purple Converse, earning a squeal and a hug from Jolie and an invitation to help Sophie shop for her dress when it was her turn to attend the father-daughter dance.
“Don’t you see, pumpkin?” her father said. “The ease of a person doesn’t have to do with if they’re outwardly sweet or tough. Bridgette keeps the difficult stuff inside, and Bodhi had to work hard to unearth it. Talia is sweet, but you know she had a laundry list of things she wanted in a husband, and that wasn’t easy for Derek to work around. And don’t even get me started on Willow. Of all our children, I think Ben is the easiest when it comes to being in a relationship, but if you tell him that, I’ll have to kill you.”
She laughed. “We really are alike.”
“Darn right. Listen, Piper. I know how your brain works. You think your sisters are easier than you. I know better than to try to change your opinion. But the bottom line is, Easy doesn’t equate to better. Trust your gut with Harley. He knows exactly who you are, and he’s a smart man. If he wanted easy, he’d never have pursued a Dalton.”
“I guess you’re right. Thank you for the perspective. But I’m worried about all this stuff I feel. I just saw him this morning, and I already miss him so much it hurts. Everyone has their significant other with them, and I didn’t think to ask Harley if we could find a way to celebrate with both families. I’m sucky at this relationship stuff. But I want to try, Dad, which is new, and feels crazy, and you know I’m not a needy person. Is this the beginning of me changing everything about myself? Is this a red flag?”
“Dad!” Willow called from the patio. “Can you come here for a sec?”
Her father held up a finger in Willow’s direction and said, “Sweetheart, I don’t think you’re changing who you are as much as you’re finally letting someone get to you. In doing so, maybe you’re discovering parts of yourself that have been hidden, too. And that can be scary.”
“Tell me about it,” she said as they pushed to their feet. “But good, you know? I like it. I like him. A lot.”
“Does he know that?” he asked.
The fluttery feeling returned, and she said, “Yes.”
“Then you’ve opened that door. The question is, will you let him walk through it, or keep him out on the porch? What are you afraid of?”
For a second she wondered if her father knew she was worried about asking Harley to stay at her place, but quickly dismissed that idea. He designed and built homes for a living; of course he used similar metaphors.
“I don’t know.”
“The fact that you’re scared at all tells me this man is important to you and you don’t want to lose him. So you have to ask yourself, what’s the worst that can happen? That he might track a little mud inside? He’ll watch sports too loud?”
“I love sports, and I don’t care about mud.”
“Exactly. You know how to clean up messes, but broken hearts are a little more complicated.” He winked and said, “Have a little faith.”
Piper’s head spun. Faith in who? Herself or Harley?
Maybe she needed to have both. Maybe she needed to take a giant leap of faith and just go with it. She pulled out her phone and called Harley, her heart racing. What if she was interrupting their brunch?
“Hey, babe. Everything okay?”
Just hearing his voice brought a wave of calm. “It’s fine. I just . . . I wish I had thought ahead and found a way for us to be together and celebrate with both of our moms. I know that sounds clingy, but I miss you. I wish you were here.”
“I miss you, too. Remember when I said I’d never let you down?”
“Mm-hm.” He said it all the time, and she believed him.
“Turn around, darlin’.”
Piper spun around just as Jolie and Sophie ran around the side of the house, heading for Roxie.
“Happy Mother’s Day!” the girls hollered as they threw their arms around Piper’s mother.
Harley came into view with Delaney and Debra, and Piper’s heart nearly burst out of her chest. She ran across the yard and launched herself into his arms. He lifted her off her feet, kissing her as he spun them around like they were in a freaking Hallmark movie. Lord help her. She really was changing, because suddenly all that sappy Hallmark stuff seemed pretty damn good.
“Uncle Harley and Piper sitting in a tree,” Sophie sang, sparking laughter as Willow and Remi joined her in singing the song, and Mason said, “Get a room!”
“Why are you here?” Piper asked, her feet dangling above the ground.
“Because our sneaky mothers conspired.”
“I freaking love our mothers! I want you to spend the night at my house tonight,” she blurted out before she lost her nerve.
Harley kissed her again as he sank down to the grass with her on his lap. “Say it again,” he said. “I have to make sure I didn’t make that up in my head.”
“Don’t push your luck. Just say you will.”
“Oh, I will, baby, and you’re never going to want me to leave.”
Harley couldn’t think of anything that could make the day any better. Brunch was delicious, the kids were entertaining, and the company was wonderful, but nothing compared to knowing Piper wanted him to stay at her place tonight. He glanced at her as she talked with Delaney, and his heart thumped a little harder. It felt good to be with Piper and her family today. This was the last place he’d expected his mother to take them when she’d said she’d chosen a place for brunch. But man, when they’d turned down Willow and Zane’s street and Piper’s truck had come into view, it was like a dream come true. He’d been missing her as badly as she’d missed him. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on between their mothers now, as they sat at the other end of the table whispering like schoolgirls. They were definitely up to something, and if this brunch was any indication of what they could pull off, he was excited to see what else they had up their sleeves.
Harley felt a gentle pat on his leg and looked down to see a chubby little hand reaching for his plate. “Ah, sneaky Bea.” He lifted her onto his lap, and she snagged a cookie from his plate.
“Watch out, Harley,” Zane said. “Those adorable ones are contagious.”
He kissed Bea’s head, hugging her as he said, “I can think of worse things to catch.” He gazed out at Jolie, Sophie, and Louie playing in the yard, and his mind took a perilous leap. He imagined Piper round with their baby, more of their children running around the yard. It was a dream he knew might never come true, but he couldn’t help wanting it.
Willow nudged Piper and said, “Do not let him near Mom’s new potions.”
“Don’t worry. I threw out Harley’s body wash, and I never use her stuff.” Piper narrowed her eyes, looking at Roxie, and said, “I’m onto our mama and her matchmaking ways.”
“Doesn’t Mom have a key to your house?” Talia asked.
“So?” Piper asked as she bit into a cookie.
Talia, Bridgette, and Willow exchanged a knowing look. Roxie pressed her lips together, but there was no squelching her smile or the guilt in her eyes as they darted away from her daughters.
“Oh no. No, no, no,” Piper said. “I want my key back.”
Roxie shrugged. “It already worked.”
“No it hasn’t,” Piper said sharply. She hiked a thumb at Harley and said, “I’ve been showering with him for weeks. There’s no way I . . .” She realized everyone was looking at her like she’d said something she shouldn’t have. “Oh shit. I mean, I’ve been staying at his place. I mean . . .” She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m a grown woman. I can stay wherever I want
.”
“So that’s why Harley needed a bigger shower,” Dan teased.
“With two showerheads,” Aurelia chimed in.
Remi said, “I want two showerheads.”
“We’ll hire Piper to put them in,” Mason suggested.
Piper’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “How do you know we . . . he has two showerheads?”
Bridgette waved from the other end of the table. “That would be my fault. I didn’t know the details of his bathroom renovation were a secret.”
Harley couldn’t stop smiling, but he knew better than to open his mouth and get in the middle of this.
“Okay, enough,” Piper snapped. “Bottom line, Mother, is that we’re safe from your fertility potions, and I want my key back.”
“Why? Look how adorable Harley is with a baby,” Roxie pleaded.
“She’s right,” Talia said. “He looks really good with Bea.”
“Everyone looks good with Bea,” Ben said.
“I would love more grandchildren,” Debra said. “Ever since Sophie spent the night with Ben and Aurelia, she can’t stop talking about wanting a baby, and Delaney has put her foot down.”
“She’s right,” Delaney said. “I’ve done my duty.”
Roxie and Debra looked around the table.
“Don’t look at us.” Zane leaned back and put his arm around Willow. “My wife and I have other things to focus on for the next year.”
Emerson was fast asleep on Bodhi’s chest. He patted her back and said, “We’ll be happy to take some of that fertility potion in about six months. Until then, all we want are a few nights of sleep.”
“Guess you’re up, Tal,” Willow said.
Talia reached for Derek’s hand and said, “I don’t think we need fertility potions. We weren’t going to say anything yet, but we just found out I’m eight weeks pregnant.”
The girls squealed and jumped up to hug Talia and Derek, while the guys cheered their congratulations.
“Oh, how wonderful,” Flossie exclaimed.
Ben patted Derek on the back and said, “Get ready for sleepless nights.”
She Loves Me Page 26