Lost & Found

by Raquel De Leon

  It felt like the oxygen had been sucked from Piper’s lungs. She felt dizzy. At least he couldn’t hurt anyone else, not like he’d done before. For a moment she wished Shelly was still awake and by her side—but then she remembered that would only make this all so much harder on Shelly.

  “As for the second one,” Laura continued in a low voice, “since Selma tells me it’s almost complete fiction—“

  “It’s not,” Piper admitted. She rubbed her perspiring palms over her jeans.

  She could feel Selma stiffen at her side. “Not completely,” she amended as she met Selma’s eyes. “There’s, uh, I have to go back a bit for you to understand.”

  She inhaled carefully. “Shelly and I were in the same group home for a while. We bonded, looked out for each other since we were labeled problem kids and were pretty sure no one else would ever foster us again.”

  Piper briefly smiled. “Then Dottie came. Things were good the first few months. Just us and Dot.” Her jaw worked. “School started. Shel and I weren’t exactly popular. It wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t great either. Then Chris McElroy started hanging out with Shel.”

  She wasn’t used to sharing Shelly’s business. Especially not this… but Shelly had given her permission in order to try to keep this latest mess from getting worse. She frowned and looked between Laura and Selma. “No matter what, I want you to keep Shelly’s name out of this. Even if it makes things harder for me. You got that?”

  Laura’s eyes narrowed, her attention wandering to Selma, who immediately nodded.

  “Alright,” Laura agreed with a sigh.

  Piper pursed her lips as she scrutinized Laura’s sincerity. She trusted Selma to keep them both to their word, at least. “I didn’t like Chris. Shel was fourteen. He was eighteen.” Her lips twitched as she focused on a small spot on the carpet. “Turns out I had a reason not to like him. After they’d hung out a while, he invited her to some party or something. She didn’t come home until the next morning and when she did she couldn’t stop crying. He’d given her something. Took advantage.”

  She clenched her fists hard at her sides, her insides twisting with rage. “I went over to his house and beat the shit out of him with his own lacrosse stick.” For several long heartbeats, she only breathed. In, and out. Nice and slow. Finally, the rage and acid churning in her stomach eased.

  “He was out of school for two weeks. His parents wanted to press charges, but then Dot confronted them about what he’d done to Shel. Things got nasty for about a month, until they agreed to back off if Shelly did. Which,” Piper’s mouth twisted, “I didn’t like, but Shel couldn’t bear the thought of having to face that scum again. She’d already gone through enough. I didn’t want her to go through more, and I couldn’t be there for her if I was stuck in juvie for assault.”

  The room was silent as Laura and Selma processed their story.

  “The thing is,” Piper said, “is that all of this was kept quiet. Everyone in town knew something had happened, but nothing specific. We all signed about a dozen things saying we wouldn’t speak about the alleged incidents. How did anyone find out about this?”

  Again, Laura and Selma shared a look. Selma raised her eyebrows. “By doing something illegal,” she said.

  “We’re going to fix this, Piper,” Laura declared solemnly.

  Laura looked directly at Piper, gaze unwavering. Piper felt her earlier animosity begin to evaporate. She could see the resemblance to Selma after all.

  Chapter 7

  The diner was bustling at eight-thirty in the morning, Selma found. She smiled to herself, coffee mug in hand as the world went on around her. Eight-thirty was a later start than what she was used to, but she and Laura had been up late strategizing and then… having a good old-fashioned sleepover. They hadn’t had any of those growing up.

  “Well, you’re looking quite satisfied.” Laura was leaning back against the opposite booth seat, her mug of tea cradled lovingly in a double grip.

  Selma arched her eyebrows, taking a pointed look at Laura’s tea. “You’re one to talk.”

  Laura pulled the mug closer to her chest. “You just don’t understand how rare it is to find my favorite anywhere but at home. Dorothy Tate is a goddess amongst women.”

  “I’d agree with that.” Unused to the hushed tone, Selma had to look up to confirm—Shelly, hand clasped in Mark’s, had just reached their table.

  Shelly’s smile was small. She reached up to tuck some loose curls behind her ear. “Um, I just wanted to come over to say thanks. For,” she gestured vaguely with her free hand, “everything.”

  “You got rid of the reporters!” Mark exclaimed with wide eyes. “Even the chief couldn’t do that.”

  “Yes, it’s amazing what the threat of a lawsuit will do,” Laura deadpanned.

  Selma, trying to maintain a pleasant smile, subtly kicked Laura under the table. “We’re just doing our jobs, but thank you.”

  “Now, don’t be modest, Selma!” Laura comically raised her eyebrows. “We've been scheming like two politicians with a body to hide. Our mother would be so proud.” Laura wore a satisfied look.

  Shelly and Mark shared confused a look., and then Shelly cleared her throat. “Umm, well, anyway… Dot wanted to invite you to eat with us. Piper was still asleep when we left, but if you don’t mind it being just us and Dot you’re more than welcome.”

  “That sounds lovely, thanks,” Laura answered first.

  Selma concealed her surprise. She tilted her head to the side. “We’ll join you in just a minute, if that’s alright.”

  “Yeah, sure!” Mark said with his chest puffed out.

  Shelly hid a laugh behind a cough and tugged Mark back in the direction of their table.

  “Well, e’s chuffed to bits innit ’e?” Laura’s eyes twinkled as she intentionally thickened her accent.

  Selma rolled her eyes. “Why’d you say yes?” She frowned as she tried to decipher her sister’s expression.

  Laura’s grin was slow and somewhat menacing. She leaned forward. “I’m glad you asked, Selma. When’s the last time you held hands with one of your adult clients?”

  “I…” Selma’s mind raced. “Technically, she’s not my client. Her biological parents are.”

  Laura scoffed. “How is it you win a single case? You’ve a terrible poker face.” She tossed her hair and glanced away. “Speaking of dear old mummy and daddy—do they know you and Piper have the hots for each other?”

  “It’s not like that.” The words sounded hollow to her own ears. Selma slumped back into her seat and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Nothing inappropriate has happened.”

  “Boring. Why would it be inappropriate, anyway?” Laura snapped her fingers, theatrically widening her eyes. “Oh that’s right, Piper doesn’t know her dear old mum and dad are—“

  Selma set her mug down with a thud and stood. “The Tates are waiting.” She didn’t wait for a response, instead striding over to the far end of the diner where two square tables had been pushed together.

  Dorothy and Shelly were on one side, with Mark alone just opposite. The ends of each were empty. Selma sat next to Mark, scrunching her nose with a small smile as he gave her a starry-eyed look.

  “I’m glad you could join us,” Dorothy said with a smile.

  The tightness in Selma’s chest eased. She returned the smile.

  “Thanks for inviting us,” Laura chimed in as she took the seat adjacent to both Selma and Dorothy. Selma’s abandoned coffee mug was gently deposited before its owner.

  Laura took the time to properly introduce herself to the Tates, and then made a point to look directly at Selma. Her knee just barely tapped against Selma’s under the table.

  Their eyes held until Selma caved and gave a small nod. Sometimes Laura pressed too hard but Selma could never stay mad. Laura only ever had her best interests at heart.

  The bell over the diner entrance jingled as someone entered. Selma’s breath caught as a cursory glance revealed
Piper, in snug jeans and a bright read v-neck, grinning at them all from the door.

  “Good morning,” Piper said as soon as she was close enough to be heard. “Sorry I’m late.”

  Selma ignored the tingle that traveled up her spine when their eyes met.

  *****

  Piper was buoyant as she left the cottage that morning. She’d taken a risk in trusting Selma, but instead of being worried she felt just the opposite.

  She hadn’t made up her mind until last night when she’d found herself in Shelly’s room. Shelly had woken an hour after Selma and Laura had left, and Piper had been drawn to comfort her foster sister. In the end, Piper had chosen to believe in Selma for no other reason than Shelly needed to believe in Selma and, well… Piper liked it better when Shelly was happy.

  And then when she woke up and found that all of the reporters and paparazzi that had been camping out in the neighborhood were all mysteriously gone, her trust felt well-placed.

  It was a start, and she felt light as she headed to the diner for the weekly Tate family breakfast.

  Her happiness surged anew when she spotted Selma and Laura sitting with her family. She greeted everyone and promptly took the last seat, perpendicular to Mark and Shelly, with a grin.

  “Sleep well?” Dot asked as she sipped from her mug.

  “Yep, even with Shel hogging the covers.” Her grin widened when Shelly rolled her eyes.

  “Please. At least I don’t snore,” Shelly retorted.

  Piper’s cheeks flushed, her eyes flicking toward Selma and then quickly away. “I don’t snore.”

  “Yes you do,” Mark said, not taking his eyes from his menu.

  “You had a long day yesterday,” Selma interjected with a friendly look, “I’m sure you were just tired.”

  Dorothy put her own menu down, her head turning toward Selma. “Speaking of long days: it must be tough on you to make this drive so often. You’ve been over here so much the last few weeks.”

  Selma tilted her head, her dark hair slinking and framing her jaw. “Though I don’t have to do things like this often, I have had to do this before.”

  Laura sat up in her chair, an eyebrow raised at her sister. “Well, not quite like this.” Ignoring a pointed look from Selma, she peered around the table. “But she’d do just about anything for Karen and Derek.”

  There was something about the way Laura said it that made Piper wonder. Just as she was about to ask, their server arrived. Terri was used to the weekly Tate breakfasts and knew not to take orders unless everyone was present.

  The moment passed as everyone made their selections. Piper would have to ask Selma about what Laura had meant another time. Some orange juice and Belgian waffles would help distract her from her curiosity.

  “Though I hope you don’t have to keep making such frequent trips, you should bring Ben sometime,” Dottie said to Selma, her face crinkling with a deep smile. “Mark won’t stop talking about him.”

  Selma laughed and winked at a blushing Mark. “Maybe if it’s just a personal visit instead of for work. Ben loves road trips.”

  The thought of Ben and Selma wandering their quaint little town pleased Piper to no end—especially if she got to play tour guide.

  “You should definitely do it, then,” she chimed in before she could help herself.

  Piper was unaware of anything else that was going on around the table, the noises of the busy diner itself fading into the background as Selma smiled her way.

  Later, after the Tates had all bid Selma and Laura goodbye, Piper found herself hanging out with Shelly. They were free until the evening, when they’d all play a board game and have dinner together as a family.

  “So how are you doing?” Piper asked. She was sprawled out on Shelly’s bed, hands tucked behind her head.

  Shelly grunted and leaned over to lightly smack Piper’s leg.

  Piper obligingly moved it so Shelly could flop down next to her, which Shelly immediately did. They were silent for several heartbeats, both staring up at the ceiling.

  Finally, Shelly answered. “I wish you and Dot would stop asking me. I mean I’m not fine but I’m… better. It’s not as bad as,” she made vague gestures with her hands, “before.”

  “Good. That’s, yeah, good. I’ll try not to ask so much. We’ve just gotta be sure, you know?” Piper shifted slightly to the side.

  “You’re one to talk, though. You didn’t tell me or Dot when you were struggling this last time, not until you literally broke down.”

  Piper bit the inside of her cheek. Though Dot and Shelly had both been busy, it had been a lame excuse. Shelly and Dot would always make time for her. She realized she’d been quiet too long; she could feel Shelly’s hard glare on the side of her face. “You’re right. Sorry. I just couldn’t. I was in over my head and I couldn’t… process. Anything.”

  “You’re forgiven,” Shelly said with a magnanimous wave of her hand. She paused and then turned on her side to face Piper. “So when are you going to ask Selma out?”

  Piper somehow inhaled wrong, suddenly choking on air and coughing. Her eyes were a little watery by the time the coughing fit ended. “What?” she asked in a hoarse voice. “Why would you ask that?” She swallowed and turned her head to watch Shelly, her heart pounding loudly in her ears.

  Shelly rolled her eyes. “Please. You guys couldn’t stop looking at each other all through breakfast. I was afraid you were going to accidentally pour syrup on Mark’s head.”

  “I… You,” Piper abruptly closed her mouth and took a breath. And then another. “What if she’s not gay?”

  “I don’t know if she’s gay,” Shelly conceded with a shrug. Her eyes met Pipers. “But that woman is definitely into you.”

  Piper thought back to the previous day, when Selma had taken her hand. She could still remember how perfect it had felt, their fingers entwined—until Piper had gotten self-conscious in front of Laura. She opted not to tell Shelly about it, instead quietly mulling over her past interactions with Selma herself.

  Her throat worked after a time. “I think maybe you’re right.”

  *****

  The next few weeks slipped by before Selma knew it. While she had several irons in the fire for both the Tates and Berings, she was also busy preparing a case for another client that was due in court. It was a straightforward, albeit arduous, process.

  Her phone buzzed as she contemplated what she’d have for lunch.

  ‘Wanna see the headline for the local paper today?’ the message read.

  Selma bit her lip. That’s something that had changed over the last few weeks, too. With no more media fires to put out, her visits to check on Piper had become nonexistent.

  Only, after a week, Piper had begun regularly texting her. For updates, Piper had insisted. More times than not, they talked about things having little to do with the media or Piper’s biological parents.

  ‘Sure,’ she typed out.

  When the image arrived, Selma could only cover her mouth in surprise. There was an unflattering mugshot and, just above it, the headline declared ‘SUNNY DEACON ARRESTED ON FELONY CHARGES. CIVIL SUIT FROM FORMER EMPLOYER ALSO PENDING.’

  Before Selma could respond, Piper sent another text.

  ‘You did that. Thank you so much.’

  Selma hummed and pursed her lips as she typed some more. ‘Not at all. I merely alerted the appropriate authorities of some suspicions. Laura did the rest.’

  What seemed scarcely a second later, her phone rang. Her cheeks flushed when ‘Piper’ appeared at the top of her screen. She cleared her throat and accepted the call, slightly twisting in her chair. “Selma Flores.”

  Warm laughter poured from the phone receiver and Selma had to forcefully resist smiling. “Excuse me for being professional,” she said faux-haughtily.

  “You’re excused.” It was clear Piper had no such compunction to hide her mirth. Selma liked that about her. “But, yeah. Stop being so humble. Thanks to you there will be one less jerk on
the street, and things have been quiet around here with the others too scared to cross a line.”

  Selma swallowed back another deflection. “I’m glad I could help,” she said instead.

  Neither spoke for several seconds. Finally, Piper cleared her throat. “So, listen. I’m probably going to be in town this week to do some stuff with Karen and Derek. Is it alright if, I mean, would you let me take you out to dinner?”

  Selma tucked some hair behind her ear and tried to ignore the heat in her cheeks. “You mean as a thank you?”

  There was another pause. Selma held her breath.