“Corey when’s your leave up?” Piper asked loudly.
“End of January,” Corey rasped shooting a dirty look across the table.
“You must have a lot of time built up,” Piper said with a grin at her brother.
Corey just grunted miserably.
“What are you gonna do today, girls?” Liz asked.
“No idea,” Piper said with a shrug. “Just hang out, I guess.”
“That sounds like a fine idea,” Liz said pleasantly.
“Where’s Dad?” Piper asked.
“He went out fishing with Marlon this morning,” Liz said. “Your brother was supposed to go but he was worn out from spending most of the night kneeling on the bathroom floor.”
“Awww,” Piper said and then chuckled at her brother who didn’t respond in the slightest.
“This is very good,” Bailey said.
“Would you like another one?” Liz asked happily. “It’s no trouble,” she added with a quick grin at Piper who narrowed her eyes.
“No, thank you,” Bailey said politely as she finished off the omelet.
“Alright,” Liz said agreeably. “Why don’t you take Bailey around the property when you’re done slurping your cereal, Piper.”
“Okay,” Piper said and finished off her Cheerios with an exaggerated slurp. “That really hit the spot,” she said cheerily and with a look at her mother, threw in a loud burp for good measure.
Bailey chuckled and even Corey grunted in amusement.
“You make me so proud, Piper,” Liz said dryly with a humorless look on her face.
“Thanks, Mom,” Piper said happily as she got up and took Bailey’s plate and her cereal bowl to the sink.
“You ready?” she asked Bailey with a smile.
“Sure,” Bailey said as she got up from her seat.
“Where’s the truck keys, Mom?”
“They’re hanging by the door. You girls have fun,” Liz said as they exited the kitchen.
“Be back in a little while,” Piper replied.
Bailey followed Piper outside and around to the back of the house where Piper hopped in behind the wheel of an old Chevy pickup truck. She started the car and immediately turned on the heater as Bailey came around to the other side and got in.
“It’s cold,” Piper said rubbing her hands together.
“Yes, it is,” Bailey agreed rolling down the window and producing her cigarettes.
“It’s freezing,” Piper pointed out. “I can’t believe you’d roll down the window.”
“It’ll take a minute for the car to warm up,” Bailey said with a smile. “I roll it back up in a bit.”
“Hmmm,” Piper grunted unhappily.
“Where we going anyway?” Bailey said flipping ashes out the window.
“Gonna take you on a tour of the plantation and find a secluded spot to take advantage of you,” Piper said as she drove slowly around the house and onto a little dirt road.
“Okay,” Bailey said agreeably.
VII
The hurt doesn’t show,
But the pain still grows.
—P. Collins
“You said you lived near Portland,” Piper said reclining in Bailey’s arms and playing with the end of a black ponytail. “How long were you there?”
“About eight years, I guess,” Bailey said looking out the passenger window.
“What did you do there?”
“I read a lot and watched the ocean mostly,” Bailey said quietly.
“Is that all?”
“Pretty much.”
“So what made you decide to move to Atlanta and start C-Corp?” Piper asked curiously.
“There’s more than one answer to that question.”
“Tell me the main one then.”
A response wasn’t quickly forthcoming but Piper suspected that the silence was leading up to an admission so she let her take her time.
“I saw an opportunity to give something back,” Bailey said finally.
“Give what back?” Piper asked lightly.
“Prosperity.”
“I don’t understand.”
Bailey sighed and for a moment Piper didn’t think she would continue.
“I once thought that if I used some of the wealth I acquired when I was younger and used it to help others, that it would make living with myself easier.”
Piper digested the words thoughtfully. “Did it make it any easier?”
“No.”
“You’re a good person, Bailey,” Piper announced, knowing it for the truth.
Bailey just closed her eyes and pulled the body in her arms closer.
“Are you too warm? I can turn off the engine for a bit if you like.”
“No, I’m fine,” Bailey said. “Your parents have a lot of property.”
“Yes they do,” Piper said stretching her legs a little across the bench seat of the truck.
“Did you always live here?”
“Yep, my mother’s family has owned this land for generations.”
“I see.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?” Piper asked cautiously.
“Alright.”
“Why haven’t you talked to your mother in all these years?”
“She doesn’t know I’m alive,” Bailey said bluntly.
“Why would she think you were dead?” Piper asked agitated.
“My surviving family believes I died in the same gunfire that killed my father.”
Piper considered that while she fidgeted in Bailey’s arms. “I see,” she said deciding to let the questions surrounding that die. “Why haven’t you told them you’re alive?”
“Because they were hidden from me, I only just recently located them,” Bailey said with closed eyes.
“Hidden?” Piper said slowly her brow wrinkling in thought. “Where are they now?” she asked after a moment.
“At the British embassy in Washington,” Bailey said honestly.
“Are you going to see them?”
“I don’t know,” Bailey said. “Perhaps.”
“Will you tell me where you got the scars on your back?” Piper asked gently.
“Not right now.”
“Alright,” Piper conceded, knowing that Bailey was done. “My Dad told me to take care of you.”
“He did?” Bailey asked curiously.
“He told me that you haven’t led a gentle life and to take care of you because he thinks you’ve earned it,” Piper said carefully.
“Are you?” Bailey asked in a whisper.
“Forever,” Piper said snuggling closer. “If you’ll let me.”
Bailey rested her chin on top of Piper’s head. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
———
Piper sat scowling across the Monopoly board that her mother had produced after dinner. A game which Bailey had played reluctantly but had quickly immersed herself in after only a few minutes. Piper had observed with amusement as Bailey displayed an atrocious competitive streak as soon as she learned the in’s and out’s of the game and had rapidly gone about decimating the other players at the table with a childish delight and an occasional chuckle.
“No fair picking on me,” Piper said sulkily. “I’ll have to sell my houses to pay you.”
“I’ll overlook your debt, if you give me Marvin Gardens,” Bailey offered with a grin.
“But it’s the only monopoly I’ve got left,” Piper said unhappily. “You’re just being mean.”
“I am not,” Bailey disagreed.
“Piper quit whining,” Liz said with a chuckle. “You’re the only one she hasn’t busted yet,” she pointed out.
“Fine,” Piper relented with a huff as she sold her houses and Bailey snickered. “Don’t rub it in,” she warned.
“You have doubles roll again,” Jennifer said and Piper rolled the dice.
“Awww,” Bailey said happily. “You landed on Pacific. I believe you owe me…” she looked at the card.
“Here
,” Piper said picking up and dumping all her money on Bailey’s space. “You win, try not to gloat,” she said annoyed.
“Why, thank you,” Bailey said politely as she arranged all of her money into neat little stacks with a grin.
Piper crossed her arms over chest and looked away as everyone laughed at her.
“What an ugly face,” Liz said cheerfully.
“Nobody likes a poor loser,” Corey added helpfully.
“That’s a fact,” Jack agreed as Piper tried her best to ignore everyone.
“Piper, I won’t leave you in the cold completely,” Bailey said sweetly and Piper turned cautious eyes in her direction. “Here, go buy yourself something nice,” she said dismissively as she put a one-dollar bill in front of Piper who reddened as everyone chuckled at her.
“I’m going to bed,” Piper announced a she stood from her chair and stalked through the doorway into the other room, grinding her teeth at the laughter trailing behind her.
“Somebody’s in trouble,” Liz said with a playful nudge to Bailey’s arm. “The longer she has to wait for you to follow her, the harder it’s going to be on you.”
Bailey chuckled. “Alright,” she said, getting up from the table.
“Goodnight, dear.” Liz said pleasantly.
“Goodnight,” Bailey said to everyone with a smile and followed after her sulking girlfriend.
Bailey stepped through the door to their room and closed it behind her, smiling at the form lying on the very far end of the bed with her back turned. She undressed quietly and put on her sleepwear before getting in bed next to Piper who still hadn’t made a sound. She made to snuggle up next to her but she clenched her shoulders and scooted even closer to the edge of the bed. With a smile, she got up and walked around to the foot of the bed where she reached under the covers, grabbing her by both ankles and pulling her forcefully onto her belly, ignoring her indignant cry and jumping on her back to straddle her. She pinned her wildly flailing arms under her knees and began to tickle her mercilessly, happily turning a deaf ear on the tirade of foul language that erupted from the struggling form between her legs.
“Stop!” Piper squealed helplessly though her laughter but Bailey continued until she was forced to beg for mercy. “Bailey, stop or I’m gonna wet my pants,” she laughed.
“Are you done pouting?” Bailey asked teasingly, giving her a reprieve.
Piper breathed heavily into the mattress. “Maybe,” she sulked and shrieked when Bailey went back to work on her.
“Okay!” Piper pleaded. “Okay!”
“You sure now?” Bailey asked suspiciously.
“Yes,” Piper breathed heavily into the mattress.
“Alright,” Bailey said, placing a kiss on the back of her neck and rolling off.
Piper turned her head on the mattress to look at her while she caught her breath. “That was mean,” she said childishly after a moment.
“Perhaps,” Bailey said with a smile. “But you’re an awful sport.”
“It’s my mother’s fault.”
“Why is it her fault?” Bailey asked amused.
“Well it can’t be mine,” Piper said gravely. “I’m sweet.”
“Is that a fact?” Bailey asked with a grin. “I’ve known sailors who would’ve blushed at that outburst you directed at me.”
“I’m afraid you have me confused with someone else,” Piper said innocently.
“Uh huh,” Bailey said playfully. “I should wash your mouth out with soap.”
“Oh, please,” Piper said knowingly. “Like you haven’t ever said a bad word.”
“Not to my knowledge,” Bailey replied honestly.
“Really?” Piper asked in amazement.
Bailey shrugged. “Really. Not everyone is a potty mouth like you,” she said teasingly.
Piper huffed. “I am not a potty mouth.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Piper narrowed her eyes and sat up to capture Bailey’s lips with her own. A kiss she let linger until she felt Bailey relax in her embrace and begin to return with equal enthusiasm.
“Well, Little Miss High and Mighty,” she said triumphantly when they parted. “It’s seems you followed me right into the gutter.”
“Hmmm,” Bailey considered. “You might have something there.”
“Damn right,” Piper said assuredly.
“Piper,” Bailey whispered after a moment.
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“You’re not,” Piper said burying her face in Bailey’s shoulder.
———
“Do you have everything packed?” Piper asked as she fluttered around the room checking for anything she might have forgotten.
“Yes,” Bailey said sitting on the end of the bed.
“Are you sure?” Piper asked distractedly.
“Yes, Esmeralda,” Bailey said with a sigh and Piper came up short.
“You be quiet,” she said with a scowl.
“If we left anything, I’m sure your mother will send it to you.”
“You’re right, I’m just nervous, I don’t like to say goodbye,” Piper said sitting down beside her on the bed. “Now, everyone will probably hug you so be prepared.”
“Alright.”
“We ready then?”
“Yeah,” Bailey said standing up.
Piper led the way down the stairs and to the front of the house where everyone was waiting, setting her bags down and giving everyone a hug and a kiss while Bailey stood uncomfortably.
“You call when you get home today, alright?” Liz said.
“I will,” Piper said.
“And you,” Liz said to Bailey. “Drop that bag and give me a hug,” she commanded and Bailey did as she was told. “We were very glad to have you here, sweetie. You’re welcome anytime.”
“Thank you,” Bailey said returning Liz’s embrace.
“It was very nice to meet you, Bailey,” Jennifer said giving her a quick hug after Liz let her go.
“I hope to see you soon, young lady,” Jack said extending his hand when she escaped from Jennifer.
“Thank you again for having me,” Bailey said politely as she shook his hand.
“It was our pleasure, dear,” Liz said brightly. “Now hurry along, Corey’s waiting out in the cold.”
Piper gave everyone another hug before she picked up her bags and Bailey waited patiently until she was ready, following her outside where Corey was waiting at the rear of his Jimmy to take their luggage. She noted Piper’s shining eyes as she hopped in the back seat and she turned and smiled at Piper’s family before she got in after her. As soon as she shut the door behind her, she was smothered in an embrace and she threw an amused arm over the sniffling form as Corey got in and drove away from the house. It was several miles down the road when Piper emerged from her shelter and wiped at her eyes.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” Piper said roughly. “I always do that.”
“Yeah she does,” Corey said from the front seat. “When she left for college Dad thought he might have to tranquilize her.”
“Shut up,” Piper said with a smile, resting her head on Bailey’s shoulder.
“You gonna tell me how you fixed my car before you take off, Bailey?” Corey asked.
“Nope,” Bailey said casually.
“I thought so,” Corey said with a sigh.
“The answer was on the Internet,” Bailey relented. “There was an online FAQ that discussed the problem that you were having.”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding.”
“Are you coming for Christmas, Bailey?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Bailey said confusedly.
“Thanks, Corey,” Piper said sarcastically. “I was going to ask her later.”
“Sorry,” he said apologetically.
“Just drive, Buttface,” Piper said dismissively.
“Well?” Piper said quietly. “Will you come?
”
“If you want me to.”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you to, goofy.”
“Okay.”
“Good,” Piper replied taking her hand.
They traveled the rest of the way in silence. Bailey noticed the occasional sniffle from Piper but by the time they arrived, she had gotten herself under control. Corey dropped them off in front of the terminal and got their bags for them. To Bailey’s amusement, Piper began to sniffle again as she said goodbye to her brother and she accepted Corey’s hug easily before taking Piper’s hand and leading her inside.
They found Chris waiting for them and he rose from his seat when he saw them.
“Afternoon, ladies,” he said pleasantly. “There’s a storm front coming in but if we hurry, we’ll have you back just ahead of it.”
“Great,” Bailey said. “Lead the way.”
Chris led them across the tarmac to the helicopter where Bailey helped Piper climb inside and tossed the bags in after her. Piper managed to get her seatbelt on without assistance so she stowed their bags as the engine started and fastened her own seatbelt. Once settled, she offered her hand to Piper who took it with a smile and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
“I love you,” Piper said into her ear as the helicopter began to rise off the tarmac.
———
Chris signaled Bailey as the Atlanta skyline came into view and she put on a headset. “It took a little longer to get here than I thought, I’ll have to drop you off with the engine running.”
“That’s fine,” Bailey said. “You can berth on the roof if you’re cutting it close.”
“Thanks,” Chris said. “But I should make it. Sorry to hurry you along.”
“Not a problem.”
“Landing in about five,” Chris said and Bailey removed the headset.
Bailey turned to Piper, who was looking out the window with interest, and nudged her to get her attention. She put her ponytail inside her jacket and zipped it up, gesturing for Piper to do the same. Piper looked at her confusedly for a second before digging a band from her purse to tie back her hair.
“Keep your head down,” Bailey said leaning in close to Piper’s ear and she nodded nervously.
She waited for touch down and to receive a nod from Chris before she opened the door and stepped out on to the roof, grabbing their bags from under the bench and extending a hand to Piper who copied her actions in getting out. She closed the door and gave Chris a thumbs up as she led Piper to the elevator.
Engravings of Wraith Page 37