Changing Fate (Book 3) (Piper Anderson Series)

by Danielle Stewart

  Betty let out a low hum of disapproval. “I suppose that makes sense, though this city seems like it could do pretty well to have a bit more Christmas. I’m not talking about the wreaths and the lights, all that is pretty, but the spirit of the holiday seems to be lacking here.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Marty said, raising his glass and starting a toast. “As a matter of fact, there is so much to toast here this evening. Thank you, Piper, for taking the chance and finding us. Thank you for bringing with you such wonderful, warm people. We feel so very blessed to have you all here. I’m excited for Christmas. Especially now that I know Connie isn’t cooking,” he laughed, and raised his glass a little higher as everyone joined him in the toast.

  “Amen to that,” Connie said, perfectly comfortable with being a little self-deprecating.

  Betty tugged on the sleeve of the passing waiter who was stunned by the gesture, not accustomed to being touched by the patrons. “Do me a favor fella, have the cook scratch down the recipe for this. I’d love to give it a try.”

  Everyone at the table sat stunned for a moment. They expected the response to be something along the lines of who the hell are you? But, instead, the waiter forced a smile and looked over at the head of the table to Marty who winked.

  “Please allow me to do one better than that.” The waiter put his hand out to Betty, gesturing for her to stand. “It would be my honor to take you on a tour of the kitchen and introduce you to Chef Clayton Farrier. He trained at one of the finest culinary schools in the world and was a sous chef to the very talented Lillian Marchino. He doesn’t share his recipes with anyone, but I’m certain he’d be delighted to meet you for a few minutes.”

  “Fancy-schmancy,” Betty laughed, as she disappeared around the corner and into the kitchen.

  “I am so sorry,” Jules said, dropping her face into her hands. “My mother hasn’t really spent much time outside of Edenville. This is a bit of a shock to her. I can only imagine what she’s going to do in the kitchen. She’ll be telling the chef he’s using too much salt, and we’ll probably all get kicked out of here.”

  “Your mother is one of the most refreshing people I’ve ever met,” Marty said reassuringly. “Plus, I’ve known the owner for twenty years. Even if the chef wants to kick us out, Doug won’t let him.”

  Betty was gone for over forty minutes, and though they were all having very comfortable conversations about the holiday and the city, her absence was starting to worry them. Just as Jules began to ask, Betty burst through the kitchen door with a handsome older gentleman on her arm. He was beaming, and his attractive features were made even more so by the joy on his face. He was only a few inches taller than Betty, though his large white hat stood an extra foot over them.

  “Oh Clay, that was wonderful,” Betty sang, as he escorted her back to her seat at the table. Everyone sat motionless and confused as the chef went down on a knee next to her.

  “Betty,” he kissed her hand gently, “you are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and you know your way around a kitchen. Please come back tomorrow. The way you added that sage and butter mixture to the roasted potatoes was brilliant. You’ll have to excuse my forwardness and passion, I have French roots and they tend to flair when I meet someone so magnetic. Can I see you again?”

  “I’m staying at The Walnut,” Betty all but crooned. She looked up as Michael interrupted.

  “The Waldorf,” Michael corrected with an ill-disguised chuckle as he averted his gaze.

  Betty continued, “Oh yes, The Waldorf. You can call me there, and I’ll see if I can make some time tomorrow night. It’s Christmas Eve, so I’ll consider it my charitable contribution to spend the evening helping you. I would usually be in the soup kitchen, so this wouldn’t be so different.”

  “Until tomorrow,” the chef said, standing and planting a kiss on her cheek. She fought the uncharacteristic blush that heated her cheeks.

  As the chef disappeared back into the kitchen, a skip in his step, the table remained silent.

  “Not a word,” Betty said, pointing her finger as both Michael and Bobby opened their mouth to speak. “Wipe those smiles off your faces and get back to whatever you were talking about before I came out here.”

  Marty cleared his throat. “We were just deciding what we should do tomorrow.”

  “I guess you’ll be busy on your date, so we won’t count your vote,” Bobby chortled, unable to hold back his quip. It was met with a swift kick to his shin from Betty’s pointy-toed shoe.

  “Ouch,” he exclaimed, leaning down to rub his now sore leg.

  “Oh be careful, dear,” Betty said, feigning concern for his pain, “God works in mysterious ways, even through a swift kick at times.”

  “I think we had settled on ice skating at Rockefeller Center and some sightseeing,” Connie continued, speaking through her laugh.

  Betty held a few small pieces of paper and pulled out her clutch purse. Jules couldn’t help but ask.

  “What is that, Ma?”

  “A few of his recipes,” Betty replied, tucking them away. “Apparently he does share them.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Piper squirmed as she sat Jules down and told her the sleeping arrangements wouldn’t work out anymore. Much to her relief, Jules was so thrilled she and Bobby had made up, that she seemed to overlook the fact that this would still leave Michael sleeping on the couch. An awkward situation just got a little more so.

  But as Piper felt Bobby’s breath on the soft skin of her neck and her body warmed from her toes to her ears, she told herself her friend would be fine. “That was a nice dinner,” she sighed, throwing her head back and exposing more places for his lips to explore. “Don’t you think everyone got along well? Nothing was weird, right?”

  “Talking about it right now is weird,” Bobby teased, as he pulled down the shoulder of her shirt and began nibbling.

  They both froze as the quiet knock on their door grew louder. When they broke apart from each other, they heard Michael’s voice.

  “Sorry to interrupt, guys. I need to talk to you.”

  Piper leaned in and whispered, “Do you think she told him about being pregnant?”

  Bobby shrugged his shoulder and sat up.

  “Come on in,” Piper called, readying herself for a confused and potentially angry Michael. She’d been preparing for this. She knew all her talking points, all the positives of the situation.

  “I’m really sorry,” Michael apologized again as he stepped into the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar. “And Piper, you’re probably going to be furious with me. So please just try to remember how much I care about you and why I did this.”

  She felt her nostrils flair and her face fill with blood. “What did you do?” she asked nervously, realizing this was about her, not about Jules being pregnant.

  Michael sat stiffly in the Victorian chair near the door. The serious expression he wore reminded Piper of his lawyer persona and she grew even more concerned about what was to come. “I’ve had someone tailing Marty since you told me about him. The consensus in the group was their reaction to you was strange and perhaps there was more to the story. I contacted a lawyer friend of mine who put me in touch with a private detective. He’s been doing some research and found something.”

  “Tell me,” she insisted, straightening her back and turning her face to stone. She was prepared for a lot. Was Marty lying about knowing she existed? Did he know he was her father all along? Was he cheating, having an affair on poor Connie?

  “He’s been meeting with known associates of a black market organ ring. I don’t know his reason for meeting them, just that he has. This is one of the more heinous operations in existence. They don’t just pay people for their organs, they take them forcibly when needed. They drug unsuspecting victims and someone performs surgery to harvest the desired organ. It’s not uncommon for this to result in death.”

  Piper felt Bobby’s hand touch her back, and she instinctually pulled away
. She did not want comfort right now. She wanted more answers.

  “And what do they think? That Marty is performing the surgeries?” Piper watched as Jules quietly stepped into the room, the somber look on her face revealing she was already aware of the situation. “And you knew, too?” she accused Jules.

  “No, he just told me right before he came in here. Piper, I know this is hard to hear, but, I mean, look where they put us up. Maybe he’s doing it for the money,” Jules reasoned as she sidled up to Michael who looked sick to his stomach to have to break the news.

  “My source says he’s seen them on two occasions in pretty heated arguments. Threats flying back and forth.”

  “Arguing?” Piper questioned, letting a small sigh of relief escape her lips. “So maybe they want Marty to be a part of it and he won’t. Maybe he keeps telling them he isn’t interested.”

  Michael shook his head apologetically. “They are arguing over money. I don’t have exact details but all evidence points to a deal gone wrong. So, at the very least, Marty is doing some kind of deal with them.”

  “So what does this mean?” Bobby asked, trying one more time to touch Piper. This time it was just his fingers on the back of her cool arm, and she allowed them to stay.

  “We don’t know anything definitively,” Michael restated, his eyes still averted from Piper. “This could easily be some kind of misunderstanding. I just wanted to tell you so you could keep your guard up. We can certainly go on with things the way we have been. Enjoy a nice holiday with people who seem to want us here. I would just be cautious.”

  “Yes,” Piper said, standing. “Sure, let’s be guarded, let’s be cautious.” She felt her eyes welling with tears and her voice catching in her throat. “Let’s assume the reason he and Connie are so anxious to keep me around is because they see me as a paycheck. I’m a great possibility for a science experiment—someone he can hack into, and maybe kill, all for a little cash. Let’s say he’s just a different form of serial killer and I’m no better off than I was before I came here. Why can’t any of you just mind your own business? Life isn’t all about spying and private investigators. Why can’t you let me be happy?” She was pacing now, her arms flailing as Michael rose and stepped toward her.

  He grabbed her windmilling arms and pulled her into his chest. “I’m sorry, Piper.” She fought against him for a moment before her body went limp as she let more tears escape.

  “Me, too,” she sobbed, turning her head up at him. “I know you were just trying to help.”

  Jules stepped in behind them. “It’s probably not all that bad, Piper. It might be a coincidence that he is a black market organ surgeon and also your father. He probably doesn’t want to cut you open at all.”

  “Thanks,” Piper grunted, glaring at Jules.

  Michael squeezed her a little tighter as he spoke. “Plus, with everything you’ve been through, your organs are probably all shriveled and black. No one would want them anyway.” He readied himself for her elbow in his ribs and yelped as it made contact.

  “That’s what you get for being a jackass.”

  “We can talk more about it tomorrow,” he reasoned as he followed Jules out. “We just need to keep our eyes open.” With that, he quietly shut the door to the bedroom.

  “Wow,” Bobby said, wrapping his arms around Piper as she crawled back onto the bed. “You really never catch a break, do you?”

  “I guess not.” She curled her body next to his and let the strength of his arms block any worry from reaching her tonight. “Let’s change the subject. I’ve been meaning to ask you why you didn’t go visit Jedda with your parents like you said you would.”

  “I am going to go see him, but I want to go alone, or with you. My parents have their own relationship with him, and I think that’s great, but I want him to be able to talk completely freely with me. I’m going to go after Christmas.”

  “If I haven’t been diced and all my organs plucked out of me, I’ll go with you.”

  “It could all be a misunderstanding, Piper. Marty seems like a really nice guy, and they have a great family. I do feel like something is up, but I don’t think he’s some criminal mastermind or psycho. Keep your eyes and ears open, but let’s still enjoy the time we have here. Tomorrow is ice-skating and shopping in the city. Christmas day will be great, too.”

  “I was hoping this was just going to be easier. Normal.”

  “Normal is boring. So is perfect. I mean, I don’t prefer slicing-and-dicing mad scientists, but I’m sure there is middle ground.”

  He leaned down and kissed her neck again, just as he had been doing before Michael knocked. Perhaps she should shrug him off, roll away from him and let the space in the middle of the bed separate them. Maybe she should let her mind spiral through the possibilities of who Marty really is and what might be in store for her. But as her hand found his bicep, tensed and firm, she pushed those thoughts away instead.

  His fingers made tracks over her stomach, and her legs parted as she rolled with him, straddling his hips. Straightening on top of him, Piper pulled her T-shirt over her head and smiled down into his face. “Give me something else to think about.” She pulled off the rest of her clothes and he followed suit. There was something comforting about being completely naked—heart, soul, and body—with someone you love.

  “I can do that,” he agreed, kissing her passionately. “I’m nothing if not a great distraction.”

  “You know you’re more than that, don’t you?” she objected, speaking before his lips could overtake hers. “You know I love you, right?”

  He rolled her onto her back and pressed his body down on hers. “I love you, too, Piper. In spite of your black and shriveled organs, damaged past, and God-only-knows what comes next. I love you anyway, and I’m not going to spend another minute of my life trying to convince myself I don’t. It’s futile.”

  “I guessing that was supposed to be romantic. You might have missed the mark,” she teased as he kissed his way down her neck once more, this time not stopping at her collarbone.

  “I never miss my mark,” he murmured with a devilish smile as he disappeared beneath the blanket.

  She arched her back and moaned as she felt his hands on her thighs, spreading her open, driving her nearly to the brink. She ran her hands through his short hair and purred as his mouth titillated and explored her. The man was right; he surely wasn’t going to miss his mark tonight.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “So am I the only one who doesn’t know how to ice skate here?” Piper worried out loud as she laced up the tight white skates and wondered why in the world she agreed to this.

  Michael looked like a pro as he tightened the laces on his black hockey skates and stood confidently. “Bobby and I have both played hockey, you have to know how to skate for that.”

  “Where are Betty and Jules?” Connie asked as she knelt before her son and tried to ensure his skates were on appropriately.

  “Betty is getting ready for her date with the chef and Jules is sitting over at the tables. She woke up with a stomach bug or something. She said she’s going to just take it easy,” Michael answered, oblivious to the tension showing in Bobby and Piper’s body language.

  “Oh that’s too bad,” Connie grimaced. I’ll go take her some tea. Will you boys keep an eye on Eli and Jennipher for me? Marty should be here in a few minutes, then you are off the hook.”

  “No problem,” Bobby replied, stepping onto the ice and helping Eli out behind him.

  “You’ll get the hang of it,” Connie said to Piper before heading to the concession stand for tea. Piper wasn’t so sure. This didn’t look like the kind of skill you just picked up. Watching everyone glide effortlessly across the ice like ballet dancers kept her from even standing up.

  “You guys go on ahead. I’ll join you in a few minutes,” Piper called, fully intending to kick off the skates and go sit with Jules and Connie once the rest of them were out of sight.

  As she started to untie
the knot and wiggle her foot out she heard a familiar voice.

  “Don’t tell me you’re giving up before you’ve begun,” Marty jested, sitting down next to her and kicking off his shoes.

  “I’ve never skated before. Now doesn’t really seem like the best time to learn.”

  “You’re getting a late start, I’ll give you that. But that is no reason not to try something. I’ll help you.” His eyes were so warm that a glance from him seemed to lessen the biting cold that had taken over her cheeks.

  “There’s so much I’ve never done. Some things I’ll never get the chance to try.” She bit at her lip, angry with herself for wanting, no, needing, this man to be perfect.

  “Like what?” he asked as he stood, his skates now on. He stepped cautiously onto the ice, his hand extended to her. “You’re never too old to try new things.”

  She teetered toward him and slipped slightly into his arms the moment the blades met the slippery surface. He held her up and braced her arms in his. “I’m not talking about hobbies or sports, I’m talking about things I just missed out on because of the way I grew up. I’ve never fallen asleep in the back of the car and woken up to someone carrying me to my room, tucking me in. I’ve never been read a bedtime story. I’ve never had a birthday cake. I’ve never had a sleepover. All those little things I see you and Connie doing for your kids . . . I realize I missed my chance at those things. Those days are behind me now. Maybe I’ll learn to ice skate or maybe I’ll figure out how to cook someday, but those other little moments, I’ll never have them.”

  “Life is funny, Piper. It’s cyclical, and that’s the blessing of it. You are going to have a chance to experience all of those things, but instead of being the child, you’ll be the parent. You’ll be able to give someone all the things you never had, and in doing that, you’ll experience them for yourself. Those things haven’t passed you by completely yet. Your chance to live them will come back around. And you’ll appreciate it even more than most people. Having children, for me, filled a hole I never even knew I had. My children are my whole life, I would do anything to protect them, to show them they are loved. I would trade my life for theirs if I were able. And look,” he said, squeezing her to him, “you’re skating.”