“Just little Shepherd today?” Piper asked as she peeked under the blanket covering him from the cool October air. “Is everything alright?”
“Everything is great. We’re just here for Shep’s sixth-month well-baby check.” Joy smiled and met Piper’s gaze, but then her smile faded and she frowned. “Is everything okay with you?”
Joy was a friend from church, but more than that, she and her husband managed the Asher Family Foundation, which existed to help widows and orphans in Timber Falls. They had donated a significant amount of money to help offset the cost of Nick’s funeral and had been there every moment they could spare to help finish the bed-and-breakfast. Joy’s friendship had always meant a great deal to Piper and she thanked God now that she had crossed Joy’s path today of all days.
Piper shook her head and she had to fight the fear trying to close her throat. “Dr. Meeker just told me she’s concerned that my body might be preparing for labor far too early. She wants me to stay off my feet as much as possible and come in next week for another appointment.”
“Bed rest?” Joy asked, concern in her voice.
“No.” Piper was quick to shake her head. “Not bed rest, but she said no housework or exercising, or anything that will have me up and about for more than ten or fifteen minutes. She’ll check me again next week to see if things have progressed and let me know if I need to continue resting or can go back to my regular work.”
Joy nodded. “I’m sorry, Piper. I had to do the same with the twins’ pregnancy. I know you’re concerned because you have a lot on your plate already.” She put her free hand on Piper’s arm. “I’m sure if you explain the situation to Mrs. Anderson and Max, they’ll find ways to help. And I’ll do what I can to help, too.”
With six children and a busy foundation to run, Piper would never dream of asking Joy for help. It would be hard enough to ask Mrs. Anderson to pick up her extra work—impossible, really.
“Thank you,” Piper said to Joy. “I’m sure things will work out.”
But, even though she sounded positive and confident, she didn’t feel that way. Not only did she have full occupancy this weekend, but she also had Kate Dawson’s baby shower to organize and host at the bed-and-breakfast on Sunday afternoon, not to mention all the details she was still coordinating for Carrie Custer’s wedding, which was only four short weeks away.
“I have to run,” Joy said to Piper, “but I’ll be praying for you. And, please, do not hesitate to call on me for help. If I can’t do what’s needed, I have a whole list of volunteers who are ready and willing to lend a hand if I simply let them know.”
Piper smiled and nodded, but Joy looked at her with a serious face. “I’m not kidding, Piper. Don’t be embarrassed or shy to call me for help. My offer is genuine.”
“I know.” Piper gave her friend a quick hug and then got into her car.
The bed-and-breakfast was only four blocks away, but it looked like it might rain, and now that Piper was supposed to take it easy, she was happy she had driven instead of walked.
She sat in her car for a second, watching Joy walk into the clinic, and tried hard not to cry. The last thing she wanted was to jeopardize her pregnancy and put her baby at risk, but how was she going to stay off her feet for the next week—or even longer?
She fought the tears all the way home and was thankful it was Wednesday and they still had two days before their next guests would arrive. Mrs. Anderson had the morning off and she hoped Max was in his apartment. She needed some time alone to pull her emotions together and to make a plan before she told them what the doctor had said.
But when Piper pulled up to the bed-and-breakfast, Max was standing out by the mailboxes, chatting with the mailman. Piper put the car in Park and hoped to sneak into the house without Max noticing—but it was no use. He waved at her and then nodded goodbye at the mailman and started to walk toward Piper.
She took a couple steadying breaths. Maybe she could hold herself together long enough to be neighborly with Max and then get inside before her real emotions took hold.
Raindrops started to fall and the wind picked up, blowing colorful leaves off the trees. They twisted and twirled as they danced through the air. Piper stepped out of her car and Max instinctively put the mail over his head and rushed to Piper’s side. He put his arm around her shoulders and led her into the back entrance of the bed-and-breakfast.
The entry was dark, since there were no windows in the back hall, but before the door closed, Max glanced down at Piper and his eyes filled with worry.
“What’s wrong, Piper?”
She frowned and pushed aside his concern. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I am worried about it.” He closed the back door and flipped on the light switch. The entry wasn’t very large and Max stood close to her. “I can tell something is wrong by the look on your face.”
Piper was struggling to take a deep breath—whether it was from Max standing so close, or the confines of the entry or her own hormonal emotions, she wasn’t sure, but she needed some space. She opened the door leading into the private living area and took off her jacket.
There was no use hiding the truth from Max. They knew each other so well—he could see she was upset and she knew he wouldn’t let her be until she told him what was bothering her.
The wind picked up speed outside and the rain fell in earnest now. She shivered. “Would you like some hot cocoa?” she asked as she walked past the gas fireplace and flipped on the switch.
“I’d like for you to tell me what’s wrong.” Max stood by the door, the mail still in his hands. “I can tell something is bothering you.”
Piper went into the kitchen and took the kettle off the back burner. She filled it with water and set it back on the stove to warm.
Max closed the door and followed her into the kitchen. He set the mail on the counter and then stood there, his arms crossed, and stared at her. “Talk to me, Piper.”
She knew he’d overreact. She also knew she didn’t want him to care that much. When Nick died, Piper had come to terms with doing this pregnancy on her own. Sure, she had the help of her friends and church family, but ultimately, she was going to stand on her own two feet and be a single parent.
As Max waited for her to tell him what was wrong, she instinctively knew he’d step up to the plate and help. Part of her longed for that help, but the other part wanted to keep him as far away as possible. The less involved he became in her life, the easier it would be to say goodbye.
She picked up the mail and started to leaf through it—until she saw the creditor’s return address on an envelope. It was the big one, the unyielding one. The credit card with the painfully high interest rate that her husband had maxed out at the casino. She had nothing to show for this debt. No house, no car, no furniture, nothing of any value. He’d used it to gamble and who knew what else. She’d been making minimum payments on it from the beginning, but with the interest rate so high, she wasn’t making a dent in the principal. All that hard-earned money went into thin air. She needed the payment from Carrie Custer’s wedding to get this credit card paid for, but she wouldn’t have it until after the final bill was submitted, after the wedding next month.
And now that she had to take it easy, how would she do her job? Some of it could be done on her computer, but the majority of it would be hands-on decorating, managing and planning. She couldn’t rely on Liv to do it all and then take her share.
Tears pinched the backs of Piper’s eyes.
“Piper.” Max came around the counter and put his hands on her shoulders to look her in the eyes. “Talk to me.”
His gaze was so full of love and concern, she crumbled. The tears started to fall and she found herself in his embrace, the truth tumbling out. “My doctor is concerned that my body might be getting ready for labor far too soon and she wants me off my feet until—”
“Piper!” Max pulled back, a frown on his face. “What are you doing in the kitchen?”
He didn’t give her a chance to explain that the doctor said she could still do some things around the house, just nothing strenuous. Max led her into the sitting room and then moved the throw pillows to one side of the couch and nudged her to sit there. He grabbed a blanket off the back of a chair and put it over her lap and then reached behind her and flipped on a lamp.
He was close and he smelled like The One, by Dolce & Gabbana. Piper just watched him, the tears subsiding as a gentle smile tilted up her lips.
Maybe it was nice to have someone help her, after all.
* * *
Max’s heart pounded with worry as he got down on one knee by Piper’s side to tuck the blanket in around her.
Piper’s cool hand rested on his cheek and she ran her thumb over the lines between his eyes. “You don’t have to look so serious, Max.”
He stopped fussing over her and grew very still under the weight of her hand.
“I’m going to be okay,” she said quietly. “As long as I take it easy and don’t overdo it, the doctor said the baby and I should be just fine.” She lowered her hand and gave him a gentle smile. “I haven’t seen you look this worried since your mom’s cancer scare in tenth grade.”
Max took her hand in his, thinking about nothing but Piper. “Tell me exactly what the doctor said.”
“She said I need to stay off my feet as much as possible. No house work or exercising. I can still do a few things, but she doesn’t want me on my feet for more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time.” Piper looked down at the blanket on her lap and he could see that, even though she was trying to be brave for his sake, she was wrestling with her emotions. “We’ll take it a week at a time. If she thinks things look better next week when I go in to see her, she’ll lift the restrictions. But for now,” Piper shrugged, “she wants me to rest.”
“Then that’s exactly what you’re going to do.” Max touched Piper’s chin and lifted it until she was looking into his eyes. “I know you, Piper. You’re going to push the limit on this thing because you can’t sit still. But I don’t want you doing anything—do you understand? As your boss—and as your friend,” he said a little quieter, “I am telling you to listen to the doctor.”
“But I have so many things I need to—”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ll do them.”
“You’ll clean the toilets and scrub the bathtubs?”
“Yes,” he said, completely serious. “And I’ll even change the bedding and wash the laundry. I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure you take it easy.”
“What about my work with Liv? I have a baby shower I’m hosting here on Sunday for the pastor’s wife.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’ll call Liv and do whatever you two tell me to do. You can sit right here and direct me.”
She gave him a skeptical look and he put his hand on his heart. “I’m serious, Piper.”
“What about your own work? You’re gone every evening with the team. And the playoffs start this week. You won’t have any extra time—”
“I’ll hire someone to help Mrs. Anderson in the evenings.”
“It’ll cost more money.”
“I don’t care how much it costs.”
She let out a sigh. “You can use my income to pay for—”
“No.” He wouldn’t hear of it. The last thing he would do is withhold Piper’s wages, especially now. “Let me worry about the finances,” he said to Piper. “You just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby.”
Piper’s bottom lip began to quiver and she bit it to stop. He hated when she cried. She hadn’t done it often when they were younger, so he knew when she cried, it was serious.
“Don’t cry, Piper.” He got off his knee and sat on the edge of the couch beside her. He took both her hands in his, feeling helpless. “What can I do to help?”
“You’ve done so much, Max.” She met his gaze again and her eyes were swimming in tears. One fell down her cheek. “It’s just—” She stopped.
“What?”
“No one has ever told me they’ll worry about the finances for me.” She tried to laugh, but it didn’t come out sounding comical.
Of course. She had provided for her and her dad in high school and was dealing with the fallout of Nick’s poor financial choices now. Had Piper ever felt financially stable?
“I wish I could take care of all your financial troubles,” he said. “Since I can’t, at least let me worry about this one.”
“Deal,” she said, and this time she did laugh as she wiped away a tear. “Sorry for crying. I’ve been a lot more emotional since I got pregnant.” She put her hand on her stomach. “It seems to go with all the other strange symptoms.”
“Don’t apologize.”
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
“What?” he asked.
“The baby is moving.” A shy smile tilted her lips. “Would you like to feel?”
He’d never felt a baby inside the womb before, and until this moment, had never really wondered what it would feel like. But he found himself nodding.
Piper gently took his hand in hers and laid it against her stomach, resting her hand over his.
The baby rolled under his palm. Max’s heart rate sped up unexpectedly and emotion clogged his throat. He had never experienced something so simple—yet so profound. It felt like nothing he’d ever expected. Again, the baby pressed against his hand, this time it didn’t roll away, but stayed there.
Piper giggled. “I think it likes you.”
Max met her gaze, amazement and shock making him speechless. “Th-that’s the baby?” he asked.
She nodded, her eyes glowing. “That’s the baby.”
The baby rolled again and Max’s hand lifted from the force of it. “I can’t imagine what that feels like from your perspective,” he whispered.
“It’s pretty amazing,” she said.
Piper’s hand was still over Max’s and her gaze was on his face, watching him respond to her child’s movement.
Not for the first time, he wondered what it would have been like if this child had been his, and not Nick’s. He couldn’t explain it, but he already loved this little person even though he didn’t know him or her. Would he still be around when the baby was born? More now than ever, he wanted to be there. He wanted to meet this tiny person.
He would have probably sat there for the rest of the afternoon if the teakettle didn’t start to whistle.
“Thanks,” he said as he slowly pulled his hand away from her stomach.
“For what?” she asked.
“For sharing this with me.” Emotion lowered the timbre of his voice. “For letting me experience a little bit of this blessing.”
The whistle grew louder and Max left Piper’s side to make her some hot chocolate.
It was getting harder and harder to pull himself away from her—and the baby.
Chapter Ten
“I’m serious, Piper,” Max said from the formal dining room where he was setting down a plate of cucumber sandwiches. “If I see you get off that sofa again, I’m calling this whole thing off.”
Piper reluctantly lowered herself back to the ornate sofa in the parlor and had the urge to stick her tongue out at Max like she would have done if they were nine again.
“Just because I took my eyes off you,” he said as he rearranged the bowl of fruit on the elegant table, “doesn’t mean I don’t know what you’re doing in there.”
It wasn’t often that Piper just sat in the parlor. Actually, it was the first time since the remodeling was done that she’d spent any amount of time in the fancy room. But now that she was relegated to the sofa while Max, Liv and Mrs. Anderson prepared for the baby shower, she realized she didn’t like the arrangem
ent of the furniture. So, whenever Max left the dining room to retrieve another dish Mrs. Anderson and Liv were preparing in the kitchen, Piper had used the opportunity to move a lamp here, a footstool there, or a small plant from one spot in the room to the other. It wasn’t strenuous or taxing, by any means, but Max was having none of it.
“You’re worse than a prison guard,” she teased, though she wasn’t completely joking. Never, in all her life, had she rested as much as she had in the past five days—and it was all because Max watched her every move. If he couldn’t be there, he made Mrs. Anderson promise to keep an eye on her.
“I know you too well.” He straightened and looked over the table with a critical eye.
Piper smiled to herself. She never thought she’d see Max Evans care so much about the presentation of a baby shower.
“If we don’t remind you what the doctor said, you’ll push yourself too hard.” He came to stand in the large opening between the dining room and parlor. He wore one of Mrs. Anderson’s frilly flower aprons over his button-down shirt and slacks. The older woman had insisted he put it on when he came back from church to help with the baby shower. She said his clothes were too nice to soil, and since he didn’t want to argue with Mrs. Anderson, he gave in.
But now he stood there, his face stern, and Piper couldn’t take him seriously. She bit the side of her mouth to keep from smiling at him.
“Don’t try to soften me up, Piper Pierson Connelly,” he said, wagging a finger as he started to smile. “I’m not wearing this apron for nothing. If I find out you’re breaking the rules anyway, I’ll make you walk around in a football uniform at the next baby shower you host.”
“Oh, really?” She giggled. “I’d like to see you try.”
“You two stop that,” Mrs. Anderson said as she came into the dining room with a large bowl of punch. “This baby shower is starting in a couple of minutes and we still need to set out the fresh flowers Liv just brought into the house.” She set the punch down on the sideboard and then took Max by the arm. “Leave Piper be. She’s a big girl. She doesn’t need to be babysat every moment of the day.”
A Home for Her Baby Page 11