“Doesn’t she?” Max asked as he gave Piper a pointed look.
“Go on,” she said with another laugh. “I promise I won’t rearrange the whole room.”
It was another dreary day outside, with rain falling and taking beautiful colored leaves off the trees. But in the house, the air was warm and redolent with the delicious aroma of fresh-baked scones, flowers and home-brewed coffee. The gray sky outside made the Tiffany stained glass at the top of the bay windows shimmer brightly.
Piper had gone to church that morning and then hurried home with Max to prepare for the shower. Mrs. Anderson had stayed behind to check out their weekend guests and to get all the last-minute food prepared for the late luncheon. But now, as everything was just about ready, Piper sat all on her own in the parlor waiting for the mom-to-be and her guests to arrive.
It felt strange to be doing nothing. Piper didn’t like it one bit. She had started the event planning business because she loved hosting parties—not to sit around and watch everyone else do all the work.
The front doorbell rang and Piper rose to greet their guests. At least that was something she could do.
But Liv flew in from the private section of the house and put her hand up to stop Piper from moving. “I’ve got it,” she said. “Just stay there.”
“I’m not going to sit here for Kate’s party,” Piper said. Yes, she was one of Kate’s friends, but she was also the coordinator and hostess for the party. She couldn’t just sit in the parlor the whole time like a bump on a log.
“Sit, Piper,” Liv said as she disappeared into the foyer.
Frustration bubbled up in Piper’s chest. Her friends were trying to take care of her, but it was starting to get annoying.
“Hello, hello,” Liv said in the entry. “Welcome. Come on in. Piper’s in the parlor. Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable.”
Piper stood, unwilling to meet all the guests sitting down.
“Hello, dear.” Max’s mom was the first to enter. She set a wrapped gift on the table along the wall designated for the presents and then came over to Piper and gave her a hug. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
“I feel great.” It was true, which made all of this so much harder to deal with. Her doctor told her that her body might be preparing for early labor, but Piper couldn’t tell the difference.
“Max told me what’s going on.” She looked Piper over from head to foot. “But you look fabulous.”
“Thank you.”
Right behind Mrs. Evans, Joy Asher walked into the parlor with Kate Dawson, the lady for whom the shower was being thrown. The two women were visiting as if they hadn’t just seen each other at church.
“Hello, Piper,” Kate and Joy both said, waving at Piper.
Kate was beautiful in a long maxi dress, her blond hair loosely curled. She had been a Broadway actress before she had come to Timber Falls the year before to care for her cousin’s triplets, but she had quickly fallen in love with their pastor who was a widower with a little girl. Piper had been in the throes of her own marital issues at the time and had not gotten to know Kate until after Nick’s death when Kate and Pastor Jacob had spent so much time at the bed-and-breakfast helping.
Kate was radiant and her pregnancy was going well. A niggle of envy wedged into Piper’s heart as she watched Kate laughing beside Joy, carefree and blissfully happy. Kate’s husband would be at home, holding down the fort with their eight-year-old daughter and two-year-old triplets. When Kate went home tonight, her husband would be there waiting with open arms.
Piper pushed aside her self-pity and chose to smile for her friend, instead.
And that’s when she noticed that both Joy and Kate were setting gifts down on the table. Why had Kate brought a gift to her own shower?
Dozens of other ladies walked into the parlor, all of them laden with gifts and smiles, and all of them hugging and greeting Piper. Very few of them made a special effort to greet Kate who stood to the side with Joy as they continued to visit.
Mrs. Anderson came into the room and was greeted by Mrs. Caruthers, Mrs. Topper and Mrs. Evans, the church ladies who had been so helpful after Nick’s death.
But it wasn’t just ladies from church who crowded into the parlor and spilled over into the dining room. Neighbors started to enter, as well as a few friends from school that Piper had known almost all her life. Did they know Kate, too?
Liv was the last to enter the room, pushing her way through the swell of ladies to come and stand beside Piper.
“Well?” Liv asked. “What do you think?”
“What do you mean?” Piper asked.
Liv grinned and squeezed Piper’s arm, then she called out to the room, “Ladies, if I could get your attention please.” She waited until the room quieted and everyone turned to look at her and Piper. “I think it’s time. At the count of three. One...two...three—”
“Surprise!” Everyone seemed to shout at once, laughter and conversation filling the room.
“It’s your baby shower,” Liv said to Piper, a giggle in her voice. “This one’s for you, Piper.”
Piper stared in shock as all the ladies smiled in her direction. The tableful of gifts was overflowing, there were more women inside the house than Piper could count from where she was standing and all of them had come just for her.
Max entered the dining room at that moment, still wearing Mrs. Anderson’s ridiculous apron. He stood a head above all the ladies, so she was able to see his face clearly. He winked at her, his smile brighter than anyone else’s.
She was speechless.
* * *
“Where will I put everything?” Piper asked as she looked around the parlor, her face glowing with awe. “I—” She paused and shook her head. “I don’t even know what to think right now.”
Max sat on one of the wingback chairs in the parlor, exhausted and thankful the house was finally quiet again. Liv sat on the couch next to Piper, and Mrs. Anderson was in the other wingback chair. All the guests had left, and in their wake, it looked as if a baby store had exploded all over the parlor and dining room. Max had no idea a baby needed so much stuff.
But it was Piper, who sat in the middle of all the baby gear, who had his complete attention. He hadn’t seen her look this happy in years. His chest was still bursting with the appreciation he’d felt for all the ladies who had come to shower Piper and the baby with their love and affection.
The longer he spent in Timber Falls, the more he realized how important it was to be a member of a supportive community.
“Thank you,” Piper said as she looked from Mrs. Anderson to Liv, and then finally to Max, her heart in her eyes. “I’m so overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness.”
“It was our pleasure,” Liv said as she leaned over and gave Piper a side hug. “I’m not happy that you’ve been put on rest, but honestly, I didn’t know how we were going to pull this off without you doing all the work for your own baby shower. I was trying to think of a dozen different reasons I could have sent you away from the house today while we prepared, but in the end, it all worked out.”
“This whole time, this shower was meant for me and not Kate?” Piper asked. “Even when Joy called and scheduled the date with me—and told me the shower was for Kate?”
“Yes. It was actually Kate and Joy’s idea,” Mrs. Anderson said, her smile huge. “Wasn’t it brilliant?”
Piper just shook her head, a smile lighting up her face as her gaze wandered over all the gifts. “I guess I’ll have to store everything for now.” Her voice came down a notch in disappointment. “The baby isn’t due for two months and hopefully, by the time he or she comes, I’ll have my own house to set it all up in.”
“It definitely won’t all fit in your little room,” Mrs. Anderson agreed.
“What a shame,” Piper said, almost to herself as she picked up the box with a baby moni
tor inside. “It would be fun to get it all organized.”
“I remember having that feeling when my children were on their way,” Mrs. Anderson said. “They call it ‘nesting,’ kind of like how a bird builds its nest for its babies. A mother also wants to prepare her little nest before her baby comes along.”
Max’s heart started to pound and he knew it was time to give Piper the gift he’d been preparing. Though he knew she’d love it, he also knew she might reject it, as well. He’d almost felt foolish when the idea first came to him, but the way it made his pulse race, he knew it was the right thing to give her. But over the past couple of weeks, as he’d put everything into place, he’d waffled between feeling excited and feeling depressed. Once he gave it to her, there was no going back.
“I wonder where I’ll store it,” Piper said. “Maybe the garage rafters?”
“I know where this stuff can go.” Max stood, trying not to show his nerves. He extended his hand to Piper. “I’ll show you.”
Everyone stared at him in question as Piper frowned and took his offered hand.
“While you show Piper what you have in mind,” Mrs. Anderson said, “Liv and I will start cleaning up this mess.”
“Leave some for me,” Max told her. “I’ll come back to help after I show Piper the gift I have for her.”
“Gift?” Piper stopped following him. “You didn’t have to get me something, Max.”
“I wanted to.” It was all he would say. He didn’t want her to reject his gift—especially here in front of the other two.
He went to the entry and started up the stairs. Piper followed him, curiosity and confusion marring her brow.
Max took a steadying breath as he walked down the upstairs hall to the steps that went up to the third-floor apartment.
“It’s in your apartment?” Piper asked.
“Do you think you can manage the steps?”
She nodded. “I haven’t been on my feet much at all today.”
Max opened the door to the third-floor stairway and she went up in front of him. When they entered his apartment, the last of the day’s sunlight filtered through the lead glass windows. Max flipped on a light and the main part of the apartment lit up. The space had previously belonged to Piper and Nick. It was still furnished, no doubt with their furniture.
Piper looked around the room for a heartbeat and Max wondered what memories came back to her while she stood there. Were they happy or sad? It had been six months since Nick died and almost two months since Max had come home. He didn’t know how long Piper had been living downstairs. Did she miss the apartment?
“You’re a lot tidier than you used to be,” Piper teased.
“I knew you’d be coming up here today,” he teased back.
She clasped her hands and looked at him expectantly, but didn’t say anything.
This was the moment Max had been preparing for, but as he stood there with Piper, he was as nervous as the day he asked her to be his girlfriend. They’d only been in fifth grade at the time, but he remembered the moment like it was yesterday. Just like then, he didn’t know where to start or exactly how to express himself.
“It’s okay, Max,” she said with a gentle smile, her dimple appearing in her cheek. “Just say it.”
All his nerves disappeared. It was exactly what she had said to him in fifth grade, too.
“I’ll just show you.” He took her hand and led her to one of the bedroom doors. It was the room with the most daylight as it faced south under one of the large dormer windows. It was also the room closest to the master bedroom.
Max opened the door and stood there for a second as Piper stared at the room.
It was the most charming nursery Max had ever seen, and he’d done it all on his own—well, he’d had some help.
Piper’s mouth slipped open and she blinked several times before she turned and looked at Max. “What is this?” she whispered.
“It’s the baby’s bedroom.”
“Max.” Her voice held a tone of incredulity.
“Mrs. Anderson told me you were registered at the baby store downtown, so I went there and asked them to put together everything you’d need for your nursery.” He stepped into the room and drew her in with him. “I had no idea what I was doing, so the ladies at the store gave me the suggestion for the wall color and the curtains and the rug.”
The room was painted a creamy color the ladies at the store had called ecru, and the curtains at the large window were a soft white. On the wood floor was a rug that matched the color of the curtains. The crib, changing table, dresser, shelf and armchair with ottoman were all a darker shade of a grayish brown. There were splashes of soft blue and pink in the bedding, a throw pillow, a teddy bear and a few other odds and ends.
“All it needs is a baby,” Max said softly.
Piper let go of his hand and turned slowly, taking in every little detail.
But all Max could do was watch Piper.
When she finally turned all the way around, she looked at him again and tears were streaming down her face.
“Oh, Piper,” he said as he went to her and pulled her into a hug, her tears tugging at his heart. “Why are you crying now?”
“Why did you do this?” she asked.
“I wanted to give you and the baby a present.” He held her close. “But this isn’t all.”
“What?” she shook her head and pulled away.
“After the baby is born, and you can manage the stairs, I want you to move up here. You and the baby.”
Her eyes filled with alarm and she started to shake her head.
“I’ll move out first,” he said quickly, suddenly realizing how his words might have sounded to her. “There’s no reason you need to look for your own house when you already have a home here.”
“But this isn’t my home—”
“It is,” he said with finality. “For as long as you want it to be.”
“Where will you live?”
“The baby’s not due until the end of December, right?” he asked.
She nodded.
“By then, my job at Timber Falls High will be done.” He couldn’t meet her gaze. “I’ll probably be in California in December.”
Piper put her hand on the crib and ran her slender fingers along the top rail. “Does that mean you’ll take the job Margo’s father offered?”
“I think so.” He put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Unless something better comes along.”
“It’s a good opportunity, isn’t it?” she asked.
He nodded. “It’s a great opportunity. I’d be a fool to turn it down.”
“Have you told her yet?”
“Who? Margo?”
Piper didn’t answer, but nodded as she studied the crib.
“Margo has nothing to do with the job.” He paused, because it wasn’t completely true. If it wasn’t for his relationship with Margo, Max probably wouldn’t have gotten to know Tom Sutton so well, and he probably wouldn’t have offered Max the job. “I’ll be working with her father, Tom Sutton.”
Piper turned her gaze back to Max to study his face. “Have you told Mr. Sutton you’ll take the job?”
“Not yet. He said I had some time to make my decision.” But now that he had, there was nothing to prevent him from calling Tom tonight.
“What will happen to the bed-and-breakfast?” she asked next, looking away from him again.
“I’ll keep it until you’re ready to buy it from me.” He wanted her to look at him, needed to know what she was thinking. Was she angry at him for agreeing to take the job in California? Was she happy for him? Did she want him to go? “Or until you’re ready to move on and do something else with your life.”
“Can you afford to hold on to it that long?”
“Piper.” He walked over to her and touched
her chin so she’d look at him. “I told you not to worry about the finances.”
She was quiet for a moment, and then she said, “Thank you.” She straightened her back and laid her hand on her stomach. “I don’t deserve any of—”
“You deserve every bit of it—and more.” He wished he could give her so much more, but he respected her too much to press her for something she wasn’t willing or able to give him.
“I don’t think I should accept it,” she said next. “It’s too much.”
“I didn’t hear you tell anyone downstairs that you wouldn’t accept their gifts, no matter how big or small.” He stayed near the crib, though all he wanted to do was go to her and pull her into his arms again. “So I won’t let you turn down my gift, either.” He nodded toward the rest of the apartment. “There are three other bedrooms up here and I’m only using one. There’s plenty of space for you to store all your other gifts and set up everything exactly how you want it.”
She put one hand to her cheek. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. I’ll haul it all up here myself.”
“Max, I don’t know how to thank you.” Appreciation shined from her face. She didn’t need words to tell him how much this meant. Her face said it all.
“You already have.”
She came to him and wrapped her arms around him. Her stomach pressed against his and he couldn’t help but think that he’d never felt anything as wonderful as her, and her child, in his arms.
Chapter Eleven
“I’ve decided a DJ is just too impersonal for my wedding,” Carrie Custer said to Piper and Liv as they sat in the dining room of the bed-and-breakfast on the following Friday morning. “I think we should go with the original plan and hire a live band.”
Piper pressed her lips together and took a deep breath through her nose, all the while trying desperately to stay patient. “Your wedding is two weeks from tomorrow, Carrie,” she said slowly. “It would be impossible to find a decent band with such short notice.”
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