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“Oh please, that’s not intimidating me one bit,” Piper teases.
The rest of the game becomes more focused and competitive. There are some playful jabs here and there, but in the end, my grandfather comes out victorious. And despite his age, he celebrates with jumps and cheers while playfully teasing us both.
“I don’t think you’d be so spunky if you played disc golf with me,” Piper states.
“I’m sorry, disc golf?” I question her. “Like with a frisbee?”
“Have you ever played?” she asks.
“No, I always thought it was something college kids did on campus or something,” I reply, furrowing my brow. “Do you play regularly?”
“There’s actually a beautiful course outside of town,” she says. “Are you up for giving it a try?” she asks my grandfather, turning to him with a smile.
“I suppose since I beat her pretty badly earlier,” my grandfather jokes, “I should give you a chance to redeem yourself. Name the time and place.”
“Sounds good,” Piper says as Grandad happily heads off to collect the balls on the green.
“Thank you,” I say to Piper. “My grandfather is having the time of his life here. I can’t remember seeing him this active in years.”
“He’s incredible,” Piper says. “I love spending time with him.”
“Rustic Ridge has been good for him…for us,” I reply.
Piper has helped me break free from my old routine, bringing excitement and joy into my life. She’s shown me that there are genuine women out there who appreciate me for who I am, not just for my wealth. As we gaze into each other’s eyes, something shifts in my chest. With her, I’ve learned to open my heart to love, and hopefully, that love will be with her.
“Catch,” my grandfather calls out.
We both look down the way in confusion, and Piper hides behind me while gripping my shirt. The ball lands close by and she peeks out from behind me, laughing at her own reaction.
“I thought that was one of the heavy bocce balls,” she says between giggles.
“Yeah, I noticed how quickly you ducked for cover.” I squint at her.
“Are you implying that I’m a chicken?” Piper retorts, half serious.
“Absolutely not. Just pointing out that you have good reflexes,” I reply innocently, adding a wink for good measure.
Piper narrows her eyes at me before throwing back her head and letting out a full-bodied laugh. The sound of her happiness echoes around the green and fills me with warmth.
“Okay, we’ll see about that tomorrow when we play disc golf,” she challenges.
“I can’t wait,” I reply, honestly excited about spending another day in this town with these people, especially Piper.
As we clean up the equipment and leave the green, Piper walks ahead with my grandfather. The sight of them talking animatedly brings a smile to my face. As much as I love the business aspect of my life, these simple moments are the ones I’ve been missing out on.
This community has been exactly what my grandfather needed to lift his spirits. I hadn’t realized how much he had been struggling until we arrived in Rustic Ridge and I saw a newfound energy in him. I am grateful for this experience, and for the first time in a while, I feel at ease being away from work because I know that spending time with my grandfather is more valuable than anything I could accomplish in the office.
14
Piper
The morning had been filled with laughter and friendly competition as Gene, Caleb, and I played bocce ball in the park. With a sense of purpose, I make my way through town until I reach the bakery’s rear entrance. The familiar smell of freshly-baked bread wafts through the air as I step inside, ready to tackle another day of work in my happy place.
“Where have you been?” my mother barks.
I study my mother as I move closer to her, trying to gauge her mood. Her flushed cheeks, hands on her hips, and slightly flared nostrils tell me it’s not good. Whatever is bothering her today, I’m not going to like it.
“Hey, Mom. What’s going on?” I ask as she gives me a nod.
