And yet she’d failed. Repeatedly. Epically. Because her kids were still not safe. And neither were Kiersten’s. They could have been arrested today and charged with vandalizing their neighbor’s property. Social services could have gotten involved, enmeshing her family in an invasive investigation, with the threat of removal and foster care.
All because she’d failed at her one and only job.Protecting her kids.
She ran her hands over her face. Maybe it was time to cry uncle. Time to pack up and move. To start fresh with a new address. One that Hawkeye Slaughter didn’t know. One that Chip and Trey Davis and Alex Orlov didn’t know either. They could purchase a different house and put the title in her in-laws’ name. Hide their identity. Start over in a new neighborhood, a different suburb.
She glanced at Kiersten. Her neighbor. Her friend. Her best friend.
The friend she’d have to leave behind.
Kiersten’s mascara had run, streaking her face, clumping her lower lashes. Her blond hair lay flat and lank around her shoulders as she stared at the wall, blue eyes glassy.
“You look like the Shield-Maiden of Stamendahl after losing the battle of Stiklestad,” Piper said gently, suddenly aware that she hadno other female friends to whom she could make such an honest and completely unflattering statement.
Kiersten turned to her with a thousand-yard stare. “Whatthe hellis the battle of Stiklestad?”
“I don’t know exactly.” She shrugged. “Something Rosamund was teaching the kids about the other day in history.”
Kiersten raised a weary eyebrow. “Well. You look like a postapocalyptic Talbots model.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” Piper said, sitting up a little straighter.
An exhausted but comfortable silence fell between them.
“We’ve been successful failures,” Kiersten finally said.
Piper turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“The Experiment worked. We’ve created a community. A village. Our kids were happy. I was happy. We were surrounded by loving people who have our best interests at heart. And those people came through today, in a huge way.”
Piper rubbed her temples, trying to ward off a colossal headache. “With the notable exception of Chip and Trey.”
Kiersten swallowed. “If Brendan hadn’t known that cop ... if Miles hadn’t produced footage that exonerated the kids ...”
Her voice trailed off. Piper squeezed her hand, letting her know she didn’t need to speak the unspeakable.
Kiersten shook her head, blinking back tears. “I just wanted peace and freedom. And instead, I havethis.”
She gestured at the hospital waiting room and all it represented.
“Maybe it’s time to go back to Minnesota.” Her voice was flat. Defeated.
Piper said nothing. The giant lump in her throat made it impossible to speak.
Kiersten blew her nose into a disintegrating tissue. “This situation obviously calls for chocolate.” She rose from her chair and grabbedsome cash from her enormous purse. “You want anything from the vending machine?”
Piper shook her head. “I’ll watch your bag.”
Kiersten tossed her phone into her purse and slumped down the hall.
As soon as she disappeared around the corner, Piper’s phone rang. Her shoulder muscles tensed as she picked up the call.
“Brendan?”
“You need to come home.”
The undertone of despair in his voice sent her stomach plunging. She dug her nails into her palms and fought to remain calm. “What’s wrong?”
“We just got back from Chuck E. Cheese.”
