Page 108 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

Chapter Thirty-Four

PIPER

No Room For Negotiation

It’d taken some maneuvering but Tessa and I got around the yellow caution tape, multiple severed tree limbs, and more than a few crumpled roof shingles, before we reached the front door of Huckleberry Lane. We found Beck and Torran pacing inside the living room, their gazes darting more than once to the disaster area that surrounded their home.

A day after the tornado and everything in and around Ivy Falls was chaos. The storm had cut us off from all utilities: water, power, phone and internet. More than once, the fire chief had suggested to Mr Wright that in his capacity as mayor he should evacuate certain parts of town, but when he broached the subject everyone in Ivy Falls refused to leave.

‘Tor. Beck,’ Tessa started. ‘Piper and I have something we want to discuss with you.’

‘Whatever it is, can it wait?’ Torran said. ‘The foreman from the first cleanup crew is supposed to stop by and tell us how long it’ll be before they can get people here to clear the yard.’

Tessa gave me a weighted look. This conversation had to happen now if our plan was going to work.

‘No, because we need to make some decisions,’ I said.

Beck furrowed his brow. ‘Decisions about what?’

I gave another hesitant glance in Tessa’s direction. ‘The wedding.’

Torran gave an ugly snort and rubbed at her stomach. ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding.’ Like she knew how that might hit Beck, she quickly added, ‘I mean not right now.’

It was clear from their tense shoulders, the way worry colored their eyes, that they’d already given up on the chance of a ceremony anytime soon.

‘This tornado has clearly thrown a wrench into things,’ Tessa started.

Torran let out a caustic laugh. ‘A wrench? It’s more like a twenty-foot tree.’

‘Let’s all sit,’ I suggested, hoping to keep things calm.

Torran and Beck slouched down onto the dark leather couch, while Tessa and I found spots in the matching armchairs.

Tessa pulled in a full breath and said, ‘We don’t want you to cancel the wedding.’

‘There’s not much choice considering the state of our backyard right now,’ Beck said.

‘What if there was a choice?’ I said.

Beck looked at me with a defeated look that made my heart ache. ‘I don’t see how.’

‘We hold the ceremony in the square.’ I paused. ‘And we ask the town to help.’

Torran set her jaw. ‘Absolutely not. Everyone is dealing with their own issues with this tornado. None of the shops near the square have power. Half the roof on Minnie’s Market is gone. We can’t ask people to help us when they have their own problems and families to worry about.’

‘Don’t be upset,’ Tessa said hesitantly. ‘But we’ve already started floating the idea. There’s going to be a town meeting today at three to discuss it.’

I waited for their protests. Instead, Torran turned into Beck’s shoulder, letting out small sobs.

‘Did we overstep?’ I blurted. ‘I’m sorry. We only wanted to help. You two have been through a lot, and we don’t want to see this day taken away from you.’

Tessa moved out of the chair and knelt in front of her sister. ‘Tor, you’ve done so much for this town. Let them help you and Beck.’

Torran sniffled. ‘Dammit. These hormones have turned me into a blubbering mess.’ She swiped at her cheeks. ‘How could we pull this off in three days?’

‘That’s what we’re going to talk about at the meeting,’ I said.

‘The wedding will be smaller. More intimate,’ Tessa added. ‘But none of that matters if we can get the two of you hitched.’