Page 23 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

Harpeth Manor. Huh. I wouldn’t have pegged him as the old-money type, but then again, I didn’t really want to know much about him. Sure, he was cute in a buttoned-up, nerdy kind of Peter Parker way, and how calmly he put Dex at ease may have sent a shot of heat across my skin, but I was trying to move forward, and Dr Foster being here was a walking, talking reminder of my past.

I played with my napkin, wondering if I should tell Beck he’d already met him at the hospital. All my instincts said to be quiet, but at some point I was sure Beck would run into the guy in this tiny town.

‘Yeah, he took care of Dex. Was really good with him.’ I hesitated before pushing out, ‘You’ve met him before, Beck.’

The lines in his forehead pinched. ‘How?’

‘He did a shift at Memorial Springs.’

They both stared at me a little puzzled until they finally got my meaning.

Beck’s voice softened. ‘How do you feel about that?’

‘I only know about your conversation with him. But to put a face with a name,’ I shrugged, ‘it was a little weird.’

‘Piper,’ Torran said gently. ‘You’re doing great. This doctor being here doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like he knows you.’

‘Yes, he was in and out of the room in less than five minutes,’ Beck added.

‘Well…’ I hedged.

Beck sat back and I didn’t like the way he clutched his napkin in a death grip.

‘Our encounter at the clinic wasn’t the first one.’

Creases folded around Torran’s eyes as Beck stayed quiet.

‘I saw him at the P&P. Kids were running around and I sort of got tripped, and, well, the doc got an iced-latte dousing.’

My mind raced back to the way I’d patted down his pants. The look of amusement in his eyes.

The corner of Beck’s mouth twitched and Torran let out a bubbling laugh. ‘Oh no.’

It was just what the tense conversation needed. I was tired of them treating me like I was a fragile piece of glass in one of those antique chandeliers Torran loved to put into her houses.

‘Yeah, he was dressed up in a blazer and fancy shoes. It was a disaster.’

Beck shook his head, trying not to let out his own laugh. ‘That’s one way to make an impression.’

I laughed along, the tension finally being sucked from the room. This was good. Us, laughing and joking. It was the perfect opening I needed to talk about my plans.

‘Speaking of impressions, Diego has spent some time recently showing me a few rentals around town.’

With only a few words, all that tension was back.

‘Pipe, I don’t want you to leave. This is your home. You belong here,’ Beck insisted.

‘No, it’s time I stand on my own two feet. Build my own life.’

‘And you can take on the financial responsibility?’ he pressed.

‘Yes. I have the small allowance from my trust, and I’ve built up a little nest egg for rent.’

It was the first time in my life I’d ever been able to hold on to any kind of money. Not spend it on booze and whatever pills I could get my hands on. It was another victory, and I was damn proud of getting to this point.

‘You two will be married in a few months, and I’m sure you’d like some privacy.’ My cheeks heated. Even though my room was on the other side of the house, they were embarrassingly loud.

Beck took an uncomfortable gulp. ‘There’s a lot going on. Let’s talk after the wedding.’

There was a plea in his eyes that said he wanted me to stay so he could continue to keep an eye on me, but I couldn’t remain in this bubble any longer. My life was waiting for me outside these walls. Was there all sorts of temptation too? Of course. But I’d learned after three stints in rehab, and many long hours in therapy, that I had to accept responsibility for my actions. Acknowledge my struggles and not hide from them. The only way I was going to grow, find my purpose, was to live on my own.

By the set of his jaw, it was clear Beck wasn’t going to give in tonight, but I’d keep talking, wear him down, because I needed to move on and he did too. That mantra I kept repeating filled my head again.

Face. Forgive. Forward.

If I wanted to have a new life, he needed to let me go.

They both did.