Page 70 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

Chapter Twenty

FORD

An Instinct To Protect

All the way back to Ivy Falls, Piper slept against my shoulder. There was a sweet, contented set to her face that made my heart swell. Just before her eyes flickered closed, we’d been discussing the validity of oatmeal raisin cookies. I insisted they were delicious. She swore the only reason anyone ever bit into one was because they mistook it for chocolate chip.

It was a completely ridiculous argument and I loved every second of it.

Her breaths continued to be smooth, the gorgeous curves of her face relaxed. I’d never meant for this to happen. To let myself get wrapped up in a relationship. I had every intention of killing time in Ivy Falls, appeasing my parents with a few dinners and then racing back to Senegal as soon as possible.

Now that ache to run was replaced with a different feeling. A need to stay planted. To explore what my life would be like if I decided to remain in one place.

My thoughts went back to my last conversation with Gray. Maybe I did leave him behind to take care of the mess that was our parents, but being in that world was like being lowered into a pot of boiling water, the heat and steam suffocating you until you could no longer breathe. A silent scream the only emotion you could utter.

The highway continued to twist and turn. Piper’s contented sighs filled the quiet car. I’d watched her today. How she paid attention to the water, keeping track of the children while they splashed and played, making sure their parents were aware of them too.

It was the same way she focused on the kids at the theater. She had an instinct to protect. To love. It filled me with a sense of wonder and curiosity. My mother had been there for Gray and me, but she’d never looked at us with intense devotion. Like we were her entire world. I didn’t doubt her love, but she compartmentalized us. Like we were one of the many things she was in charge of supervising, along with her duties to the local garden club, and her role as secretary for the club’s board of directors.

Piper snuggled deeper into my side as I drove past the old town sign. When I reached the street to our apartments, a group was standing outside. I put the car in park, tapped Piper’s shoulder and she woke with a start. Her gaze was unfocused until she noticed the group rushing toward the car.

Torran reached my door first. Her skin was the color of milk and I didn’t like the pained expression she wore.

‘Hey, doc. Why don’t you have your phone on?’ She blinked when she saw Piper.

‘It’s Sunday. I’m not on call,’ I said.

Piper undid her seatbelt. ‘What’s wrong, Torran?’

Beck was at her door and swinging it open. His chin went firm as he gave his sister a weighted stare. ‘Do you have your phone on silent?’

‘I don’t know. Why?’

He helped her out of the car and Torran and I met them on the sidewalk. Barb and Susan, Diego, as well as Miss Cheri and a few other townspeople, watched us with worried gazes.

‘Doc, Silvio’s in a panic. He’s called all over town looking for you,’ Torran said. ‘Old Mrs V fell. He managed to get her into a chair, but he says she doesn’t look good.’

‘Did he call nine-one-one?’

‘No,’ Beck chimed in. ‘Mrs Vanderpool insists she’ll only see you.’

‘Okay, can someone tell me where she lives?’

‘I’ll take you,’ Piper offered.

‘We’ll all go,’ Beck said, his stare narrowing on where my hand was clenched with his sister’s.

‘No. Let Ford go and check her out,’ Piper said firmly.

Barb and Susan started to object until I added, ‘It’s great that you care, but Mrs Vanderpool deserves her privacy.’

They solemnly nodded, traded more whispers of worry, before making their way back across the square.

‘How long ago did Silvio call?’ I asked Torran, who looked painfully tired.

‘About ten minutes.’

‘Are you okay?’ I asked.