Page 96 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

Chapter Twenty-Nine

PIPER

What Comes Next

After we made sure all the kids had returned their costumes, Maisey and I walked out to the square. A cool breeze swept over the sidewalks. Soon, they’d be covered in hay bales and pumpkins. Ivy Falls coming alive for yet another holiday.

For weeks, Tessa’s girls had been discussing their Halloween costumes. They were coordinating with Manny and Lou. The last time I heard them talk, they were all going as characters from Alice in Wonderland with Lou insisting she wanted to be the Queen of Hearts so she could yell, ‘Off with their heads!’

Maisey stayed quiet beside me, which was unusual. I gripped her hand, pulling her to a stop. ‘You okay?’

She let her tiny shoulders sink. ‘I think I’m finally ready to admit that I miss designing. That I want to figure out a way to go back to it.’

‘I’ll help you in any way I can. If you want a few hours to work every week, I can watch Ada and Jordan. Take them to the park or for ice cream. You were there for me at a time when I needed a friend. I want to be that same support for you now.’

She yanked me into a hug. ‘Thank you. I’m scared but I’m ready to move on to what’s next. Watching you this last year, how you’ve fought to change your life, has inspired me.’

I pulled back and looked her in the eye. ‘None of that would have been possible without you.’ A small sob escaped her lips as she pulled me in for another tight hug. We stayed like that, the chaos of the square milling around us until her son’s voice called out to her.

‘Mommy! Daddy bought us cotton candy!’

Maisey’s husband, Joe, pushed a stroller toward us. It was hard not to laugh at the sticky pink fluff staining most of Ada and Jordan’s cheeks and mouth.

‘Oh lord, my kids are never going to sleep tonight,’ Maisey sighed.

‘Let them have a little fun. You should do the same!’ I said, urging her toward them.

She squeezed my shoulder, whispered that she loved me and raced off in the direction of her sweet family.

I took a moment to observe the square, enjoying the way the town turned out in droves to celebrate the last gasps of summer. I wandered past colorful booths and food vendors, spotting a familiar face in the distance. When Dex saw me he gave an enthusiastic wave, jumped on his skateboard and glided toward me.

‘Hey, Miss Piper.’

‘Dex, you and I need to have a word.’

His face crumpled. ‘That last spin in “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” was too fast and I lost my spot. I’m sorry.’

‘No,’ I laughed to let him off the hook. ‘That’s not what we need to discuss.’

His brows bunched together.

‘They have a good drama department at Ivy Falls Junior High. In fact, I heard they’re doing Grease for their winter musical. I think you should try out.’

He kicked at the ground. ‘This was fun and all but from what Autumn says those kids are really good.’

‘So are you.’

He shook his head, not convinced.

‘Dex, your dad not coming to the show tonight has nothing to do with you. Adults can forget their priorities. Let important moments slip away from them. It’s no reflection on who you are as a son. The kind of attention you deserve.’

‘Yeah, Doc Foster said the same thing.’

‘He’s right.’

‘Are you two…?’ His cheeks went pink. ‘You’re together, right?’

‘Yes,’ I said, caught off guard by the turn in the conversation.