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“I’m not leaving you until they get here, Piper.”
“You need to get back to your dad.”
“I’ll call and tell him I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“I-I can’t ask that of you.”
“You didn’t, I offered.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, I’m going to get some food. Is there anything in particular you want me to get?”
“I don’t know. Let me check the bag again.”
There was no food in there, or bottle, and only two nappies.
“There’s nothing in there she needs but a few clothes. I’m sure in time everything of hers will be sent to me, but for now I need to buy some things.”
“Of course, and we’ll talk to them tomorrow about getting the rest of her stuff.”
“Maybe I should go to the supermarket. Not that I know any better than you what to get.”
“No, Grace will be happier if she wakes up and finds you here.”
“Then take some money.”
“I’ll run a tally and you can pay me back.”
He left before she could stop him, and Piper fell into the nearest seat.
Dear Christ, she now had a child in her care.
Joanie is dead.
Visions of her friend’s lifeless body slipped into her head, but she pushed them aside. Dylan was right, she had to remember the girl she’d known.
She couldn’t delay it any longer, and needed to call her family. Punching in her mother’s number first, she felt the tears again as she heard the familiar tones of the woman who had raised her. The woman she would lean heavily on now raise her friend’s daughter.
“Mom, Joanie’s dead.”
Chapter 21
Dylan took a basket and headed into the supermarket and down the first aisle. He grabbed a few things he thought Piper would eat, and he knew he would. Then found a couple of meals they could heat in the microwave. Toiletries were next, and he found a man’s T-shirt and chucked that in the basket too, in case Piper wanted it to sleep in.
Chocolate was necessary. Today was not a day for thinking about his waistline, or Piper’s.
She’d kissed him in gratitude, and then he’d kissed her because he’d had to. It was as simple as that.
“And now she has a child in her care, so it’s time to back away.”
But the hell of it was, he didn’t want to. Now wasn’t the time to worry about this either; now he needed to get supplies before Grace woke.
Picking up a sachet in the baby food section, he read the contents, then replaced it and went for another. His head was spinning by the time he’d made his way down the row. Should he get sachets or boxed meals? Food in a jar, or packet?
“Need any help?”
He turned at the voice and found a woman standing behind him. Middle-aged, she had a small girl child with her.
“I need to get food for a one-year-old just like that one.” Dylan pointed down and smiled. “I have no clue what she would eat, so any help is gratefully accepted.”
The woman was efficient, and his basket was full in no time. He even had a sipper cup for Grace to drink from, and snacks. Plus breakfast food.
