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Piperlookedsodifferenttoday; healthy - glowing, even - compared to the last time I’d seen her, at graduation. Back then, she was smiling, taking pictures with Alex and Vic, tossing their caps in the air. But looking back at that time, I felt a twinge of guilt in the back of my head. She seemed…dulled. Like her sparkle had gone. I knew that Andy was a huge part of that. Today, it felt like it had come back to her. Like she had resumed whatever regimen of glitter, motivational quotes, and caffeine had fueled her the first decade I’d known her.
Hold on a second. Why did I even remember that? Or notice it, for that matter?
Sighing, I reread Piper’s message a couple of times, shifting in my seat. It doesn’t look right. Piper Davis. Wait. Her name wasn’t Davis, was it?
I pull up my contacts and search her name, and sure enough, there it is. Piper Delmonico. The number is different, too.
Hmm, she got married. And she changed her number? Curious, I open Facebook on my phone and search both names. Neither come up for anyone living in the state of Texas. I browse for a moment, thinking, maybe, she moved back and hadn’t updated her profile. I even try both phone numbers. Nope. Instagram. Nope. LinkedIn. Nope. I check everything I can think of before realizing that she must have her stuff locked down so tight I can’t find her, even with the mutual connections we’re bound to have, or she doesn’t have social media at all.
In my browser, I type Piper Delmonico Davis and click search. A flood of results swarm the front page, and at the top, there’s a carousel of images. The first one is clearly the Piper I’m looking for. Without clicking on the picture, I can tell that she’s behind a man with her arms draped over him. This must be Mr. Davis. She holds a bouquet in her hand, and they both beam at the camera.
My eyes scan over the search results, none of which are social media profiles, and my heart lurches. I click on the first link.
Mickey Davis Obituary - Paulsville, KS | Avery-Collins Mortuary and Crematory
Mickey Angelo Davis, age 28, formerly of Paulsville, passed away on Saturday, May 16 at Humble Spirit Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mickey is the son of Oscar and Melissa Davis. He graduated from Paulsville High School, and pursued a bachelors in business management from Kansas State University, where he graduated with honors and played on the baseball team. Mickey began a flourishing career in automotive insurance after moving to Fort Worth, Texas.
Mickey married Piper Delmonico Davis on January 1 of this year, and she survives. Additional survivors include: his parents, Oscar and Melissa Davis, Paulsville, KS; an older sister, Elizabeth Brown and husband, Tyler, as well as nephews Michael and Mickey, Paulsville, KS; a younger brother, Zander Davis, Paulsville, KS; and his in-laws, Luca and Bianca Delmonico, Fort Worth, TX. He was an avid KSU and Kansas City Royals fan, and enjoyed spending time outdoors with the dog he shared with Piper, Bex.
Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 23 at Avery-Collins Chapel. Burial will take place at Paulsville Community Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, May 22 from 5-7 p.m. at Avery-Collins.
Pallbearers include Zander Davis, Tyler Brown, Brett Robinson, Nolan Calloway, Kenneth Perez, and Vic Montero. Memorial contributions may be given to “Erickson Foundation” in care of the mortuary. Arrangements are under the direction of Avery-Collins Mortuary & Crematory.
I roll my chair away from my desk, bracing my hands on the edges for support, taking a deep breath. Holy fuck.
Piper’s husband died.Died. And based on the dates, they hadn’t been married long before he was gone. I don’t even know where to start. Part of my brain is telling me to text her separately and -
Wait, what am I saying?Text her my sympathies? Me?
Immediately, I steel my spine, shaking my head and trying to knock some sense into myself. Fitz Westfall doesn’t do touchy-feely.
I’m about to close out of the screen in front of me, when I notice, at the bottom, a comment section.(48) Comments, it reads, and I instinctively scroll down.
Anonymous
We’re going to miss you so much, Mickey.
Anonymous
Miss you already, bud!
Anonymous
Can’t believe his wife left his daughter out of this.
Anonymous
R.I.P.
Wait.What?I scroll back up one comment, and read it a few times, making sure I’m seeing it right. Daughter? The comment was right in one regard - it didn’t have any mention of a daughter, or kids at all, for that matter.
I see, right below, there are other comments just like it.
Anonymous
