Page 139 of On My Side
The tears are plentiful as I eavesdrop, every fear I felt on the way home washing away and being replaced with gratitude. Hope. Joy. Love for this little family we accidentally became.
I wipe at my eyes before clearing my throat and continuing into the living room. “Hi, birdie,” I say, still teary as both Ren and Piper’s eyes light up when they glance over their shoulders. “Next time, wait to crash your bike until I’m in the state.”
“Mom!” Piper exclaims, scrambling like she’s going to stand.
“No!” Ren and I both yell and he throws his arm in front of her, keeping her safely off her feet.
“I’m coming to you,” I promise, dropping my bags to the floor and walking around the couch. Ren stands, and I smile in gratitude before taking the vacated seat and pull Piper into my arms.
“I broke my phone,” Piper mumbles, voice muffled by my shoulder. “And my helmet. Also a few bones. Also my heart.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I promise, rubbing circles on her back. “I’m just glad you’re going to be okay.”
“I won’t be able to play piano until my arm heals. It will probably be a few months and it’s going to be a lot of hard work to get back to where I am now,” she says, voice drenched with grief. “I’ve worked so hard, Mom.AndI lost Leia.”
I meet Ren’s eyes, remembering how he responded to her. How he’d put his own fear and grief on the back burner to hold space for and validate Piper’s. “That sucks,” I tell her, because what else do I say? Itdoessupremely suck. “But I know you can do it, birdie.”
Piper pulls away, and I kiss her forehead. It isn’t until then I finally notice what she and Ren were watching on TV.
Gilmore Girls.
“Ew, stop crying,” Piper says, disgusted by my sudden heaving sobs.
“I love you so much,” I wheeze between sobs.
“I love you, too, but at leasttryto keep it together.”
“Hey,” Ren says, gently placing his hand on my shoulder. “Be nice to your mom. She’s had a long day.”
Piper groans and slumps against the back of the couch. “Traitor. I should have known you’d take her side.”
I place my hand over Ren’s and gently squeeze. “It’s nice to have someone on my side.” He smiles, and my heart melts. “Are you hungry?” I ask Piper.
“Can I have ice cream for dinner?” she asks hopefully, turning her head and clasping her hands under her chin as she bats her eyelashes.
I wearily examine her, bandages on her face and casts on her lanky limbs. “You’re using your injuries to your advantage, aren’t you?”
She sticks out her lower lip. “This is the only positive I’ll get from them.”
I sigh and stand up. “Fine. I’ll go grab you a bowl of Moose Tracks.”
“I’ll come, too,” Ren says, squeezing my shoulder as I get to my feet.
When we’re in the kitchen, I can’t hold myself back anymore. I spin to face him, throw my arms around his neck and pull him down, pressing my mouth to his. He seems taken aback by this, freezing for a moment until his body softens against mine and his arms are around my waist, pulling me closer into him.
“Thank you,” I murmur against his mouth, heart so full it could burst. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” he responds, pulling away slightly and pressing soft pecks across my face. On the corner of my mouth, my chin, my forehead, the bridge and tip of my nose. “Thankyoufor trusting me with her.”
“I’m sorry about Leia,” I whisper as he presses his forehead to mine, both of our breaths heated and frantic. “I’ll help you look for her. I’ll do everything I can…”
“She’s chipped, and posters are hung all over town. If anyone finds her and brings her in, they’ll call me. I’m devastated, but it was an accident. They happen.”
“They do,” I whisper, thinking about how Ren accidentally stumbled into my life, into my heart. If Piper had chosen another instrument as her special interest, or if Ren had refused to do private lessons last summer like he intended, this man wouldn’t be holding me in the kitchen. Piper, too, was a happy accident. The two people I love most are in my life by accident. Accidents happen.
Thank god they do.
Chapter 46
