Page 102 of A Perfect Match
PIPER: I don’t know how to feel about BagPiper.Feeling very good about the spa day though.
KRU: That’s your nickname of the day.I can’t change it.
PIPER: OK, Kroupon.
KRU: Not really a fan of that one either.
KRU: Oh and it’s your choice at the spa.Massage, facial, whatever you want.
My throat gets tight with emotion.After everything that's happened between us, after the distance and misunderstandings, he's still taking care of me.
PIPER: Thank you.This is incredibly sweet.
KRU: It’s what boyfriends do.You deserve to be taken care of, Maven.Even if you don't always let people do it.
Serenity Spa is tucked into a converted Victorian house on the edge of downtown Bayshore, all soft lighting and essential oil diffusers.I'm checking in at the front desk when I hear a familiar voice behind me.
"There's my beautiful daughter."
I turn to find Mom walking through the front door, looking more vibrant than she has since before the fire.She's wearing a soft blue sweater that brings out her eyes, and her smile is radiant.
"Mom!What are you doing here?"
"Your sweet lover boy called me this morning.Said you had a spa day planned and wondered if I'd like to join you."She links her arm through mine."I hope you don't mind that I joined."
My eyes well up with tears."I don’t mind at all.In fact, this is even better.How did he get your number?”
“I think he got it from Griffin.”
That news has my head spinning.Talk about change.My boyfriend is conspiring with my brother—and my mom—behind my back to pull off sweet gestures?
We spend the next four hours being pampered.Side-by-side massages where we giggle like teenagers.Facials that leave our skin glowing.Manicures where Mom chooses a bold red polish, even though I haven’t seen her with painted nails in over two decades.She’d never have gotten her nails painted before the fire.It’s just one of many little changes since she woke up from the coma that have me scratching my head.
During lunch at the spa's café, she reaches across the table and takes my hand.
"I heard what happened last night," she says softly.
My cheeks heat up."Griffin told you?"
"No.Kru mentioned it when we spoke this morning, saying that was why he wanted to send you to get pampered.He told me about the barn.And how exhausted you were."She sends me a stern, motherly look, which softens before she adds, "And he told me he had a…conversationwith Griffin when he dropped you off."
“Yes.Which I overheard.Did he tell you the details?”
“He didn’t.But I can imagine what it was about.”She squeezes my hand."Piper, I need to say something.I know I always say that your brothers mean well.Because they do.They love you fiercely, but sometimes that love comes out as fear.They've already lost their father, and they all saw how much Dad doted on you.You were his precious, protected angel, and I think they adopted that mindset when it came to you.The thought of losing you—to exhaustion, to a broken heart, to anything—terrifies them."
"I know," I say quietly.
"But fear isn't a good reason to stop living.Or stop dreaming."Her eyes get distant for a moment."After your father died, I chose to play it safe.Keeping all of you close, never taking risks, never allowing any of us to get hurt again."
"I can understand why," I say.“As a suddenly single mom with five little kids, I would have done the same.”
"But I think I took it too far.Maybe I fed too much into the overprotection,” she says with a sigh.“So I’m sorry for that.I know your father would have wanted all of us to live fully, love deeply, and chase our dreams no matter the cost."She smiles, reaching for my hand."We never know what tomorrow will be our last, sweetheart.I’ve been thinking about this a lot since the fire.I was granted a second chance, and I want to see all of my children going after what they truly want.Barns included."
My throat tightens as I look into her warm, smiling face.“Thanks, Mom.”
After our spa day, as Mom and I are walking to our cars, I pull out my phone to text Kru.
PIPER: Thank you for today.It was perfect.Can I see you tonight?
