Page 52 of A Perfect Match
A lump forms in my throat.The building that housed the Bayshore Bakery was old, built back in the early 1800s when Bayshore itself was founded.The loss stings.Not just for us, but for the community.
We sit in silence for a while, both lost in our own thoughts.Then the door opens, and a nurse walks in.
"Oh my," she says, taking in all the flowers."Someone's popular."
She moves around the room efficiently, checking Mom's vitals and making notes on her chart."Her oxygen levels are looking much better this morning.Doctor will be by soon to evaluate her breathing and decide if we can take her off supplemental oxygen."
"When do you think she'll wake up?"I ask.
"Hard to say.The sedatives are wearing off, so it could be anytime.Just keep talking to her—hearing familiar voices often helps."
After she leaves, Griffin stands and stretches."Now that you’re here, I'm going to grab some coffee and something to eat.Want anything?"
"No, I'm good.Thanks."I don’t dare tell him that Kru was inside his kitchen this morning and that I fed my nemesis from Griff’s own fridge.
When he's gone, I lean closer to Mom, taking her hand again."Hey, Mom.It's Piper.You've got to wake up soon.You need to see all these flowers.The room looks like a botanical garden."I swallow hard, fighting back tears."Everyone's here for you.All the boys and Bella.She brought Jackson Bedd—can you believe it?You gotta wake up so you can meet him.He's so nice and regular, just like Bella said.”
I keep talking, telling her about the shop, about the Best of Bayshore competition, about anything I can think of.I leave out the part about spending the night with Kru.
The door opens again, and Griffin returns with coffee and a sad-looking hospital cafeteria sandwich.
"Nutritious," I say, eyeing the plastic-wrapped triangles dubiously.
"Beggars can't be choosers.Besides, Dane's bringing real food when he comes in for his shift.Apparently he's stopping by that new brunch place on his way."
I squint at Griff’s sandwich as he unwraps it, which is somehow both dry and soggy at the same time.“Mmm.Let me know how it is."
He takes a bite and grimaces."Like eating moist cardboard."
"Don’t say that word,” I hiss.
He grins evilly as he chews.“Moist.”
I roll my eyes, sinking into my chair.There’s no escaping brothers, even when you’re all adults.
We sit in silence for a while, both of us watching Mom's chest rise and fall with each breath.The doctor stops by, confirming what the nurse told us—she's stable, but nobody is positive when she’ll wake up.It’s just wait and see for now.
About an hour later, Dane arrives, a takeout bag from Annie's Brunch tucked under his arm.
"How is she?"he asks, nodding toward Mom.
"Same," Griffin says."Stable.”
Dane sets the food down and goes to Mom's side, taking her hand."Hey, Mom.Brought you some blueberry pancakes.You need to wake up and eat them before your vulture-spawn gets to them."
I snicker.“Griff’s extra hungry because he only had two thousand calories for breakfast so far.”
Griff narrows his eyes, leaning in close to me.“Moist.”
I push at his arm, but he doesn’t budge.Sometimes I don’t understand how we came from the same parents—me so small and blonde and him so hulking and dark-haired.I pinch his skin on the bottom of his forearm and he winces.That’ll count as my victory for today.
"I should head back to the shop," I say, checking the time."Jerrica's there alone, and we've got that big order for the Hendersons."
"You still down for a night shift tonight?"Dane says.
“Of course,” I tell him.
Dane nods, pulling me into a quick hug."I'll call if anything changes."
