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Piper gave Nanny Tight Ass a triumphant smile.
When they returned from town, Leo was waiting in the kitchen,snacking on a brownie. Piper was really going to have to speak to Rebecca about all the crap she baked for the house. Although, considering the stunt she had just pulled with the ice cream, Piper decided she’d better wait a few days.
“Hi, babe.” He kissed her on the lips, then crouched down and opened his arms.“Pethia mou,”he called in Greek as the children ran into his arms.
“Piper got us ice cream!” Stelli told him.
Leo laughed. “I can see that. You’ve got a chocolate mustache.”
“I’m going to go get ready. Our reservation’s in an hour.” Piper smiled, her mood lifted further by this rare good time with Stelli and the prospect of an entire evening alone with her husband.
“Where are you going?” Evie asked.
Piper stopped and turned around. “Out for dinner. Remember, I told you this morning?”
Stelli stomped his foot. “I have my family tree project. You were supposed to help me,” he whined to Leo.
Piper felt her heart skip a beat. This could not be happening.
Leo’s expression was puzzled. “I thought that was duenextFriday, right, buddy?”
Stelli, his arms crossed, shook his head. “No, tomorrow. And you said you’d help me find pictures of Mommy!” He doubled over. “And I don’t feel good. My stomach hurts again.”
Leo looked at Piper. “Can you move the reservation a little later?”
She probably could, but what was the point? They hadn’t even started on the family tree, and they’d be at it for hours. Plus, she was sure it was going to end in tears anyway, given the subject matter.
She forced a smile. “No worries. I’ll reschedule it for next week. This is more important.”
Leo looked at her gratefully and gave her a peck on the lips. “Thanks, babe. You’re the best.”
Sure she was, she thought, as she walked up to the bedroom and shut the door. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a pillow from the bed, went into the bathroom, turned the water on, and screamed as loud as she could into its feathers.
36
Joanna
“I’m not making any headway. I still can’t see the children. And I sent a letter to Stelli and Evie, but I’ve heard nothing back.”
Celeste shook her head. “I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you, but your attorney is working on trying to get you visitation rights, correct?”
I nodded.
“Okay, then. What did we talk about last time? The things you can control?”
“That doesn’t seem like a very long list these days.”
Celeste cocked her head. “Well, for one thing, how about getting back to the gym regularly? The endorphins would help your mood.”
I shrugged. “Maybe. I just can’t seem to find the motivation.”
She nodded, her expression soft. “I understand. I could refer you to a psychiatrist we work with to evaluate you for antidepressants.”
I thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know. I don’t want anything that’s going to change my personality.”
Celeste shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m just talking about something to ‘take the edge off,’ as you put it.” She lifted her hands to make air quotes. “We don’t have to decide now. Just something to think about. Tell me about things with your mother. How are they going?”
I sighed. “Being together in the same house night and day is exhausting. She’s really okay on her own, even though she tries to make it seem like she’s not. But at least I have the time now to build a case against Piper. I know she has more skeletons in her closet.”