Page 11 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

Fans started flocking to Ivy Falls after the first few episodes aired.

At first, it was wild to see people filming the square.

Taking selfies in front of the Dairy Dip and Sugar Rush.

It got less amusing when fans started showing up on our doorstep, asking for photos, or to come inside like we lived in a tourist attraction.

It freaked me out enough that Torran and Manny talked to Lauren about it.

Convinced Hearth and Home to pay for a privacy fence to keep people out.

Even though he didn’t say it, I think Beck worried that somehow his wish for a small and quiet wedding would turn into a circus with cameras around.

‘How were things at the theater today, Pipe?’ Beck asked, eager to change the subject.

‘Uh, fine.’

Now I was the one pushing the food around my plate. I wanted to keep what had happened with Dex a secret, but Ivy Falls gossip tended to spread across town in its own kind of tsunami. Beck and Tor would hear about it soon enough.

‘The kids were good. They’re excited about the show… but there was one small hiccup.’

Beck paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. ‘Hiccup?’

‘One kid thought it’d be funny to shove a gummy bear into his ear.’

Torran smothered a laugh. ‘Why would anyone do that?’

‘Preteen boys. Dare them to do anything and they’ll make bad choices.’ I stared Beck down. ‘In fact, I remember you doing a few things that made our mom’s hair go gray.’

Torran set her hands on the table. ‘Oh, now this is interesting. We’ve known each other for a long time, Beck. What are you hiding?’

‘Piper.’ Beck’s voice held a thin warning that was all bark and no bite.

‘When we were young, we were playing hide-and-seek. Beck thought it’d be funny to climb up into the eaves of the attic to hide, but he got so high that our dad had to use a ladder to get him down.’

‘What is it with you and the attic?’ Torran teased.

When Beck first bought the house after bidding it away from Torran at auction, he acted like an asshole, thinking he could restore it on his own.

That was until he put a foot through the floor in the attic and almost fell through.

Torran had to show up and save him, which was something I regularly ribbed him about.

‘It was a good hiding spot,’ he chuckled.

‘Like I said,’ I gave my brother a smirk, ‘preteen boys.’

‘What happened with the kid?’ Torran said.

I was afraid of this question. The looks of worry I knew would cross their faces. ‘I had to take him over to the community health center.’

Torran’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did you meet the new doctor? My dad says he’s a traveling physician. That he recently spent time on a hospital ship in Senegal, but he’s originally from Harpeth Manor.’

Harpeth Manor. Huh. I wouldn’t have pegged him as the old-money type, but then again, I didn’t really want to know much about him.

Sure, he was cute in a buttoned-up, nerdy kind of Peter Parker way, and how calmly he put Dex at ease may have sent a shot of heat across my skin, but I was trying to move forward, and Dr Foster being here was a walking, talking reminder of my past.

I played with my napkin, wondering if I should tell Beck he’d already met him at the hospital. All my instincts said to be quiet, but at some point I was sure Beck would run into the guy in this tiny town.

‘Yeah, he took care of Dex. Was really good with him.’ I hesitated before pushing out, ‘You’ve met him before, Beck.’

The lines in his forehead pinched. ‘How?’

‘He did a shift at Memorial Springs.’

They both stared at me a little puzzled until they finally got my meaning.

Beck’s voice softened. ‘How do you feel about that?’

‘I only know about your conversation with him. But to put a face with a name,’ I shrugged, ‘it was a little weird.’

‘Piper,’ Torran said gently. ‘You’re doing great. This doctor being here doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like he knows you.’

‘Yes, he was in and out of the room in less than five minutes,’ Beck added.

‘Well…’ I hedged.

Beck sat back and I didn’t like the way he clutched his napkin in a death grip.

‘Our encounter at the clinic wasn’t the first one.’

Creases folded around Torran’s eyes as Beck stayed quiet.

‘I saw him at the P&P. Kids were running around and I sort of got tripped, and, well, the doc got an iced-latte dousing.’

My mind raced back to the way I’d patted down his pants. The look of amusement in his eyes.

The corner of Beck’s mouth twitched and Torran let out a bubbling laugh. ‘Oh no.’

It was just what the tense conversation needed. I was tired of them treating me like I was a fragile piece of glass in one of those antique chandeliers Torran loved to put into her houses.

‘Yeah, he was dressed up in a blazer and fancy shoes. It was a disaster.’

Beck shook his head, trying not to let out his own laugh. ‘That’s one way to make an impression.’

I laughed along, the tension finally being sucked from the room. This was good. Us, laughing and joking. It was the perfect opening I needed to talk about my plans.

‘Speaking of impressions, Diego has spent some time recently showing me a few rentals around town.’

With only a few words, all that tension was back.

‘Pipe, I don’t want you to leave. This is your home. You belong here,’ Beck insisted.

‘No, it’s time I stand on my own two feet. Build my own life.’

‘And you can take on the financial responsibility?’ he pressed.

‘Yes. I have the small allowance from my trust, and I’ve built up a little nest egg for rent.’

It was the first time in my life I’d ever been able to hold on to any kind of money. Not spend it on booze and whatever pills I could get my hands on. It was another victory, and I was damn proud of getting to this point.

‘You two will be married in a few months, and I’m sure you’d like some privacy.’ My cheeks heated. Even though my room was on the other side of the house, they were embarrassingly loud.

Beck took an uncomfortable gulp. ‘There’s a lot going on. Let’s talk after the wedding.’

There was a plea in his eyes that said he wanted me to stay so he could continue to keep an eye on me, but I couldn’t remain in this bubble any longer.

My life was waiting for me outside these walls.

Was there all sorts of temptation too? Of course.

But I’d learned after three stints in rehab, and many long hours in therapy, that I had to accept responsibility for my actions.

Acknowledge my struggles and not hide from them.

The only way I was going to grow, find my purpose, was to live on my own.

By the set of his jaw, it was clear Beck wasn’t going to give in tonight, but I’d keep talking, wear him down, because I needed to move on and he did too. That mantra I kept repeating filled my head again.

Face. Forgive. Forward .

If I wanted to have a new life, he needed to let me go.

They both did.