Page 45 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

PIPER

Church-On-Sunday Silent

Rain pounded against the roof of my apartment like someone was dropping bricks from the sky. Wind screamed through the sliding glass door as I grabbed my waterproof coat and raced down the hallway and outside.

The P&P was only a block away, but my T-shirt and jeans were plastered to my body by the time I swept in the door a few minutes before we were due to open for the day. Tessa rushed toward me with one of the towels we used at the coffee bar. ‘Here, it’s clean.’

I ran it down the length of my dripping ponytail. A loud boom of thunder shook the windows.

‘Shit,’ Tess shrieked.

‘The sky is a pissed-off shade of black,’ I said. ‘That storm is growing angrier by the minute. As I was rushing here, the chalkboard sign in front of Followes Music got carried away in the wind, and the trees in front of the town hall were bent sideways.’

‘The store should be quiet today. No one wants to be out in this.’

I ran the towel down my hair again. A second later, Torran burst through the door. A black umbrella dangled from her fingertips, its frame snapped like an old skeleton.

‘Where have you been?’ I asked.

‘At the bridal shop.’ Torran shook out her wet hair and slumped into an oversized armchair. I handed her my towel and Tessa grimaced like she was sure her sister was going to soak straight through the upholstery.

‘Final fitting before the wedding this weekend, or should I say reconstruction considering this little nugget.’

The way she lovingly patted her stomach made me smile.

‘How about some hot tea to warm you up?’

I walked across the room to the coffee bar. Along the counter sat eight oversized glass jars containing various types of tea. Next to them were four large industrial coffee servers, one of which was always reserved for hot water.

‘I’ll make you peppermint,’ I said, sliding one of the glass containers across the antique hutch Manny had restored specifically for Tessa.

It struck me what an incredible act of love it was.

How before they’d gotten together, he showed her how he felt in small but thoughtful ways.

It was hard not to think about Ford. How he’d been so gentle with me the day I’d had my panic attack on the bench outside the clinic.

If I closed my eyes, I could still sense the press of his fingertips against my back. The way his soft voice soothed the beat of my raging heart. His smile when he called me that ridiculous nickname that I now loved more than I could have ever imagined.

‘No, I want Earl Grey,’ Torran called out.

‘Ford told me you should lay off the caffeine.’

She shot me a look that said if I didn’t give her what she wanted, she’d stomp behind the bar and do it herself.

‘Speaking of Ford.’ Tessa sat on a leather stool at the counter. ‘He’s been gone for what, three weeks now? How’s he settling back in?’

I focused on the tea steeping in front of me. He’d texted me once to let me know he’d arrived safely. We’d tried to schedule calls or FaceTime but with our work hours and the time difference we kept missing each other.

‘Pipe, did you hear me? Everything all right with you?’ Tessa had a way of dipping her voice in a motherly way, which made it impossible to lie to her.

‘No, dammit,’ I said as more of a hiss than an answer.

She quirked a reddish-brown brow at me. Torran pushed off the chair and scrambled toward us. ‘This I want to hear.’

The wind continued to bellow outside, shearing burnt-orange leaves from the trees. Rain smacked against the windows in thick, repetitive thuds.

The two of them stared at me, waiting for an answer. May as well tell them what a dumbass I’d been.

‘Ford and I are complicated. When we started seeing each other, I made him agree to an iron-clad deal.’

‘What kind of deal?’ Torran said, awkwardly sliding her body onto the stool next to Tessa.

‘I made him promise we’d have an easy fling without any strings attached. That once his time in Ivy Falls was over, he’d go back to Africa and we’d part as friends and nothing more.’

‘And you made him promise this because?’ Torran pressed.

‘You know why. Up until a few years ago my life was a shitshow. I thought I’d never be steady enough to have a regular, committed relationship. In Maisey’s words, Ford could be my training wheels. The test spin I needed to find out if I was ready for a real relationship.’

‘Training wheels?’ Tessa grumbled. ‘Where does Maisey come up with these ideas?’

‘Her heart was in the right place when we talked about it. At the time it made sense.’

‘What about now?’ Torran said.

‘I’ve come to the realization that I’m a total idiot.’ I picked up a rag and swiped at a dried spot of coffee on the counter.

‘There’s more,’ Torran pressed.

‘When we were saying goodbye,’ I scrubbed at the spot harder, ‘he sort of gave me an opening. Asked if I wanted to tell him anything.’

Torran pulled her tea toward her, took a sip and groaned at the rush of caffeine filling her veins. ‘And you said “no”?’

‘I didn’t say “no” but I deflected. Sort of turned the question around on him. In my defense, he didn’t offer up how he felt either.’

‘The miscommunication trope.’ Tessa pretended to bang her head on the counter.

‘The what trope?’ Torran said.

‘Miscommunication. In romance novels, it’s what readers hate. How the couple would never break up in the third act if they were honest with each other.’ She pointed an accusing finger at me. ‘When a simple conversation would solve all their problems.’

‘Tessa, this is real life. People are messy,’ Torran said. ‘Things get complicated when feelings are on the line. As humans, we usually favor self-preservation over the chance of being rejected.’

‘Did you think he was going to reject you?’ There was Tessa’s soft motherly voice once more.

‘No. Yes.’ I threw up my hands. ‘None of that matters because I had to let him go. He has a contract and they need him there. It wasn’t like I could spill my guts and expect him to stay. That’s not fair to the people he’s committed to serve.’

‘How long is the contract?’ Tessa asked.

‘Six months.’

‘And his plans after?’ Tessa pressed.

I gave a weary shrug.

‘Six months can go by in a flash, Pipe. It’d be easy for him to finish his contract and come back here.’ Torran paused. ‘If that’s what you want.’

I went back to scrubbing the stains on the counter. ‘What if he doesn’t want it? Want me?’

Torran reached over and pressed her hand to mine. ‘One thing I learned with your brother is that not knowing is a thousand times more painful than the truth. Reach out to Ford. Tell him how you feel. That’s all you can do.’

I squeezed her hand back and her cheeks went pale. She jumped off the stool and raced for the bathroom.

‘You should have listened about the tea,’ Tessa called.

‘Should I go back to peppermint?’

She gave a weary smile. ‘Make it two.’

I turned to grab the glass mugs with the P&P logo when my phone went off with a siren noise more jarring than a train whistle. A second later Tessa’s phone made the same frantic sound.

‘Oh shit.’ Tessa gulped and turned her screen to me.

TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR IVY FALLS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!

I set the mugs onto the back counter and followed Tessa to the bathroom. She pounded on the door until Torran yanked it open, wiping her mouth with a paper towel.

‘What the hell, Tess?’

‘Tornado emergency. Get back against the wall. This bathroom is closest to the center of the building.’

I pushed in behind her and sat next to Torran on the floor.

‘Tessa, where are Manny and the girls?’ Torran’s voice edged on panic.

‘At home. He’ll get them into that secure little closet we have.’ Her shaky voice rattled me.

‘And Beck?’ I traced the outline of my tattoo, trying my best to stay calm. At least I knew Ford was safe a world away.

Torran glanced at her phone. ‘He’s at work. If the storm moves toward Nashville, their building has a basement.’

A loud boom blasted overhead followed by a screech of wind that sounded like Satan’s fingernails clawing against the roof. Tessa scooted in closer and the three of us huddled together.

The building shook like it was on rollers. Outside the bathroom the crash of glass, thud of books, echoed against the walls.

‘Tessa, you okay?’ Torran held out her hand and her sister grabbed it.

‘I have insurance. Right now I’m worried about the other folks in Ivy Falls.’

The storm continued to rattle the building. Monstrous groans overhead warned the P&P’s roof was losing shingles. The ground shook like an eighteen-wheeler was barreling through the center of town.

That slow creep of terror did a maddening waltz up my spine. Black dots crept into the corners of my vision like ink splatters. My heart rapped against my chest, and I gasped, chasing the next inhale of breath.

I closed my eyes and searched for that elusive place I could never quite picture.

My bones went icy starting with my toes and spreading up my legs.

I begged for any kind of relief until one vision slowed the throttle on my racing mind.

Ford squeezing my fingers, whispering reassurances, anchoring me to the earth while we sat outside the clinic, stood on the shore of the lake.

It wasn’t a place I needed to picture but a person. Him.

I let my mind play like a movie in slow motion, recalling every laugh, smile, kiss. How he gently threaded my hair between his fingers. Whispered intimate promises against my bare skin. Spoke so lovingly to my anxious brain.

Once my breaths slowed and my heart stopped pounding like it wanted to rocket out of my chest, I reached out and gripped on to these two women who had become my family.

Who had seen me at my lowest and still believed in me.

Still loved me. I’d been through hell and back but it was times like these I was reminded how lucky I was to have them. To have all of Ivy Falls behind me.

The storm continued its blood-curdling scream for another minute and then everything went church-on-Sunday silent. A few breaths later another blare sounded on our phones, making us jump.

Emergency alert expired. Storm picking up speed and headed south

toward Maury County.

We helped Torran to her feet and walked into the bookstore. A jagged branch jutted through a small window. Dozens of books were strewn across the floor.

The sky was a neon shade of green that reminded me of too many creepy science-fiction movies.

As if some angry giant had marched through town, wrought-iron benches from the square laid in pieces across the street.

One even dangled from a nearby tree. Canopies on more than a few businesses resembled shredded paper.

Tessa pulled out her phone to check on Manny and the girls. She let out a panicked squeak and turned the screen toward me and Torran showing it had no service.

‘The storm must have disrupted the cell towers,’ I said.

‘I should go and check on them.’ Tess started toward her office until the front door flew open and Mr Wright shot toward us.

‘Oh, thank goodness you’re all okay. I was trapped in town hall and they wouldn’t let me leave.’ He rushed toward all three of us and gave us a broad bear hug. As soon as he let go, he focused on Torran. ‘You okay? The baby?’

‘Cool your jets, Grandpa. We’re all in one piece,’ Torran said even as she smoothed a hand sweetly down his arm.

‘How’s the rest of town? Any injuries?’ I said.

‘Not that I know of, but we got word that all the local cell towers are damaged.’ He pointed to the walkie-talkie clipped to his belt. ‘Deputy Ben is supposed to contact me if there are any issues.’

‘Is Isabel okay?’ Torran asked.

‘Yes, my staff checked in with her. Everyone at the bank went into the vault.’

I walked back to the coffee bar to survey the damage. In my rush to get to the bathroom, I set the glass mugs too close to the edge of the counter. With the bookstore shaking, they must have tumbled to the ground.

‘Dad, how are the roads? I need to check on the girls and Manny,’ Tessa said.

‘And I have to get a hold of Beck,’ Torran added.

‘Trees are down all over town. Let me reach out to Deputy Ben. See if he can get over there. I’ll ask him to check on Nashville too.’

Tessa gave an absent nod and I handed her a dustpan, encouraging her to help me clear up the glass from the broken window. When we were finished, I suggested making tea again.

Mr Wright inspected the rest of the bookstore while Torran went back to her stool.

‘Peppermint this time. No arguments,’ I said.

‘If you insist,’ she grumbled.

The crackling static of the walkie-talkie moved through the P&P. Mr Wright walked toward us as Deputy Ben confirmed that Manny and the girls were safe. That the storm didn’t hit Nashville.

Ben’s voice warbled in and out, and Mr Wright walked outside for better reception. He paced outside for a few minutes before pushing back through the front door. I didn’t like the worry pinching the corners of his eyes.

‘Dad,’ Torran said. ‘What was that about? Is someone hurt?’

‘No. Ben was telling me about Huckleberry Lane.’

‘What’s wrong at the house?’ I gasped.

He scrubbed a hand over the white whiskers on his jaw. ‘That massive magnolia in the backyard is uprooted and lying in the middle of the street. There’s dirt everywhere and it’s taken out the entire back fence.’

‘Beck loves that tree.’ Torran’s voice shook. ‘We were supposed… to get married under it.’

‘I’m sorry, honey. Ben says it’s bad. That it’s probably going to take a few days before a crew can come in and clear away the debris.’

‘But the wedding!’ Torran cried.

‘Everything will be all right. We’ll figure out another plan.’ He wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders while Tessa shot me a devastated look.

Four days until the wedding.

There was no time left for another plan.