Page 48 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

PIPER

Fairy-Tale Ending

There was never a doubt in my mind that Ivy Falls was an amazing place, but watching everyone from Ferris to Silvio to Dr Sheridan and Deputy Ben pitch in over the last few days, I had to re-evaluate my opinion of my hometown.

This wasn’t just a place with a charming square, quaint independent businesses and out-of-this-world food.

It was a loving community that always showed up when they were needed.

After rehab, I’d thought it’d be easier to sneak away, to not face the people I’d disappointed, but I was glad I had been brave enough to come back. To be part of a community that was selfless and wanted nothing more than their neighbors to be happy.

Even though Beck and Torran agreed to the wedding, they still worried about how the town was going to pull it off with everything else going on.

Tessa finally put an end to her sister’s grumbling by pulling the ‘Auntie’ card, telling her how upset Iris and Rose would be if they didn’t get to wear the sparkly pink dresses Torran picked out for them.

‘Pipe.’ Maisey rushed across the square toward me.

The aster-purple, one-shoulder dress she’d made for this occasion was stunning.

‘I’ve been watching the Hearth and Home crew like a dog waiting for someone to drop a morsel on the floor during Thanksgiving dinner.

Haven’t seen a single camera. Most of the big guys have spent the afternoon helping Manny bring in chairs and setting up the tent for the reception.

’ She glanced toward the lawn in front of town hall and sighed.

‘When we want to pull together, throw a party, Ivy Falls knows how to assemble better than the Avengers.’

She stepped back and gave me the once-over. After Ms Darcy did some alterations, the tea-length sapphire-blue bridesmaid dress Torran had picked out for me was beautiful.

‘Give me a spin,’ she ordered.

I wobbled on my heels on the uneven pavement. She pulled a small bottle of hairspray and a brush from the pockets of her dress, spritzing and fluffing until she was satisfied.

‘You look good, bestie.’

‘Thank you.’ I gave her the side-eye. ‘What else you got in those pockets, Maise?’

She chuckled and pulled out a handful of mints, a tube of red lipstick and some tissues. ‘Pockets should be a requirement in dress design. Wish more brands would figure that out.’

‘Why don’t you do it? Create your own line of formal dresses with pockets. I bet you’d sell out in a minute.’

She tapped at her chin, a slow smile making her face glow. ‘That’s not a bad idea.’

‘I’m here for whatever you need. Just ask.’

She tugged me into a hug. ‘You inspire me.’

I pulled back. ‘Me? Why?’

‘That first day you came back from rehab I was terrified. I sat on the porch at Huckleberry Lane and waited for you to acknowledge I was there. Reluctantly, you came outside and we talked. Over time you let me back into your world, and through our walks, quiet conversations, I learned about what you’d endured over the years.

Anyone else would have been completely broken by what you’d been through, but all I saw in you was resolve.

A fierce drive to never go back to the place you were before.

You’ve been through so much and you’re still fighting.

It makes me damn proud to be your friend. ’

‘Oh, Maise. I wouldn’t be in this place without your love and support. I hope you’ll let me do the same for you as you go after what you want.’

She squeezed my hand. ‘Thank you. I’m definitely going to take you up on that offer.’

Her husband, Joe, called to her from the gazebo where he and Manny were stringing more lights.

‘Gotta go help. Come find me if you need any more touch-ups.’

‘I won’t. My job right now is to hunt down Lauren. Make sure she’s behaving.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Good luck with the Energizer Bunny.’

I walked across the street and toward the lawn where the Hearth and Home crew had set up base. Torran was across the street at the P&P getting ready, and Beck was having his nerves calmed at the Sugar Rush with Barb and Susan.

Closer to the entrance to town hall, folding chairs were set up like perfect white soldiers.

A runner of cream silk flowed down the aisle.

Once we’d convinced Torran and Beck they weren’t cancelling, that they could have their wedding near the square, they’d insisted there be a seat for anyone in Ivy Falls who wanted to attend.

Lauren stood at the bottom of the steps by the gazebo, her scarlet-red designer sheath hugging the curves of her body. Her stiff posture, and irritated tap of her stiletto, warned a storm was brewing. As I stepped closer, her voice rose an octave.

‘Torran told me I could post photos on the network’s website as long as they weren’t from the wedding.’

Pete, Beck’s business partner and best man, shook his head, a dark lock of hair falling across his forehead.

‘Getting ready are the optimal words, Lauren. Taking pictures of Beck having coffee with Barb and Susan, pacing like a madman in the Sugar Rush, does not scream “getting ready”,’ he put in air quotes.

‘Why are you always such a pain in the ass?’ she snapped.

He shoved up the sleeves of his white button-down, the ink of his tattoos gleaming in the fading afternoon sunlight. ‘And why can’t you follow simple instructions?’

She threw up her hands, growled ‘Pain in the ass’ again and stalked off.

His amused grin said he had enjoyed that encounter way too much.

From what Torran had told me, he and Lauren had been bickering since they’d started working on a project for a new restaurant being restored near the edge of town.

They were an open flame and gasoline, and I did not want to be around when they eventually ignited.

‘Causing trouble again?’ I said to Pete.

He pulled me in for a quick hug. ‘She makes it too easy.’

Beck had always said he wanted a brother, and he’d certainly gotten one in Pete, who was constantly looking out for him.

‘Keep a close watch on her and the crew. They have that look in their eyes like they’re gonna push the limits on what Torran and Beck said they wanted.’

‘I’m on it.’

‘There’s no doubt in my mind about that.’

He plucked his navy-blue suit coat off the back of a nearby chair. Ferris had already pinned on his boutonnière and it was flipped sideways. I straightened it out as he gave me a serious look.

‘You ready for this? A wedding? A niece or nephew?’

‘More than ready. Beck and Torran have been through so much crap, they deserve a fairy-tale ending.’

Once the pink rose and baby’s breath sat firmly on his lapel, he let loose a low breath. ‘You know they’re not the only ones who should have good things. Beck told me you met someone. How’s that going?’

‘He’s gone.’

The lines in his forehead bunched. ‘Need more than that, Pipe.’

‘He was filling in for the vacationing doctor here. When the job was done, he went back to doing humanitarian work in Senegal.’

‘That okay with you?’

‘Not really, but I’m trying to figure it out.’

He slung an arm around my shoulder and squeezed. The string quartet from Ivy Falls High warmed up as people began to fill the lawn.

‘Duty calls.’ He started to walk away and then spun back. ‘I hope you know you deserve to be happy. To have someone special.’

I put my hands on my hips and laughed at the brotherly intensity in his eyes. ‘Right back at you.’

‘All right,’ he huffed. ‘I had that one coming.’

He walked toward the chairs. Without skipping a beat, Barb and Susan appeared at his sides and he led them down the aisle. That was my cue to go and grab Beck.

As the seats filled up, the quartet played one of my favorite Vivaldi pieces. I kept a steady eye on Lauren and her crew. When I was sure they were behaving, I walked in the direction of the café.

Beck stood inside near the domed cases. His blue suit fit his wide shoulders perfectly, and somehow he’d managed to tame his wavy brown hair.

‘Do I look okay?’ he asked.

All I could manage was a nod.

He took a few strides toward me. ‘What’s wrong? Is it Tor? Is she throwing up again?’

‘You look so much like Dad.’ It was impossible to hide the tremor in my voice.

He gave me a sad smile. ‘It’s weird but I can feel them here. Can you?’

‘Yes. On my walk through town this morning, there were two hummingbirds chasing each other across Ferris’ rose garden.

They buzzed in a circle. Did a little dance like they were performing for me.

It was exactly what happened in the garden at rehab, and I know this sounds corny, but it felt like a sign from them. ’

He gripped my hand, swiped his thumb over my tattoo. ‘That’s as good a sign as any.’

‘Thank you for never giving up. For seeing a future for me, even when I couldn’t imagine one for myself.’

‘Oh, Pipe. I should be the one thanking you. Look at what you’ve done today for me and Tor. The joy you brought to this town with that show. I know I still hover. That I can be annoying at times, but it’s only because I love you with my whole heart.’

He pulled me into a hug and I held on to him.

That explosion on a cold winter day had changed the course of our lives forever.

The weight of our parents’ deaths had turned our worlds upside down for too long.

We’d been through the darkest times. Both made choices that made our paths rockier.

But we’d also worked damn hard to get to this moment, and I wanted to revel in that hard-fought victory for a minute more.

The brass bell jingled as Pete walked through the door and stared at us for a long beat.

‘My apologies for interrupting, but before we get this party started, I need to tell you something.’ He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his pants, his eyes going solemn.

‘You both mean the world to me, and I’m honored to be included in this day. ’

‘Do not make me cry, Peter! Maisey will never forgive me if my mascara runs.’