She looked absolutely perfect.
Thinking of me? I asked her.
How did you know? She answered.
Lucky guess.
“Tell River I said hello. I took one of her chair classes the other day and my back feels a million times better,” Hollis said.
“I will,” I said, not correcting her. I typed out a message to River telling her that Hollis liked her class. River’s specialty was modifying yoga for anyone who might have mobility issues. Her mom used a wheelchair, so her focus had always been making more accessible classes.
Tell her thank you! River sent.
“River says thanks,” I relayed to Hollis.
Piper sent me another video of Preston, this time he was sitting next to her and singing a song that I recognized from a new popular animated movie.
He asked who I was talking to and I told him it was Mama’s Tickle Friend she sent.
I laughed and sent her some emojis.
We all went back inside to check on the candles and I was pretty happy with how both of mine were turning out.
“We’re going out to have dinner at the Grille, do you want to come?” Julia asked. The plans must have been made when I’d been talking to Piper.
“No, I’m good. I’ll just stay here,” I said. “I want to get some work done tonight.”
I wasn’t going to spend my night working. I was going to spend my night talking to and thinking about Piper.
I said goodbye to the group and took my candles back over to the farmhouse. Ellie was out with KJ, and Amanda had a dinner with friends, so it was just me. I couldn’t help but be a little lonely. River was also going out on a date, so we couldn’t have a video date together.
I could have gone to the Grille. I probably should have.
What are you up to for dinner? Piper asked me.
Cooking for myself. Everyone else is out I sent.
So you’re all by yourself? She asked.
I’m fine with being alone I replied.
You could come over here. It’s just me and Preston. How do you feel about chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs? Piper sent.
I debated with myself. Of course I wanted to go over and have dinner with her. But should I? Would that lead to Preston asking more questions?
I typed out a response that maybe we shouldn’t and then I deleted it.
I’d love to.
Chapter Seventeen
I asked Piper if I should bring anything, and she said just myself, so I checked my outfit and my hair in the mirror and realized I’d splashed wax on my shirt. I’d worn older clothes on purpose, so I put on one of my new shirts and some jeans. It wasn’t fancy, but it was a little more put-together than my regular activewear ensemble.
I messed with my hair and then figured I was good to go.
I didn’t bother to leave a note for Amanda, but it was strange leaving the house and being the last one there.
Preston was still running around in the yard when I pulled into the driveway.
“Kenna!” he yelled, running over to me. “Hug?”
Piper told me she’d been working on consent with him so he asked if someone wanted a hug before giving them one.
“Yes, hug,” I said, putting my arms out. He ran and threw himself at me and I picked him up.
“Have you had a fun day?” I asked.
“Mama blew so many bubbles!”
I carried him up the porch steps and into the house, setting him down on the floor.
“Hold on, Preston, let’s clean your feet off,” Piper said, coming from the kitchen.
“Clean feets, clean feets,” Preston sang as she scooped him up and carried him to the kitchen, setting him on the counter with his feet in the sink.
“Wow, it smells amazing in here,” I said.
“Cheesy garlic bread is always a winner,” Piper said. “I didn’t make it myself. Don’t judge me.”
“I would never,” I said as she scrubbed Preston’s feet clean and he giggled. I grabbed a towel and handed it to her so she could dry them.
“Thanks,” she said. Preston was off and running a second later, heading to the living room and turning on the TV.
“Not too loud, Preston,” Piper called. “I hope you like songs about tying your shoes and dogs, because you’re about to hear a lot of them.”
I laughed.
“I think I’m immune at this point. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, I think we’re almost ready. I thought we could eat in the dining room, so if you could set up everything in there.” She already had a stack of plates, silverware, and fabric napkins out and ready.
“No problem,” I said. I took everything to the dining room. The chandelier was so pretty, and I wondered how hard it was to dust. Preston had his own special little booster seat, so I set out his plate and special kid-sized silverware before joining Piper in the kitchen again.
“Oh you were serious about that,” I said as she pulled a tray of chicken nuggets shaped like various dinosaurs out of the oven.
“We don’t joke about dinosaur nuggets around here,” Piper said, setting the tray on a cooling rack.
She also had some roasted veggies and the garlic bread.
I helped her carry everything to the dining room and the set up was very similar to what we did every night at the farmhouse.
Piper made up Preston’s plate and made sure to cut up his veggies and get him the right amount of ketchup for his nuggets.
“Ketchup for Kenna?” he asked me.
“Yes, please,” I said, and Piper squirted some on the corner of my plate. “Thank you.”
She winked at me and sat down.
Preston sang to himself as he ate.
“You might have a Grammy winner on your hands,” I said.
“I’ve recently started playing musicals for him, and he’s obsessed,” Piper said. “If this kid wants to go to Broadway, then we’ll get him there,” she said with a laugh. “How was your day?” Piper asked, and I told her about making candles and she said that she and Preston had a lazy morning and played.
Having dinner with Piper and Preston was so…right. It felt like we’d done this a million times before. Like we did this every day.
I ate my dinosaur nuggets and veggies and watched as Piper tried to keep Preston on the task of eating dinner and not getting ketchup all over his face.
It was ordinary and it was wonderful.
“Are you done?” Piper asked and Preston put his silverware down on his plate.
“All done!” he announced.
“Okay. Can you sit until Mama and McKenna are finished?”
“Yes, Mama,” Preston said.
I only had one nugget left, so I finished, and Piper did as well.
“All done!” Preston announced.
“If you want to grab the dishes, I can grab him,” Piper said. In spite of Preston’s best efforts, there was a significant amount of ketchup on his face and somehow in his hair.
“No problem,” I said. The way the two of us teamed up to clean up after dinner made my heart feel large and warm in my chest. It was probably nice for Piper to have an extra set of hands.
Preston ran back to the living room to watch his shows and play with his toys.
“He’s pretty independent, which is so great,” Piper said as we dealt with dishes and leftovers.