Page 89 of On My Side
“Sorry.” I exhale heavily, rubbing my chain between my fingers. “Long week.”
“Mom said the same thing,” Piper says casually. “Seemed the same length as usual to me.”
“Ha, ha,” I say humorlessly. “You’re hilarious.”
“I’m gonna run to the bathroom, and then we can play some non-Chopsticksbullshit, okay?” She gets up from the piano and pats me on the head, like I’m a well-behaved dog.
I scroll on my phone as I wait for her to return.
And wait. And wait.
After fifteen minutes, I decide to look for her, concern a tight knot in my stomach.
“Piper?” I knock on the single bathroom. “Are you okay?”
“Go away!” she shouts tearfully.
I immediately begin to panic. “Pipe, what’s going on?”
She doesn’t respond, but I can hear her crying through the door.
“Hey, Pipe.” I try to calm myself, though it’s not working. Did IbreakAudrey’s child? She’ll never love me now. “You’re scaring me. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“I want my mom,” she cries, and my heart shatters.
“Okay, okay. I’m gonna call her,” I say, pulling my phone out of my back pocket. “It’s okay.”
Five seconds later, I get Audrey’s voicemail.
I have to call two more times before she finally answers. “What?” she says. She sounds exhausted.
“Hi,” I stammer. “It’s Piper…”
The mattress springs creak and the sheets rustle as she sits up. “What’s wrong?” she asks, panic lacing her voice.
“I don’t know. She’s locked herself in the bathroom and won’t open the door. She said she wants you.”
“Okay.” She breathes. “It’s okay. She’s okay.” I’m not sure if she’s telling this to herself or to me—or maybe both of us. “Will you stay with her until I get there?” she asks.
“Of course, Aud.” I want to kick myself for calling her that. It’s too intimate, too close for what we are.
“Thank you,” she whispers before disconnecting the line.
It takes her five minutes to make it from the cottage to the bathroom, breathing heavily and hair a mess. She’s wearing her glasses and a pimple patch, hair in a bun that’s falling out. Thereare dark circles under her eyes, and I wonder if maybe neither of us is okay.
I step back, as she knocks on the door. “Piper? I’m here, birdie. Let me in.”
The door unlocks with a click, opening just a crack. Audrey pushes it the rest of the way. She slips inside with Piper, but before she shuts me out, our eyes meet. I see my own fear reflected back at me in hers.
I walk to the piano to grab Piper’s phone, and pace back to the bathroom. I lean against the wall, waiting. I don’t want to leave until I know she’s okay. Ten minutes later the door opens again, and Audrey and Piper step out. My heart sinks at Piper’s puffy red eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
“Why don’t you go home?” Audrey says softly to Piper. “I’m going to talk to Mr. Q real quick. You gave us quite the scare.”
Piper’s eyes fill with fresh tears. “I’m sorry,” she sniffs, wiping at her nose.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I tell her gently. “I just want you to be okay.”
She nods, staring down at her feet as Audrey rubs her back. “I’m going to go get what you need after I talk to him, okay?”
