CHAPTER 58
Piper felt like the Tasmanian devil as she rushed around the house, tucking away papers, washing windows, scrubbing floors, wiping down the counters, cleaning out the fridge to make room for all the food, and vacuuming up several weeks of wispy golden retriever hair that had congregated in the corners. All the while, Chloe followed her around, happily carrying new Zoe in her mouth and wagging her tail because she knew—from past experience—that cleaning meant company was coming!
While Piper worked inside, Nat and Elias worked outside—mowing and trimming the lawn, weeding all the flower beds and the vegetable garden, and finally spreading the huge pile of mulch that had been sitting in the driveway for a month. Piper went out to see how they were doing and realized the sky was slate gray. So much for setting up the picnic tables and chairs, she thought glumly. “You guys better head in,” she called as a gust of wind sent leaves spiraling into the sky.
She opened the fridge, pulled out the cold cuts she’d bought the day before, and opened up a new bag of grinder rolls. Chloe settled strategically at her feet to watch her every move. “You’re silly, you know that?” she said, breaking off a piece of cheese and offering it to her. Chloe took it politely, and in the very next moment, a bright light flashed outside, followed by a loud clap of thunder that made the lights flicker. Piper looked outside again and saw Nat and Elias scrambling to put their tools away, and just as the skies opened up, they tumbled through the door, laughing. “Don’t you two know you shouldn’t be carrying metal tools around during a thunderstorm?”
“Yes, we know,” Elias said, reaching around her for a piece of cheese and then breaking off a small piece for Chloe.
“I just gave her a piece,” Piper scolded.
“Oh well,” he said, kissing the top of the golden’s head. “She got two pieces!”
Chloe licked his cheek and thumped her tail. “I think she said she wants a piece of ham,” he said, trying to reach around his mom again, but this time, Piper slapped his hand. “Hey!” he said, laughing. “Sorry, Chlo . . . I tried.”
Piper handed him a plate and saw him reaching for a large unopened bag of Cape Cod waffle chips. “Those are for tomorrow.”
Elias looked wounded. “They are?”
“Oh, go ahead,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But don’t eat ’em all.”
Thunder rumbled across the heavens, and then they heard pattering and clicking on the roof and they all stood up and looked outside. “It’s hailing,” Nat said in surprise.
“Holy cow! Look at the size of it!” Elias pushed open the door and picked up several pieces of the frozen water and held them in his palm. As they looked at them, they heard a loud crack followed by the sound of splitting of wood. Piper looked out and saw a long, heavy branch of one of the oak trees spear the ground. She went out on the porch to see the damage and watched as the wind rushed through the remaining branches of the old oaks, swaying them violently. Her heart pounded. “Please don’t let any of those old trees come down,” she whispered. Almost immediately, she heard her father’s reassuring voice from her childhood telling her that the roots of the trees he’d planted when they were each born would intertwine as they grew and would be able to withstand any storm. “They will never fall,” he’d said.
Piper pictured the roots of the old trees deep below the earth’s surface, wrapping around each other like the long tendrils of life, weaving and growing . . . ever deeper . . . ever stronger . . . able to withstand any of life’s storms.
Piper smiled and then looked down at her wet clothes and sighed. She went back inside and glanced at the clock—it was already two o’clock! Where had the day gone?! She hadn’t even showered yet, and she was supposed to be in Chatham in an hour! “I have to go,” she said, rewrapping the cold cuts and putting them back in the fridge.
“Where are you going?” Nat asked in surprise.
“Sailor’s book signing.”
“You’re driving to Chatham in this?”
“I am. I told her I’d come and then we’re going to the Squires after.”
“I thought we had stuff to do.”
“I did all my stuff,” she said.
“Nice,” Elias said with his mouth full of grinder. “How come you didn’t invite us?”
“Because I didn’t think you’d want to go, and besides, you have to go to the sanctuary to check on the old lady.”
“That’s right!” Nat said. “Thanks for reminding me.” He looked at Elias. “Want to come along?”
“I’d love to,” Elias said. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Okay, you two,” Piper said, laughing as she wiped the crumbs off the counter. “I honestly didn’t think you’d want to go to a children’s book signing, and since I’ll probably grab something to eat with Sailor—”
“And drink,” Nat said, winking at Elias.
Piper shook her head. “Well, anyway, you two should probably plan on stopping for pizza or something on your way home.”
“Sure,” Nat teased, nodding to Elias. “She goes from telling us she’s going to a book signing to now telling us she’s going out for dinner and drinks.”
“And she didn’t invite us,” Elias added.
“I didn’t say anything about drinks,” Piper countered.
“I don’t think the Quinn sisters can get together without drinking,” Nat teased.
“Oh yes, we can, and now, I’m heading upstairs to take my shower.”
“Mom, don’t you know you’re not supposed to take a shower during a thunderstorm?”
“I’ll have to take my chances,” Piper said, “and by the way, you two spend a lot of time ganging up on me when you’re together.” She eyed Elias. “So I might just have to send you back to school early.”
“No, we don’t,” they said in unison. “Do we, Chlo?” Nat added, rubbing the golden’s ears. She wagged her tail in happy agreement.