AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She’s not going to be held accountable for the actions of herfriend.”
Piper pats my arm and sits forward. “Timofey is protective of me. We’ve had death threats, you know? People who think I’m taking donated money for myself and buying cars and expensive trips. But every penny that is donated goes directly to finding long-term placements for children in need. Bringing together families is my only goal.”
“You say you want to bring together families, but your father was quoted just last week telling NewsCannon’s Linda Pho, and I quote, ‘Piper wants to bring together families? Why did she rip mine apart? She won’t return my calls or letters. She has drawn away from me and refused to help me pay for the medical bills that are—’”
“If you wanted a quote from her father, you could have gone to interview him instead of us,” I interrupt. “God knows he’ll spout off at the mouth about nonsense for next to nothing. Anything to feed his alcohol addiction and keep him from having to take care of himself.”
Monica’s eyebrows raise. “You don’t have a kind word to say about your father-in-law.”
Anothergotchaquestion. I smile. “He isn’t my father-in-law.”
Monica grins back, and a moment of mutual respect passes between us. “Excellent segue. I was wondering if there was any validity to those rumors.”
Piper looks over at me, a perfect mask of confusion on her face. “People are saying we’re married?”
I smile at her slyly. “In the same article in which NewsCannon quoted your father, they also reported that you and I were married in a secret ceremony before Samuil was born. We had a fire eater at the reception, did you know?”
“I had no idea! It must have been hard for me to plan a wedding while I was eight months pregnant.” Piper smirks at me. “It really has been a big year for us.”
“Is this a confirmation?” Monica asks. “I’d love to get the exclusive scoop on this story.”
Piper rocks a fussy Samuil back and forth, trying to keep him asleep. Based on his crumpled face, we have three minutes before this interview ends in a flood of newborn tears.
“I’m afraid the only exclusive I have for you is that my charity is hosting their first annual Christmas silent auction,” Piper says, seamlessly circling the conversation back around to the entire reason we accepted this interview in the first place. “There will be massages, weekend staycations—”
“A free round of golf at exclusive clubs,” I add.
Piper nods. “Golf, tennis lessons with a pro, a date with a fireman. Basically anything you can imagine is on the bidding block. And every single cent goes towards placing children in loving homes where they can grow and prosper.”
Monica jots all of this down, but her heart isn’t in it. Right now, she has a boring story in front of her. She knows it, and I know it.
“I’m here to help you promote your charity. I think it’s a great idea, and I want to help however I can,” Monica says. “But between you and me, you’ll get more clicks on this article if it’s a marriage announcement.”
At this point, I’m annoyed. I’m beyond being nice to Monica. I’m ready to toss her on her ass and slam the door in her face.
But this is why Piper and I are perfect together.
She picks up my slack.
“There’s no marriage to announce. Timofey and I are over the moon about Samuil entering the world, healthy and perfect. And we have our hands full with Benjamin.”
“That’s right,” Monica says, looking around as if she might have missed the whirlwind that is our fifteen-month-old. He’s with the nanny in the opposite corner of the house. “Two under two is quite the feat.”
Piper nods. “We are busy. I’m starting a business and we have a newborn and a toddler running around. I’m still trying to feel grounded in my role as a mother. Getting married is the last thing on our list right now.”
“The absolute last thing,” I agree.
“Will you get married one day?” Monica asks.
Piper and I turn to look at each other. Her green eyes are sparkling in the Christmas lights hanging from the tree, her full lips turned into a delicate smile. I just know I’m beaming a goofy grin back at her. Which is probably why Monica chooses this moment to pull out her camera and snap a shot of the two of us.
“If we were going to tell any reporter about our potential wedding day, it would be you, Monica. I can assure you that.”
I turn back to the interviewer, pleased with my latest reshaping of the truth.
“I’m honored,” Monica says. “And if you’re in a pinch, I married my sister and brother-in-law last year. I am ordained.”
Piper laughs and twines her fingers through mine. “We’ll remember that if life ever slows down enough for us to tie the knot. But we’re beyond happy without the tax write-off. We may never get married.”
