“I remembered you liked Italian food,” I said.
“I do, very much,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
“Well you're in for a treat then,” I said.
I pulled out her seat and she sat down, and I served up the food. We made idle chit chat until I joined her, sitting across from her at the small table.
“So what happened after high school?” I asked her.
“Uh, well, I went to KU for a little while, but you knew that already,” she said.
She bit her lip and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear but avoided looking at me.
“I did,” I said. “I remember.”
I watched her closely and saw that she was guarding something. She was keeping a secret and seemed to be debating with herself whether or not to share it with me. I didn't want to pry. If she didn't want to tell me what happened and why she didn't stay in school, it was none of my business.
She took a deep breath and let it out, her eyes moving upward to meet mine. She gave herself a small nod of the head and then lifted her eyes to mine, giving me a small smile.
“Well, things got complicated and went to shit after that,” she said. “But, in the end, I think it worked out.”
“Yeah? How so?” I asked.
“Well, for one thing,” she said, projecting confidence, though I could hear the slight tremor of nervousness in her voice, “I wouldn't have my daughter otherwise.”
I'd just taken a sip of my water when she said that and tried not to choke on it. Daughter? She had a daughter? “Wow, congrats,” I said. “I didn't know you had a little girl.”
She nodded. “She's four, almost five now,” she said. “Her name is Olivia.”
“Are you – ” I wasn't sure how to ask without sounding like a creep.
She'd made sure that this date was simply a get together between two old friends. Was there a reason for that, I suddenly found myself wondering?
“Am I married? God, no,” she chuckled. “Olivia's dad and I are no longer together. It was a mistake. He's – well – let's just say, he's not a good guy. We'll just leave it at that.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
“And what about you?” she asked, quickly changing the subject. “How'd you like Cal Poly?”
I took another drink of water. “I liked it a lot, actually,” I said. “It was tough having to leave.”
It seemed like ages ago, but truthfully, it really hadn't been all that long. Still, it was like another lifetime. One that I hadn't personally lived. Studying engineering at a fancy college in California on a full-ride scholarship. It had almost been too perfect – and of course it was. It all came crashing down halfway through my time there though.
“Do you ever think about going back?” she asked. “Once Emily is off to college?”
I shrugged. “I doubt I could go back to Cal Poly. But, to another college? Sure, maybe,” I said. “How about you?”
“I'm graduating with my RN next semester actually.”
That brought a smile to my face. Piper had always wanted to be a doctor. She had such a gentle, nurturing way about her, and she'd always wanted to care for others and to heal. She was a natural at taking care of other people. Nursing seemed like the perfect fit for her.
The next thing I said slipped from my mouth before I even had a chance to think about it.
“I really hope to meet your daughter one day,” I said.
Piper's eyes grew wide. “You do?”
“Of course,” I said, clearing my throat and doing my best to recover from such a horrible gaffe. “I mean, if you want me to, that is.”