Fight Song (Rocky River Fighters 3)

She walked to the stairs and turned her head, but her dog was still sitting by the door. Calling his name again, she frowned when he still didn’t come. Debating for a moment, she slowly turned and walked to the door. Maybe if she opened it, she could get Snickers to give up and come downstairs with her.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. Intending to close it again, she cursed when Snickers ran inside.

“Dammit, Snickers, get your furry ass back out here right now. I mean it. Now.” Tapping her foot, she waited, but he never came. She couldn’t even hear the jingle of his dog tags. “Come on, Snickerdoodles. I’ll make you a turkey sandwich with extra cheese. You like those,” she coaxed.

Nothing. Mother trucker. Steeling herself, she pushed the door open wider and hesitantly made her way inside, tears pricking her eyes as she looked around. It still smelled like Passion, Helen’s favorite perfume, and everything was just as her grandmother always kept it. Even her grandpa’s reading glasses still sat on the bedside table.

Breath hitching, she took a few steps inside, looking for Snickers. Her eyes landed on an envelope propped up against the jewelry box on the dresser, and she walked forward, gasping when she saw her name on the front. Unable to help herself, her feet moved forward, and she reached out a trembling hand to pick it up.

A letter. Her grandmother left her another letter. There had been one with her will, but it mostly contained instructions for the house and bakery. Wondering what else her grandmother wanted to tell her that she hadn’t already, Piper walked to the bed and sank down. Taking a deep breath, she opened the envelope and pulled out the paper.

Piper,

There are things I wanted to tell you that I didn’t want to leave with Harold. My lawyer is a good friend and a good man, but he has a nosy streak a mile wide. And what I have to tell you is for your eyes only.

When you showed up on our doorstep, you were just a terrified little girl. Barely six years old. And though your grandfather and I did what we could to put you at ease and make you happy, we weren’t successful at first. And I can pinpoint the exact day you relaxed and started the journey back to happiness. The day you met Jax.

You two were inseparable for so long. You were more than joined at the hip—it was like you were one being. I’ve never seen anything like it. There was only one other couple I’ve ever seen who came close to matching that level of intensity, and it was your grandfather and I. He was the love of my life, Piper. Even at seventy years old, after being together for fifty years, I still got butterflies when he kissed me. That’s what I want for you.

And Jax is that for you. I could see it even when you were fourteen years old. I know you probably don’t want to hear this. I know he hurt you deeply. I know that even eight years later, you still feel that hurt as deeply as you did when it happened. I could see it in your eyes, though you did a good job of pretending.

I also know you’re angry. You’re pissed as hell at him, and you have every right to be. But honey—a love like what you and Jax shared doesn’t come around twice. And he’s hurting, too. I can see it in his eyes every time he comes over to mow the lawn or fix whatever breaks. I caught him staring at a picture of you one day, and the longing and pain there in his eyes nearly broke my heart.

I’m sorry for not telling you I hired him. But I had to see for myself, had to get to know the man he is today. And it’s so clear to me that he’s hurting as much as you are.

I’m not saying you should forgive him just like that. I’m just saying, think about it—did he ever, once, give any indication that he never wanted to be with you before he broke things off? I think you’ll find the answer to that is no. That boy was so in love with you, all he could see was you. Now ask yourself—since he was so in love with you, why did he break up with you? What happened to make him do what he did? It was so out of character for him.

I can’t know, of course, but everything in me feels like something happened to make him end things with you. I’m begging you, Piper. Ask him. Don’t run away from him, or keep pushing him away. Because if I know Jax like I think I do, he’s trying right now to get you to give him another shot. Don’t shut him down and run back to Seattle. Ask him what happened eight years ago, and then you can go back, if that’s what you wish.

I love you, more than you could ever imagine. And all I want for you is for you to be happy. If, after

getting answers, you think you can find that in Seattle, then go. Sell the house and the store and go, and don’t look back. But I really feel like you’ll find it right here in Eagle Creek with Jax. You two feel fated and meant to be, like my Peter and I were.

I love you,

Grandma

P.S. I’ve told you how proud I am of the woman you’ve become, but I want to reiterate that. I know I’ve always pushed modesty, always telling you to be subtle, and less is more, is the way to go. And your look is anything but modest and subtle. But it suits you, Piper. Who you are on the outside matches who you are on the inside. And I’m so proud of you for being strong enough to make that work. Never change, dear. Unless it’s to lose a bit of the stubbornness you have for Jax. Again, I’m so proud of you. And I love you more than words can say.

Piper slowly lowered the letter and stared out the window, tears streaming down her face. The last thing she expected when she began to read was a ringing endorsement for Jax. Her grandmother listened to her cry over Jax that whole summer until Piper went to college. And after that, neither one of them mentioned Jax again.

She never realized Helen knew she never really healed from Jax. She’d just stuck a band-aid over the wound and pretended that she was over it, but she never truly was.

That’s why, in the beginning of her marriage to Scott, she felt so much guilt. She tried to turn herself into something she wasn’t, desperate to make it up to him, wanting him to stay with her. It hadn’t taken long for that guilt to wash away as Scott became increasingly controlling and manipulative. And in the place of guilt was fear.

That was something else she blamed on Jax for years. If she hadn’t been hurting so badly, if she’d been seeing clearly, she would have seen Scott’s true colors early on, and she never would have dated him, much less married the bastard. But Jax’s actions colored everything, and she didn’t see until it was too late.

It was past time she owned up to her part in that debacle. She’d been wrecked emotionally, true. Just going through the motions for years. But she should have been stronger. At least, strong enough to recognize a snake in the grass when she saw him.

She would never allow herself to be so weak again. And she sure as hell wouldn’t put herself in the position to get her heart stomped on by Jax again. Opening the door to the past, even to find answers, wasn’t something she was willing to do.

“I’m sorry, Grandma. I know you mean well. But this isn’t something I think I can do.”

The words echoed around the room as Piper dried her cheeks and put the letter back in the envelope. Feeling a wet nose press on her leg, she glanced down to see Snickers leaning against her. Bending down, she patted his head before standing.

“Come on, Snicks. Let’s go back downstairs. Don’t look so excited, either. The turkey sandwich is off the table now.”

Placing the letter where she found it, she followed Snickers out of the room, the sound of the closing door echoing like a gunshot in the quiet house.