Chapter 6

6

T he sudden silence from next door was deafening. Audrey stood in the kitchen, her fingers hovering over the start button of the dishwasher. The clamor of hammers and drills that had filled the air for the past week was conspicuously absent. She had grown accustomed to the constant hum of activity from Lily's old house, the sound of laughter drifting through the open windows as they worked.

Now, with the renovations seemingly complete, Audrey couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at the thought of not seeing Piper again. With a sigh, she pressed the button, and the dishwasher hummed to life. As she turned to wipe down the counters, a knock at the door took her away from her thoughts. She frowned, tossing the cloth aside as she made her way to the front door. It couldn't be Lisa. She always texted before coming over in case Audrey was still out working.

Audrey opened the door, only to find Piper standing on her porch, a bottle of wine in hand and a hesitant smile on her face. The sight of her sent a flutter through Audrey's chest, a reaction she couldn't quite suppress.

Piper was dressed for the warm summer evening in a pair of denim shorts that showcased her tanned, toned legs. Her tank top, a soft shade of blue that perfectly complemented her eyes, hugged her curves in a way that made Audrey's mouth go dry. Today, Audrey noticed details she'd missed that day in the garden, the streaks of honey and caramel in her brown wavy hair and the delicate curve of Piper's collarbone.

"Hi," Piper said, her voice soft and almost apologetic. "I hope I'm not intruding. I just wanted to apologize for all the noise and disruption this last week."

Audrey blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Piper's unexpected appearance. She quickly composed herself, offering a warm smile. "Oh, no, not at all. Please, come in."

She stepped aside, gesturing for Piper to enter. As Piper passed by, Audrey caught a whiff of her subtle perfume, a light, floral scent that seemed to linger in the air.

"I brought this as a peace offering," Piper said, handing her the bottle of wine as they went into the kitchen.

"Thank you. You didn't have to" she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why don't we sit out on the deck and share it? It's such a beautiful evening."

"Sure. That sounds great."

They made their way outside, Audrey acutely aware of Piper's presence behind her. On the deck, Audrey busied herself with opening the wine and fetching glasses, grateful for the distraction.

As they settled into the comfortable chairs, the sun was just beginning to set. The sky was a stunning mix of orange and pink. Audrey poured the wine, the rich burgundy liquid splashing softly into the glasses. She handed one to Piper, their fingers brushing briefly in the exchange. The contact, however fleeting, sent a small jolt through Audrey's system.

Audrey took a sip of wine, letting its smooth, rich flavor coat her tongue. She couldn't help but be impressed. "This is delicious," she said, nodding appreciatively. "You have excellent taste."

Piper's smiled as she brought her glass to her lips and took a sip. "It's one of my favorites," she said, her voice warm. "I'm glad you like it. I didn't know what you'd prefer, but I figured you can't go wrong with a good Cabernet."

"Well, your instincts were spot on," she replied, raising her glass in a small toast. "To good taste."

Piper smiled, clinking her glass against Audrey's. "To good taste," she echoed, her eyes meeting Audrey's over the rim of her glass.

Piper leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting towards the setting sun. "It's so quiet now," she said softly. "I didn't realize how much I'd gotten used to all the noise."

Audrey nodded, watching Piper's profile in the fading light. "It does feel a bit strange," she admitted. "I kept expecting to hear hammering or sawing today."

Piper's gaze shifted from the sunset to Audrey, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "It's almost too quiet now," she admitted, her voice soft. "I found myself missing the company, actually. That's partly why I came over. I hope that's okay?"

The confession caught Audrey off guard. She took a sip of wine to hide her reaction, savoring the rich flavor as she gathered her thoughts. "Of course it's okay," she finally said, offering Piper a warm smile. "I'm glad you did."

"I wasn't sure if I'd be intruding," she confessed. "But after all the noise we put you through, I figured the least I could do was bring over some decent wine."

Audrey chuckled, raising her glass in a small salute. "Well, mission accomplished on that front." She took another drink. "So," she began, aiming for a casual tone, "Now that the renovations are done, what's next? Are you heading back to...?"

Piper took a thoughtful sip of her wine before answering. "Actually, I'm planning on staying for a few weeks," she said, her blue eyes meeting Audrey's. "In the long term, I want to use this place as a vacation home, but right now, I just need some time away from... Everything."

Audrey nodded, processing this information. Her mind raced with questions she wasn't quite bold enough to ask. What about Natalie, the woman who had been here during the renovations? Why had she left? Were they not together?

"That sounds nice," Audrey said instead, keeping her tone light. "It's a beautiful place to get away from it all." It was exactly how Audrey had felt when she'd come here looking for a place to buy. It had felt so different from San Diego, and it was somewhere that she could see herself starting over.

Piper nodded, her expression softening. "It really is. I'm looking forward to just... Being here. No distractions, no obligations. The last week has been intense. Physically, but mentally too. It was a challenge trying to find the right balance with the renovations. I wanted to honor my grandmother's memory, but also make the place my own."

Audrey's heart skipped a beat, her wine glass frozen midway to her lips. "I'm sorry, did you say your grandmother?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them, her mind reeling with the implications.

A warm flush crept up her neck as the pieces clicked into place. The resemblance was there, now that she looked closer. They had the same kind eyes, that infectious smile and warmth about them.

Her stomach twisted with a mixture of embarrassment and something else she couldn't quite name. She'd been assuming Piper was just here to flip the property. But Lily's granddaughter?

"I... I didn't realize," Audrey managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"She left me the house when she passed away," Piper said softly. "I've been meaning to come out here sooner. And well..." Piper took a drink. "I've been meaning to visit for a few years now. I'd always assumed that she'd be here."

Audrey felt a sudden pang in her chest as she caught the subtle tremor in Piper's voice. The sadness in those words was unmistakable, raw and vulnerable. She watched as Piper's gaze drifted towards the horizon, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her wine glass.

Audrey set her glass down, her mind reeling. "I miss her too." She swallowed down the lump in her throat. "But I had no idea that's who you were."

"Sorry, I just assumed you knew. If you were close enough to her to keep taking care of her garden."

Audrey shook her head. "No. We talked about a lot of things over the years, but family? That was always a topic she seemed to avoid."

A shadow passed over Piper's face, a mixture of sadness and understanding. "That doesn't surprise me," she said softly. "Things got complicated with our family." Piper's eyes met Audrey's, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "I've been lucky to have friends that are just as good as family," she said, her voice warm with affection. "I don't know what I would have done without them this past week."

Audrey felt a sudden shift in her perspective, like puzzle pieces falling into place. The easy camaraderie she'd observed between Piper and Natalie when Audrey was coming home for a shower between jobs or when she'd finished her day and drove by Lily's house, the shared laughter and casual touches – it wasn't romantic intimacy. They were just friends. She took a sip of wine to hide the rush of emotions that threatened to show on her face.

"You are lucky," Audrey said, her voice slightly hoarse. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "It's important to have people like that in your life."

"I should probably head back," Piper said as she finished her wine a few moments later. "Thanks. That was a nice way to end the day. And the week, really."

Audrey nodded. "It must have been tough. Being back here."

"Hm," Piper said as she stood up. "It was. It was hard, but I think I got some closure too. I don't think I fully accepted that she was gone until I stepped into the house and felt how empty it was."

Audrey stood up, her heart aching for Piper's loss. Without thinking, she reached out and placed a gentle hand on Piper's arm. "I'm so sorry," she said softly. "I still forget sometimes," she added with a bit of a smile. "I think I'll bring over some cut flowers and... I don't know how I can still forget."

Piper's eyes met Audrey's, a mix of gratitude and vulnerability in her gaze. For a moment, they stood there, connected by the shared memory of a woman who had meant so much to them.

"Anyway," Audrey continued. "Thank you for the wine and for coming over." She led Piper back inside and towards the front door, pulling it open.

As Piper turned to leave, she paused and looked back at Audrey. "Goodnight, Audrey."

"Goodnight."

As Piper walked down the path towards Lily's house, Audrey leaned against the doorframe, watching her go. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, leaving her with more questions than answers, and Audrey tried to recall Lily telling her about her granddaughter, but Audrey was certain she would've remembered if she had.