you keep eating like that. You’ll keel over from a sugar coma before you leave the bakery,” Bridgette teased.
“I’ve been eating like this my whole life, and so far, no sugar coma.” Piper shoved half of the croissant into her mouth and tore a hunk off with her teeth.
“We just got off track. We’re not trying to sell you on being a wife. We’re just showing you that your type of tough love isn’t a bad thing. But you know what I’m wondering?” Willow began frosting a tray of cupcakes. “You said you were annoyed about feeling guilty for not being nurturing enough toward Harley. But you did start to nurture him more, right? How did that make you feel?”
Piper tore off another piece of the croissant and put it in her mouth, mulling over the question. “Surprisingly, I didn’t hate it. But it kind of bothered me that I didn’t hate it, which shows you how effed up I am.”
Her sisters exchanged another secret look.
“Maybe you feel something for him,” Bridgette offered.
“Can we please stop with that and focus on what I should do? I have to be at his place by seven to get the girls ready for school.”
Willow gasped and pointed the spatula at Piper. “I’ve got it! You think you’re too harsh to help Jolie, which means you want to be more nurturing. You’re taking care of Harley! Use him as a test.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“A test!” Willow exclaimed. “Whatever you think you need to do to help Jolie, try it out on Harley first. If that means be softer, try it. It might not feel like you, and then you know not to try it with Jolie.”
“Oh, I like where this is going! I’m not sure what you think is wrong exactly, but maybe you could try to be more patient? Use fewer curse words so things come out less forceful?” Bridgette suggested.
“I guess I could try that,” Piper agreed. “What else?” She finished her croissant as her sisters looked curiously at each other.
“We don’t think you have a problem,” Willow pointed out.
Piper rolled her eyes. “Come on, you guys. If you can’t give it to me straight, who can?”
Bridgette shrugged. “I’ve got nothing, Pipe. Sorry.”
“This isn’t a lot to go on, but I’ll try those things.” She glanced at the clock. “I’ve got to run. Willow, can I take a few doughnuts for the girls? And can you throw in two blueberry scones for Harley?”
“Sure. I’ll box them up.”
As Willow put the goodies in a box, Piper said, “I still don’t know exactly what I should do about Jolie.”
“Talk to her!” her sisters said emphatically.
Willow handed her the box. “You’ve got this, Pipe.”
“But what if I say the wrong thing?” She headed for the door.
“You won’t,” Bridgette said. “We have faith in you.”
Willow hugged her. “I’m excited for your test! Watch out, Harley Dutch, because Piper is going to blow you away.”
“I’m not blowing Harley!” Piper laughed as she pushed through the door.
Her sisters’ laughter followed her out to the truck, but much to Piper’s dismay, it was quickly overridden by thoughts of blowing Harley. She climbed into the truck, mumbling about how ridiculous she was being. As she drove out of the parking lot, she rolled down her window, hoping the crisp morning air would clear her head. And just in case that didn’t help, she mentally chanted a mantra—I will not fall for Harley Dutch. I will not fall for Harley Dutch—and continued all the way to Harley’s house.
By the time she arrived, she was breathing easier and felt more in control. She let herself in and found the girls watching television in the living room, still in their pajamas. The sheets and blanket were folded neatly and piled on an armchair. Jiggs darted over to greet her.
“Hi, Piper,” Sophie called out.
Piper petted Jiggs, holding the box out of his reach. “Hi, Soph. Good morning, Jolie.”
“Morning,” Jolie said, not too sullenly, which gave Piper hope that she might have a good day.
Piper held up the box and said, “I brought doughnuts.”
“Doughnuts!” Sophie hollered, and the girls hurried to the table.
Piper put the box on the table and peeked into the open bathroom door looking for Harley, but the bathroom was empty. “Where’s Uncle Harley?”
“Upstairs,” Sophie answered.
Piper got the girls settled with plates and drinks and said, “I’m going to check on him. I’ll be right back.”
When she got to the top of the stairs, she heard a loud crash and a thud and