The following week began with a strange calm that Piper didn’t trust. For once, there were no tense texts from Jasper, no awkward encounters with Noah, and no unexpected visits from Autumn. The divorce papers had been signed and sent off to the lawyer, making the separation official. It felt like things should have been falling into place, but instead, Piper found herself bracing for the next storm, waiting for the peace to shatter.
Lily adjusted to the new schedule faster than Piper had anticipated, which both comforted and unsettled her. On the days she spent with Jasper, Lily returned full of stories about their adventures — feeding ducks at the park, making pancakes together, visiting Jasper’s parents. Each story was a bittersweet reminder that life was moving forward, even if Piper wasn’t ready for it.
This newfound balance felt like walking a tightrope, every step careful and deliberate. Piper knew how easily it could tip — how one wrong move, one unresolved emotion, could send everything tumbling down again.
It was Thursday afternoon when Noah called, his name flashing on her phone screen while she sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea. Piper hesitated for a beat before answering.
“Hey,” she said, keeping her voice light, though the knot in her chest tightened.
“Hey yourself,” Noah replied, his voice warm. “I was thinking... Would you want to grab dinner with me tonight? Just us. No pressure.”
Piper’s heart skipped a beat. For a moment, she was tempted to say yes — tempted to lean into the comfort and familiarity that Noah offered. But something stopped her.
She closed her eyes, gripping the edge of the table. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Noah.”
There was a pause on the other end, and when Noah spoke again, his voice was careful. “Because of Jasper?”
“No.” Piper exhaled slowly. “Because of me. I need to figure out where I stand before I bring anyone else into my life. It’s not fair to you or Lily if I don’t.”
Noah was silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. “I get that. I do. But you don’t have to figure everything out alone, Piper.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But I need to try. At least for a little while.”
Noah’s voice was gentle, but there was an edge of sadness in it. “I’ll wait, Piper. For as long as you need.”
When the call ended, Piper stared down at the phone, her heart heavy. She knew she had made the right decision—putting space between them before things got more complicated. But doing the right thing didn’t make it hurt any less.
The weekend came faster than Piper expected, and with it, the weight of another handoff with Jasper. This time, he was picking Lily up for two nights — a new step in their custody arrangement. The thought of two full days without her daughter made Piper’s chest ache, but she smiled through it for Lily’s sake.
As they stood by the front door, Lily bounced on her toes, holding Bunny tight in one hand and her small suitcase in the other. “Daddy said we might go to the aquarium!” she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
“That sounds amazing, baby,” Piper said, brushing a curl from Lily’s forehead. “You make sure to tell me all about it when you get home, okay?”
Lily nodded enthusiastically, and just as Jasper’s car pulled into the driveway, she gave Piper a quick kiss on the cheek. “Love you, Mommy!”
Piper’s heart clenched as she hugged her daughter tightly. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
Jasper stepped inside, offering Piper a small smile. “We’ll be back Sunday evening,” he said.
Piper nodded, her hands twisting together as she watched Lily bounce toward the car. “Have fun,” she managed, forcing the words past the lump in her throat.
Jasper gave her a lingering look, as if he could sense the weight of her emotions. “We’ll see you soon, Piper.”
She stood in the doorway long after they drove away, the silence settling over her like a heavy blanket.
The hours crawled by slowly. Piper tried reading, cleaning, even going for a walk around the neighborhood, but nothing filled the emptiness left in Lily’s absence. She wondered how Jasper was handling things — if he felt the same ache when it was his turn to be alone.
By the time night fell, the house felt suffocatingly quiet. Piper curled up on the couch with a blanket, flipping through channels aimlessly. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see a text from Jasper.
Jasper: Lily’s out like a light. We’ll FaceTime tomorrow, okay?
Piper exhaled, a small wave of relief washing over her.
Me: Okay. Tell Lily that I love her.
She set the phone down, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself. Despite the quiet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming — something that would upend the fragile peace she had worked so hard to find.
The next day, Piper woke late, feeling disoriented and restless. She had barely made it to the kitchen for coffee when her phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t Jasper or Noah — it was a number she didn’t recognize.
Unknown: Hi, Piper. It’s Isabel. Jasper’s lawyer. Can we talk?
Her heart stuttered, her pulse quickening.
Why is Jasper’s lawyer texting me?
Piper typed back quickly, fingers trembling.
Me: What’s this about?
The response was almost immediate.
Isabel: Nothing urgent — just some things I wanted to clarify. Can I call you later?
Piper stared at the message, anxiety prickling along the edges of her mind. She didn’t like the idea of Jasper’s lawyer contacting her directly. What could Isabel possibly want?
Me: Sure. Just let me know when.
Her mind raced as she set the phone down. Jasper hadn’t mentioned anything about needing to clarify the custody arrangement. Has something changed? Was there something he hadn’t told her?
She tried to push the thoughts aside, but they gnawed at her, refusing to let go.
Later that afternoon, Piper was folding laundry when her phone buzzed again — this time, it was a call from Isabel. Piper hesitated, her heart pounding, then swiped to answer.
“Hello?” she said, her voice carefully neutral.
“Hi, Piper. Thanks for taking the call,” Isabel said, her tone professional but polite. “I just wanted to touch base about the custody arrangement.”
Piper’s stomach churned. “Is there a problem?”
“Not exactly,” Isabel replied smoothly. “Jasper and I were reviewing some details, and we realized there are a few things that might need adjusting — holidays, vacation schedules, things like that. Nothing major, but we thought it would be better to get ahead of it now.”
Piper exhaled slowly, trying to keep her frustration in check. “And Jasper couldn’t tell me this himself?”
Isabel’s laugh was light, but it grated on Piper’s nerves. “He thought it might be easier if I handled the paperwork side of things.”
Piper gritted her teeth.
Of course he did.
“Well,” Piper said tightly, “I’d prefer if Jasper talked to me directly about any changes. We’re still capable of having those conversations.”
“Of course,” Isabel said, her voice smooth as silk. “I’ll let him know.”
Piper ended the call, her hands trembling with frustration. She didn’t know what was worse — the fact that Jasper hadn’t mentioned any of this, or the nagging feeling that Isabel’s involvement wasn’t as innocent as it seemed.
What is Jasper up to?