Picking Pears with Piper: Small Town Romance in Double Creek, #2

By Regina Walker

Piper is a devoted single mom, caring for her mother who suffers from dementia. With her hands full, she doesn't have time for love. Besides, Piper's past relationships have been disastrous, leaving her with no desire to dip her toes back into the dating pool. She's had her fair share of men who couldn't hold down a job, or worse, those who were abusive.

Meanwhile, Corbin is a paramedic in the small town of Double Creek. He moved there hoping to start a family someday, but life in the slow lane is not what he imagined. However, when an elderly patient needs his help on a pear farm, Corbin seizes the opportunity to make a difference.

When Piper and Corbin cross paths, their chemistry is undeniable. But can Piper let go of her past and trust that Corbin is different from the men she's known before? And can Corbin convince Piper that he's not like the others and that he's in it for the long haul?

Don't miss any of the heartwarming Double Creek love stories: Pursuing the Paramedic, Picking Pears with Piper, Yielding in Yellowstone, Hopeful in Hawaii, Fall and I'll Catch You, and Miracle Inn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Regina Walker
• Release date: Aug 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223219576

Regina Walker

Regina Walker crafts compelling characters facing some of life's hardest challenges. Her heart's desire is to always point toward Jesus through the way her characters face challenges, relationships, and adversity. Regina is an Oklahoma import, although she was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado. She likes to curl up on the couch and binge-watch crime shows with her hard-working husband. When she's not wrestling with a writing project, she can be found wrangling their children, riding their horses, or working around their small hobby farm.

Book preview

Chapter One

Piper combed through her daughter, Cedar’s hair. Spritzing it as she worked, she tried to work the fine strands of honey-blonde hair into a braid.

Are you excited for Aunt Megan’s wedding today? Piper bent forward and kissed her daughter’s temple.

I throw flowers. Cedar lit up. Her little cheeks grew rounder with the smile spread across her lips.

Yes, baby. You do. Piper looked into the mirror in front of them and studied her sweet daughter’s face. She found herself feeling grateful that Megan was having a low-key wedding on the ranch. Farm? Homestead? What were Ben and Megan calling their country life?

Piper shrugged away the thoughts, but then she found herself worrying about when Corbin would arrive, if he would be on time, and if Cedar would mess up her hair in his truck.

I should have just agreed to meet him there. I have to get Mom ready and I’m not sure what kind of day she’s having, Piper muttered.

Nana happy, Cedar said.

You’ve been in to see her? Piper finished the braid in Cedar’s hair, and she wrapped an elastic around the end.

Yes. Cedar fidgeted in her seat and lifted her hand to her head.

Now don’t you rip this down. We want our hair to be pretty for Aunt Megan’s wedding, Piper said.

Okay, Mommy, Cedar agreed.

After smoothing, pinning, and spraying all of Cedar’s flyaway hairs, Piper patted her little arm. I’m going to go check on Nana and see if she wants me to fix her hair. Why don’t you sit on the bed with your tablet and watch some cartoons?

Cedar’s eyes widened and she bounced off the chair. Scurrying across the bedroom she shared with her mom, she grabbed her tablet from the desk and then climbed up on the bed.

Piper stood in front of the mirror and smoothed the top layer of lace down on her dress. The dark forest green color was one of her favorites, but she stared at her reflection with doubt. She tugged at the hemline that brushed the tops of her knees and wondered if she should have picked a longer dress.

Low-key. Megan is having a low-key wedding. She didn’t want to stress, and she didn’t want anyone else to stress, Piper said to her reflection.

She walked down the hall and knocked on her mom’s bedroom door. She missed the days when it was her mom checking on her, seeing if she had everything she needed, seeing if she was going to be ready on time. She felt anxious as she wondered if Mom would remember Megan’s wedding, or who any of the guests were. A sharp pain sliced through her heart as she knocked again.

Not a panic attack. Not right now, Piper thought as she beat her fist between her breasts. Is Mom going to remember me when I open this door?

Piper had been taking Megan’s lead since she came back to Double Creek. Megan kept talking about the Snow approach and she had a very specific way of addressing Mom, handling Mom, and helping Mom.

But I said I could take care of Mom for today, for the wedding. I volunteered for this, Piper thought.

She turned the doorknob and peeked her head into her mom’s room. Good morning.

Good morning. I was wondering when you would come to check on me. I’m dressed. Can you help me with my hair? Sharon sat in front of her vanity, wearing a cream-colored dress with large flower blossoms all over it.

I would be happy to help with your hair. How are you feeling? Piper asked.

Right as rain, dear. How are you feeling? Nervous for your big day? Sharon stared at Piper’s reflection in the mirror.

My big day? Piper laid her hand on her chest.

Sharon forced an awkward laugh. Piper had grown accustomed to the sound. It was the way her mom laughed when she knew from someone else’s reaction that she messed up.

It’s Megan’s big day. We are going to her wedding. Piper grabbed the spray bottle and comb from the vanity and started working on her mom’s hair.

Right. Of course, silly me, Sharon said. Will you just use this in it? Sharon held up her ratty padded hair roller.

This old thing? It must be a vintage hair accessory. And it’s how you wear your hair every day. Piper combed through her mom’s silver-blonde hair, spritzing it as she went. It felt like Deja vu to be brushing and pinning another head of hair.

It looks respectable and it’s comfortable. I don’t need to do something special or different today, Sharon said.

Okay. Piper knew arguing would be of no use, so she just took the old, padded roller and began pulling her mom’s hair over it, tucking it behind, and pinning it where she needed to. When she was finished, her mom had a stylish roll around the top of her head, and a neat, low bun on the back.

Thank you. Sharon stood up and her hands trembled.

Are you feeling okay today? Piper asked.

Oh yes, I’m good. Don’t mind me. I’m going to rest in my chair by the window. Come get me when it’s time to go, Sharon said.

Piper checked in on Cedar, who was happily watching cartoons on the tablet, and then she went to the kitchen. Making her and her mom a hot cup of tea, she stared absently at the time on the clock. One hour until Corbin would pick them up and take them out to Ben’s house.

Ben’s house will be Megan’s house after today, Piper thought.

She looked around her childhood home. A home filled with memories. Life, love, laughter, and now the heartache of watching their mother decline. Megan was adamant that she would still be living here to help with their mom if she could just have a night or two a week to spend at home with Ben. Piper doubted the whole plan as soon as they started talking about the wedding. Who gets married to keep living with their mom? Especially when their new spouse owns a lovely cabin in the woods?

Not me, Piper thought. I’d be out of here half an hour after the reception.

She remembered then, even though she didn’t want to, how close she got to marrying Roger. She hadn’t meant to get pregnant, but then, once she was, she didn’t know what to do. She had been planning her escape from him, but she knew he would demand to see the baby.

Tension crawled up her spine, into her neck, and started to create pain around her skull. As if her own body was choking out her brain. She shuddered against the memories of the night he went to jail, the way he hurt her, and how he almost caused her to miscarry. With her fingers wrapped tightly around the hot mug of tea, Piper traipsed out of the kitchen and down to her mom’s room.

I brought tea, Piper said as she eased the door open.

You didn’t have to do that, Sharon said. She sat in her chair by the window, letting the morning sun wash over and warm her.

I’m glad to, honestly, Piper said.

You know how Megan keeps talking and talking about Jesus? Sharon locked eyes with Piper.

Piper’s gut tightened. Her sister may have found some solace in Jesus, but Piper never put much stock in that stuff. Yes. What about it?

Sharon lifted a leatherbound Bible from her end table. I took her suggestion to start reading the New Testament. Sharon smoothed her hand over the leather. Do you think it’s too late for me to accept Jesus’ gift of salvation? Megan said it’s not. But what do you think?

Piper set her mom’s mug of tea on the coaster on her end table and then she sat on the edge of her mom’s bed. I don’t know, Mom. I’m not exactly the best person to talk to about the Jesus thing.

You don’t believe? Sharon asked, her eyes still locked on Piper.

It’s not that I don’t believe. It’s just that I-I-I. Piper tried to think of something to say before she just sighed and threw up a hand. I don’t believe. I think Megan pulled herself up by her bootstraps and decided to stop doing drugs. I don’t think some imaginary being got her sober and clean.

You’re entitled to your opinion, Sharon said. But I am going to go to church with Megan and Ben on Sunday to get baptized. I would really love if you came with me. It would mean a lot to me.

Is this the dementia talking? Mom’s never been interested in church or the Bible or Jesus. Will she even remember come Sunday? The knot in Piper’s stomach tightened and her heart felt like an erratic drum banging her chest and making her ears ring.

I’m going to finish getting Cedar ready. Corbin should be here to pick us all up soon. Piper rose from the edge of the bed and shuffled past her mom. Once she was in the hallway, she leaned against the wall and coached herself through one of her breathing exercises.

Chapter Two

Mason jar centerpieces, mismatched chairs and tables, lace tablecloths and runners, straw bales, and burlap ribbon decorations gave the wedding a country feel.

Just like Ben and Megan, Corbin thought. He stayed close to Piper and her mom, and Cedar held his two fingers tightly in her little hand. He rubbed his thumb against hers