He couldn’t respond. Why hadn’t she told him?
“I can’t say I’m surprised she didn’t say anything to you,” Brielle said. “Harper does have that reputation.”
“What reputation?”
“I probably shouldn’t say . . .” After less than a second’s hesitation, she plowed ahead. “Harper and I used towork together, so I’ve known her for a long time. She hasn’t always been—how can I put this?—aboveboard in her business dealings. Several of her clients are unhappy with how she’s treated them.”
“How do you know that?”
“Real estate has a grapevine like anywhere else,” she said quickly. “Mr.Jenkins, if you’re interested in looking at the property, I can set up a showing for you. Just let me know when you’re available.”
He hesitated. “Shouldn’t Harper be a part of this?”
“I suppose. But do youreallywant someone representing you who isn’t completely honest?”
This didn’t make any sense. Everything he knew about Harper was the exact opposite of what Brielle was saying.
She didn’t tell you the property was under contract. She didn’t tell you she was seeing someone.When he thought about it, how well did he know Harper?
I thought she was different.
“Mr.Jenkins?” Brielle said. “Can I set up that appointment for you?”
He tried to think rationally, but the hurt he’d felt seeing Harper with another man washed over him, compounded by all the rejection he’d felt in his life. The dates that ended disastrously. His sister and his friends getting married and moving on with their personal lives, leaving him behind. The parents who didn’t want him. Now Harper, who he had thought was trustworthy on a business level, hadn’t bothered to tell him the Miles Road property wasn’t for sale. But now it was.
“Mr.Jenkins? Are you still there?”
His jaw jerked. “Let’s talk.”
Chapter16
On Monday morning Harper shoved her glasses closer to her eyes, pushed her feet into her warm, furry slippers, and got up off the couch. For the past two hours sharp wind and heavy rain had battered against her house, and according to her phone the temperature was in the forties. She tried to convince herself that was the reason she’d decided to work from home today, despite the fact that nasty weather had never kept her home before. And certainly that didn’t explain why she hadn’t showered or gotten dressed since she came home from the fall parade Saturday evening. Two days in a row wearing the same pj’s was a record for her, and not one she was proud of.
On Friday she realized she’d forgotten to call Hayden about setting up her own booth at the parade. It was too late to do anything at that point, but she decided to go anyway and assist anyone who needed her. She had arrived just before the festivities started and checked with Riley first,who was with Hayden at the Maple Falls information tent set up at the end of Main Street.
“Peg had to cancel at the last minute,” Riley said. “Mimi could use an extra hand.”
“Is Madge here?” She hadn’t spoken to her mother since the day she’d showed up at Harper’s office.
“No. Mimi said she had other plans.”
Her mother had always enjoyed volunteering, and it was strange for her to miss an event like this... unless she was avoiding it on purpose.I have got to call her.
“Wait until you find out what the BBs are doing,” Riley said.
“Uh-oh.” Forgetting about her mother, she asked, “What do you mean?”
Riley smirked. “You’ll see.”
When Harper arrived at Knots and Tangles, she was horrified by the idea the older women had cooked up: braided pigtail wigs made out of yarn. Not just any yarn, but bright neon colors that could be seen from the moon.
“Aren’t you a peach for helping us out,” Erma had said, handing her the worst color of the bunch, an eye-burning shade of lime green. But Harper had committed to help, so she put on the wig and went outside to greet passersby with Bea and Myrtle. Their wigs—pink and purple, respectively—weren’t as hideous.Lucky them.
Despite the fashion faux pas, she’d enjoyed talking to customers and telling them about Knots and Tangles. The wigs were a hit, and Erma sold several kits during the day. It was nice to put work on the back burner for a little while,and she hadn’t bothered to try to promote her own business, a first for her.
But there was another reason she’d decided to come to the parade. She needed to talk to Rusty and had hoped to see him at some point. During the past two days she’d been tempted to call him again and not only clear up why Jack was there but also finally tell him about Miles Road. She never should have put that off. But she held back. She wanted to have that conversation in person, especially when she clarified that Jack had only been there to warn her about Brielle. That would take some time to explain.
Finally she spied him right after the Maple Falls Fire Department had driven by. He was sitting next to a woman, and Senior was seated in front of them, talking to four young children. When she saw the woman’s red hair, she guessed it had to be his sister, Amber.
