“So do I, of course.” Harper attempted a nonchalant laugh, but she sounded like a strangled goat.
Brielle tilted her head, her smile widening. “Of course.”
Harper rushed out of the office, then stopped in front of her Mercedes and shuddered.Ugh.At least she didn’t have to deal with her anymore now that she’d obtained a showing. She got into her car and called Rusty, excited to give him the good news.
“Hi, Harper.”
Her enthusiasm dimmed a smidge. In the past when he answered her calls he sounded affable, as if he’d been smiling when he saw her name on his screen. Today he was polite. No, worse than that. Bland—and Rusty was never bland.“I’ve got us a showing for the Miles Road property,” she said, shoving some animation into her voice.
“When?”
Yes, he was definitely bland today. She told him the time. “I’ll pick you up half an hour before.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Oh.” Now he sounded downright distant. Was he still mad at her? He didn’t seem the type to hold a grudge. “If that’s what you want.”
“Thanks.” He hung up the phone.
She pulled down the visor mirror to check her makeup before she left the parking lot. Her makeup looked fine—she hadn’t bothered with fake eyelashes today—but she was still frowning. Were things ever going to be right between her and Rusty again?
She was almost halfway to her office when a question popped into her mind—one that she should have asked Brielle. If Brielle wasn’t out to steal Rusty as a client, then why had she called him and not her about Miles Road? And she hadn’t denied that she had called Rusty without notifying Harper first.
She pushed it out of her mind. She’d gotten a showing for Rusty. That’s what mattered. Knowing she didn’t have to see Brielle or Jack again? Priceless.
Chapter18
Friday evening, Madge knocked on Harper’s front door. When had she last visited her daughter at home? Months, at least. When Harper had called her yesterday afternoon and apologized for breaking her promises to call, she’d invited Madge over for coffee after work. Madge had jumped at the chance.
After telling the lawyers they had decided not to divorce yet, she and Don had quickly left the office and gone to an Italian restaurant for supper. The conversation was superficial, and the neutral location precluded them from talking about their issues. But having a meal together was a start, and before they left, they’d decided to get together again and talk in a few days. Don hadn’t pushed her to meet sooner, and she was thankful he hadn’t. Maybe he was actually changing, but she wasn’t ready to let down her guard.
Harper opened the door and immediately hugged her mother. “Finally we’re together!”
Madge closed her eyes, relishing her daughter’s hug.
Harper stepped back and looked at Madge’s new style. “Oh wow. I love your hair!”
“Thank you. I needed change.”
“It suits you so well.”
Harper was impeccably dressed in slim plum-colored pants and a turtleneck shirt a shade lighter. Her nude chunky-heeled pumps clicked on the wood floor as Madge followed her inside.
A few minutes later, Madge was seated on the couch, a mug of black coffee in one hand and a small plate with a chocolate-chip cookie on it in the other. She set the plate down on the coffee table. “You’re baking again,” she said.
Harper nodded. “I really enjoy it. The only problem is finding people to eat what I bake. I’ve already put on a few pounds lately.”
“I can’t tell.” Madge picked up the cookie and took a bite. Soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet. “These are delicious. If you ever decide to give up real estate, you could be a baker.” It was a joke, since Madge knew her daughter would never leave her job.
But Harper didn’t laugh or even crack a smile. “How’s the coffee?” she asked.
“Good.”
There followed a stretch of awkward silence as they both sipped their coffee and Madge finished her cookie. “I’m sorry I kept putting you off so much,” Harper finally said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“And I shouldn’t have gotten so angry with you. Thingshave been so tense between me and your father, and I lost my perspective.”
“Speaking of,” Harper said, gripping her cup. “How are things now?”
