“Ah.”
Harper did not like the tone of that syllable. “Well, again, let Franky and me get out of your hair. I’m sure you have a ton to do since you still need to go shopping.”
“You’re right. Well thanks again. Oh, wait,” she said just as Harper was turning to the door. “I have your cashier’s check for the six-month security deposit and first month’s rent. Plus, last month’s rent just for fun.” She pulled the check out of that expensive-looking briefcase and held it out.
Harper couldn’t believe she’d almost forgotten to get the damn check. After letting an unemployed person who seemed a complete dichotomy—wearing thrift shop clothing with her fifty K watch and carrying a briefcase that probably cost more than Harper’s first car—lease the apartment based on this outsized security deposit, and she’d damn near left without even getting it.
She needed to get her head back in the game.
“Thank you kindly.” She whistled for Franky, who happily trotted after her. “I’ll see you around, Charlie.”
Harper took her first deep breath in minutes as she stepped outside. What was it about Charlie that made her defenses slip? Even if just enough to call this life her penance? It was all too much.
She practically ran down the stairs and through the back door of the bar, desperate to get away from any stirrings orfeelings that had her being much more candid than she’d been in a long time.
What was going on with her? Maybe she should call Sheila or Andrew, Kelly’s family who had basically adopted Harper after her own parents had passed away. She was sure they could talk some sense into her. But would they? They’d probably tell her again that she didn’t need to keep living as though she was still married, and Kelly was just out of town. Kelly wouldn’t want her to be a nun. Blah blah.
But Harper didn’t feelrightmoving on. While their vows might have said, “till death do we part,” Harper was still alive and felt strongly tied to those vows spiritually. Untilshedied, she was bound to them. Plus, she was supposed to have been with Kelly that day. They should have been on that train together. She swallowed a lump in her throat that seemed to be the manifestation of guilt over the pull she felt toward Charlie. She wouldn’t call it an attraction. More of an unconscious desire to spend more time getting to know her.
But Harper decided this was absolutely something she could ignore. Deny. She was never going to see Charlie anyway as between the bar and the clinic, she worked all the time. Thispullwould undoubtedly evaporate on its own.
Chapter Six
“Harper, why do I always feel like I’m chasing you down and forcing you to be my friend?” Andrew, Harper’s brother-in-law, said, his slightly effeminate and disembodied voice coming out of Harper’s speakerphone tugged on her guilt strings. “We were friends first. I introduced you to Kelly, for crying out loud.”
“I’m sorry. I know. Things have been busy down here.” She huffed but knew why she’d been avoiding him, and it had nothing to do with the bar and everything to do with her tenant. “How are you? How’s Ben?”
“My husband is great, and I’m currently watching him make the Peloton his bitch. You know that’s always one of my favorite activities. But don’t try to change the subject. Being busy is no excuse. You’ve been busy since the day you came out of the womb. You can’tnotbe busy. What aren’t you telling me? You know I can always tell when there’s something going on with you.”
Shedidknow, and it was one of the reasons she hadn’t reached out and had dodged his calls. Always with good reason, of course. But he wasn’t going to give up, which was why she’d finally answered his call rather than ignoring it and texting him that she’d call him later. Which she never would. “I finally filled the other apartment.”
“Oh?” He drug out the word to several syllables. “How’s that going?”
“It’s strange having someone living so close. She came into the bar the other day in desperate need of a slice of lemon. Itwas, like, eight in the morning, and she caught me dancing while doing inventory, which was embarrassing as hell.” Harper still chuckled when she thought about how desperate Charlie had looked when she’d banged on the window. Harper had told her to come in the back door the next time, as she always had it open at that time of the day.
“Intriguing. Did you find out what she desperately needed the lemon for?” His laugh, so much like Kelly’s, was a punch in the gut, and Harper, just for a moment, regretted answering the phone. She wished that Andrew and Kelly had merely been siblings rather than twins who looked and sounded so much alike, it was as painful as it was comforting.
“For some weird drink. She called it her magic anti-inflammatory tiger juice and said it keeps her feeling slightly less old or some shit. And it also helps with period cramps.” Harper caught herself making a face at the thought of downing something that made her gag in the morning just because it was healthy. No, thank you. Though help with period cramps was somewhat appealing.
“Even more intriguing.”
“She is, I guess. She’s kind of mysterious. She showed up wearing tacky clothes she had to have bought out of a gift shop, yet she had a watch on her wrist that was at least fifty grand.” She still hadn’t gotten over that. And Charlie was still wearing the watch every day.
“Huh. Is she cute?”
“What? No,” Harper said immediately. “I mean, she’s fine, but you of all people know I have no interest in anything romantic.”
As soon as he started talking, Harper knew she should have left it at a simple no. “Why not? It’s been three years, Harper.”
“Three years or thirty, it doesn’t matter. I had my great love. I can’t have another. People don’t deserve two great loves. I stilllove your sister with my entire soul. And I’m fine with my life now. I’m living the retirement dream she always wanted. I have my dog and friends, and I’m good.”
“What friends? And you’re forty-five, Harper. I know we lost Kelly suddenly, but if she’d known it was coming, she would’ve told you the same thing I am. You’re still alive and young, and you shouldlive.”
A sound at the back of the bar caught her attention. “Hold on a sec.” She picked up her phone as she turned to see who was about to walk in.
“I know you loved her—and still do—but you’re not dead. Please, just think about it. If there’s a woman you’re drawn to, please don’t shut it dow—”
When Harper saw Charlie, she hit the button to hang up on Andrew before he could say anything else damning. She felt a little guilty but panicked at the thought of Charlie overhearing and thinking he was talking about her. “Hey, Charlie,” she said and knew she was far too cheerful about it.
