The concierge nodded and processed the booking, returned Harmon’s cards, and gave him two room card keys.“The biggest available suite, sir, top floor.Do you need any help, ma’am?”
She could feel her cheeks burn.“Oh, I’m not with him.He’s just—”
“Thank you.”Harmon held Sal by the shoulders and led her straight to the elevator as he pressed the button up and the elevator doors closed shut.She didn’t want to join him, but if this was her only chance to get answers, she would take it.
Harmon took a deep breath and rested his weight against the railing on the opposite side of the elevator.“We’ll talk in the room,” he said.
“We could have talked in the lobby,” Sal said, frowning.He was really drunk.She moved closer to him, a bit worried.He suddenly opened his eyes and looked her straight in the eye.
For a split second, the walls of the elevator expanded as the world always did when they locked eyes.“Harmon…I think you need to rest.We can talk about this next time,” she said, eyes transfixed on his.
He broke the gaze.“Nonsense.”He huffed.
Then the elevator pinged, and before she knew it, she stood in a huge two—no…three-bedroom hotel unit with a view of the Magellan Bay.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Harmon vanished into a bedroom and emerged a few minutes later wearing a hotel bathrobe.“That’s better.”He sighed.“I don’t feel so naked,” he said as he sauntered over to the kitchen, which was impressively well-stocked with amenities, from a Nespresso machine with capsules to pitchers of cooled lemon water which he pulled out from the fridge.He poured water for Sal and himself and handed her a glass.
She took a sip.“Do you usually book expensive hotel rooms to sober up?”she asked, setting the glass down.
Harmon looked more refreshed as he gulped down water.“Only when I’m very uncomfortable,” he answered in a restrained fashion.
A strange gurgling noise sounded.Sal put a hand on her stomach, embarrassed.
“Let’s get you some food first…” Harmon said.He meandered through the large unit with his glass of water in hand, taking sips.When he emerged again, he was holding a leather folio and handed it to Sal.“Get whatever you like,” he said.
Sal leafed through the in-room menu service.“I’ll pay for this.”
Harmon opened the fridge again to return the pitcher, and she could’ve sworn he rolled his eyes at her for saying she would pay.Had he been more sober, he probably would’ve said something.
When she finished ordering, Harmon was admiring their view of Magellan Bay.He had crossed his arms over his chest and looked deep in thought while staring out the window.Sal sat quietly on the living room couch.
“So, who told you?”he finally said, breaking the silence.
“An old family friend.”
“Mmm…I didn’t want anyone finding out about this though, especially you,” he mumbled, and then walked over to Sal and sat at the other end of the couch.
Her heart raced.“You mean nobody knows, as in, no one?”Sal asked in disbelief.
Harmon shook his head.“No.People only know my single mom raised me.But apparently you and your aunt know.”
“If I had known you were Claire’s half-brother, things would have been different.”
Harmon frowned.“I don’t think so.You would have still challenged me, and I would still have accepted.”
“Maybe…” Sal lowered her eyes, her heart still pounding with what she was about to say.“But I would’ve been kinder…”
Harmon blinked, looking surprised.Then, almost in a flash, he hardened.“This is why I didn’t want to tell you.I don’t need your sympathy, Sal.”He looked away, elbows on his knees and hands gripped tightly together.
“I don’t pity you,” she retorted.“But I want to hear your side of the story.”
Harmon turned his head slowly to Sal, and again, she met his gaze.His soft, dark eyes that looked through her and not at her stared back.She saw his grip soften and his body relax.“Okay, then…” he said, breathing out as he rested against the sofa.
Sal adjusted her position, facing him.
“I had only wonderful memories of my father.He was my idol, and he was all I wanted to be.As a kid, I was so devastated each time he’d go on long trips back to the Philippines.He said it was because that was the nature of his work, and that he’d make more time for me and Mom soon.”Harmon paused and ran a hand through his hair.He seemed to ground himself before he continued, “Then one time, I heard him and my mom arguing, and the last image I had of him was his face drenched in tears, telling me he loved me and saying that someday he hoped I’d forgive him.Of course, I was only twelve, so I didn’t understand any of it.Until the days turned into weeks, and months turned into years, and I just accepted that he wasn’t coming back.I didn’t know why he left…so I ended up confused and resentful.”
He sighed, clasped his hands, and then spoke again.“Life was tough after that.Mom had to get two jobs to make ends meet, and I studied hard so I could get a scholarship.When I saw him again, I must have been fifteen.I was in New York getting groceries for my mom during Christmas.I was shocked when I saw him buying from one of the hot dog stands.So I ran after him… until I saw him with a girl who was my age.My dad was still my dad, just older and with graying hair, and he looked at the girl like he loved her a lot.I knew, just then, that all this time I had a sister, and that he chose her.He had…” Harmon cleared his throat, then with a husky voice said, “he disowned me.”
