Page 33 of Always My Love

“Okay, I can see the merit of not giving him human food while we’re eating.” He snapped his fingers and pointed to the dog bed.

Blue sat on his butt and tilted his head at him as if to say that he didn’t understand what he wanted.

“Bed,” Nick said in a firm tone.

The dog let out a sigh and a little bark, as if he was talking back.

“Now,” Nick told him.

Blue turned and went and lay down next to Lucy with a loud groan.

“I won that round.” He smiled.

At the sound of his happy tone, Blue jumped up and sat once more at his feet.

Nick sighed and repeated the whole ordeal. This time, after his dog was settled with Lucy, Nick smiled and continued eating his dinner. Harper gave him some good advice while they ate, little things that he could do to train Blue.

Once they were done eating, he pulled the cookies from the oven and took a plate of them into the living room.

“Want to watch a movie up here or down in the basement?” he asked.

“Here is fine. Maybe we can get a fire going?”

He chuckled and walked over to flip on the gas fireplace with a remote.

“Nice. I should install one of these at my place.” She sat down on the sofa.

He sat down next to her and held the cookie plate up for her to take one. He flipped on the television and was shocked when an image from earlier of Harper holding a little girl in a red jumpsuit filled the screen.

“What’s this?” Harper sat forward with a frown.

Suddenly, her phone rang. He hit pause on the news report, knowing he could hit play again and watch the full report after she was done talking. Seeing Harper and the little girl covered in blood on the big screen somehow made it all feel so… strange. As if he was seeing the scene through someone else’s eyes.

Harper looked so determined in the image. So loving towards the little girl she didn’t even know. Just the way the little girl was looking up at Harper had his heart swealing with love.

“It’s Hailey,” Harper said before answering the call. “Hi.” She paused and then said. “Yes, we’re fine.” She glanced at him.

She shifted and he listened while Harper filled Hailey in on what had happened earlier.

When she got off the phone, he hit continue and they watched the full news report about the bus accident.

“The driver, David Gillard, sixty-eight years old, lifelong resident of Edgeview and a retired social studies teacher, died at the scene.

“Twenty-three grade school children were all recovering thanks to the heroics of two people, an off-duty Pride police officer, Nick Farrow, and Harper Davis, a bartender at the Golden Oar in Pride.”

He was happy that the report was quick and accurate. When it was over, he paused the television again and looked over to see Harper pale.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, pulling her close.

“I… is this local or national?” she asked.

He glanced at the screen. “Local. Why?”

She seemed to relax at that bit of news.

“I…” She took a deep breath, then turned towards him. “I don’t want my past catching up with me,” she said clearly.

“Okay.” He took her hands in his. “What does that mean?”

“Just that… if a particular person saw that report, they would know not only what town I live in, but where I work,” she said slowly, as if trying to weigh each of her words carefully.

“Okay,” he said, slowly understanding. “Are you in any danger?”

She waited for what seemed a very long time before answering. “No, it’s just a local report.” She took a deep breath.

He nodded. “If you were, would you tell me?” he asked, trying not to feel slightly hurt.

Her eyes met his. “Yes,” she said clearly. “I think my days of jumping when I see you are over.” She laid her hand on his face gently. “I trust you. I trust that you trust me.” She smiled and, even though he saw the hesitation she still had, he decided to let it slide for now.