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She’d never had to share her son with anyone and sometimes felt like a third wheel with how well the two got along. While logic told her that Grant would never replace her in Daniel’s heart, when it came to motherhood and reason, sometimes the two didn’t coexist.
Spying Regan and Zeke seated at a table near the window, she headed over. The two had been engaged for a few months and were planning an intimate wedding. She’d suspected for some time that her cousin Zeke found Regan attractive, but the two were such good friends that he’d hesitated to cross the line. Harley couldn’t wait to hear what had caused him to change his mind. Nothing like losing herself in someone’s whirlwind romance to take her mind off her own troubles.
“You two look so happy,” Harley announced, enfolding her good friend in an affectionate hug before turning to Zeke. She lifted on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his broad shoulders. “It took you long enough to figure out Regan was the girl for you,” she murmured in his ear, but as soon as she took her seat across from them, she noticed the couple exchanging a furtive look. Harley immediately knew something was up. She rested her forearms on the white tablecloth and leaned forward. Her gaze moved from one to the other. “Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s nothing,” Zeke declared.
“Nothing at all,” Regan echoed, perusing the wine list.
“How are the wedding preparations going? I imagine it can be stressful planning an important event like that. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“We haven’t really done much,” Regan said, shooting a meaningful look in her fiancé’s direction yet again.
“Okay,” Harley said, “something’s going on. Can you please let me in on what it is.”
Zeke looked pained. “I think we should tell her.”
Harley nodded at her cousin. “I think you should. After all, you know I can keep a secret.”
Reagan’s teeth flashed as she smiled. “You can, indeed.”
The truth of Daniel’s paternity had been something that Harley had kept to herself since learning that she was pregnant.
“In fact,” Harley began, “that’s part of why I wanted to have dinner with you. Both of you have been the best of friends to me and never once pressed me to divulge the identity of Daniel’s father. However, I’ve recently decided that I can’t keep quiet any longer and so I let the father know about him.”
“Who is it?” Regan’s eyes were wide with anticipation.
Harley braced herself for their reaction. “Grant Everett.”
“Grant?” Zeke looked stunned. “I had no idea you two were even seeing each other.”
“We weren’t,” Harley admitted, her cheeks heating. “It was one weekend a long time ago.”
“Well, good for him,” Regan declared, her eyes twinkling with good humor. “He’s been the reason so many babies have been conceived in this town. It’s only right that one of them should be his.”
“I never thought of it that way.” Zeke laughed. “How’s he handling fatherhood?”
“Really well. He and Daniel are as thick as thieves already.”
“So you and Grant,” Regan mused. “I wouldn’t have guessed. Any chance you two might make a go of it?”
Harley was shaking her head before Regan finished her question. “He’s hung up on the difference in our ages.” And probably a whole bunch of other things that prevented her from being a suitable partner in his opinion.
Zeke shook his head. There’s what, ten or eleven years between you two?”
“Thirteen.”
“So, you left town when you were eighteen.” Regan’s brow furrowed as she did the math. “That means he was thirty-one. I’m a little surprised... I mean, he doesn’t seem the type to go for someone that young.”
“I might have misrepresented my age,” Harley admitted, wincing as she recalled how upset Grant had been. “He wasn’t really happy with me when he found out the truth. But that was a long time ago and we’re trying to be friendly for Daniel’s sake.”
“So, does this mean you’re staying in Royal?” Regan asked.
“It depends,” Harley teased, deflecting the question. “On whether or not I get to be in the wedding.”
Regan shifted uncomfortably. “You know I’d love to have you as my bridesmaid.”
“I was just kidding,” Harley crowed. Then, seeing her friend’s discomfort she threw up her hands and rushed to reassure her. “You don’t have to include me. I have every intention of being here for the wedding. You are two of my favorite people, and I’m thrilled that you found each other.”
