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Ha, hilarious. There’s a whole baby I haven’t told them about, but that’s because I don’t know if that’s my place to tell. This is Harper’s dad, her family. It’s her first child, and he’ll be a grandparent for the first time. I don’t want to spoil the pregnancy announcement and take away that moment for either one of them.
Sharon rubs her hands on her pants. “Oh my God, there’s more, isn’t there?”
I grimace and nod. “There is, but that’s something Harper needs to tell you.”
She freezes mid-movement and blinks at me. “Okay, wow.”
“What’s going on?” Bill’s deep voice crackles in the air as he focuses on his wife.
She tilts her head to the side and gives him a pointed stare. “Harper will fill us in on what else is going on. But for that we need to talk to her, and both Ryan and I have tried reaching her, but her phone goes straight to voicemail.”
“It is?”
She nods.
With his eyebrows drawn together, he rubs his forehead. A gesture I’m very familiar with since he has done it a million times before when he’s frustrated.
“As far as I know, Lydia is still overseas somewhere. I’ll try to get a hold of her and see if she can help. Maybe she can call one of the neighbors to check on Harper.”
I incline my head. “Thank you, I’d appreciate it.”
Bill stares at me. “Do we need to have a talk about your intentions with my daughter?”
Sharon makes a half-choking sound a few feet away, but neither Bill nor I avert our gazes.
I swallow. “I need to have a long conversation with her about everything that happened, but my intentions have always been good. She’s an amazing woman.”
He nods. “You’re a little old for her, but at least I know you’re a good guy.”
“Bill.” Sharon’s spine straightens as she leans forward to slap his leg. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
He only shrugs. “It’s the truth.”
I huff but don’t back down. “It is. On both accounts. I promise I’ll be good to her.”
Bill nods a dozen or more times, probably more to himself than anyone else before he gets up. “Let me make some calls. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Thank you.” I get up too, feeling dismissed. “Oh, I forgot. I got a hold of Tara, and she’s trying to get to Harper somehow, as well, so I’ll let you know if I hear from her.”
“That poor thing.” Sharon lets out a sigh, and Bill turns to her.
“What is it?”
Her eyes are filled with sadness. “She’s all alone, Bill.”
They stare at each other for a long moment.
Bill’s whole posture visibly slumps. “Well, crap.”
I take a step toward them. “I asked her to consider moving over here, but she hasn’t said anything yet. It’s her decision, and nothing I can or want to force. I just want to be with her, no matter how.”
His chin lifts at my comment, and he looks at me the same way my dad does when I make him proud. Crap, speaking of, I need to call my parents and let them know what’s going on.
We say our goodbyes with the promise of keeping each other updated.
I drive home and just as I turn off the car in the garage, my phone rings. My heart jumps wildly as I grab it from the console, grunting at the name on the screen.
Damn it.
It’s Tara.
I should be happy she’s getting back to me so quickly. Maybe that’s good news. But all my body has room for is disappointment because it’s not Harper.
Hopefully, Tara has some good news.
