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“Of course not, but, even so, you should come home before your winter break,” Sage said. “I’m sure under the circumstances your teachers would be happy to reschedule your finals to allow you some extra time.”
There was a silence on Harper’s end and Sage wondered if her words had gotten through to her step-daughter at last.
“I just… I can’t right now,” Harper said. “I have to go.”
“Wait!” Sage protested, but it was too late. Harper was gone.
Sage had never agreed with Mark’s strict parenting style. When Harper had been in high school he’d given her extra homework on top of the homework she’d get from her classes, claiming she’d get ahead if she worked harder. She’d been on the verge of nervous breakdowns numerous times. Sage recalled the first evening she’d heard Harper weeping inside her bedroom. She’d tried to console her, but Harper had shut her down, demanding to be left alone. Every time Sage had tried to build a relationship with her, Harper would close up.
I have to keep trying,Sage thought, determined. Eventually, Harper would come around. The holidays could be a hard time for anyone but combining that the shock of her father’s death, paired with the pressure of getting good grades was causing her to retreat. Sage knew Harper became distant when she was feeling troubled.
Sage had a hard time getting to sleep that night. As of late, insomnia had been plaguing her. To help her relax, she poured herself a glass of wine and began some light reading. Thankfully, the distraction did the trick and she found herself dozing off. Funnily enough, her last thought before falling asleep was of Irving’s breathtaking features and charming although offbeat personality. Maybe if circumstances were different, she would have liked to find out more about him and what made him tick…
