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Chapter13
HARPER
Harper surveyed the commotion as Landon paced across the back of the bakery with his cell pressed to his ear.
“Did you check the treehouse, Bess? What about the attic?” the man asked with worry ingrained in his expression.
She stared down at the rings on her hand, and the gravity of the situation sank in.
This marriage wasn’t only about her and Landon. This marriage wasn’t just a dare taken too far or the catalyst to—hopefully—make some fast cash. There was a little girl, a real flesh and blood child to consider, and from the sounds of it, she was hurting.
She pulled her gaze from Landon and scanned the bakery.
What she needed was some information. She couldn’t go into this Aria emergency flying blind.
Luckily, there were two people who might be able to shed light on the situation. She smoothed her shirt, which didn’t do much to enhance her hobo-fabulous appearance, and sauntered over to where Mitzi and Madelyn spoke in hushed tones.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but does this happen often?” she inquired, gesturing with her chin toward her pacing dare-match husband.
Mitzi rubbed the back of her neck and shared a look with the matchmaker.
“Mitzi,” Madelyn said, eyeing the woman. “Harper is Landon’s wife. It would help her to have some insight into the little girl.”
Mitzi threw a worried look toward Landon, then released an audible breath. “Aria started running away a week ago.”
A week ago?
“I see,” she repeated as the pieces came together.
Landon had skipped out on her a week ago, and she’d given him hell for it.
“Aria isn’t thrilled about moving in with her uncle Landon,” Mitzi continued. “After she ran away, he decided to spend a good chunk of this week easing her into the idea of leaving Tomás and Bess’s place and starting a life with him. He’s had her over to the house and gave her free rein to decorate her bedroom and stock the fridge with her favorite foods, but she’s not having any of it. She wouldn’t even get out of the car and go inside his Crystal Hills place.”
Harper nodded as memories of the day she learned she wouldn’t be returning to her home flashed in her mind—not pictures, exactly, but sensations of red-hot anger and gnawing powerlessness. She pushed her feelings aside and ignored the twist in her belly. “Are Bess and Tomás her grandparents?”
“They’re Landon’s foster parents. Aria knows them as Lolo and Lala. A kid version ofabueloandabuela—grandpa and grandma in Spanish. They’ve been caring for Aria for the last two years.”
Interesting.
“Why can’t they continue to care for her?”
“They’re sculptors, and they’ve been invited to teach abroad in Italy. It’s something they’ve always dreamed of doing, but they can’t bring Aria along. It’s time for Landon to take full custody,” Mitzi explained.
“We’ve known about this transition for a while. It’s quite delicate,” Madelyn supplied.
“This week has been hard on them, and Aria’s no wilting flower,” Mitzi added. “If she doesn’t like something, she’ll let you know. She’s also as stubborn as a bull. She’s a lot like her mother,” the woman finished with a sad smile.
Harper shifted her tote on her shoulder and tossed another curious look at Landon as a different picture of the man emerged. He masked his pain like she did. But she still needed more information. Whatever she was walking into, there was a decent amount of baggage involved, and the more she knew, the better.
She steadied herself. “I’m going to come out and ask this.”
Mitzi cocked her head to the side. “Okay.”
“Are Leighton Paige and Trey Grant Aria’s parents?” She’d had a hunch it might be a touchy subject to bring up with her pop star.
Mitzi looked her over as if she were weighing whether to answer the question.
“Harper will know everything soon enough,” Madelyn offered. “And remember what you said to me after seeing the wedding video.”
