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“Me, though.” I stand. “I’m going to have to go to her. Your daughter may be strong, but she’s also one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met.”
“That she is,” she says with a wavering smile. “Good luck.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it.”
“You’re right. But I know what does.” Her mature eyes twinkle up at me.
I shake a finger at her. “Thanks for the talk.”
“No. Thank you. I’m glad Harper has you in her life. Now go and keep it that way.” She waves me off.
“I plan to.” I nod and head for the door.
The heartache, the history of her pain, and the backing of her fears. She’s lost everything. Her father, brother, and the man she loved. He died in front of her. I can’t imagine what that did to her. The blame. The guilt. The fear.
Fuck! I’m her worst nightmare.
Now, I must convince her of the opposite and be her knight in shining armor.
Now that I know the truth, I’m ready to conquer Harper James and her heart, once and for all.
Chapter 42
“I’m heading out,” Lisa says, pulling her purse onto her shoulder.
“Okay. I’ll lock up.” I force a smile.
“Thanks for coming in today. You’ve been a big help.”
“No problem.” I hang onto the weak-ass smile, dropping it when she walks out the door.
I wanted to pack my shit and leave. Aunt Willa, my mother, lied to me. Instead, I came to the center.
Answering the calls helped me put my shit into perspective. Many people out there are dealing with their shit, some worse off than me. I might not be able to help myself, but I can try to help them.
Learning the truth about Aunt Willa was a shock to my entire system, and while I understand why she did it, I can’t get any of the time we lost together back. Then there’s the whole thing about my father. The biological one. He’s still out there, most likely doing what he did to Aunt Willa to another woman.
Aunt Willa? I wonder if there will ever come a day when I call her Mom. It’s messed up.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do. Maybe, I’ll head back to Texas and give myself some time to let it all absorb. To be honest, if I go, it won’t be because of my newly founded mother.
It’s Cole.
The feelings I have for him frighten me. I don’t want to lose any more people in my life. And the list isn’t that long. I fear if I stay here, stay with him, one day I’ll get that call. The one when his escort goes wrong.
My heart can’t handle another loss.
I clean up the desk I was working on and lock up the center. It’s warm. The sun is setting. It’s pretty.
I head to the back parking lot, debating what I will do next. Go home? I can’t see Cole until I figure out my shit.
My chest tightens, and breaths quicken when I realize the decision has already been made for me when I spot Cole’s pickup truck parked alongside my car.
I don’t have any time to ponder my future. It’s here, and it looks determined to confront me.
Shit!
Cole stands against his truck with his arms crossed over his chest. The last time I saw him, I threatened to leave. Well, that was after my meltdown about my mother. I went straight to him. I needed him. That scares me too.
