Page 118 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
It was late by the time they got back to Emmett's place.Tanya yawned loudly in the back seat before saying, "Are you coming in, Harper?"
"Not tonight.It's late, and you must all be exhausted."
"Thanks for everything you've done," said Alana."I couldn't have done it without you."She leaned forward between the seats and pressed a kiss to Emmett's cheek."And that's nothing against you, Dad, but there was a lot of girl stuff in this one.I know if we'd never met Harper, we would have done great.But with Harper, it was even better."She rested her hand on Harper's shoulder for a moment."Will we see you this weekend?I hope you'll come over."
Harper looked at Emmett, and he smiled."I'll tell you what — why don't you girls go on in?Harper and I will figure out when we can get together."
Tanya leaned forward between the seats and kissed Harper's cheek."Good night, Mama Bear."She laughed."You guys can all get mad at me if you want, but I heard Harper with Kennedy's mom.And she might not be our mom, but she's a real Mama Bear."
Emmett chuckled, and Alana gave them a puzzled look."What happened with Mrs.Sinclair?"
Tanya looked proud of herself, happy to be the one in the know for once as she said, "Come on inside and I'll tell you; it was awesome."
After they'd gone, Emmett shifted in his seat as best he could.He reached out to touch her cheek."Tanya was right, you know — you were awesome."
Harper shrugged."I just knew what she was doing.Everyone in town knows that you're a widower; I can't believe she didn't.She was trying to take a jab at me, and that's fine — she could have done that.But she was using Alana to do it.No way would I let her get away with that."
He chuckled."And you made that point clearly.Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He leaned in close and brushed his lips over hers before sitting back.She shook her head."As much as I'd like to make out in the truck with you, we both know that you're aching just sitting there.And you don't need to be out here with me — you need to be in the house with the girls.Alana's on a high after her performance.You need to be there for it."
"Yeah, I should go in.But will you come over tomorrow?"
"I'd love to, but see how it goes.I don't have any set plans.Just give me a call and let me know what'll work for you."
This time she leaned across the console to him."Every time I looked at you tonight, there was something I wanted to say to you."
He smiled."I wanted to say it too—I love you, Harper."
A rush of warmth filled her chest."I love you, too.Goodnight, Emmett."
"Goodnight."
Chapter Twenty-Five
"When are you going to call Harper, Dad?"
Emmett straightened up from loading the dishwasher and turned to face Tanya, who was wiping down the counters after breakfast."I don't know yet.I thought I'd see what we wanted to do with the day before we decided."
Tanya made a face at him."What we want to do with the day is hang out with Harper, right, Alana?"
Emmett raised his eyebrows at his older daughter.She'd come around more quickly than he'd expected, but he knew she might feel differently again now that the play was behind them.
"I'd like her to come over."She went and sat at the kitchen table."I know it's my fault she's not here."
Emmett went straight to her and pulled out a chair so that he could sit facing her."It's not your fault.Alana, don't say that."
"No."Tanya came to join them."If it's anybody's fault, it's my fault.If I hadn't said the Mama Bear thing…"
Emmett held his hand up."It's nobody's fault.And it's not a problem.We're all navigating something new and different here.There's bound to be stops and starts.Things went very fast in the beginning, with Harper coming to stay with us because I needed the help.It's okay for them to slow down again while we all figure things out."
Alana nodded slowly."I guess so.But as soon as she wasn't here, I missed her."
"Me too," Tanya added."And you miss her, don't you, Dad?"she asked as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"I do.But she's not all that far away.And we can see her as much as we like.It's more important to me—and to Harper—that we all take this as slowly as you girls want to."
