Page 101 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"The way you hesitated—does that mean you know about her adult life, too?"
"That she’s divorced, never had kids, and now the ex has three?Yeah, but that was from my digging, not from Trip."
Emmett nodded, relieved that Blane’s digging hadn’t surfaced Harper’s private pain over her babies who didn't get to be.
Blane shrugged."Seems to me that she's spent her whole life not finding where she belonged—never managing to become part of a family."
"I know.That's what makes it so much worse.She talked about always having the rug pulled out from under her, and here I am doing the same thing."
"Then don't do it.Let her in.Just take it slow enough that Alana can be okay with it.It's not as though she doesn't like Harper—she does."
"Have you been digging there, too?"
"Not digging; listening when my goddaughter talks."
"Thanks."
~ ~ ~
Harper closed the cottage door behind her and stood in the warm, dimly lit space.The place smelled like cedar, and dust.She straightened her shoulders and went to open the blinds.She could clean the place up in no time.Let some air back in, give the place a once-over, pick up some fresh flowers.It'd feel fresh and lived-in again.
The question was: did she still want to live here?Marcus had left her a voicemail asking her to call him back to discuss a very generous offer he wanted to make.She'd bitten and called him—generous wasn't a word she'd heard him use before.It turned out that the department was struggling since her departure—not that she was going to claim it was because of her.The offer came from above Marcus's head, and she'd almost enjoyed hearing how much it pained him to make it.Almost.But the point was that she didn't want to go back.Not to New York, not to her job—not even for that kind of money.She wanted to stay here in Montana.Truthfully, she wanted to stay with Emmett and the girls.But since that possibility was off the table—and she was vaguely aware that she was the one who'd removed it—she didn't know if it would be harder to stay or to go.Of course she loved the valley, loved being close to Shelley—although they hadn't spent nearly as much time together lately.She'd told Emmett that she'd still help him with the girls and whatever else she could.But she questioned the wisdom of that offer.
She went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water before sitting down to make a list.She'd told Tanya earlier that she wanted to pick up a few things for herself from the grocery store—she just hadn't known that she'd be restocking her own fridge.
She looked up guiltily when she heard tires crunch on gravel outside and blew out a sigh when she saw Cash's black Suburban pull up.
She went to open the door and waited."What can I do for you, Cash?"she asked when he got out.
He trotted up the steps wearing his usual cocky grin and greeted her with a peck on the cheek."You can invite me in, offer me a drink.Haven't seen you in a while.How are things going?"
She made a face."I need to go out soon."
"Yeah, but not just yet."Cash herded her back inside and stopped dead when he spotted her bags leaning against the wall.He gave her an inquiring look.
"What?"she asked defensively."Am I not allowed to bring things back here?"
"Whoa!What's going on, honey?"
She glowered at him."Who says there's anything going on?"
"I do."
"Because I brought bags back with me?"
"No, because you bit my head off before I even said a word—about the bags or anything else."
She blew out a sigh."Sorry.I'm a little tense, that's all."
"Don't apologize.Anything I can help with?"
She shook her head.
"Everything all right with Emmett?"
She narrowed her eyes at him."He's doing much better.Getting back on his feet.But you know that, you saw him on Sunday."
"That's not what I meant."
