Page 115 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"I am, thanks.I'm almost healed."
Trip rolled his eyes."I'll ask you if you still feel the same way next time I hear you cough."
Shelley smiled at Harper while the men talked."How is everything?"
"All good," said Harper.
Emmett paused and turned to her, surprising her when he put his arm around her shoulders and smiled at Shelley."Things are great.I know how close the two of you are, and I don't want you to feel like you have to whisper around what's really going on here."He gave Harper's shoulders a squeeze."So, I'll come out in the open and say it: Things are good.And I'm hoping they'll get even better."
Harper rested her head against him for a moment and smiled."Thank you."
Shelley grinned at him."And thanks from me, too.I didn't want to be nosy, but..."
"It's not being nosy," Emmett told her."I know how close the two of you are."
Harper chuckled when she saw Blane arrive.He gave her a chin lift as he drove by them on his way to the parking lot.
"And I know how close the two of you are as well," she said."So, I saved Blane the seat next to yours."
Emmett looked at Trip, who was chuckling.
"What’s so funny?"
"Just that it feels like we're the ones back in school again.Emmett and Blane always had to sit next to each other in class," he explained to Harper.
They were among the first people to arrive.It seemed that Harper wasn't the only one of Emmett's group who'd wanted to get here earlier.Most of the seats in the theater were still empty by the time their group was complete.Travis and Retta had joined Trip and Shelley.Deacon and Candy had arrived in Ace's truck with him and Ari, and Cash had brought Libby.Ford had brought his lady, Amelia, along with Nat; Nat’s little brother, Hunter, had gone over to Tanner and Everly's for the evening to hang out with Ashton.Ty and Shana had brought Ari's daughter, Nessa.
Harper was amazed that so many people would come to see Alana.She loved it for her.And deep down inside, the little girl, who hadn't had anyone since she was nine, envied Alana a little.
The theater filled up quickly, and soon Libby came to sit down beside Harper."Hey, you, how's it going?"she asked.
"I'm doing great, thanks, Libby.How about you?"
"I'm good, thanks.I'm glad I could come tonight.And I could move if you want Shelley here next to you, but I'm glad I got this seat."
"I am, too.Shelley and I catch up all the time.I'm glad you're here."
It was true, too.She thought the world of Libby, and as much as she loved Shelley, it seemed right that Libby, who'd been one of Emily's closest friends here in the valley, should sit with her and Emmett and Blane.
~ ~ ~
While they waited for the curtain to go up, Emmett kept looking around at all his friends, loving that they'd gone out of their way tonight to be here for Alana.
"You're quiet," said Blane.
He shook his head with a smile."Just taking it all in."
"It's good, isn't it?"
"It is.I'm just thinking how lucky we are to have all of you guys."
"You got that the wrong way around, Mitty.We're lucky to have the three of you in our lives."
Emmett froze when a thought struck him."Is Brooke coming?"
"Yeah, she's here, but she'd already bought her own ticket.She wanted to come with some friends."
"Friends ora friend?"Emmett had to ask.
