Page 20 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
"For what?"
"For letting Emmett come to pick you up instead of coming herself."
Harper pursed her lips.
"Sorry, I should have kept my mouth shut."
"No.I know your secret—it's only fair that you should know mine."
Brody raised his eyebrows."Are you guys...?"
"No.I didn't mean that," Harper told him hurriedly."I just … but he has no idea.Why, are you and Brooke?"
He shook his head.
She patted his shoulder again."Well, your secret's safe with me—if it still is one?"
"It kind of is and kind of isn't.What about you?"
"It's very much a secret—and I'm sure it won't ever be anything more than that."She meant it when she said it, but she was still disappointed when Brody agreed.
"Yeah, it's different for him, isn't it?After Emily."
All she could do was nod.He was right.
Chapter Five
"Do you have everything you need?"Emmett asked Tanya.
She set her spoon down in the empty cereal bowl and rested her elbow on the table, chin in her hand, as she stared at him, before finally saying, "I think so.I'll go and check in a minute.Can I get a banana?"
"Of course you can, honey.Do you want to grab one for your sister and take it up there to her when you go?She's not going to have time to eat anything more than that at this rate.We need to get moving."
Tanya nodded agreeably, but didn't move.
Emmett took a slug of his coffee and stuffed a file of papers into his bag.Today was one of his least favorite days—the last Monday of the month was when he caught up on the paperwork at the clinic.
He went to rinse his mug and counted to ten before turning back around.Tanya moved at her own pace, and he didn't like to rush her, but sometimes he had no choice.The sight of her sitting there with her chin in her hand, staring out at the clouds, looking as though she didn't have a care in the world made something in his chest tighten.
"Tanya, honey?"He spoke gently, but she still jolted in surprise, her eyes widening as she stared at him.
"Oh, right.Sorry, Dad.I'm going now.Bananas."
"Yep."He chuckled after her as she took two from the fruit stand in the middle of the table and ran upstairs calling, "Alana.Are you nearly done?We have to go.Dad's waiting."
Emmett grabbed his keys and phone from the counter and went to wait by the door.
Since Alana had discovered makeup, his mornings were a lot more stressful.But to her credit, even though she hid out upstairs painting her face until it was almost time to go, she rarely made them late.A minute later, they both came thundering down the stairs.
"I'll tell him."
"No,Iwant to tell him."
"No,I will!"
He shook his head with a smile.He thought he was doing an okay job of keeping up with them as they grew into young women, but he was still more comfortable when they argued like little girls in the way he was used to.
"Dad, I..."Tanya began.
