Page 5 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
She swallowed.At least she didn't have to dab at her eyes the way she had the first time she saw that message come in.Tanya was such a little sweetheart.Alana was too, but Tanya still had that innocence about her.If she cared to admit it — which she didn't — Harper would have to confess that she loved them both.But that was an irrelevant factor, so she did her best to ignore it.
She smiled as she read the rest of their exchange.
Harper:I miss you too, sweetie.As soon as we figure out the schedule again, we'll make sure to stop at the bakery on the way home one day.And you don't need to buy me anything — it'll be my treat.Soda or milkshake for you, no coffee.Okay?
Tanya:I'm good with milkshake, but you like coffee, and I saved some of my allowance so I can buy you one.
Harper:We’ll negotiate when I get there.How about that?
Tanya:Okay, but I want to do it.You do so much for us.I want to do something for you.
Tanya:You and Dad don't talk to each other anymore, do you?
Harper had felt terrible the first time she read that.She hoped her reply had been enough to put Tanya's mind at ease.
Harper:We don't need to right now — you know how busy with work he is.Libby took over managing the schedule for you guys, and I've been talking to her.
Tanya:Yeah, but that's just everyone taking turns to pick Alana up from rehearsals one night a week.You do most of everything else when you're here.I miss you.
Harper:I miss you too, sweetie.I'll be back this weekend.
Tanya:Can't wait!But I don’t know when we’ll see you — we're going for a sleepover at Brooke's this weekend.
Harper pursed her lips as she re-read that last line.She'd wanted to ask why they were sleeping over at Brooke's.Brooke was a great girl.Well, she was more than a girl; she was probably in her late twenties or early thirties.She'd helped Emmett out with the girls for years when they were smaller.But she'd recently taken on a full-time job and hadn't been available as much these last few months.As far as Harper knew, the girls hadn't stayed the night at her place before.At least not since Harper had moved to the valley.
She was desperate to know what was going on.Was Emmett away for the weekend?
Even now, re-reading the exchange a couple of days later, her heart rate picked up at the possibility that maybe Emmett had a date.She drummed her fingers on the magazine on her lap.It shouldn't make any difference to her if he did.Itdidn'tmake any difference.
Yes, she was attracted to him.But she already knew that she rubbed him the wrong way — and that was even before she'd made a mess of things in his kitchen that night.He'd seemed wary of her from the start.He certainly hadn't behaved as though the attraction were mutual.
She should hope for his sake that he did have a date.
A heavy feeling settled in her chest, and she told herself firmly that if it was disappointment, it was only because a new woman in Emmett's life would probably mean she got to spend less time with the girls.That was all.Nothing more than that.
And she shouldn't even be disappointed about that.Those girls needed a mother figure in their lives — and as much as she might like to fill that role, it wasn't her place.More than that, of the many things she might have been in life, a mother wasn't one of them.
She shoved her phone back into her purse.
Maybe she should see if anyone was heading out to Chico this weekend.She could always go by herself if it came down to it, but suddenly she wanted a night out.Maybe even a date.There was no reason she shouldn't.
She stared back out the window, trying very hard to convince herself that it had absolutely nothing to do with the thought of Emmett going on one of his own.
When the pilot announced their descent into Bozeman, Harper leaned back and closed her eyes.She was almost there.
Shelley had said she'd be waiting by the big fireplace at the bottom of the escalator — Bozeman felt more like a welcoming ski lodge than an airport.Harper was already looking forward to seeing her.She'd only been gone a couple of weeks, but there was nothing quite like landing somewhere and knowing your bestie was there with a hug waiting on the other side of the doors.They'd grab coffee before they headed back to the valley and Shelley would fill her in on everything she'd missed.
Well, almost everything.Shelley had proven to be a completely useless source of information on Emmett.
But that was probably for the best.Harper had managed to avoid running into him all this time — she didn't need to hear about him either.In fact, she should just pretend the man didn't exist.Treat him like a background character in her life.Tanya and Alana's dad.Some guy she knew a little but had no real dealings with.
She could do that.
~ ~ ~
Emmett locked the cabinet and slipped the key into his pocket before checking the clock on the wall.He was going to have to get a move on if he wanted to be on time.
He tested his desk drawer to make sure it was locked, too – the same desk he'd had since he first set up the practice, back when the girls were small enough to nap on the couch in the corner.He stood there for a moment, hand resting on the drawer handle, wondering why he was even going — let alone why he was worried about being on time.
