Page 97 of The Vet's Unconditional Love
Harper's smile froze in place.
Emmett didn’t move.Couldn’t.
It was Alana who spoke into the silence.She smiled, but her voice wavered as she said, "I'm going up now.I need a shower.I'll see you in the morning, guys."
"Goodnight," Tanya called, utterly oblivious to the way her words had just landed.
Emmett finally dared to look at Harper.He didn't know what he expected, but when she shook her head slightly, he knew it wasn't that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Harper hovered by the coffee pot.She'd made breakfast this morning the same as she had for the last few weeks.But this morning, like yesterday, everything felt… different.Even though she'd made sure that Tanya remembered to actually eat while she daydreamed and had placed Alana's folder on the kitchen table where she couldn't miss it, she felt conscious of every move she made.She no longer trusted herself not to overstep—no longer knew where the line was.
Emmett came downstairs slowly.He was still sleeping on the sofa, but yesterday he'd made his first trip up the stairs.He'd come back down without incident.This morning, after he'd eaten, he'd gone up there again, saying something about needing some notes from his closet.His closet in his bedroom—where she was still sleeping.
Now that he could manage the stairs again, he could take his room back.
She watched him sit and check his phone without even glancing at her.He wasn't taking her presence for granted—at this point, she'd almost welcome that.He was very carefully avoiding her gaze—just as he had ever since Tanya had called her Mama Bear on Sunday night.She couldn't blame him—she didn't know what to say either.
"Are we going to the grocery store after school, Harper?"Tanya asked."You have rehearsals every night this week, right, Alana?"
"Yeah."She glanced at Harper."Are you okay to pick me up, or is everyone taking turns again now?"
Harper stared at her for a moment.While she'd been staying here with them, she'd been going for the girls after school herself every day—it had seemed logical.But now…
She smiled."I'll talk to Libby.I think the others want to get a turn with you this week.You know, in the big buildup to opening night.Everyone's excited."
Alana held her gaze for a moment before she nodded."Okay."
"But you're coming tonight, right?"Tanya asked.
"Don't pester, Button."Emmett shot Tanya a look."If you want ice cream from the store, you can say so.I can get Blane to stop, and we'll pick some up on our way back."
Harper swallowed.She wanted to believe that he didn't want to put too much on her.But with the unspoken awkwardness that had crept in around the edges of everything since Sunday night, it felt more like he was starting to ease her out.She didn't know for sure if that was the case, but she wouldn’t blame him if he were.Things had seemed to be going well between them, but there was a major difference between sharing a sweet Friday night date and sharing a life—especially a life with two young motherless girls in it.
"It's not about ice cream, Dad.It's just that we have fun in the store, don't we, Harpsichord?"
Harper smiled.Tanya had picked up on Shelley's name for her on Sunday—if only she'd used that one when they all came home."We do.And I'll need to pick up a few things for myself, if nothing else, so yes."She checked her watch.They needed to be out the door soon if they were going to catch the bus—Emmett had said they should this morning, even though she'd been enjoying the ride up to town to take them.
"Is everyone ready?"she asked.
Alana got to her feet and grabbed the folder Harper had left out for her."I am.Thanks for this."
"No problem."
Tanya went to get her backpack from the hook by the door."Seems like ages since we rode the bus."
"I bet your friends will be glad to see you on it," said Emmett."Does Nat ride the bus?"
Tanya grinned."Not all the time, but she is this week."
Alana made a face."Most of my friends don't—half of them are driving now."
"And I'll help you get your license when you're ready."
Harper stepped back and found her back against the cabinets.Maybe he'd forgotten, but she didn't think so—it was only a couple of weeks ago that they'd talked about getting insurance on her truck for Alana to learn in, since it was much smaller than Emmett's, and Alana loved it—said it was cooler than the big ranch trucks.
Alana frowned at him, then glanced at Harper."Come on, Tanya, we need to move it or we'll miss the bus."
