The Baby Contract

"Stop being a martyr, Bran."

My hackles rose, but I didn't feel it was my place to interject. If I did interject, I'd probably tell her to stop being such a brat.

Harper looked between the two of us. "This is just really weird."

"You don't have to be here, Harper.”

Harper flinched. I reached over and took Bran's hand. I didn't say anything, but I hoped he could see in my eyes that he needed a softer approach. I didn't know why Harper was here, but I had the feeling that it was to begin to bridge the gap between her and Bran, and hopefully her and me too.

He squeezed my hand and sucked in a breath.

"I'm sorry. I know I can be a difficult person. You were all the family that I had for so long. It was my job to look out for you. It was a job I took seriously, maybe too seriously. I'm tired of fighting, Harper. What I want is for us to be a family. All of us."

He looked at me and then returned his attention to Harper. He gave her a lopsided smile. "Now that I have Anne and the baby, my attention is going to be spread out a little bit. You could interpret that to mean that I won't be able to get as involved in your life like I was before.”

She smirked. "You know I'm not very good at sharing, Bran."

"It's always all or nothing with you, isn't it? The truth is, I'm not the only one that needs to give a little here, Harper. I promise I'll do better, but you have to stop withdrawing your love simply because I've pissed you off."

I considered his assessment of Harper's behavior, and I realized he was right. Harper's MO was to completely withdraw at the first sign of conflict.

“Do we have a deal?" Bran asked.

She looked at him defiantly. "I'm the one that came here to say something to you. Maybe now you can let me tell you what I came here to say."

He held his hand out as if passing the conversation to her.

"I'm not going to lie. Seeing my best friend and my brother together is weird. But I miss you. I miss you both. I'll admit I'm a little worried I'm going to be like a third wheel. The way you two seem to be going at it all the time, how will there be room for me?"

Bran moved his chair closer to her, reaching out to take her hand. "Harper, you're my sister and I love you. I'll always have room for you."

"I will too," I said.

She studied us both. "Well, at the very least, I will be able to babysit my niece or nephew."

Bran arched a brow. "That depends on the type of things you are going to be telling our child. I know you Harper. You have a sharp tongue when it comes to me sometimes."

She gave him a sweet smile. "You deserve it sometimes, brother." Her attention went to Bran’s wrist. “What’s that watch? Was it dad’s?”

He looked at the watch. “No. Anne made this for me.”

Harper’s brows rose. “You made it?”

I shook my head. “I designed it. A watchmaker made it.”

“He told her she had talent.” Bran beamed with pride.

“Well, of course she does.” She looked at me. “Can I have one?”

“I’d be delighted to design a watch for you.”

Mr. Joseph appeared on the terrace. "You have a phone call, Mr. Erickson. It’s Mr. Boswell."

Bran looked undecided about taking a call or not. "He's a broker. I’ve been looking at buying a winery in Northern California."

Harper's eyes lit up. "Well, go take the call then, Bran. I don't want to stand in the way of you having an unlimited amount of wine."

He stood and looked at me. I gave him a nod to let him know I was okay. Then he went inside.