“I’m sorry for keeping you up all night,” she says, closing the laptop. “I’ll make it up to you by cooking breakfast.”
“So, how does it feel being here? Do you feel comfortable?” I only ask because that is my goal. Maybe one day she will officially move in with me, and this would be her home too. If she doesn’t end up back in California.
“With you here, yes.”
“Well, that’s something we need to discuss,” I say, walking down the hallway, and leaning against the kitchen counter. “The guys have been covering me for weeks.”
“I’ll be fine. Go back to work. You have a gun?”
My head cocks. “Actually, no. Never really been a fan of them.”
“Well, what do you do if someone breaks in?”
“Hope my baseball bat or knife take them out.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Well, if I am going to be staying here, something needs to be in place especially if I’ll be alone.”
“Understood. We’ll figure something out before I go back to work, promise,” I reply, grabbing my coffee cup and filling it.
Harper works around the kitchen like a breeze and makes us French toast and sausage for breakfast. This woman is amazing, and even with everything that happened to her, she still has the best little sly sense of humor around.
“So, let’s go look at some security equipment. I’ve been wanting to get some anyway,” I say, trying to be supportive and wanting her to feel completely safe here. I couldn’t expect her to stay here alone while I’m at work without something in place. Hell, look at what happened at the hospital with all those people around.
After breakfast, we get dressed and head out. Traffic is light since it’s only like seven-thirty in the morning, and barely anyone in the store. We check out every piece of equipment, and decide on cameras for inside and outside.
“What about this?” she says, holding up a package with a woman screaming on it.
I take it from her and read the box. You install it, and program it to where if you need help, you say help me three times, and it will alert police and ambulance. It’s mostly used for the elderly but could work in this situation too and it's never bad to be extra careful.
“Can we stop over at the mall? If I’m going to be meeting your family tonight, the least I can do is look nice. Not sure jeans and a t-shirt is the best outfit.”
A smile makes an appearance, and oblige. It takes a couple stores before she finds a dress that suits her, as she says. Honestly, she could wear anything and look gorgeous.
“Let’s head home. They will be over shortly and we still have to get stuff prepared,” I tell her, paying for the dress and then heading to the car.
Once we arrive at my house, I change into my blue button-up and watch Harper cook until my brother arrives for dinner.
“Good to see you out of the hospital, Harper. You’re looking much better. Finally healing up okay?”
“Yes, thank you.” She continues to work with the bread. “If y’all want to have a seat in the living room, just have to get this in the oven and then I’ll join you.”
They follow me into the living room, and Tessa starts asking how it went her first night here, and if there’s anything she can do to help. I know she just wants her friend back, but pushing her to remember things isn't going to help in the long run. The doctor said to let her stumble upon them herself.
I snuggle up with Emily under my arm. “How are you doing, kiddo? Haven’t seen ya in a while.”
Emily tells me about the new dollhouse Damon got her, and it’s just like Cinderella’s castle. She explains it to me in great detail, and I can literally picture it in my head.
I slip into the kitchen to check on Harper, who is grabbing a bottle of wine. “Do they drink?”
“Yes, I’ll pour it. Go mingle, pretty lady,” I sigh, placing a kiss on her cheek, as it reddened. She looks up at me through her lashes, and smiles.
When she leaves, I grab four wine glasses, and as I’m pouring, I listen to see how she would interact with them without me in the room.
“So, I know a little bit about how you got together. Fate works in mysterious ways.”
At first, I laugh, and then my eyes widen. The wine bottle falls to the floor and shatters sending wine everywhere.
“Everything okay?” Tessa says, as I’m walking into the room.