Falling for the Brother

She’d also needed to get DNA swabs done before she faced another long, dark night. Her soul felt torn apart. Her duty to be loyal to Bruce, as Brie’s father. And the bone-deep need she had to know who Brie’s father really was.

When Mason was out of the picture, showing no interest, offering no hope that he’d acknowledge Brie as his own, there’d been no alternative but to honor Bruce. Her own feelings meant little compared to the welfare of her daughter.

But now…

Now what?

Bruce was a great dad. When he was with Brianna, she had his full, undivided attention. There was no doubt the child felt loved by him. Secure in her life. Plus, he always paid his fair share, on time, every time. Never squabbled about covering half of any extra expenses that came up.

Sitting outside Miriam’s in her shorts and flowing shirt, her loaded gun still at her hip, Harper tried to focus on the sun’s calming warmth as she kept watch. Thoughts trickled through anyway.

She’d needed the DNA sample. Hadn’t wanted Brianna to ask what it was or why they were doing it. Couldn’t take a chance that the little girl would have enough interest to store that information—and share it. Lynn had been the obvious answer. She’d treated Brianna for an ear infection over the holidays and for various other childhood ailments through the years. She’d been due for an ear check. Holding a swab in her mouth at the same time hadn’t fazed her. She’d been more curious about looking through the lighted microscope that went in her ear, and listening to her own heartbeat through Lynn’s stethoscope.

Because Lynn, understanding the situation, had made certain that she’d captured and held the four-year-old’s attention. That was how things were at The Lemonade Stand. Everyone worked together, bent over backward to help each other, did what had to be done.

They all knew the sanctity of their sisterhood saved lives.

Drawing on the strength that thought gave her, Harper experienced a guilt-free second. A brief moment without a knot in her stomach. Then she saw movement inside Miriam’s bungalow, which she was watching through the living room window. Tasha, Brianna’s guard that afternoon, had taken a seat in Harper’s view and was smiling at her.

Harper was grateful to know things were okay inside.

Tasha had been on Miriam duty that afternoon, but when Harper decided to return to the Stand—telling Brianna she could swim in the pool there and after her checkup go see her Gram—she’d made a quick schedule change. Rather than calling in an extra guard, she’d taken the outdoor duty herself. Her officers were taxed enough.

Maybe the round-the-clock Miriam watch was overkill. She didn’t think so. The second they let up, Miriam would be out of there. But she wasn’t going anywhere with someone on guard outside.

If that was what it took to possibly save a life, to save a woman from further abuse, she’d gladly guard her all day every day.

She could imagine Miriam’s vitriolic reaction if she knew that Harper had just taken Brie for a paternity test.

And yet, Mason was her grandson, too. It shouldn’t make a difference. But she knew it would. During the year Brianna had lived with Bruce after her marriage, the year Mason hadn’t been around once, Miriam had never taken his side. Even when Oscar had suggested having Mason over for Christmas dinner, Miriam, with one look at Bruce, had quietly told him she’d rather do their dinner with him separately. She’d made some comment about the timing for him being off due to the job he was on.

Harper hadn’t thought much of it at the time—not knowing about the “agreement.” But now she wondered… Had Bruce said something to Miriam about Harper and Mason, in spite of his promise that he wouldn’t if Mason stayed away from them?

All that time she’d thought Mason really was just working—married to his job—putting the job first. Oscar had seemed to think the same.

She’d known Bruce wouldn’t have wanted Mason around her, of course, but she hadn’t thought he’d told anyone else that. And there’d been a little part of her that suspected Mason had chosen to stay away because of her.

She’d only been with the family for a year…