Searching for Harmony (Boston Love 1)
“Oh yeah. I could totally see myself living in the country. Trey wanted to live in the city. I wanted to move farther out so that TJ could have a place to run and play. I grew up close to Boston, but we still had about seven acres of land. My father had to be close to Boston. I think my mother would have rather been in a four-story row house on Comm Avenue. I loved it, though. I would find myself walking around the gardens for hours just lost in thought.”
We walked along the trail for a few minutes in silence. “How many acres do your parents have?” Harmony asked.
“Twenty. My father lucked out and got it for a great price. Built the house for my mother with his brothers and father. My mom says we will have to take her out of the house in a pine box.”
Laughing, Harmony stopped and looked over toward a large tree house that Finn and Wes had built years ago. “Is that a tree house?” Harmony asked as she made her way over to it.
My mind was flooded with images of Harmony sitting on a porch in a rocking chair, rocking a baby. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I followed. “Yeah, this is Angie’s secret place she was talking about.”
Harmony looked at me, confused. “But it’s right here along the path. How is that secret?”
Blowing out my cheeks, I exhaled and shrugged. “It’s Angie. I don’t question her anymore.”
Covering her mouth, Harmony giggled. “Is that a swing?” she asked in an excited voice.
“Sure is.”
The next thing I knew, Harmony was sitting on the swing motioning for me to push her.
Walking behind her, I grabbed the chains, pulled back, and let go. Harmony dropped her head back and closed her eyes as she smiled. “I feel like I’m flying.” Laughing, she said, “It’s freeing.”
Gently pushing her on her back, I asked, “So why did you buy a condo on Comm Avenue if you want to be outside of Boston?”
Her smile faded slightly as she brought her head up. “Seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Closer to school and work and something different.”
Nodding, even though she couldn’t see me, I kept pushing. “Are you going to buy a place in Boston close to the fire station?” Harmony asked.
“Probably. I haven’t thought too much about it, to be honest. I’m not really sure where I see my future going right now.”
Harmony dropped her head back again as I continued to push her. “Harmony, may I ask you something?”
“Of course you can.”
Taking in a deep breath, I slowly blew it out. “Earlier in the car, you said you felt guilty. What do you feel guilty about?”
Harmony snapped her head forward and dragged her feet on the ground to slow down. She came to a stop and slowly stood up and turned to me.
Her eyes caught mine and all I saw was fear. Looking down, she whispered, “You.”
Wrinkling my brow, I pulled my head back. “Me? What about me makes you feel guilty?”
Harmony looked back up and into my eyes. “It’s how I feel about you, Preston, that makes me feel guilty.”
My heart dropped to my stomach and I was scared as hell of what she was about to say next. “H-how do you feel about me?”
A smile slowly started to form at the corners of her mouth as she dug her teeth into her bottom lip. Taking a step closer to me, Harmony placed her hands on my chest and slowly took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. “I’ve never experienced the feelings I have toward you before. They thrill me and scare me at the same time.”
My heart slammed into my chest and I fought like hell to keep my grin from growing into a full smile. “And that makes you feel guilty?”
Nodding, her forehead dropped to my chest and I wrapped my arms around her. “With the holidays upon us, I miss TJ so much, but you make me feel so alive. I’m scared, Preston.”
Holding her tighter, I placed my chin on top of her head and closed my eyes. “Me, too, Harmony.”
Pulling her head back, her blue eyes captured my green eyes. “You are?”
I placed my hand on the side of her face. “The feelings I have for you, Harmony”—I let out a small chuckle—“this is all new to me.”
“What about Sherry?” Harmony asked in a whispered voice.