“She’s off today,” Harper said.And the rest of the week.Harper had had to cut her hours, and she was teetering on the edge of having to let her go. But Madge didn’t need to know about that. “I really am sorry I didn’t call.”
“I understand. You’ve been busy with work.” Madge tucked her hair behind her ear.
Wow. Faint acknowledgment, but Harper would take it. She still remembered the day her mother had expressed her disapproval about Harper opening her own business only three years into being a real-estate agent. “That’s too soon,” she’d said. “You should wait until you have more experience.”
Madge’s lack of support had poked a hole in Harper’s enthusiasm, but she hadn’t let that stop her. But what if her mother had been right? Should she have waited longer before going out on her own? She was so tired and starting to feel theDword—discouraged. Then again, she’d been extremely successful until this past June, enough that she’d been ready to buy #6 until the slump happened.
Temporary slump, remember?
“Too busy to have time for you own mother, obviously,” Madge said.
And there went the good feelings. “I have time now.” She didn’t, but she couldn’t send her mother away. “Why don’t we go into my office—”
“No need. I stopped by to let you know that Jack called me the other night.”
“Jack Bell?” Harper tensed.
“He called the landline after he found my number on the internet.” Her mother’s hardened facade slipped slightly. “Are you in trouble, Harper?”
“No, of course not.” She tried not to grind her teeth together. How dare Jack contact her family? “I’ll talk to him,” she said. Not like she had a choice now. “He won’t bother you again.”
Madge didn’t respond, as if she was waiting for Harper to give a more complete explanation. And she was tempted to. But this was her problem, not her mother’s. She had to deal with Jack herself.
Madge glanced at the floor, then returned her gaze to Harper, her eyes icy cold again. “Your father and I are getting a divorce.”
Harper’s knees almost buckled, and she had to lean on Sharon’s desk for support. No segue from Jack? JustOh, by the way, we’re getting divorced? “You’re... you’rewhat?” she said, her problems with Jack flying out of her brain.
“Getting divorced.”
“That’swhat you wanted to talk to me about? Over the phone?”
“I had planned to discuss the topic over coffee, but you wouldn’t call me back.”
Harper’s throat started to close. “Don’t you think that we should have a discussion like that in private?”
“You’ve beenverybusy.”
“I would have made time for this.” Harper went to the front door and flipped over the sign, locked the door, then faced Madge again. “Why?”
“Couples grow apart.” Her mother brushed the side of her hand over her gray wool jacket.
“I thought you two were rekindling things. That’s why you went on all those trips.”
“There’s nothing to rekindle, Harper. It’s over. You need to accept that. I’m also putting the house on the market.”
“I can’t sell the house I grew up in!”
“Don’t worry about that,” Madge said, her tone so detached they might as well be discussing how much two and two equaled. “I’ll use another agent. Do you have any recommendations?”
A knock sounded on the glass front door. Harper jumped, then turned around to see her father standing outside, trying to open the door. He’d never even been to her office before.
They’ve both gone crazy.
“What is he doing here?” Madge said, backing away until the desk stopped her.
“Maddie, please.” Don’s voice sounded muffled through the thick glass. “I need to talk to you.”
Madge held up her hand. “Don’t let him in. I don’t want to talk to him.”
