“So you think it’s something worth pursuing?”
Harper and Beth both nodded vigorously. “Homes like these are getting more and more popular. They’re not for everyone, but a lot of people are really looking for downsized luxury.” She made a mental note to have Claire record some of the tiny house episodes for Charlie.
He slid her phone back to Harper. “All right then. I’ll take that under advisement and see if I can put together some plans.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Iwant to learn to run,” Harper announced, bouncing on her toes. Aldo squinted up at her mid-stretch.
“What brought this on?”
“You and Luke run. I’ve seen him leave the house with his brain full of crap and come back from a run smiling. I want that. Plus, I’ve been eating a lot of pizza lately and I helped Gloria move and couldn’t walk for three days.”
Aldo shrugged. “Okay. So run to that tree over there and back.”
“That’s not very far. I want to run miles.”
“You’re not ready for miles yet, smart ass. I’m going to check out your form and tell you how to do it better. Besides, for someone who sits at a desk and eats pizza all day that tree is far enough.”
Harper snorted. “You’re missing part of a leg and you’re already working on slow jogs on the treadmill. I think I can handle running to the tree and back with two regular legs.”
Aldo flashed her a grin. “Quit stalling. Run. I’ll watch and judge mercilessly.”
Harper stuck her tongue out at him and started to run towards the tree on the bank of the lake. The park was one of her favorite places in Benevolence. She and Aldo had been hitting the trails almost every day as extra PT for him and some much needed not-sitting for her.
Watching his steady recovery had made her take stock of her own health. Especially after noticing she was more winded at the top of a hill than Aldo with his freaking bionic leg.
She could totally do this. Be healthy, be strong. There was time now to focus on what her future could be. More salads, some running, maybe even some weight lifting, and when Luke came home he would find a ripped woman with goals and plans.
The tree was marginally closer now even though she felt like she had been running forever. It must be an optical illusion.
Her breath was coming in shorter bursts now and her legs felt heavier. Oh my God. She was running downhill. She was going to have to run uphill on the way back.
Finally, the tree loomed in front of her. She stopped a few yards shy of its trunk and bent down pretending to tie her shoe while she desperately tried to catch her breath.
“Let’s go, Harp!” Aldo’s shout carried down the hill to her.
“Please don’t throw up. Please don’t throw up,” she chanted as she headed back up at a much slower pace.
She yelped when a stabbing pain shot through her side.
Clutching at her ribs, she finally stumbled back to the start and collapsed next to Aldo. “That wasn’t so bad,” she gasped.
He chuckled. “You sound like a pack-a-day smoker, Harp.”
“I think I have appendicitis. It hurts like a bitch.”
“Welcome to your first side stitch.”
“Side stitch?”
“Come on. Help me up and I’ll tell you all the things you did wrong.”
“Like saying I wanted to learn to run?”
They worked through Aldo’s exercises and ended with a leisurely walk to the lakefront.
“So how are you doing?”
