Harper ducked her head over the steaming pot on the stove. “I invited Joni. Her sister and brother-in-law usually host, but this year they’re in North Carolina with their son.”
Of course she invited Joni. The one woman whose presence reminded him of his loss and his role in it. “I don’t suppose you thought to ask me first,” he snapped.
He saw her wince under his words. The timer buzzed and she side-stepped Max to pull two pies out of the oven. She set them on cooling racks on the counter and dropped the hot pads. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you first.”
She looked contrite, but it wasn’t enough.
“This is still my house isn’t it?”
Harper crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. She didn’t fight back and that’s what he wanted. A good fight, but she wouldn’t even give him that.
“I’m sorry. Sometimes I’m not sure when I’m overstepping my bounds.”
“Here’s a hint. When it’s my family and my house or my business, it’s my decision.” The words were sharp enough they could have drawn blood.
Harper narrowed her gaze at him. “Understood. Thanks for clearing that up.”
“I don’t think you want to mess with me right now.” He slammed his mug down on the counter sending coffee sloshing over the rim.
“No, I don’t. I’d rather give you a great holiday with your family in your house.” She turned her back on him and picked up the cutting board of neatly diced potatoes.
“I’m going for a run,” Luke announced, and stormed out.
***
He let the pounding of his feet on pavement quiet his brain. It was just a dream, but he couldn’t convince himself that it was meaningless. Harper wasn’t Karen. And that was the problem.
He chose his route at random, pushing himself. He focused on the speed, his breath. Houses with full driveways passed in a blur and gave way to the closed storefronts of Main Street. He turned down a street and then another until the buildings were replaced with trees and headstones.
The cemetery. Of course his subconscious had brought him to Karen. Luke slowed his pace and let the skinny ribbon of asphalt carry him to her.
There was a small, festive pumpkin resting against the black granite of her stone. Probably Joni’s work.
Joni.
Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his past in the past. She was a constant reminder of the life he once had. The life he would never get back. He didn’t understand her blossoming relationship with Harper. Was she trying to replace the daughter she lost?
Didn’t she know that Karen was irreplaceable?
He laid a hand on the stone, warm from the morning sun. “Happy Thanksgiving, Kare.”
***
She allowed herself ten minutes between timers to run upstairs to change. The Garrisons kept it casual to the point of pajama pants and elastic waistbands for the holiday. It was a tradition she could get behind. She dragged on yoga pants and a soft, stretchy v-neck sweater the color of cranberries.
If only Luke would come around. She was more worried than she cared to admit. The anger in his tone, in his eyes, scared her and pissed her off. If he wasn’t willing to talk about it, how could she help?
The doorbell rang at the same time the oven timer buzzed. Harper wiped a stray tear from her face with a tea towel. She would not give in to the strong desire she had to kick Luke’s ass today. Maybe tomorrow.
She couldn’t ignore the periodic silences and the gulfs of distance that cropped up between them anymore. Something was wrong and it needed to be addressed. She only hoped it was something fixable. She loved that man so much it shook her to the core. And when he hurt, she hurt.
Harper turned off the timer, squared her shoulders, and welcomed Luke’s family into his home.
They entereden masse, Claire, Charlie, James, Ty, Sophie, and Josh. Making themselves at home in the kitchen and living room carting in food, sneaking tastes. Charlie turned the game on the TV while Josh and the dogs took turns chasing each other through the kitchen and dining room.
She told everyone Luke was out for a run to make up for the thirty pounds of food he planned to eat. Everyone seemed to buy it.
When Luke returned, sweaty and exhausted, Harper painted a bright smile on her face and avoided him in the kitchen. She wanted to be supportive, and stabbing him with a meat fork in front of his family would not be supportive.
