“Harper?” Luke’s voice crackled through the connection.
“Luke!”
“Harper, can you call me back?”
“Yes. I have the phone card here. Give me ten seconds, okay?”
“Hurry. Please.” He disconnected.
Something was wrong. Harper’s heart pounded in her chest as she dashed inside to grab the phone card out of her purse. She misdialed twice before she was able to calm her fingers enough to get through.
“Luke! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“Baby, I’m fine. But Aldo —” Luke’s voice cracked on his friend’s name.
Harper felt her heart clutch.
“Aldo’s hurt pretty bad. It was an IED. They medevacked him to Bagram. I don’t know his status.”
She heard him take a breath. Heard the catch in his throat.
“Oh my God, Luke. Honey, I’m so sorry.”
He cleared his throat and she knew he was pulling it in, tamping it down.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.” A tear trickled down her cheek at the pain in his voice. “Everything here is fine.”
“Please keep talking, Harp. I just want to hear your voice.”
“The dogs miss you. I keep coming home and finding your running shoes at the door. Max and Lola go into the closet every morning and carry them down there.”
She knew she sounded like she was being strangled, but she pressed on. She told him about Ty’s new police cruiser and how they got the bid on the Greek restaurant.
“That’s great, Harp. Thanks.”
“I love you, Luke.”
She heard his sigh, knew he needed the words.
“Can you do me a favor, baby?”
“Anything.”
“Go sit with Mrs. Moretta. She’ll be getting a call soon. Maybe take my mom?”
“Absolutely. If I hear anything I’ll email you and you do the same. Okay?”
“Thanks, Harper. I ... don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Anything for you, Luke. I love you so much.”
“I ... miss you.”
“Miss you, too. Call as soon as you can.”
“Will do.”
