I swore I must be sending some kind of hormonal smoke signal because Max always appeared when he sensed I needed something—even if that something was only his presence.
Turning, I nodded and started to sayyes, but the word stuck in my throat, seeing the look in his eyes. It was now a look I recognized. A look that Jamie had for Violet, and Chandler for Frankie, and Wade for Lou, and Kit for Aurora. And then he blinked, and it was gone.
“How is everything going with FMH, Max?” Jamie asked as he packaged the leftover chicken and beef into savers.
FMH was a huge hotel management group based out of Boston. Their landmark luxury hotel sat on the rim of Copley Square, and the name only stuck out because I remembered how surprised Todd had been when Max got a meeting with the CEO. It was recent, after Todd had left MaineStems, but before we got engaged. I sensed Todd took it as some kind of personal failure that Max was still able to get meetings with big companies without him, without the connections of the McCormicks.
God, how many of Todd’s insecurities had I ignored or explained away?
“Great,” Max answered, his hand falling away from my back like he just realized someone else might see. “They have their annual pancreatic cancer awareness fundraising gala in three weeks, and we’re doing all the flowers. Erica’s been handling the bulk of the prep work, but I’m going to be in the city for that to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
In Boston.
“Damn, Harp, this blueberry honey is good,” Nox rumbled, swirling the drink Kit just handed him. It looked to be some whiskey and honey combination.
“Thanks,” Harper beamed.
“Are you going to start selling it soon?” From what I’d gathered, she’d only made a small batch that had been given out to friends, family, and a few local businesses to use.
“It’s going to be one of six special edition flavors that I’m going to reveal next spring.”
“Next spring?” That seemed like forever from now. Maybe because so many things would be different in my life by spring. I’d have a baby. Max wouldn’t be my husband anymore.
“I still have three more flavors to work out.”
“And she’s fighting off a bully.”
“Gigi!” Harper shook her head with a groan, glaring at the bright purple head of hair that bobbled into the dining room.“I’m not. It’s fine. Wade sent him a letter, so I think—I hope—it will stop.”
Right.Lou’s fiancé was a big-shot Boston lawyer. It was hard to remember that when he worked at the inn with Lou, like living in this small town and being by her side was the only thing he’d ever wanted to do.
“That’s good.”
“It is…”
“But?”
“Sometimes, it feels like the damage is already done. The ideas he planted…the things people say online or leave reviews for my products…”
I took her hand and squeezed. I hated the internet bully culture, especially when it was compounded by those who didn’t even bother to take the time to verify the truth.
“Let them,” I said softly. “Let them talk. Let them waste their time. Just keep doing you, Harper.”
“Thanks, Daisy.” She tipped forward and hugged me as best she could. Over her shoulder, I caught Max’s arched brow. Without thought, my head jerked to the side as if to tell him I hadn’t said anything to her. She drew back, and I wasn’t prepared for what came next. “How are you doing? After everything…”
Her voice was quiet, wanting me to know this conversation was only between us. I didn’t begrudge her for asking. I couldn’t. Not when there was only an earnest concern in her tone.
“I’m…” How was I? Alone? Married? Attracted to my temporary husband? “I’m going with the flow.”
“Have you…heard from Todd?”
I shook my head, my hand instinctively reaching for my stomach.
It wasn’t the first time I’d been asked the question in the last few weeks, but it was the first time anyone but Max hadasked it. There was an unspoken agreement between Max and me. We never asked if the other had heard anything from anyone because we knew the other would share as soon as one of us did. It spared us a conversation that neither of us wanted to have.
“No, I haven’t,” I said, offering her a brave smile but holding back the part of the answer I hadn’t told anyone—that I didn’t want to.
Todd made his choice, one I should’ve made long ago, and to talk to him now or for him to come back now—it would only complicate the life I had to rebuild for myself and our daughter. I wouldn’t stop him from seeing the baby. Underneath all his mistakes, I knew Todd had a good heart. Time and space made clearer that he didn’t know how to love anyone else because no one had ever made him feel safe enough to love himself.
