She stepped inside the studio and saw Owen at his workbench, engrossed in shaping a piece of molten glass. He looked up as the door closed, his face breaking into a smile that always seemed to ease some of her burdens.
“Hi, Harper,” Setting down his tools, he wiped his hands on a cloth. “How was your day?”
“It was all right. I spent some time with Granddad, and met Mom for a coffee.” Harper walked over to him and gave him a hug. “It’s good to be here.” Owen’s arm wrapped around her, cocooning her in a wonderful warmth that heated her from the inside out.
He kissed the side of her head. “How was the meeting with the other students doing the trauma course?”
“It was interesting. Everyone’s come from completely different backgrounds.” Harper stepped away and took off her backpack. “The workbook is more than an inch thick. It’s full of assignments and reading material. Look at this.” She showed Owen the voucher their instructor had given them. “3M and Johnson & Johnson sponsor the course. If we pass, we log into the website at the bottom of this voucher, and they’ll send us a medical kit worth five hundred dollars.”
Owen’s eyes widened. “That’s impressive.”
Harper nodded. “We thought so, too. Doing the course will be a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to brushing up my skills. How was your day?”
“It was interesting. I made some more vases and bottles for my store, and Steve introduced me to Rex, his new dog.”
When Owen showed her the photos he’d taken of Rex, her heart melted. “He’s so adorable. Is he as tiny as he looks or is it the angle of the camera?”
Owen held his hand above his workbench. “He’s this high. I have no idea how Steve’s going to take him for walks. They’ll have to stop every few minutes for Rex to catch his breath.”
“You might be surprised.” Harper laughed. “Rex will be used to moving twice as fast to keep up with everyone else.”
Owen’s expression turned from amusement to concern as he looked into Harper’s eyes. “You’re tired,” he observed gently, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you sure you’re not taking on too much?”
Harper sighed. “I might be, but I don’t have a choice. After everything that’s happened, I feel like I need to do the course. Not just for me, but for Granddad and everyone else who might need help one day. Zac’s been great, and Mom and I are taking turns to spend time with Granddad.”
Owen nodded. “Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. How’s Benjamin?”
She leaned against the workbench, her fingers tracing the edge of the neatly laid out tools. “He’s stable, but it’s hard not seeing him as the person he used to be. Granddad’s worried, and so am I. The care facility Mom found is amazing, but what if he can’t ever come home? He’ll hate being there for a long time.”
Owen reached out, taking her hands in his. “The staff will do everything they can to help your granddad. If he needs to stay there, it’s because it’s the safest place for him.”
“I know you’re right,” Harper said sadly. “But it doesn’t make it any easier for him.”
“Come here,” Owen said, pulling her into another embrace.
Harper rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was moments like these that reminded her why she’d fallen in love with him—his unwavering support and the quiet strength he offered.
After a moment, Owen pulled back a little, looking down at her with a smile. “How about I make us a cup of coffee? You can tell me more about your course, and we can figure out a study schedule that won’t run you ragged.”
“That sounds perfect,” Harper replied, her tone a little lighter. As Owen went to prepare the coffee, she took a seat, her eyes wandering over the array of glass creations around the studio. Each piece reflected a part of Owen’s journey, much like the path she was on with her trauma course—fraught with challenges, but beautiful in its purpose.
She just hoped her granddad’s journey would lead him to a good place and not somewhere he didn’t want to be.
Chapter21
Harper breathed in the sweet, tangy scent of the pine trees as she strolled with Owen along the trail bordering Flathead Lake. The crisp air was refreshing, a welcome respite from the heaviness that had settled around her heart since her granddad’s stroke.
The serenity of the bay seeped into her bones. The rhythmic sound of their footsteps and the gentle lapping of the water provided a peaceful soundtrack to their walk.
Owen matched her pace with an easy stride. They’d thought about biking around the lake but, after two hours of study, Harper was desperate to do something that didn’t involve sitting.
This was her time to recharge, to prepare for the emotional visit to the care facility in Polson.
Owen glanced at her, a soft smile on his face. “It’s good to see you enjoying being outside. How are you holding up?”
Taking a deep breath, Harper considered his question. “I’m okay. These walks help. It’s just...” Her voice trailed off as the reality of her granddad’s unhappiness weighed on her.
Before Owen could say anything, the persistent buzz of her phone interrupted them. Harper’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the New York area code. “I’d better get this,” she told him. “It’s from someone in New York.” She pushed the green button and frowned. “Hello?”
