I have some regrets in life, but I’ve come to terms with most of them. If there’s anything life has taught me it’s that you have to take responsibility for your actions. Not sure where I was going with that but meeting you two girls would mean so very much. I can’t really explain the emptiness I’ve had inside sinceyou left my life. Sometimes, I feel real pain at the loss of you two dear souls. For all the years I missed out on. Those I regret.
I suppose that’s time creeping up on me. Don’t mind my words. The decision about whether or not to meet is all yours. As it should be.
With great affection,
Buck
Harper wanted to meet him more than she’d ever wanted to do anything. She checked the timestamp on the email. It had come in around eleven. Frankie probably hadn’t read it yet. Once she had, they could craft an answer together.
Harper set her phone aside. She had to talk Frankie into meeting Buck. She wanted them to go together. But if she couldn’t, she’d go by herself. She knew that wasn’t what they’d agreed on, but she was putting her foot down.
She wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity to find out the truth about their past. And to meet their biological father.
She closed her eyes and did her best to go back to sleep. Until she felt the familiar weight of Archie’s head on the mattress next to her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Nowyou have to go out?”
At the word “out,” his tail started wagging and he whimpered softly.
“Your timing needs some work, my furry friend.” With a sigh, she got up, stuck her feet in flipflops, and went to the kitchen to get his leash.
He followed her. She clipped it on and down the steps they went, then out through the rec room and into the backyard.
Thankfully, Archie didn’t do much sniffing, just found a spot and did what he needed to do.
She squinted at Mitch’s house. Unlike previous nights, the house was completely dark. She hoped that meant he was sleeping. One of them ought to be.
Clouds covered the moon, making it harder to see. Archie kicked his back feet through the grass, an indication that he was done.
“Come on. Back to bed.” As they headed into the house, distant thunder rumbled.
Were they in for rain? Wasn’t uncommon during the summer but there hadn’t been a rainy day since she’d arrived. They were probably due. No worries. A little summer shower was no big deal.
It would be a good day for Frankie to get work done and for Harper to give her clients some extra attention. Willa would find something to do.
Mitch probably wouldn’t mind one bit, either. Rainy days and writers seemed to go together.
She locked the door behind Archie. “Do you need your feet wiped?”
Archie just stared at her. She grabbed some paper towels and wiped his paws, just in case. They might be stuck in the house tomorrow, but she didn’t want to spend the day cleaning.
Chapter Twenty-Four
As usual, Mitch rose while it was still dark. He was greeted with the most wonderful sound. The faint rumble of an approaching storm.
He got his run in right away, watching the sky go from black to bruised gray, the clouds keeping the sun from shining. He loved a day like this. Something about rain and gloom and thunder just set the tone for the kind of stories he loved to write.
Today would be a productive day. He could feel it.
He showered, poured himself a cup of coffee, then headed to the back deck with his journal and pen.
Whitecaps crested the choppy water and wind whistled past the house. He smiled as he took his seat. He could smell rain in the air. Wouldn’t be long now. Thankfully, Joyce’s sister wouldn’t arrive until later this evening. By then, things would probably clear up.
He opened his journal to a fresh page, jotted the date across the top, then began writing.
Rain on the way. Looking forward to it. I know most people don’t love the rain, but I do. There’s something about it that’s just perfect for writing. I think I read something once abouthow it puts the right kind of ions into the air, the sort that refresh the body and spark creativity. I’m all for that.
I anticipate a lot of words today, which is a good thing, since I took yesterday off.
