"But why would she think it's easier?You love her.How could… wait… she knows you love her, right?"
Emmett pursed his lips.
"Well, shit, Mitty.What do you want the woman to do?"
"I have no freaking idea.Want?I want her to stay.I want for the four of us to figure out how to be a family—a new-shape family.Not anything that would replace Em, but to be, I don't know—the what-came-next in the story of our life.But Alana's not ready for it.How can I make my daughter miserable to make myself happy?And it's not that straightforward even for me.How could I be happy letting someone new—letting Harper—into our life?I know I'm contradicting myself, but that's how it feels, bud.It's all one big contradiction.And I don't know what to do with it.And Harper's trying to remove herself from the equation, and maybe… maybe…" He didn't want to say it, didn't want to see it as the solution—even though he couldn't find another.
"You're thinking maybe you should let her go?"
Emmett stared out through the windshield at the mountains as Blane turned out onto East River Road and headed south."Yeah," he said eventually."What do you think?"
Blane didn't reply for a while.Instead, he reached the pullout by the river and brought the truck to a stop."You want to know the truth?"
Emmett braced himself—Blane's truths were never gentle."I do."
"Okay.Then I think you're a damn fool if you let her go.You love her.I never thought I'd hear you say that about someone who wasn't Em—you know I didn't want to.But Harper's… good.I didn't want to like her, but I do.More than that, I respect her.I see what she does for you and for the girls.She's good for them, even Alana—maybe especially Alana.And I know figuring it out would be hard.I have no fucking idea how you can do it.But you're no quitter, Mitty, and nothing worth having comes easy."
He went on before Emmett could reply."You know I'm the last one to give relationship advice, but I'd say maybe you let her take that step back.Maybe you guys need to build more slowly.She moved in because you needed help, and that was right.But maybe what it needs—what Alana needs—is time to get used to the new shape before she's landed right in the middle of it.Maybe that's it.Shit, I don't know.But I don't think you should give her up."
Emmett shifted in his seat."That's not all, though."
"Jesus, what else?"
"Her old boss called this morning—that's the second time that I know of.He wants her to go back."
"Does she want to?"
"She says she doesn't, but how can I ask her to stay here—to take on me and the girls when she could have her old life back?"
"Seems to me the better question is how could younotask?If you don't, you'd be letting her make a decision without all the available intel."
"But telling her I want her to stay, telling her I love her—that seems like putting pressure on her."
"It seems like being honest to me.And besides, she strikes me as the kind who wouldn't buckle under pressure."
Emmett smiled."She is."
"Do you want me to take you back to the house so you can talk to her some more?I felt like I walked into the middle of something when I arrived."
He considered it for a moment."No.Thanks, but no.I said I'd talk to her later, and I will.And she might be talking to her old boss."
Blane shook his head."I'd say that's all the more reason to get your ass back there."
"Maybe.Thanks, but I’ll wait."
"I wish I could do something to help.I promised Em I'd have your back—and we both knew that didn't just mean I wouldn't let anyone hurt you.I won't let you screw yourself over, either."
"I'm not trying to screw myself over, just trying not to screw things up."
"I know.When you talk to her, you should tell her that you love her.I think that might be what she most needs to hear."
Emmett turned to look at him.
"Don't go trying to psychoanalyze me.I'm saying that because I did some digging around—needed to know what you were getting yourself into."
Emmett scowled.
"What?Don't act surprised.If you'd given it a minute's thought, you'd know that's exactly what I'd do.Turned out it wasn't too hard to find out about her.She's Shelley's friend.Trip's always happy to talk about Shelley.And when we had a few beers and I asked about Shelley's background, he told me about her oldest friend—Harper, who grew up in foster care.Who… had it tough.He thinks the world of her."
