Alana blew out a sigh."I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to—go slowly, I mean.I want Harper back."
Tanya nodded eagerly.
"I know.But, Sprout, don't you think there'll be times when something comes up, when something annoys you or Harper does something that you don't like, and you'll want her gone again?"
"No," Alana started to protest.But Emmett raised his eyebrows.
"Okay," she conceded."So sometimes I change my mind about stuff.And yeah, sometimes it's hard.But that’s because she's not Mom.It's nothing against Harper.It's just that she's… not Mom."
Emmett reached out to touch her arm."I know.And that's what I don't want to rush you through.You need time to process it, to get used to it."
She met his gaze and held it."Are you used to it?"
He shook his head slightly."No, not completely.And I don't think I ever will be.That's one thing I need you both to know: I still love your mom.I always will.And for the longest time, I didn't think I'd want or be able to love someone new.Harper took me by surprise."He looked at each of them in turn."And I know that might be hard for you guys."
"Not for me," said Tanya.She gave Alana an apologetic look."I still love Mom, too.But I was only small."She frowned."I don't really remember Mom.I want to, but I don't."
Emmett was glad that Alana spoke before he could.He didn't trust his voice not to crack.
"It's okay, Button.I know that.You were only tiny.It's just that I was older, so I remember her more.And…" She blew out a sigh."I'm good with Harper.Since we're all saying it, I'll admit it.I love her, too.She's been awesome with me.And I know sometimes I can be a pain in the ass."
Tanya's eyes widened.But Emmett just smiled."I'd never say that."
Alana chuckled."You can't, because you're my dad, but we both know it's true.And Harper's been good with me."She frowned, seeming to think something over before she spoke again."And you know what?I'm supposed to be a pain in the ass.I'm a fifteen-year-old girl.So yeah, I change my mind sometimes.And yeah, I struggle over Mom being gone.But you know what?That's what parents have to put up with.That's what families have to go through."She worried at her bottom lip before she continued."And if we're going to be a family, a new kind of family, then Harper should probably get used to it from the beginning."
"Maybe so, but I still don't want to rush us into something too fast."
"How long do we have to wait, then?"Tanya asked.
"I don't think it's a case of putting a timeline on it," said Emmett.
"I think we should," said Alana."Let's say unless something awful happens in the next two weeks, we should ask Harper to come back then."
He raised his eyebrows."Is there anything particular about two weeks that I'm missing?You don't think that's too soon?"
"I want her to come back now," said Tanya.
"And I think I do," said Alana."But I get what you're saying.So we should give it some time."
"I don't know that two weeks is long enough."
"There's only one way to find out," Alana told him."So, what do you say?Should we talk to her?Do you want to call her now and talk about it with her too?"
"Okay, but when we do, I'm going to put one condition on it."
"What's that?"Tanya asked.
"My condition," he answered her, even though he was looking at Alana, "is that if you change your mind at any point, you have to say so.And even if things go well in the beginning and Harper does come back, you need to promise me that you'll talk to me about it if you're not happy once she’s here.I don't want you to feel like you’re stuck after you make the decision—I need you to know you can still talk to me about it all."
She leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck."Thanks, Dad.But that's why I'm saying two weeks, to make sure first.Most of me wants to agree with Tanya and ask Harper to come back right now.But I'm trying to be sensible and wait a bit just to be sure."
He kissed the top of her head."I know.It's just that there's no way you can be sure until we're in the middle of it.And so I'm making my condition so that you always know you can talk to me."
She rolled her eyes at him."As if I don't know that!"
"So are we going to call her then?"Tanya asked.
Emmett chuckled."I'll call her just as soon as we finish getting the kitchen cleaned up."
