He was finding it a lot easier to get around again now, and the last thing he wanted was for Harper to come back to find the house a mess and feel like she needed to clean up after them.
~ ~ ~
Harper didn't know what time Emmett might call her today.It might not be till this evening, so she wasn't going to sit around waiting.There was nothing to do in the cottage.
She'd already spent enough time making it feel lived in again, and looking around, she nodded to herself—she'd succeeded.She went to touch the vase of flowers on the end table.They were the right touch.They made the place feel bright and homey.
She went to the fridge and then checked the cabinets.She was all stocked up.In fact, she had enough supplies in to last if some disaster struck or if there were another lockdown.So there was no reason to make a trip down to the grocery store.
There had to be something she could do to keep herself busy and pretend that she was just being practical.She smiled when it hit her.She could make a run over to the bakery.She could catch up with Rocket or Spider or whoever was working.And it wouldn't do any harm to show up at Emmett's later with chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake, and some of the girls' favorites.
Once she was in the truck, she decided to stop at the main house to see if Jim wanted anything.He might even want to take a ride over there with her.She knew he liked to hang out at the bakery sometimes.
"Anyone home?"she called as she knocked on the open front door.
It was Banner who answered, not Jim."Come on in, Harper, we're in the kitchen."
Jim greeted her with a smile from his spot at the head of the table.Brody was rinsing dishes, while Banner sat at the table with Jim.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your breakfast."
Jim waved a hand at her."You’re not; you can see we're finished.It's good to see you, young lady.I hear the play was a success last night."
She chuckled."Nothing gets by you, does it?"
"Only the chance to be there."
She nodded.She had asked if Jim wanted to come with them last night, but he'd declined, and she understood why.The seats in the theater weren't exactly comfortable.She'd felt stiff by the end of the evening, and she knew sitting there had taken its toll on Emmett.It wouldn't have done Jim any good.
"It was wonderful, and from what I understand, someone recorded the whole thing.I'll find it online when it's posted, if you want to see."
Jim chuckled."That's okay; the boys take care of things like that for me."
Banner winked at her."We have to timestamp it and fast forward to the spots he'll be interested to see."
She laughed at that."That's the way to do it."
Jim nodded."I only have so much time in a day and have to be sensible how I use it, since I don't know how many days I have left."
"Aw, don't say that, Jim."
"It's the truth.There's no point avoiding it, but that's not what you came here for.What can we do for you?"
"I came to see if there's anything I could do for you.I'm on my way to the bakery, and I wondered if you wanted me to pick anything up, or if you'd like to come along."
"It's good of you to ask, but Banner's about to make a run over there and pick up some goodies for us."
Harper turned to Banner."You can give me a list and I'll go for you, if you like."
Jim laughed, and Brody, who'd been quiet until now, turned to wink at Harper."Don't go saying that.You'll ruin his day."
She gave Banner a puzzled look."Ruin your day?"
"Yeah, he's taken to making a daily trip to the bakery lately."
She gave Banner a puzzled smile."Because?"
He grinned."Because I like something sweet."
