"He doesn't mean the pastries," Jim said."He means the one serving them."
It took Harper a moment to understand what he meant.Spider and Rocket, who owned the bakery, were sweet, in her mind, but she knew damn well that wasn't what Jim meant.But then she remembered Bree, the girl who'd been working there for a while now.
She raised her eyebrows at Banner, and he nodded happily."She won't give me the time of day yet, but I'll keep going back until she comes around."
~ ~ ~
"Dad, can I ask you something?"
"Sure you can.Come on in, Button.What is it?"
Emmett was sitting on his bed.He'd called Harper a while ago, and she was coming over at three.The girls had been doing their own thing while he took a shower.He was getting better every day, but he still needed to sit for a while once he was dressed.
Tanya came in and plunked herself down on the bed beside him."I want to ask you something while Alana's not around."
He turned to give her his full attention."What is it?"
She flopped back on the bed, then rolled onto her stomach, tracing her finger over the pattern on the comforter."I don't want to upset Alana, and I don't want to upset you, but I want to call Harper Mama Bear."
Emmett didn't answer immediately.He did his best to support both his daughters, and he knew he was fortunate that mostly their needs didn't conflict, but he had a feeling this time might be the exception.Before he dismissed the request, he needed to understand where it was coming from.
"Do you know why you want to call her that?You call her Harpsichord, too.Isn't that just as good?It still means that the two of you share something special."
Tanya nodded slowly before faceplanting into the duvet and heaving a big sigh.He couldn't help smiling as he rested his hand on her back.
"I'm not saying no, I'm trying to understand what it is that you really want."
She rolled over onto her back."It's because…" She let out a breath."Harper was the one who started calling you Papa Bear.That very first time we met her.Do you remember?"
"I do."It was months ago now; Brooke had been helping him with the girls for years, but she’d just started working for Trip.He'd called her at the clinic to see if she was finished for the day, because he needed her help to get the girls while he was stuck on an emergency call.Harper had been right there with Brooke and Shelley and had volunteered her services to go and get the girls and bring them home.He hadn't liked the idea of some stranger going to get them, and she'd reassured him in her own inimitable style that she understood how protective he was—hence, the Papa Bear—and that she would take great care of the girls until he could get home.He smiled.She had.
"Well," Tanya continued, "I like you and her together, and if you're Papa Bear and she's Mama Bear…" She found his hand and slid her little fingers through his."It sounds like family.I want you to be happy, Dad, and Harper makes you happy, and… She makes me happy too, and I do still love Mom.But…"
"It's okay, Button.You said it earlier.I know you don't really remember her now."
"I feel bad about that."
"You shouldn't.There's no need.She wouldn't want you to do that.She'd want you to be happy too."
"So you don't think she'd mind if I call Harper Mama Bear?Or that I want to do it because… because that's kind of Mom, but not the same."
Emmett carefully lay back on the bed beside her, the two of them staring up at the ceiling."I don't know if I've ever told you before, but your mom made me promise her that when I was ready, I'd find love again.Before Harper, I didn't think I wanted to.But now that she's here, I know I have."
He turned to smile at Tanya and touched the tip of her nose."Your mom was smart like that.She always knew what was best, and she…" He had to swallow a couple of times before he continued."Part of what she wanted for you was that you should have a woman in your lives."He winked at her."She knew I'd do okay, but…"
Tanya rolled over and wrapped her arm around his waist."You do great, Dad.I don't want Harper because you don't do enough.You're the best dad in the world."
He closed his eyes and nodded."I do the best I can.I think we've done okay.But your mom was right.Especially now that you're older.Both of you.You don't need… It's better for you to have a woman too.And I think Harper is the right one."
"Hey, what's going on?"Alana appeared in the bedroom doorway."I didn't know where you guys were."
Tanya sprang up while Emmett struggled."Don't get up," she told him."You should come with us," Tanya told her sister.She pointed to the space on Emmett's other side."We're just talking."
Alana only hesitated for a moment before she came in and lay on her back.The three of them stared up at the ceiling."Is everything okay?"she asked after a little while.
"I don't know," said Tanya."I wanted to ask Dad if he minds me calling Harper Mama Bear."
Alana turned to look at Emmett.As he searched for words, she gave him a small nod."And you don't know what to say because you're worried about me, right?"
