It seemed she couldn't stop herself from interrupting, but this time when she spoke, her tone was much gentler.
"Of course I believe it.It's plain for anyone to see.What I said?Those were just words, Emmett.And they mostly came from my own pride being stung because you wouldn't let me fix a plate for you."
"I think mostly it came from you noticing way before I did that the way I spoke to Tanya shut her down, when she was excited to share with me."
When he glanced over at her, she shrugged again.
"Thanks for trying to take some of the blame, Harper.But it wasn't about your pride, and we both know it.It was about you looking out for the girls.That's what caught me off guard, made me angry at first, and it's the reason I asked Shelley if I could come pick you up today.I wanted to thank you.For looking out for them.For being there for them."He glanced over at her."For calling me out on their behalf.They need that—and I needed to be on the receiving end."
They'd reached the Livingston exit now, and when he brought the truck to a stop at the red light at the bottom of the exit ramp, he was finally able to look over and meet her gaze.
Her expression was gentler than he was used to.The warmth of her smile spread through his chest.
She waited for the light to change and for him to pull out onto the highway before she said, "You don't need to thank me.I'm glad it helped, but I should have found a different way and a different time to say something."
"Maybe so, but we both know I wouldn't have listened if you'd tried to talk to me reasonably about it."
She inhaled sharply."Are you trying to say that I was being unreasonable?"
He tensed for a moment, hoping he hadn't blown it.Then the sound of her laughter filled the cab of the truck, and he relaxed, letting the sound wash over him.
"I said nothing of the kind."
"Okay, so how about we put it all behind us.I'll keep my nose out and my opinions to myself."
His chest tightened when she added in a smaller voice, "That is, if you don't mind me still hanging out with them."
He shook his head slowly.
"No?"The note of panic in her voice made him hurry on.
"Relax.What I mean is that I don't want you to keep your nose out and your opinions to yourself.I think I need to hear them.You made me realize that the girls need more input, different perspectives than I can give them."
He looked over at her as he put his foot down when the highway opened up ahead of them."And I'd appreciate you calling me out when you think I'm screwing up.I've done okay so far, but…" He inhaled deeply before blowing it out slowly."They're at an age now where… You know."
He didn't want to spell out that Emily was gone, or that he wasn't a woman or…
His throat tightened when she touched his arm briefly and said softly, "I know, Emmett, and I'd be honored to help."
The moment passed quickly when she laughed and said in what he thought of as a much more Harper-like tone, "But when you're sick of me being a pain in your ass, remember you brought this on yourself.Then again, you won't need to remember—I'll remind you."
They rode in silence down East River Road toward Jim Sheridan's place.Emmett felt like he should say something else, but he didn't know what.He felt as though he'd run a marathon, which was crazy, since the conversation—the important part of it, anyway—had lasted less than a couple of minutes.
He hoped that Harper might take the lead at this point—ask him to explain more about what he meant.Not that he knew exactly what he had in mind other than the fact that Tanya and Alana were better off with her in their lives.And that he would benefit from her straight talk when it came to letting the girls grow into the women they were becoming.
He blew out a sigh, wishing that he knew in more concrete terms what kind of help he wanted from her.
He had to smile when she asked, "Does that sigh mean you're regretting this already?"
"Far from it."
"So, I can put myself back on the roster for school pickups and rehearsals and everything for next week?"
"Yeah, thanks.Everyone else stepped up while you were away, but the girls missed you."
She smiled big at that."I missed them, too."
"Shit, I should have asked before now.Did you have a good trip back home?"
