She chuckled."No, but they mean well."
"Oh, I know, I'm not going to give them a hard time about it or anything."
"I didn't think you would.They love you, Emmett.They're trying to look out for you."
"I know."He held her gaze for a moment."And they seem to think that this is a good idea."
She nodded slowly."They do."
"What about you?"he asked after a few moments.
"I think it could be.I'd like for it to be.But I think we'd need to proceed cautiously."
"Yeah, there's no question about that."He glanced through the doorway where the girls had disappeared."I know they're enthusiastic right now."
"But they could change their minds at any point," Harper continued.
"Yeah."
"And if they do, I'll respect it.I'll back away.They're the most important ones in all of this."
He didn't answer that.Of course the girls were important.But...he inhaled deeply when it hit him, for maybe the first time since Emily died, that as important as the girls were to him, he had a right to a life for himself as well.
Chapter Ten
"Morning, Harper," Rocket greeted her with a grin when she walked into the bakery.
"Hey, Rocket, how's it going?"
"I'm doing great, thanks; how about you?"
"Yeah, I'm good."She looked around the bakery."I'm meeting Shelley."
"She's not here yet.What can I get you?"
"I'll take an Americano, thanks."
"Do you want to take a seat and I'll bring it over or..."
"Hey, Harper," Candy stuck her head out from the back."We don't usually see you in here on Monday mornings."
"No, I know, but I didn't manage to catch up with Shelley this weekend, so we're going to have coffee."
"Good for you.Look, here she is."
Harper turned to see Shelley pulling up outside.
"I'll let the two of you chat, but I might come and join you on my break later, if that's okay."
"Of course it is."
Candy laughed."I know you don't mind, but I also know that the two of you have your secrets."
Harper rolled her eyes at her."And I've told you, I won't be keeping them for long."
From the way Candy said, "Good, I'm looking forward to hearing all about it," Harper had to wonder if news of her eating at the diner in town with Emmett and the girls on Saturday had spread further.Jim said that his friends had told him about it, but they hadn't been the only other people in the diner.And when she'd thought about it, she realized that with Emmett being so well known and liked in the valley, people no doubt would gossip.
Rocket set her coffee down in front of her and waved to Shelley as she came in.
