Once they were settled in a booth in the back, Shelley tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she said, "So, how did it go?Tell me all about it."
"It was really good.The girls were so sweet, Shelley Bells.I was concerned that even though I get along so well with them, they might not like the idea of me getting along too well with their dad."
Shelley nodded."I wondered about that myself, but they're okay with it, you think?"
She laughed."They're so okay with it that they made a big deal about going upstairs to do their homework after we'd all eaten."
"Aw, that's sweet of them.And how did it go once you and Emmett were finally by yourselves?In fact, wait a minute, have the two of you ever actually been alone together?"
Harper had to think about that for a moment."Well, there was the ride back from the airport, but other than that, not really."
"Well, that's going to have to change, isn't it?"said Shelley."I mean, of course the girls are going to be around most of the time, but you two will need some time for yourselves as well.Maybe I should get Trip to invite them for a sleepover one weekend soon."
"No, you don't need to do that."
Shelley shrugged."I like them, but I don't know them all that well.And I think that's why Trip hasn't spent more time with them.Apparently, he used to be very close with them when they were small, and they loved to come over to his place.They liked to dress up in his mom's old ball gowns."
Harper smiled at that."Maybe they used to when they were younger, but I'm not so sure now, Shelley.Tanya's a bit of a tomboy, and Alana's beyond playing dress-up, I think.Although, maybe not, but I think she'd see it more as a costume."
"Whatever the reason," said Shelley, "I'm saying that the girls could come and stay with us for a weekend, so that you and Emmett..."
"I know, and thanks, but that'll be a while away.If we even get there."
"That doesn't sound very hopeful."
"Oh, I am, I'm just trying to be realistic, too.Whatever happens will be more about the four of us than the two of us."
Shelley studied her closely.
"What?"she asked with a laugh."It's true."
"I guess so, but I think if there's going to be a four of you, then the two of you need to be solid in your own right."
"Yeah, I guess so, but it's early days yet, we'll see how it goes."
"Was there anything between the two of you yesterday?"
Harper had to smile."No, but there almost was."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, like I said, after we'd eaten, the girls disappeared upstairs to do their homework.Emmett and I hung out and talked.We went and sat out on the back deck and had a glass of wine until it was time for me to go."
Shelley grinned."Did you get a kiss goodbye?"
Harper laughed."No, that's what I meant when I said almost.We were like a pair of teenagers ourselves; it was one of those awkward moments.He walked me out to my truck, and opened the door for me.We both lingered.We were both thinking about it, but it felt weird.I couldn't, I didn't know why, but you know me, I told him that."
"Oh no, was he disappointed?"Shelley asked.
"No, he was relieved.He felt it, too.And we both wondered if it was just us, but then he figured it out."
"What was it; what was wrong?"Shelley asked.
"We both felt weird because we both must have known on some level that we were being watched."She laughed."I wouldn't have spotted them.But Emmett told me, without moving his head in that direction, that the curtains in Tanya's bedroom were twitching."
Shelley laughed out loud."Oh no, I'm sorry.I mean, it's not funny, but it is funny."
Harper laughed with her."Yeah, it was funny.It's all good.And it might have been the wrong moment anyway."
