"Really?I would have thought they'd have wanted to be at home with Emmett."
"Yeah, me too, but he decided it was better for them not to know until this morning."
"Ouch.How did you feel about that?"
She sighed."Like it's up to him how he handles things with his daughters."
"I know, but...are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine.I’ve just been taking a trip down memory lane.I haven't seen the pointy end of a gun in who knows how many years, and I certainly haven't had to consider how a daughter feels when her father’s injured in even longer."
"Do you want me to come over?"
"No, thanks.That's okay.I'm going to jump in the shower, get changed..."She blew out a sigh."And then probably hang around here, waiting to see if Emmett wants me to go back over and help out."
"Help out?Is that all it is?It didn't seem that way to me yesterday.He was glad to see you."
"I was glad to see him too, of course I was, but I think that kind of thing has to go on the back burner for a while, doesn't it?"She let out a short laugh."I'd hate to be accused of pouncing on the man when he's incapacitated."
Shelley laughed with her."I hardly think anyone would accuse you of that."
"I'm not so sure.You saw Blane, didn't you?Sergeant Sparkles?"
Shelley laughed."Oh my god!I can just imagine his reaction to you calling him that.He's a bit...scary, isn’t he?"
"Stern maybe, not scary."
Harper stood up a little straighter.Yeah, sure, Blane was an intimidating figure, but she refused to be afraid of him.And when it came down to it, she was glad that Emmett had such a good, if fierce, friend.
"Well, do you want me to come over and hang out with you until you know what you're doing?"
Harper closed her eyes.As much as she wished that Shelley had been there with her at Emmett's house last night, she didn't think she could face her coming over now—she knew that once she was surrounded by the warmth of her friend's support, she might just fall apart.
"I'm good, thanks.What are you and Trip up to today?"
"Don't brush it off as though it's something normal that you have going on," said Shelley."It's a big deal, Harps.It's okay to be shaken up."
"I know, and thanks, but you know me—I have to brush it off and keep going."
"I know you do.But promise me that when you slow down, if it catches up with you, you'll let me be there for you."
"You're the only one I ever have."
"That wasn't an answer," Shelley said sternly.
Harper laughed."It's as close as you're gonna get.How about that?"
"Fair enough.I'll take it, since you're being honest about it.And as for Trip, he's on his way out soon—heading down to see Emmett.I thought I could ride with him, and he could drop me off at your place.If you need to leave and go to Emmett’s, I can always pop over to see Jim."
Harper pursed her lips."It would be good to see you."
"You, too."
"Just don't be too nice to me, okay?"
Shelley laughed."I'll do my best."
"You know what I mean.I can hold it together until you're nice to me."
