“Harper, I…”
She stomps across the porch to the steps, “We both know you don’t need to be here to oversee construction. You want to go to London right now? Just go! GO!”
She screams the last word and stomps down the steps to turn back and add, “And you take Stuart with you or I’ll never forgive you. Never! I can’t have him staring at me all day waiting…waiting for his best friend to come back. Not again,” she says, tears freely flowing down her face now. I hate each one. “You take Stuart and you never come back here!”
“Harper,” I step toward her, eager to wipe her tears and hug her one last time, to tell her I’ll be waiting for her, as long as it takes. But she jumps off the last step and nearly runs to her car. To the Bronco. I watch in agony as the headlights turn on, pull away, then disappear altogether.
With an ache in my chest I fear will never go away, I turn to find Janie. I’ve a plan, after all, one that’s been in the works for weeks now. Time I put it in motion.
CHAPTER 37
Harper
I hear the ding of the doorbell, and, like the whole crowd of usuals in the restaurant, I look up hopefully, then deflate. I suppress a groan of disgust at myself. At all of us.
Eventually Maxine nods with a “Welp,” and then leaves because she can’t stay any later. Because it’s time for her to open her shop. Meaning it’s freaking late.
He’s not coming.
He left.
Heleft.
I’ve been left behindagain.
I fight the tears that threaten to restart after a whole night of crying.Again.
This time I told him to go, but I didn’t mean it and he knew it. And he didn’t deny his desire to go to London. He also didn’t ask me to go with him. I think that’s what hurt the most.
Well, hard to say.
It all hurts.
It hurts all freaking day.
And the next day.
And the next.
_____
I open the shop a couple minutes early, determined to turn my attitude around. I start a new arrangement of fresh flowers, I add some new chalk doodles to the sidewalk sign. I put on a happy pop playlist instead of the ones with moody coffee shop vibes.
Bloom, we’re blooming.
When I hear the first doorbell chime, I’m surprised to look up and see, well, everyone. I frown. What are they all doing here at once? So early?
“Good morning, Harp,” Steven starts, coming up to the counter like one would a wounded bird.
“What’s wrong,” I say quickly.
“Nothing,” Steven says.
“You,” Max says at the same time.
“What? I’m fine,” I try to smile.
Steven gestures at my face, “Putting aside whatever that is—”
