“There you are, you grumpy sod!” My old friend says, beaming at me in that loud, jolly, bloodylikableway of his. He’s the same as always, a bit taller than me but not as built, light brown hair somehow both shaggy and styled. Looking tanned from his travels. The golden boy everyone loves.
My frown deepens when I spot his wife behind him. She’s dark-skinned, with long black hair in waves, memorable gray eyes Ben waxes on about. She has a huge smile. Not that she’s currently smiling. Her scowl matches mine actually.
She does not care for me.
Probably thinks I’m the evil conqueror come to destroy her hometown. She’s not far off. Still, I didn’t plan to have to exchange forced pleasantries with her this morning.
“Hello,” I reply, bracing myself for a bro hug with the back slapping. Ben’s a big fan of them.
“Right,” he says after embracing and releasing me, “What do you want to…oh.”
Harper slides over coffees for all three of us. She doesn’t look in my direction but she peeks out from her California state flag bandanna to smile at Ben. Of course. I study her, then the store. Some of the usuals are here, but a few I don’t recognize too. Hopefully drawn in from nearby towns with the warm weather and news of the upcoming Easter events.
I mean, not hopefully. I don’t care.
“Thanks Harp,” Janie says. Then she finds a spot by the window and gets settled, waiting for her husband and me to join.
“So, how’s it?” Ben asks.
We go into the usual catch up for a while. Mostly about their travels and Clark Industries, Ben’s family empire. I finallyconvinced Ben to invest in some property, so he updates me on that. Then there’s talk of a vow renewal and on and on. I start to zone out about the domestic bliss.
“You’ll have to plan a bachelor party, yeah?”
“Sure,” I say. Janie seems surprised, since Ben has a twin brother, Byron. I’m not at all surprised.
It’s always me who gets things done. It’s been that way since we were boys. We needed an answer, I spoke up and asked the question. We wanted to sneak out, I paid off the younger prefects, who would rat us out. I humbled myself and invited the Head Boy to join us so he didn’t set us up for a suspension. The boys wanted to go on a big trip after graduation, I had it planned, paid for, sorted.
I don’t mind it, taking care of things. I got very good at getting what I needed for myself at such a young age, it was easy to add my bunk mates’—and eventually Ben’s and Byron’s—needs in with mine.
Ben gives me some general ideas of when and where.
But as we chat, the door dings a couple times. Each time, I look over.
And yes,there she is.She’s smiling, eyes up. I listen closely and sure enough, she even asks the customer a question. It’s the cheery small town baker.
The Harper I sure as hell never get to interact with.
“And the site here, is it going well?” Ben asks.
I nod slowly, “Good. We had that bit of trouble at the start but since I’ve been here with security, smooth sailing.”
“Uh huh, and at what point did you make a bet the whole town would default between now and summer?” Janie asks, crossing her arms.
“Wifey,” Ben scolds her.
“What? It’s true, and let me tell you what. You underestimate her,” Janie spits. I glance again at theherin question. My eyes just keep traveling left in her direction like I’ve no control over them. Janie goes on, “Christmas in July is going to be next level. These holidays leading up are good too, but, seriously. Just wait.”
“Christmas in July?” I ask. “It’s not enough they coat this whole town in that garb starting in September?”
“You’ve never heard the expression?” Janie asks me.
Ben teases, “Some American you are. Where’s your sense of obnoxious capitalism?”
“You’ll see. If there’s someone the entire town will rally behind, it’s Harper,” Janie says before taking a bite of some sugary fritter type thing that looks delicious. I had a bran muffin back at the house because I’m going to have to order new suits soon if I don’t get my cravings under control while I’m based here.
“Why’s that?” I ask Janie, painfully curious.
Janie doesn’t answer right away. Her eyes narrow and she asks, “Why are you so curious?”
