9. Harper
Chapter 9
Harper
I check my phone again. Voice mail. Email. Not that Bastian has that, but still. I feel like this is Groundhog Day repeat of when I arrived here. He’s nowhere to be found.
Part of me doesn’t want to be disappointed. I want to be fine with it. Afterall this is my last day in Berlin before I go back home. But…
I am.
I thought yesterday was special. I thought maybe we could make things work. I thought…
He was the one.
But this little trick of blowing me off says otherwise. My chest clenches and I remember to take the meds I’ve packed in a baggie in my pocket.
And this is why I have trust issues. Everyone leaves. Everyone goes their own way. Maybe it’s me. Or maybe it’s they just move on and I stay stagnant.
Well, not anymore.
I shake off what’s happened. I am Super Harper after all, or at least I pretend to be enough to move forward. I start out to visit some museums. That’s what we had on our list for today and I’m not going to ruin my day.
But maybe something happened. Maybe he’s hurt… or stuck on the train getting here… or…
I text him one more time.
Harper: I’m at Museum für Naturkunde . I’m going to go in. I do hope you’re okay, but if you’re blowing me off, maybe I don’t.
I wait for another minute and then I shove my phone back in my zippered pocket and head into the museum.
When I exit the museum, my phone buzzes. I scramble so fast to get my phone from my pocket that I basically juggle it and a group of teens giggle.
I look at the screen and see Caia.
My sister. My baby sister.
Caia: When are you coming home? Did you know that Kriti is pregnant?!
Kriti being one of Caia’s best friends and a wife of one of the hockey players.
Harper: No, I did not, but doesn’t surprise me. She and Aiden were doing it like… ??.
Caia: LOL, but still. I didn’t expect the sexpert to get to baby belly so soon. You didn’t answer me on coming home.
Maybe sooner rather than later.
Harper: I’m leaving in the morning.
Caia: What do you think about Alexie?
Alexie?
I try to figure out who she’s talking about.
Oh, Alexie… shit.
Our father Robert “Wolfman” Anderson is the General Manager for the Frostwolves Hockey team in Denver Colorado and my sister has been hockey player crazy since she was barely able to walk. But my father has put the kibosh on any of the players going farther than friends with any of my sisters. Although my middle sister Leesa couldn’t care less about men. She swore them off after her divorce. My niece is her everything and maybe that’s good. After her divorce tore her apart, I thought she might never come out of her depression.
And that’s another reason I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole of sadness. I just want to appreciate what I have.
But I do miss Bastian.
My phone buzzes in my hand again.
Caia: HARPER!
Harper: No! Dad will kill Alexie. You know the rules!
Alexie being the Frostwolves Right Wing. All Russian, 6’7” and two hundred fifty pounds of solid man. And off limits.
Caia: But…
Harper: Nope. It’s not smart and
I start typing but still. Who am I to deny her the chance at love? And isn’t it better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all?
Oh fuck…
I erase that message and start over.
Harper: Go for it.
Caia: Really?
Harper: Sometimes we have to take a chance.
Caia: What has happened to you over there?
Harper: Everything and nothing.
Caia: I’ll pick you up at the airport.
I laugh. Fat chance of that happening. She’s known for being the flake.
Harper: I have a ride. Thank you.
Caia: Have fun!
Harper: Thanks. You, too.
I step onto the street and see something familiar. Rheinlander Haus.
I could go for some schnitzel.
I’m not two steps into the red and gold with dark walnut woods restaurant and I hear, “Harper!”
Helga. Her voice is so welcoming. She crosses the room like a bull charging, but when she reaches me, she just cups my face and gives it a little squeeze.
“It is so nice to see you again.”
“Thank you. I was wondering if I could get a bite to eat before I head back to the hotel?”
“Where is Bastian?”
“I don’t know.” My bottom lip starts to quiver and as much as I want to stop it. I want to breakdown and just get all my feelings out too. “We were supposed to meet and he never showed.”
Her brow furrows. “Oh sweet girl. I’m sorry.”
“I thought he was different, Helga.”
Her arm wraps around my shoulder. “He is. There has to be a reason.”
“I want to believe you, but maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the problem.”
A man with deep red hair stands from the corner throwing bills onto the table. “Oh, you are a problem, but it’s not why he stood you up, you silly American. He was arrested. He stole some American’s passport. The police caught him. Finally.”
Helga shakes her head. “No. No. He was clean.”
“He’s a criminal and always will be.” The man smiles at me. “But if you want a real man?—”
“Get out Dieter! And never come back!” Helga yells at him and a large man comes from the back.
Dieter takes one look at the man and he’s walking toward the door.
“Once a thief, always a thief, Helga!”
“Speak for yourself.”
I watch in disbelief as Helga chases him out and then comes back.
And then it hits me. American. Passport.
I set my backpack down on the table and start searching. I become more frantic. Finally just dumping everything out on the floor and drop to my knees to search.
And nothing.
“My passport is gone,” I say to no one in particular. “How could I be so stupid?”
Helga kneels in front of me. “Harper, please, believe me. Bastian didn’t do it. I guarantee.”
“It’s nice that you’re supporting him, but the only guarantee I need right now is to get another passport and get the hell out of here.”
“I know you’re upset, but don’t go away without finding out the truth. You’ll regret it.”
“Is that your sage German wisdom?”
“No, Bastian’s going to get my sage German wisdom including a swift kick in his ass.”
I shake my head. “I guess I have to go to the Embassy to get another one.”
“Perhaps you should check your hotel for your passport just once,” she offers, being reasonable.
But probably also giving her time to find Bastian and kick his ass.
I do hope there’s a good reasoning for his absence.
“Can I have something to eat first?” I ask.
“Honey, you can have whatever you want.”
“Dessert… more dessert.”
Helga laughs. “I’ve got you.”
At least someone has got me.