17HarperOur Kind
Harper
Our Kind
Harper felt the car pick up speed, and a few minutes later, they were pulling into a pink stucco house in a quiet neighborhood. A woman in a puffer coat got out of the BMW in the driveway as Ash parked.
“I called Rowan,” she said, looking guilty. “I know you said you were coming, but I thought it was sort of his area.”
“It’s fine,” said Ash. “Mom, why don’t you wait with Harper in the car?”
“Oh, you’re with Harper! Why didn’t you say?”
“Mom, it’s fine. Just wait here with Harper.” Ash’s mom looked very uncomfortable, and Harper didn’t think she would be getting into the car. Ash hurried toward the backyard, and Harper got out.
“Hi, I’m Harper.”
“Rose,” said the woman with a nervous smile. She had short sandy hair and hazel eyes the same color as Ash’s. “Sorry to interrupt your date.”
“It’s OK. We were just deciding to go back to the Batcave and eat eggs. We peopled too hard.”
Rose’s eyes crinkled up in amused appreciation. “Yes, that happens to me, too. But it’s the holiday season, so I try to power through and show up for extra meetings.”
“Meetings?” asked Harper, puzzled.
Rose took a deep breath. “I’m a recovering alcoholic. I go to AA meetings to support and get support. People sometimes need extra help during the holidays.”
Harper didn’t think she’d ever heard anyone be that open about being in recovery.
“Yes, they do. That’s really great that you’re spending your energy to help other people.”
“Tommy and I like to double team. He gets the coffee, and I get the donuts. You know, Tommy, right? He says you make Ash laugh.”
Harper smiled. “I do know Tommy. He has the best shoes.”
Rose smiled. “I didn’t tell him that you and Ash were pretending. Are you sure you’re OK with fake dating or whatever ridiculous thing Ash says? It’s been worrying me.”
Harper appreciated that Rose was being so direct, but she was unprepared for total honesty.
“I’m all right,” said Harper, hesitantly. “Ash is my friend.”
“Yes, he clearly thinks the world of you,” said Rose. “But sometimes—”
Whatever Rose was about to say was cut off by the roar of a motor, and a blue car pulled up behind Ash’s black Porsche.
The vehicle was swoopy and low to the ground, which Harper guessed meant it was expensive, although she didn’t know what the logo of a little rearing horsey on a yellow shield meant.
“Oh, there’s Rowan. I did tell him Ash was coming.”
A man got out of the vehicle, unfolding out of the low-slung car in a way that showed off how tall he was. With his dark hair, Harper didn’t see the resemblance to Ash. He had a square-shouldered, purposeful walk that Harper envied. It made him look like he knew exactly where he was going.
“Mom—” He stopped and surveyed Harper.
“This is Ash’s girlfriend, Harper,” said Rose quickly, surprising Harper.
“Since when?” demanded the man, matching Rose’s bluntness.
“Ages!” exclaimed Rose. “Ages and ages.”
“September,” said Harper, belatedly realizing that Rose was trying to help by perpetuating her fake relationship with Ash.
“Since September,” repeated Rose. “They met at a birthday party. She was an instant hit!”
“I called his ex-girlfriend beige and her sister a bitch,” said Harper, honestly.
“Oh,” said Rose, sounding surprised. “I wish I’d done that. They’re both mean.”
Rowan began to laugh, his shoulders shaking in mirth. His smile made him resemble both Rose and Ash.
“Hi, I’m Rowan,” he said, holding out his hand to shake. “Where is my baby brother?”
“He went to check the door,” said Harper.
“He didn’t wait for me?” Rowan raised an eyebrow and took a deep breath as if trying to calm himself.
“OK, Mom,” said Ash, coming out of the backyard. He froze when he saw Rowan.
“I already introduced Rowan and Harper!” exclaimed Rose. “He’s happy to meet your girlfriend.”
“Could have mentioned you were dating someone,” said Rowan evenly.
“Uh… You know… Reasons,” said Ash, looking like a deer in the headlights.
He straightened up and gave the smile that Harper now recognized as fake.
“Anyway, everything’s fine. I think the wind blew a tree branch into one of the billion plant pots you have on the back porch, which tipped over and broke the door. ”
“Oh,” said Rose, flushing.
“We really need to get you a porch light with a motion detector,” said Ash.
Rose looked awkwardly at Rowan, and Harper suspected that her older child had previously made the suggestion.
“That must have been really scary to come home and see a broken door,” said Harper. “Are you sure you want to stay here tonight?”
“I’ll just put some cardboard over the broken glass,” said Rose. “At least I didn’t call the police. I feel stupid.”
“No,” said Rowan and Ash at the same time.
“It’s not stupid,” said Ash firmly.
“I’m probably just paranoid since you told me about the break-in at your office,” Rose said, shaking her head.
“Your office got broken into?” asked Rowan.
“Just the lobby. They couldn’t make it past the doors your guys installed,” said Ash. “It’s fine.”
“Uh-huh.”
Harper got the feeling Rowan was suspicious of that answer.
“Mom, I think you should stay the night with Vivian and me,” said Rowan.
“Oh, no,” said Rose, backing up until she bumped into her car. “No. That’s not a good idea.” She shook her head vehemently.
“You can stay with me,” said Ash, and Rose glared at him.
“And what about Harper?” demanded Rose. “I’m sure she’s staying with you.”
“Oh,” said Ash. “Uh…” He looked at Harper as if seeking help.
“I have an early morning meeting,” said Harper, which was true. “FEMA waits for no one, or even West Coast office hours. So I was going to stay at my place. You and Ash can make popcorn and watch Jaws.”
Rose and Ash looked equally relieved.
“Did he tell you that was our favorite movie?” asked Rose, with a smile.
“Yes,” said Harper. She figured putting it in his dossier counted as telling her. “And since I have literal nightmares about being eaten by a shark, you should feel free to enjoy it without me.”
“Really?” asked Ash. “I find the rubber shark hilarious.”
“I always preferred Deep Blue Sea,” said Rowan.
“I’ve never actually seen that one,” said Ash. “I’ve heard it was good. I just like all the seventies fashion in the original Jaws. The muttonchops alone are worth the re-watch.”
“I’m so old,” murmured Rowan.
“To be honest, if we’re just picking shark movies,” said Rose, “I like The Meg. Jason Statham is hot.”
“Yes, but I can watch him in movies without sharks,” said Harper.
“That is a good point,” said Rose.
Rowan began to chuckle again, his shoulders shaking.
“OK, Mom,” said Ash, shooting Rowan a sour look, “it’s settled. You’re staying with me. Harper’s getting a good night’s sleep so she can talk to the scary government people in the morning, and Rowan is going to go home and tell Vivian we’re all nuts. Go pack a bag.”
“If you really don’t mind...” said Rose, looking guilty.
“FEMA’s not that scary,” protested Harper.
“Well, all right.” Rose hurried toward the house, and Harper wondered if she ought to go with her.
“Tell me again about the break-in at your office,” said Rowan.
“Nothing was taken,” said Ash with a shrug. “It’s fine.”
“You going to be OK having Mom staying with you?”
“Yeah, no problem. She’ll probably just rearrange all my shit and try to paint my bathroom orange or something.”
“Isn’t your bathroom already orange?”
“It is burnt sienna,” said Harper, feeling the need to defend Ash’s colorful condo.
“Totally different,” agreed Rowan, flashing a grin at Harper, and once again, Harper saw the resemblance to Ash.
“Color runs in the family,” he added, gesturing to the pink house before them.
“Yesterday, Vivian said she was so glad I hadn’t painted my house brown.
I’m lucky she’s fine with the turquoise in my bathroom. ”
“I knew I liked her,” said Ash.
“Yeah, I think Mom would, too, but that was a pretty hard shutdown.”
“You invited her into Vivian’s space with zero warning and no way to exit,” said Harper. “I’d be intimidated, too. What if Vivian hates her? There wouldn’t be any place to go.”
Both Ash and Rowan were staring at her.
“You’re right,” said Rowan. “That was poor strategy on my part.”
Ash looked at Rowan in surprise but didn’t say anything.
“I’ll try for a lunch on neutral territory after she gets back from Palm Springs,” continued Rowan.
“That seems better,” said Harper, feeling reassured by Rowan’s new plan. She knew from Ash that Rose’s relationships with her older sons were strained. But it seemed like Rowan, at least, was making an effort.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Rowan. “Why don’t you take Harper and Mom home, and I’ll tidy up and secure the house?”
“Secure the house?” repeated Ash.
“Put the cardboard over the broken glass,” Rowan translated.
“I can help,” said Ash.
“No, let’s face it, having Mom out of my hair will make it go twice as fast, and Harper apparently has a meeting with the feds in the morning.”
“FEMA is not the feds. We’re trying to get one of our training sessions to qualify for the NDEMU independent study credits.”
Rowan looked at Ash.
“Harper is in Emergency Management,” said Ash. “She uses even more acronyms than you do.”
“Impressive,” said Rowan. Harper couldn’t tell if he meant that or not. “But you guys should really head out.”
“If you’re sure,” said Ash hesitantly.
“Yeah,” said Rowan. “Go on. Harper, it was nice to meet you. I’m glad Ash is dating someone colorful.”
Harper laughed at the description.
“Yeah,” said Ash, grinning. “Harper’s one of our kind.”
Harper smiled, but she still couldn’t help wondering if it was true or if Stephanie was right. He wouldn’t even tell his brother about her. How well could she really fit into his life?