Chapter 41
T hey pushed the glass door of the diner open, and Harper spotted their group. A weekly breakfast had taken shape after Luke left. The participants varied depending on schedules, but today, they had to lay claim to a table plus a booth to accommodate the breakfast crowd.
“Sorry I’m late! Do we have room for another?
” Harper said as she pulled Luke with her.
She watched with pleasure as Claire looked up to greet her and froze.
A shriek exploded from Sophie’s lips as she frantically climbed out of the booth over a stupefied Ty holding Josh.
Claire shoved her chair back, almost tripping Sophie as they fought to get to Luke first.
Harper let go of Luke’s hand and stepped back as the women rushed him.
“For Pete’s sake, you just saw the girl two days ago. What’s all the…” Charlie turned in his seat to see what all the commotion was.
Spotting his wife and daughter wrapped around Luke, he stood slowly. James jumped into the fray hugging his brother, and the diner patrons broke into applause.
Charlie put his arm around Harper’s shoulders. “Good surprise, kiddo.”
She wrapped an arm around his waist. “I had no idea. He surprised me in the park on my run with Aldo the Sneak over there.” She jerked a thumb in Aldo’s direction.
Aldo winked from his seat with Gloria grinning next to him.
Charlie cleared his throat and leaned in. “You got twigs and leaves in your hair.” He winked and made his way over to Luke, leaving Harper frantically combing through her ponytail.
Wiping away tears, Claire and Sophie stepped back and let Luke and Charlie have their moment .
“Dad.” Luke extended his hand.
“Son.” Charlie took his hand and yanked Luke in for a hug. “Welcome home.”
Charlie released Luke, and Harper saw shock register when Luke realized who the next person in line to greet him was.
“Joni,” Luke said quietly. His gaze flew to Harper’s face, and she saw a war of emotions wash over him.
“Hi Luke,” Joni said quietly. “Welcome home.” She took a deep breath and opened her arms to embrace him.
Harper sniffled, and Claire put a steadying hand on her shoulder as they watched Luke stiffen at Joni’s touch and then carefully put his arms around her.
Luke’s gaze never left Harper’s face.
“I’m so sorry,” Joni whispered into his shoulder.
Harper squeezed Claire’s hand. “Why don’t you two take a minute to talk, and I’ll order you a coffee, okay Luke?”
Luke stepped back from Joni’s embrace and into Harper’s space, cupping her face gently in his hands. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered so that only she could hear.
Harper pressed her lips together and gave him a teary nod.“Go talk. I’ll be here when you get back.”
He leaned in as if he was going to kiss her and at the last second changed his mind. He dropped a chaste peck on her cheek instead and turned to hold the door open for Joni.
Harper sat down with the rest of the group and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach. This is what needed to happen for both of them. Regardless of what it meant for her, Joni and Luke needed this to move on.
Claire claimed her attention, demanding to know why she had leaves in her hair.
Luke hunched his shoulders against the chill on the steps of the diner and shoved his hands in his pockets.
He was the one who was supposed to do the surprising, yet here he was talking to his dead wife’s mother.
How had his past and present collided while he was gone?
And what the hell did it mean for all of them?
“I had no idea you were home,” Joni started. “Otherwise I would have given you and your family space.”
“You are always welcome, Joni,” Luke said, skating a hand over the back of his head.
“You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here with your family.” She cracked a smile. “At least, I would be if I were in your shoes.”
“The thought had crossed my mind.” He felt his mouth lift slightly.
Joni took a deep breath, her brown curls dancing in the chilly wind. “It all started a few months ago when I ran into Harper. When I found out who she was, I laid into her something fierce.”
Luke tensed, and Joni held up her hands.
“Don’t worry. She set me straight. Told me I was being stupid but that sometimes grief makes people do stupid things.
And she was right. When I lost Karen—when we lost Karen—I felt like I died that day, too.
You had your family and your business, and the Guard, but she was my life.
I was scared that you were going to move on and forget about her.
That her life—and mine—meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I blamed you.” She choked out the last words, and Luke crossed his arms but said nothing.
“I wanted it to be your fault, but the truth is it was mine.”
“Joni, you were right to blame me. If I hadn’t asked her to meet me?—”
Joni was shaking her head, tears threatening to escape. “I texted her. Told her I was running late. She was reading my text when she crossed the center lane. It was me. It was my fault.”
Luke’s breath rushed out of him. He shook his head. “ It’s not your fault. It was an accident.”
“How many people have said that to you over the years? And how many times has it made you stop feeling guilty?”
“A lot. And zero.” He leaned back against the railing. “I don’t blame you, Joni.”
“I don’t blame you either, Luke. I don’t think I ever really did.
I’m so sorry for what I said at the funeral.
I’m sorry for shutting out your family when all they tried to do was help.
And I’m sorry for saying what I said to Harper, even though she told me if I apologize one more time she was going to smack me. ”
Luke cracked a smile at that.
“Anyway, after Harper and I hashed it out, she invited me to Sunday dinner at your family’s and… well, here we are. I’ll understand if you don’t want me… around.”
“You’re family.” He said it and meant it.
They glanced through the glass of the diner window to their little group passing plates of pancakes and eggs. “I know coming from me and our situation, this might be awkward, but I like Harper. A lot.”
Luke nodded. Yeah, that was awkward.
She put her hand on his arm. “There’s one more thing.”
“I’m not sure if I can take anything else right now.” Luke was only half kidding.
“I knew about the baby. Karen told me and swore me to secrecy. I just wanted you to know that I know all that you lost that day.”
Harper watched anxiously through the window. At least there wasn’t any screaming or storming off. That had to be a good sign.
She took a deep breath. When she crawled out of bed this morning, she had no idea what an emotional day she would be facing.
Joni and Luke returned. Joni was smiling, but Luke’s expression was unreadable. His gaze locked on to Harper’s face. He took the seat next to her, but instead of hauling her up against his side, he maintained a careful distance. She wished they were alone and turned her attention back to her eggs.
He was home, and that’s what mattered. They would figure everything else out.
The happy breakfast crowd lingered over coffee and stories. Everyone was eager to fill Luke in on the last six months, and he was happy to listen. Harper listened with half an ear and tried not to worry about all the things she and Luke would have to catch up on.
Joni left first to tackle a list of errands.
Luke’s hand snaked under the table and gripped her knee. Harper put her hand on his and squeezed. His touch made her entire body hum.
“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered in her ear, lips brushing her sensitive flesh.