21. Harper
CHAPTER 21
Harper
My eyelids were strangely heavy as I piped cream cheese frosting onto a batch of red velvet cupcakes. It seemed like I’d slept fine the night before, but maybe I’d tossed and turned more than I thought.
I put the piping bag down and sank onto a stool. For the last week or so, I’d been getting tired in the afternoon. I kept wondering if I was about to get sick. It felt like my battery was running low.
Maybe I needed some fresh air. I loved the fast pace of my job, but it also made it easy to forget the outside world existed. A little sunshine would do me good.
That, and food. Maybe I wasn’t eating enough.
I finished frosting the cupcakes so they could go in the case, then told Beth I’d be out for about an hour. I’d get outside, take a short walk, and grab lunch. Hopefully that would energize me for the rest of my day.
After taking off my apron and hanging it on a hook, I grabbed my purse and went out the back door. It was June and the days were getting warmer. The sun felt great on my skin and the air was fresh. Perfect for a walk through town.
I glanced at my car in the back parking lot. No unexpected packages. There hadn’t been another once since the murder bear. Hopefully that meant it had been a mistake, or whoever had left it—whether it was Matt or someone else—had decided to stop.
That was a relief.
And the bear hadn’t come to life and murdered anyone, so I had that going for me.
I went around to the front of the building and headed up the sidewalk. My body still felt oddly fatigued, even in the fresh air, so I picked up the pace to get my blood moving a little more. That had to help.
At the corner, a man in a faded flannel shirt and brown leather vest crouched in front of a wine barrel planter. A shaggy beard showed beneath his wide-brimmed hat, and he looked up at me with a smile that creased the skin around his eyes. Harvey Johnston. I’d met him once or twice and he’d always been friendly, if a little eccentric. Aunt Doris said he was a longtime Tilikum resident who was, in her words, not quite all there.
I figured Tilikum was just full of quirky people.
“Hi, Harvey.” I paused next to him. “What are you up to?”
He stood and brushed the front of his vest, although it didn’t look like he had dirt on his hands. “Good. Oh, no, that’s not what you asked. What am I up to?”
It was hard to tell from his tone if he was just repeating the question or if he really wasn’t sure. I waited to see if he wanted to answer.
“Oh!” He held up a finger, his eyes widening with excitement. “I know what I’m up to. I made these.” He picked up what looked like a small picnic table with attached benches. Instead of a flat tabletop, it had a container filled with nuts and seeds.
“That’s so cute. Is it for the squirrels?”
“Someone’s been making squirrel-proof bird feeders and selling them all over town. I know our squirrels can be a nuisance, but the birds do just fine on their own. And since so many feeders are flinging them off like slingshots, I thought I’d give the squirrels a nice place to eat.” He set the picnic table down next to the planter.
“That’s smart. Maybe if they have their own little tables, they’ll leave the birdseed alone.”
One eye squinted almost shut as he tapped his temple. “Yes, indeed. Thinking, I was. And what are you up to today, Miss Tilburn?”
“Just getting out for a walk and I’ll probably grab some food.”
“Good, good.” He patted the pockets on his vest and his brow furrowed, as if he’d lost something. “You have a nice day, now.” He turned in a circle, looking around. “What did I do with it?”
I pointed to a canvas drawstring bag on the ground next to the planter. “Is that what you’re looking for?”
“Oh, yes, I think it is.” He picked up the bag and tipped his hat to me. “Afternoon, Miss Tilburn.”
“Afternoon, Harvey.”
He walked out into the street without looking for traffic and the driver of a green pickup slammed on his brakes to keep from hitting him. I winced, but Harvey didn’t seem to notice. Just kept walking, muttering something to himself that I couldn’t hear. The driver didn’t make a scene, either. He just waited for Harvey to cross and went on his way.
Tilikum was definitely an interesting place.
A pair of squirrels scurried over and sat on the picnic table benches, happily eating from the tray. It made me smile.
Good job, Harvey Johnston.
I kept walking past the shops and restaurants, enjoying the sunshine. Outside the Dame and Dapper Barber Shop stood Lola, a huge statue of a pinup girl. Someone had put what looked like a crocheted beard with little pink flowers on her .
At the next corner, Harvey had placed another squirrel picnic table between two planters. A single, rather round squirrel sat on the bench, enjoying its lunch. Another one scampered over and climbed onto the bench across from it, but the first squirrel wasn’t happy. It made a noise that could only be described as a cross between a chirp and a bark, its fluffy gray tail flicking back and forth. The other squirrel dashed away, disappearing across the street.
“A little territorial, aren’t we?”
It ignored me and went back to its feast.
I walked a bit longer, just to get my body moving, until I came to the Copper Kettle diner. I’d been there a few times and they had the best house-made chicken noodle soup. That sounded delicious, so I went in.
The clink of dishes and scent of buttery toast greeted me. My stomach growled at the smell of food.
“Welcome in. Just one today or are you waiting for someone?” the hostess asked. She had dark blond hair in a bouncy ponytail and her name tag said Heidi.
“Just me.” I tried to sound chipper about that. “I’m alone for lunch, but not alone, alone, if you know what I mean.”
Heidi hesitated with a menu in her hand, looking slightly confused. “Okay. Would you like a booth?”
I let out an awkward laugh. “A booth is great, thank you.”
She led me to a booth and set the menu on the table. I slid into the bench seat and fixed my low ponytail, but didn’t even look at the menu, already excited about the soup I was suddenly craving.
A few moments later, the server came to take my order.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“Chicken noodle soup would be great.”
“I’m sorry, we’re out. We have a lentil soup or lemon chicken and rice.”
My shoulders slumped a little. I’d really been looking forward to the chicken noodle. Bad luck strikes again .
“The chicken and rice is fine. And just water to drink.”
She smiled. “I’ll get that going for you.”
“Thanks.”
With a deep breath, I leaned back against the cushion. My eyes felt heavy again. It was so strange. I’d been working in bakeries for years. I was accustomed to the hours. Sure, I woke up early and was at the bakery by four—basically the middle of the night for most people—but I went to bed super early to make up for it. And I’d been living that way for so long, it didn’t bother me at all. Why did I suddenly feel like I wasn’t getting enough sleep?
The hum of activity in the restaurant was oddly soothing. The scent of food, the clink of dishes, the low buzz of conversation. I found myself staring at nothing, my head resting against the cushion. The booths in the Copper Kettle were awfully comfortable.
I wondered what Garrett was doing.
“Harper?”
The female voice startled me, and I opened my eyes.
Wait, when did I close my eyes? Sugar cookies, I’d fallen asleep.
I blinked a couple of times and Marigold Haven’s face came into focus. She stood at the side of the booth in a lavender flutter-sleeve blouse with a cream-colored skirt, and she smiled at me with concern in her eyes.
“Hi. Oh my gosh, were my eyes closed?”
She nodded. “Sorry to bother you. We noticed you sitting here when we came in and I thought I should make sure you’re okay.”
Another woman stood next to her, dressed in a white blouse and gray pencil skirt. She had long brown hair in a ponytail and the friendliest smile.
“This is my sister-in-law, Audrey,” Marigold said. “Have you met?”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m Harper Tilburn. ”
“Audrey Haven,” she said. “I’m married to Josiah, one of Garrett’s brothers. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I keep thinking I should stop at Angel Cakes sometime and say hello, but I didn’t want to make it weird.”
“Why would that be weird?” Marigold asked.
“I don’t know. I’m good at making things weird.”
“Me too.” I liked her already. “Do you want to join me?”
“Do you mind?” Marigold asked.
“Not at all. I’d love the company.”
The two of them slid onto the seat across from me.
“This is so serendipitous,” Marigold said. “Audrey texted to see if I could get away for lunch today, and here you are.”
The server came with my soup and set it in front of me. “That’s hot, so you might want to give it a minute. Do you two need menus?”
“Yes, please,” Marigold said with a smile.
She brought menus for Marigold and Audrey as I idly stirred my soup, not sure I liked the way it smelled. They perused the menus for a few minutes until the server came back.
“Do you need more time, or are you ready to order?” she asked.
“I’m ready,” Marigold said. “Harper’s soup looks good. I’ll have a bowl and a side salad with the huckleberry vinaigrette.”
The server wrote down Marigold’s order and turned to Audrey. “And what can I get started for you?”
“I’ll have the chop salad with chicken. And a side of waffle fries.”
Marigold laughed softly.
“What?” Audrey asked as she handed the server her menu. “It’s called balance.”
“Waffle fries do sound good,” I said.
“I’ll share if you want some.”
“Thanks.” I blew on a spoonful of soup and tried a sip. It probably wasn’t bad, objectively speaking, but somehow, it wasn’t doing it for me.
Apparently I’d really wanted that chicken noodle.
“So how are things at Angel Cakes?” Marigold asked.
“Good. Busy, which is great. I appreciate the job security.”
“I hear that,” Audrey said.
“What do you do?”
“I work for the local newspaper, the Tilikum Tribune. I know, you’re probably thinking, wait, newspapers still exist? Amazingly enough, ours does.”
“That’s because you’re brilliant and full of good ideas,” Marigold said.
“You’re so encouraging,” Audrey said, leaning her head on Marigold’s shoulder. “Everyone needs a Mari in her life.”
Marigold smiled and gave her a side hug. “Thank you.”
Watching them share a brief sister-in-law moment—one so clearly filled with love—made my heart ache. I thought about my recent conversation with Holly. She was definitely not the encouraging type.
But what if—
No. I needed to stop that kind of thinking. I hadn’t been seeing Garrett long enough to think about what it might be like to join his family.
But sugar cookies, having Audrey and Marigold as sisters-in-law? Could you blame me for the tug of longing? I’d liked Marigold from the first time we’d met. And I’d known Audrey for all of five minutes, and I wanted to be her best friend so bad I was about to suggest we all get matching T-shirts.
That said Haven on the back, like jerseys.
Thankfully, I had to stifle a yawn before I could actually verbalize that awkward idea.
“Are you okay?” Marigold asked. The concern in her expression was back.
“Yeah, just tired today.” I paused, because that wasn’t quite accurate. “Actually, I’ve been tired for the last week or so. It’s weird. At first I thought I was coming down with something, but I feel fine. Just like I’m not sleeping well, except I am.”
“Is it your schedule at the bakery?” Audrey asked. “You must be up early.”
“I do get up early, but I’ve been doing it for years. I don’t know what’s changed.”
“Maybe it’s a nutrient deficiency,” Audrey said.
“Could be.”
“Or hormones,” Marigold said. “Personal question, but is your period due?”
“Yeah, it probably is. I bet that’s the problem.”
“Do you usually get sleepy before your period?” Audrey asked.
I thought about it for a second. “Not really. I’ve never had a lot of PMS symptoms. I got an IUD placed about five years ago and it didn’t change anything either.”
“And you still have it in?” Marigold asked.
I nodded.
She raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Oh,” Audrey said. “That could be it. Or it could be if, you know…”
My eyes moved between the two of them. “Why do I feel like you just communicated telepathically?”
“I just think I know what she’s getting at,” Audrey said.
“What are you getting at?”
“Well,” Marigold said, her voice halting. “It’s just that you shared something with me and sometimes that particular thing results in a condition that can make a woman very tired.”
I blinked at her a few times, my brain not wanting to make the connection she was suggesting. Or maybe it was my heart .
Or my entire mind and body.
Because if she was implying what I thought she was implying, and she was right, I was in big, big trouble.
“Sugar cookies,” I breathed. “You think maybe I’m…”
Marigold bit her lip. “Maybe?”
My heart started to race. “I mean, we did… But I have a… Or I did have… I haven’t checked it in a long time. I told him… I thought I… Oh no.”
“It might not be,” Marigold said. “The thought just popped into my head when you said you’ve been unusually tired. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Harper, your face is getting very pale,” Audrey said.
Marigold took my hands. “Do you think you might pass out?”
I did feel a little dizzy, but I didn’t think I’d faint. I just couldn’t believe what she was saying.
Except I kind of could.
In fact, as soon as the word had entered my mind, I’d had the distinct feeling she was right.
I had a feeling I was pregnant.
“No, I’m not going to faint. But I am freaking out.”
“Here’s what we should do.” Marigold squeezed my hands. “Let’s go find out for sure. Audrey and I will come with you.”
“But you just ordered.”
“We’ll get it to go,” Audrey said, her voice cheerful. “I can be a little late getting back from lunch.”
“I have a client at one, but I can have Stacey call her and let her know I’ll be a little bit late.”
“I don’t want to make you late for work.”
“How about we do it at the bakery?” Audrey asked. “That would save time, since it’s close. I’d suggest my office, but as much as I adore Sandra, she can’t keep a secret to save her life. Oh, and I have tests in my purse, so we don’t even have to go to the store. ”
Marigold’s eyes widened. “Why do you have tests in your purse?”
Audrey’s cheeks flushed. “You know, in case I need one. I figured I’d be prepared.” Excitement lit up her features. “Ooh, let’s all take one!”
“Do you think you’re pregnant?” Marigold asked.
“Probably not, but that way Harper won’t feel so alone.”
I bit the inside of my lip—hard—to keep from crying. Were they for real? They barely knew me and they were willing to be late for work so they could take a pregnancy test with me?
“What do you think?” Marigold asked, her voice soft. “Do you want to find out for sure?”
Still chewing on my lip so the tears wouldn’t spill, I nodded. I didn’t know what to say.
I’d never been so terrified in my entire life.