Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
M itch pulled down Harper’s drive promptly at six thirty. It was odd to be driving his SUV to her house when she was just a short walk away from where he lived, but he wasn’t about to make her drag her luggage through the path.
She came out of the house as he was parking. He pressed the button to lift the tailgate of the SUV and hopped out to help her. She had one suitcase, a computer bag, and a large purse. Or maybe it was a tote. Jeanie had always carried a big bag like that when they’d traveled, too. It probably contained everything they’d need to survive in case of an emergency or the end of the world. Women were remarkable like that.
“How are you doing?” he asked as she walked over.
“I’m all right.” She parked her big rolling suitcase by the fender, then put her computer bag next to it. Her purse stayed on her shoulder. “Not looking forward to this but at the same time, I’m glad she’s not suffering anymore.”
“Yeah,” he said quietly, understanding exactly how she was feeling. “I had those same thoughts about Jeanie. There was relief when she passed, but the fact that I felt that left me with guilt. More than I had already been carrying around with me.”
She blew out a long breath. “That pretty much sums it up.”
He put her bags in the back, closed the liftgate, and went around to her door, opening it for her. She got in without a word and put her seatbelt on. He closed the door, then got behind the wheel. They drove for a while in silence. It didn’t bother him. Silence had never made him uncomfortable, and for a long time, he’d preferred it.
Now he was content to let Harper decide when to make conversation.
She planted her elbow on the armrest attached to the door and stared out the window. “I know I’ve said it already, but I really do appreciate you helping me with all of this. I know I could do it alone, but it seems so much easier with you along.”
“It’s my honor. I mean that. I know grief is a private thing, so you letting me accompany you is not something I take lightly.”
She turned to give him a quick smile, then went back to looking out the window. “I called Buck this afternoon. It was nice to talk to him. He was very kind. And he made me feel better, which was unexpected. After I talked to him, I decided to go hang with Frankie, Willa, and Jack at the beach for a bit.”
“Good for you.”
“It was nice to be with them. I think I might have brought the fun level down a little, but they were sweet about it.”
“Harper, all everyone wants right now is to do what’s best for you. Whatever you need to get through this.”
She took her arm down and put her hands in her lap, worrying her cuticles. “I was sad when my dad died, sad when Arlington passed, but this is sadness is…different.”
“Because it’s your mom. A girl and her mom, that’s a special relationship that nothing else compares to. And this is just my guess, but in your case, your relationship was even more special because she chose you. I have a feeling, whether or not you realized it growing up, that that aspect influenced how you both felt about each other.”
She nodded, her chin wobbling. “She used to tell me all the time that I was the child of her heart.” She sniffed and laughed. “Okay, enough of that. I don’t want to be a sniffling mess at the airport. Let’s talk about something else, okay?”
“Sure. Anything you want.”
“You know I reread The Light Within ? Took a lot of notes, too.”
He grimaced. “Is this the part where you tell me it’s not as good as you remember?”
“No, silly.” She gave his arm a poke. “It was better. It’s just…” She let out a little noise of frustration. “It’s so good I can’t put it into words. There are places where it literally reads like poetry.”
“Now you’re just blowing smoke up my skirt.”
She snorted. “No, I’m not.” She got a little more serious. “I really hope the director does justice to it.”
“Well, that’s why we’re getting involved. Why I fought for creative input.”
“I’m glad you did. That was really smart. By the way, do you have merchandising rights? I’m guessing not.”
“No, they belong to the product company. Why?” He smiled. “Do you think there’s going to be a great demand for The Light Within lunchboxes?”
“Maybe not lunchboxes, but I bet T-shirts. There are some quotable lines in that book. When the professor talks about the stars shining even if they have no witnesses? That’s a good one.”
They talked about that book, some of his other books, Kyle’s writing, Joyce and Beryl’s impending internet fame, and a whole host of other things. They kept talking all the way to the check-in counter, all through airport security, right up until the boarding announcement was made.
“That’s us,” Mitch said.
“No,” Harper said. “That was for First Class.”
He raised his brows. “Where do you think I usually sit when I travel?”
“Are we in First Class? Both of us?”
“Harper.” He stood, gathering his things. “Would I put myself in First Class and you in Coach? Come on now.”
She got up, smiling. “You’re spoiling me.”
“I’m sorry, but if you have a complaint, it must be submitted in triplicate between the hours of nine and two on alternating Sundays. Also, the office is closed during months that have thirty-one days.”
She started laughing and shook her head at him. “I love you.” Her eyes widened. “I meant that like…you know.”
“I don’t care how you meant it, because I love you, too.” He smiled at her consternation and took her computer bag from her. “Let’s go before they think we’re not coming.”
They boarded and settled into their seats. To his eyes, Harper looked happy. As happy as could be expected, considering the circumstances. That made the First Class seats worth it. Which wasn’t why he’d chosen those seats. He really did prefer to fly First Class. Not only did it mean he usually got left alone, but there was better service and enough space for him to get writing done.
A flight attendant greeted them, brought them hot, damp, lemon-scented towels for their hands, then offered them drinks, along with small dishes of warm, salted nuts. Harper asked for sparkling water. Mitch nodded that he’d have that, too.
Harper sipped her beverage. “This is nice.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve flown First before, haven’t you?”
“A few times. Not in a while, though. I’ve flown on a few private jets, too, but I can’t say more than that.”
He chuckled. “That NDA at work.”
“Yep.”
Not long after the plane took off, Harper reclined her seat and drifted off. The tension around her eyes and mouth disappeared as she fell asleep.
Mitch watched her, thinking about what she’d said to him earlier. That she loved him. He knew it had been said in a moment of gratitude, and that it was very possible—and probably likely—that she hadn’t meant it as a serious statement of her emotions toward him, but she’d said it all the same.
When he’d said it back, he had meant it. Didn’t matter if it wasn’t truly reciprocated. His feelings were his feelings. The truth was, he did love Harper. For a lot of reasons. Not the least of which was that she’d saved his life. Pulled him back from the edge of an abyss he’d been incapable of pulling himself away from.
They were both broken people. Both survivors. It gave them the ability to understand each other without communicating. He’d never experienced that before. Now he couldn’t imagine being without it.
She wasn’t just beautiful and smart and kind and funny. She was intuitive, fearless, and uncompromising. She was, to him, an inspiration.
And he never wanted to be without her. He was already thinking about making their situation more permanent. Eventually. Not anytime soon.
She had her mom’s death to deal with, her grieving to do. He had Kyle and Ruthie to look after. But someday, when they’d gotten to know each other a little more and the time was right, they’d talk about the future.
And how they could spend the rest of it together.