Chapter Five – Harper
Harper
My head pounded as I leaned forward and rested it in my hands for what felt like the millionth time that morning.
My aunt Olivia walked in from the back and stopped. “Did you take some aspirin like I told you to?”
I wanted to groan at her too-loud question, but instead I stood straight and replied, “I did.”
“Your momma would’ve never gone out on a work night, Harper. If she did, she knew how much she could handle. People are depending on you to make their arrangements.”
Blowing out a breath, I turned to face my beloved aunt. She was older than my mother, had been a nurse for several years and only recently retired. I was hesitant when my mother asked me to give Aunt Olivia a job at the flower shop. Now I remembered why. The woman was forever in my business.
“Aunt Olivia, it was a rough weekend, and I didn’t overindulge. I simply drank the wrong drink.”
“How many times?” she asked, her mouth twitching in the corner in a sad attempt to hide her sarcasm.
The bell above the door rang, and I closed my eyes.
“That’s what I thought,” Aunt Olivia cackled.
When I looked up and saw it was Brystol, I made my way over to her. “Hey, what’s up?”
“You look hung over as well,” Aunt Olivia said, as she gave Brystol a once-over.
Brystol huffed. “Always good seeing you too, Olivia.”
My aunt attempted not to laugh—and failed. “Oh, I remember those days, girls. You both need a bloody mary.”
Brystol moaned. “If wishes were fishes.”
Aunt Olivia laughed again.
“I know where we can get one, though,” Brystol said, taking my hand in hers. “Olivia, hold the fort for a bit?”
Waving her hand for us to leave, Olivia took over the arrangement I’d been working on as Brystol guided me out the back and into the alley.
“Why are we going out through the back?” I asked.
“I don’t want anyone seeing where we’re going.”
I laughed, then stopped when it made my head hurt worse. “Where are we going?”
She walked next door and started up the back steps to the apartment above her toy shop. Did she keep a secret stash of hangover cures up there?
“I thought you were going to rent this place out,” I said when we reached the landing.
“I did.”
She knocked on the door…and I tried to ignore the sudden warning bells going off in my head.
“Who rented it?”
The door opened, and I had my answer.
Staring at us was Declan. His hazel eyes danced with curiosity and a bit of amusement.
“Brystol. Harper.”
Putting her hands in a prayer position, Brystol said, “Please tell me you have the makings for a bloody mary, Declan.”
He pushed the door to the apartment open and said in his deep, soothing voice, “Come on in. I’ll make you both one.”
Brystol sighed in relief and tugged me into the apartment.
I hadn’t been up here in a number of years, not since Brystol had taken over running the toy store when her mom retired. She’d updated the furniture but left all the original fixtures of the old building; it was a charming little place. The living, dining, and kitchen areas were one big open space, with the windows in the living room looking out over Main Street.
There was a sofa, a love seat, a dining room table that seated four, and the kitchen had a bar with three stools. If I remembered right, it was a one-bedroom, one-bathroom. Off to one side of the living room was a bar area, that I assumed Brystol must have added at some point. It was fully stocked, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was left over from the previous tenant or if Declan stocked it.
“You moved in here?” I asked, looking around. There were no boxes, nothing personal out at all. The apartment was definitely cute but lacked any sort of homey feeling.
“I sure did. Wasn’t looking forward to living with my parents any longer than necessary,” Declan said, with a wink in my direction that caused my stomach to flip.
I let out a nervous laugh, and Brystol turned to glance at me, one brow quirked up and an amused look on her face.
I cleared my throat and looked away.
“Who’s watching the flower shop and toy store?” Declan asked.
“My aunt Olivia’s watching the flower shop.”
“I just put a sign on the door for the toy shop that said I was out and would be back soon. I don’t do that normally, so I think it’ll be okay. My part-time girl will be there in about an hour.”
Declan nodded as he made the drinks.
“Did you,” I said as, I pointed to the bar, “buy all this alcohol?”
Declan nodded. “I did. It’s a good thing too. I figured I’d need it for my friends, not two beautiful women dropping by to cure their hangovers.”
I smiled and took the drink he held out for me. Brystol took the other one and downed it quickly.
Declan and I both gaped at her in stunned silence.
Closing her eyes, she sighed. “God, I needed that.”
Glancing at Declan, who just shrugged, I turned back to my friend. “Um, Brystol…is everything okay?”
She turned to look at me, her eyes suddenly filled with unshed tears. All she could do was nod.
“Are you sure?” Declan asked quietly. “You put away that drink like it was a shot. Do you need a shot?”
She nodded again. “Something strong.”
My hangover was instantly gone as I took her hand and led her over to the sofa. “Sit, tell me what’s going on. Is everything okay with Memory Lane Toys?”
Brystol dropped her head in her hands and let out a wail that nearly had me covering my ears.
“Jesus!” Declan said, his face screwed up and a hand over one of his ears. “What the hell was that sound?”
Brystol dropped her hands and reached for the shot. “That’s the sound of a woman who’ll never find love, never have children of her own, and who’s more confused than she’s ever been in her entire life!”
“So…you don’t have a hangover?” I quipped.
Brystol turned and shot me a look that silently said she wanted to bitch-slap me. I stood and slowly moved closer to Declan.
“Smart move,” he whispered.
I sipped on the bloody mary while staring at Brystol, who was now lying on her side on the sofa, a pillow over her face.
Declan turned and whispered to me, “I didn’t know I was signing up for this when I rented the place. Is this something I should expect from time to time?”
I slowly shook my head. “I’m not sure. I doubt she did this to her last tenants.”
“Why?”
“It was a married couple. Then again…”
Brystol sat up and threw the pillow at us. “I can hear you! I’m right here, you know!”
Declan and I exchanged looks. “Why did you bring me up here?” I asked.
“You had a hangover, and I needed a drink. I saw Declan carrying a few bags from the liquor store, so I knew he had some.”
“You saw me?” Declan asked, concern lacing in his voice.
Brystol sighed. “I’m not spying on you, Declan. I just happened to see you, that’s all. But you should know, everyone knows everything in this town, in case you forgot.”
“Not everyone. I didn’t know Declan was living above the toy store.”
Declan pointed to me and nodded.
“You would have when Betty Lou got around to stopping by your shop today, which she will, because she’ll have heard all about our girls’ night out and how you drank too much.”
Declan laughed, but then quickly stopped when I shot him a withering look. He cleared his throat and looked away.
“Brystol, what the heck is going on?”
She sighed and dropped back against the sofa, staring at the ceiling. “The toy store is fine. Evelyn asked me to do something for her last night and…I’m not sure what to do.”
“Is this a conversation I should be a part of?” Declan asked.
Brystol looked at him. “If you can keep it to yourself and get me another shot.”
Declan looked to me for direction.
I shrugged. “Maybe one more, then that’s it, or we’ll have to close the toy store.”
He moved to the bar and poured Brystol another shot. He crossed to the couch, handed it to her, then sat on the love seat as I sat on the coffee table.
“What did she ask you?”
Downing the shot, Brystol leaned forward and set the glass on the coffee table. She looked at me…and the words that came out of her mouth were not what I was expecting.
“To carry her baby for her.”
I whipped my head around to Declan, and he stood. “I’ll pour three shots.”
Nodding, I focused back on Brystol. “Evelyn wants you to carry her and Denny’s baby?”
“Yep,” she said, popping her P. “They’ve been trying for two years, but Evelyn’s body keeps rejecting the egg. So, they want to take one of her eggs, and his sperm, and do whatever it is they do to it, then put it in me. And I’d carry the baby.”
Declan handed us both a shot.
“Where’s yours?” I asked.
“I already drank it. Brystol, do you want me to leave?”
She shook her head. “No. I know we don’t know each other all that well, but I’d really like a guy’s take on this.”
“Why?” he asked, sitting back down. “It’s your body that has to go through the pregnancy and then the birth of a child.”
“Which isn’t mine to keep.”
He nodded. “True. Every part of this would be hard.”
“I agree, Brystol. This is a huge ask.”
Brystol stared at the empty shot glass. “Declan, if I did this for them…do you think any future guy I might date would be upset, knowing that our child wasn’t the first that I carried?”
He sat back and let out a slow breath. “Shit.” He ran a hand down his face, then looked at Brystol. “I don’t think I’d be upset, if it were me. I mean, if the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with did this for someone close to her, why would I have any right to have a say in that? Or what if you were a single mom? If we fell in love, I don’t think that would stop me from wanting a future with you, just because you already had a kid.”
A look of relief washed over her face. “Really? So, from a man’s perspective, it wouldn’t cause you to think…differently of me?”
“I think…” He looked at me, then back to Brystol. “I can’t speak for all guys, but for me, no. It wouldn’t make a difference. It’s your body, Brystol. You can do whatever you want with it. No one has the right to tell you otherwise.”
And in that moment, I fell a bit more for Declan…which wasn’t good, since I was in a fake relationship with his brother.
“Harper?”
My gaze snapped from where I’d been staring at Declan to look at Brystol. “Yeah?”
“Would you do this?”
I downed the shot and set the glass on the table, suddenly realizing my hangover was gone.
“I mean…Brystol…I don’t know. I guess if one of my sisters had been struggling to have a baby and they came to me, asking me to carry a baby, I would probably do it. But…that’s a pretty huge thing to ask of someone.”
“Sure the hell is,” Declan said.
Brystol stood and started to pace. “I know.”
“What did you tell her?” he asked.
“That I had to think about it. She understood and told me to take as much time as I needed. She gave me the name of her doctor, in case I wanted to ask her questions, and a few other references to look at.”
“Have you talked to Nancy?” I turned to Declan, figuring he wouldn’t know who I was talking about. “Nancy Duggan, Brystol’s mom.”
Brystol gaped at me. “Harper, you’ve met my mother.”
I tried not to laugh and failed.
“What’s wrong with your mother?” Declan asked.
Rolling her eyes, Brystol replied, “My mother is the biggest stick-her-nose-in-your-business kind of busybody. She would arrange my entire life for me if it were up to her. She’s actually tried…on many occasions. Including giving me a list of single men in the surrounding area who she thinks would be a good fit for me. She has an opinion on what age I should marry and start giving her grandkids. I’ve passed both of those ages, by the way. Oh, and one time she sent me a list of foods I should be eating and a workout plan she whipped up for me to make me more fertile. I’d have to be having sex for that to even matter.”
Declan’s brows shot up and his mouth fell open. When he looked my way, I nodded.
“It’s bad.”
“Holy shit. And I thought my mother was bad.”
“Mrs. Duggan is Judith Turner’s sister.”
“Liam’s mom?” Declan asked.
Brystol and I both nodded.
Declan whistled. “Last I heard from Liam, his mother was so far up his ass, he felt like he needed to ask her permission to take a shit.”
Brystol crinkled her nose, and I laughed.
“So talking to your mother is off the table,” Declan said. “Do you have any other family member you could go to about this?”
Brystol started pacing again. “My dad, but I don’t think he’d get it.”
“Probably not,” Declan stated. “I think you should avoid guys. I mean, I would think a woman would understand what you’re going through more.”
My heart warmed at how sweet Declan was being. He could have shut the door in our faces and not even let us in. But he had, and he was sitting here listening to his landlord’s drama. Yes, he knew Brystol, but I highly doubted he knew her that well.
“What about my mom?” I offered. “She adores you, and, well…she’s had four kids.”
Brystol chewed on her lip, then glanced at Declan.
He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I’ve got nothing to add, other than you should trust Harper.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. Declan winked, and I had to force myself not to sigh.
“I’m so sorry to burden you both with this. I just…I didn’t know what to do. And I’m sorry to drag you into this, Declan.”
“No worries at all. I’m glad I was able to supply the alcohol.”
With a soft laugh, Brystol leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You provided a lot more than that. Thank you.”
A rush of jealousy zipped through me.
What in the hell is that about? I quickly stood.
“Is everything okay?” Brystol asked me.
“Yes!” I said, much too quickly. “I should get back to the flower shop. I have some arrangements that need to be made. But I’m here for you if you need anything or want to talk.”
Brystol hugged me. “Thanks, Harper. I’ll walk out with you.”
Declan stood and walked to the door, opening it for us. “Let’s hope no one sees the two of you leaving. Can you imagine those rumors?”
Brystol let out a bark of laughter while she headed down the steps. I quickly looked up and down the back alley. “Do you think anyone saw us coming up?”
Declan laughed. “I was kidding, Harp.”
“Right,” I said with a quiet laugh. “I’m just going to go ahead and…um… I’m going to go.”
Declan grinned. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Oh? Why?”
His one brow rose. “You’re dating my brother, so…”
His words faded, and another nervous bubble of laughter slipped free. “Right! Yes. I’m dating your brother. I forgot.”
Brows drawn down in confusion, he repeated, “You forgot ?”
“No!” I quickly said. “I didn’t forget…exactly. I mean…well…we broke up, then got back together, and I…”
“Harp?” Brystol called from the bottom of the steps, saving me from the hole I was digging myself into.
“Coming!” I singsonged, then turned and nearly slid down the handrail to escape Declan.