Chapter Eighteen
Her mom leaned out of the huddle first and laid her hand on Charlie’s cheek. “It is so good to see you, baby.”
Charlie tried to find her voice around the lump in her throat. “It’s good to see you too.” Tears were freely rolling down her mom’s face too. “I’m so sorry, Mom.” She looked up into her dad’s eyes, which were teary but not crying. “Dad.”
“We’re just happy you reached out. We’ve missed you,” her mom said, and Charlie had to fight back a sob.
“I’ve missed you too.” She couldn’t find words to explain just how much she hated herself for icing them out, so she just pulled them back in and marveled at how much lighter she felt in their embrace.
Now that she had them, she didn’t want to let go, but Franky’s bark had her stepping back.
She was being incredibly rude. “Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Harper, and her dog, Franky, who has also been filling double duty as my emotional support dog.” Charlie stumbled over the word “friend,” as that felt insufficient to describe their relationship, but they hadn’t talked about using the word “girlfriend” yet, and she didn’t want to overstep.
Especially given how skittish Harper was.
Charlie tried to study her face to make sure she hadn’t offended her.
Harper stepped forward and shook hands. “Mr. and Mrs. Paulson. Great to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Harper. And please, no need to be so formal. Call us Lynn and Patrick,” her mom said.
“Lynn and Patrick. Thank you.”
As they chatted, Charlie couldn’t help but notice that her parents looked older than the last time she’d seen them.
Her dad had lost some weight and had a slight frailty about him, and a fresh wave of self-loathing rolled through her at having frozen them out over something so dumb.
She squeezed her fists and released, trying to expel the bad feelings that she could process later.
“Should we grab a table?” Charlie said, attempting to keep herself from spiraling into self-recrimination.
“Yes, let’s,” her dad said. “With Franky, we should get something on the patio.”
“That would be great, Patrick. Thank you,” Harper said.
“Why don’t you three hang tight out here, and I’ll go check in?”
“Thanks, Dad,” Charlie said. As he walked away, she said, “How was the conference?”
“It was great. Sobering but still a nice event. Your father gave a presentation on government interference in higher education, a horrible topic but timely, and it was well attended. Afterward, they had a breakout session with brainstorming on strategies to curb the impact as much as possible. I gave one on AI in academia that everyone seemed to enjoy.”
“Wow, that’s really amazing, Mom.” Charlie was in a little bit of awe. She had no idea that her mom would be familiar enough with tech to be able to give a presentation on AI, and her dad being on the front lines trying to halt government interference made her incredibly proud.
“I don’t think I’d say amazing, dear. It’s just life, and we have to stay on top of it. I know we could be getting ready to retire, but neither your father nor I are ready for that.” She shrugged like it was nothing.
Her father returned with the host, who took them around the side of the restaurant to the patio. Once they were seated and put in drink orders, her dad said, “How long have you two been dating?”
Charlie was pretty sure her jaw dropped, but Harper nonchalantly said, “Just a few weeks.”
“So you weren’t the one who convinced Charlie to leave Wall Street?” her mom said, curiosity in her voice, not judgment. Charlie had been dreading the question, but with the door open, Charlie just wanted to get it out there.
“No, but I did meet Harper just after I got here.” She took a deep breath to prepare herself. “But Wall Street is the reason I left New York.” She felt the warm press of Harper’s hand on her thigh, and it sent comfort throughout her entire body.
At her mom’s cocked head, she continued, “I don’t want to bore you with the details, but I found an issue, and when I brought it to my boss’s attention, I was shown the door.
I felt betrayed and didn’t know what to do.
I ended up getting in my car and driving south until I hit Key West, which is where I stayed.
” In reality, it wasn’t just that she didn’t want to bore them.
She couldn’t say much more because of the NDA. All of it made her skin crawl.
“I can’t believe they were that disloyal to you,” her dad said. “You have given them your entire adult life.”
She shrugged, not sure what to say because every word was true.
“That’s disgraceful, but I can say I’m not sorry you’re free of it.” Her mom’s smile was warm. She’d hated everything about Charlie’s career, which was one of the reasons they’d fallen out of contact. Hell, the primary reason.
“Honestly, I felt like a ship without a rudder when it happened, but with some space, I’m happy to be free of it too.
You were right. It was turning me into someone I wasn’t.
And I was working so many hours. Even when I wasn’t working, I was still thinking about work, taking calls, and responding to emails.
It had consumed me, and I didn’t even realize it.
I am so sorry for not listening to you. And hurting us all. ” She laid her hands on their forearms.
“Sweetheart, we should have done a better job of reaching out,” her dad said. “Our rift was on all of us. But the important thing is that we’re all here together. And we won’t let it happen again.”
Charlie didn’t think it was their fault at all, but she appreciated his words. “Thanks, Dad.”
“We’re just so happy you reached out,” her mom said. “What have you been up to since coming back to Florida?”
“You will never guess, but I swear this is the truth.” She paused for dramatic effect. “I teach yoga.” Her dad was definitely surprised, but her mom pursed her lips and nodded.
“I can see it,” she said. “You used to be really into health, so the fitness aspect makes sense. You’ve also always had a quiet confidence in you that fits with a yoga instructor. And you seem happy, so whatever you’re doing is working.”
“I am happy. For the first time in…I can’t remember how long. I feel at peace and am enjoying my life.” She interlaced her fingers with Harper’s on her thigh and squeezed to make sure she knew she was a part of Charlie’s happiness.
Harper flipped her palm so they were holding hands and squeezed back. Charlie leaned into her side.
“Harper, what do you do?”
She cleared her throat. “I am a reformed attorney turned bar owner.”
“That’s an interesting switch. Are you from Key West originally?” her mom said.
“No, I’m from Chicago, but I’ve been in Key West for about three years.
I had to get away…um.” She paused, and Charlie squeezed her hand, trying to tell her she didn’t have to tell them everything, but Harper continued anyway.
“My wife passed away very unexpectedly, and I just…had to find a change of scenery. And Key West was it. I enjoy my life down here, though.”
“I’m so sorry. That must have been an impossible thing to go through.” Her mom’s eyes filled with sadness again.
“Thank you. It was hard—it is hard—but I’m starting to do better. Your daughter is really helping me, to be honest.”
Charlie hadn’t realized that. Harper had never said it to her. Harper flashed a shy smile and shrugged. “You’re pretty amazing,” she said and brushed a kiss against Charlie’s cheek.
“You’re pretty amazing too,” Charlie said as her chest buoyed with an emotion she wasn’t ready to put a name to yet. For half a second, she forgot she was sitting at a table with her parents, so she turned back to them and said, “Sorry.”
“Nonsense. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see that you’re with someone who makes you happy,” her mom said, beaming.
“Having someone to walk next to through life is so important,” her dad said as he lifted her mom’s hand and brought it to his lips. “Things aren’t always easy, but having someone to work through the hard parts with makes all the difference.”
Charlie resisted the urge to walk around the table and hug them again. How had she missed how cute they were together?
“So, Harper,” her mom said. “You have a very interesting name. Is it a family name?”
Harper chuckled. “No. I’m named after Harper Lee.”
“Really? Were your parents huge fans of To Kill a Mockingbird?” her mom asked.
Charlie listened with rapt attention. Even though Harper had told her the story before, she wondered if Harper would give her parents more details since she was opening up so much today.
“Pretty much. They were both public interest attorneys and ran a nonprofit helping people with immigration issues. They liked Atticus Finch’s philosophy of fighting the fights that need to be fought.
It’s how they lived their lives, professionally and personally.
And I’m just relieved that they didn’t name me Scout.
Or Jean Louise. Maybe Jem would’ve been okay, like the old cartoon from the eighties, but I like Harper.
And I try to live my life doing the right thing.
It gives me more grounding in my moral compass. ”
Harper really was the most morally grounded person Charlie had ever met. It was such a switch from her former colleagues.
They chatted as they ate and for a couple more hours afterward as the sunny afternoon slipped into dusk, and storm clouds rolled in.
“The weather forecast hadn’t been calling for any storms today,” Harper said. “But I think we’re about to get wet.”
“The weather forecasting has turned to shit since everyone at the National Weather Service was fired,” her dad grumbled and made everyone laugh.
“We should probably get going anyway before it gets too dark. Your dad and I have a hotel room reserved in Homestead, and if we leave now, we should be able to get there before full dark. Neither of us likes driving at night these days. But let’s not wait another seven years before we do this again, huh? ” her mom said.