Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
M itch couldn’t believe he was sitting down at the table to eat again. He’d known there was going to be dessert and he’d still eaten too much for dinner. Couldn’t be helped. The food had been outstanding. The company even better.
His spirits were light and, for the first time in years, his heart no longer ached for Jeanie with the same kind of unrelenting pain that had plagued him since her death. He still missed her. He still mourned her passing. He still would have given anything to have her back beside him.
Nothing could change that.
But the presence of Kyle and Ruthie, along with Harper and her family, Joyce, Beryl, and Lucas, surrounded him with one of the biggest things he’d lost along with Jeanie: The sense of family. It was very much present in his house at the moment. The talking, the laughter, even Ruthie’s cries, filled the space. There was no room for sadness with all this living going on.
In a way, it felt like Jeanie was here. He couldn’t explain that, other than to think some of Jeanie lived on in Ruthie. Dear, sweet, perfect Ruthie.
What a gift Kyle had brought home with him. That child had brought happiness to Mitch’s heart again.
“What are you smiling about?”
He looked at Harper, back in her seat beside him. “Just…happy.”
When was the last time he’d said that? He couldn’t remember.
She smiled and it seemed like it was for him alone. “This dinner was a great idea.”
“I can’t take credit for it. Joyce and Beryl thought it up.”
“You said yes, though. You’re the host. And you bought the groceries.” She lightly touched his arm. “You get some credit.”
“Thanks.” His gaze lingered on her. Harper was a beautiful woman. She took great care of herself, but even the subtle lines at the corners of her eyes added to her beauty because she wore them so effortlessly. They were a tribute to everything she’d been through in her life.
And she’d definitely been through some things. Had Arlington guessed how she would impact Mitch’s life? He didn’t want to be so self-important as to think that Arlington would have left his house to Harper just so she’d find her way into Mitch’s life, but then again… Arlington had been a master chess player, always several steps ahead of those around him.
If he’d left his house to Harper with that kind of purpose, Mitch owed Arlington big time.
That led to another question. What would Jeanie think about Harper? Mitch liked to imagine they would have been friends. Harper was a bit more pragmatic in her thinking. Jeanie had always been such a free spirit, willing to go in whatever direction the wind took her.
Harper’s feet were more firmly on the ground. Look at how she’d asked about his intentions for employing her in the future. She thought ahead. Made plans. Tried to determine outcomes.
He appreciated that view on life. There were times when Jeanie’s come-what-may attitude had driven him slightly mad, but he wouldn’t have changed her. Not for anything.
Harper wasn’t Jeanie. She wasn’t meant to be. Nor did she need to be. She was her own unique, wonderful person.
And yet, he found himself drawn to her in the same way he had been to Jeanie. He’d fought it and would continue to do so, because keeping things professional felt like the right thing to do. But that didn’t mean his mind didn’t sometimes roam to the world of what might be.
He was a man, after all. His needs for companionship and affection had been greatly diminished the last few years, but things were changing now.
He was looking toward the future in a new way. He had Kyle and Ruthie to think about. And himself, obviously.
Joyce and Beryl approached the table with bowls in hand. Joyce set one in front of him and the other in front of Harper. “Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and fresh whipped cream is served. Prepare yourself. This will ruin you for all other puddings.”
Beryl tutted at her sister as she put dishes in front of Lucas and Frankie. “Stop that now. You’re giving it too much of a buildup. What if they don’t like it?”
Joyce added more bowls for Kyle and Willa. “They’ll like it.”
Beryl brought bowls over for herself and Joyce, and the two women joined them at the table again.
Smirking, Mitch stuck his spoon into the moist, gooey cake, getting a bite that had butterscotch sauce and whipped cream. He’d had sticky toffee pudding before on one of his trips to London to meet with his U.K. publisher, but that had been ages ago. Back when Jeanie had still been with him.
Beryl’s version did not disappoint. It was sweet with warm spices and while the cake was mostly soft, the edges had a bit of crunch that made for the perfect contrast. The sauce brought it all together. He swallowed and shook his head. “Beryl, you’ve outdone yourself.”
“This is…” Lucas sighed as he stared into his bowl. “I don’t really have words. I’ve had this before, in England, as a matter of fact, but it was—what’s the word?—rubbish compared to your version, Beryl.”
“Stop it, both of you.” Beryl clasped her hands in front of her, grinning. “You’re making me blush.”
“No, he’s right,” Mitch said. “I had this in London once. Didn’t hold a candle to yours.”
Harper clapped. “Here’s to Joyce and Beryl for treating us to a truly amazing meal.”
Mitch joined in, as did everyone else.
“All right, that’s enough,” Joyce said. She was smiling but trying to be stern and it was pretty amusing. “Eat your pudding and settle down.”
Beryl was smiling, too. “I’m pleased you all like it.”
“I’d ask for the recipe,” Frankie said. “But I know my chances of duplicating this are pretty slim. Now Lucas, on the other hand, he might be able to.”
“I’d be happy to show you,” Beryl said.
Her cheeks looked a little pink to Mitch. It was very sweet.
Lucas nodded. “Might have to do a two-parter with you ladies. This is too much good cooking to cram into one episode.”
“I’ll have to tell the girls at home,” Beryl said. “Won’t they be impressed.”
Mitch sipped his black coffee and looked around the table. Kyle and Willa were deep in conversation about something, all while finishing their sticky toffee pudding.
Next to him, Harper pushed her dish away. “I can’t eat another bite.”
“I know how you feel.” He patted his stomach. “I’m going to have to run an extra lap around the neighborhood tomorrow. Although the idea of running right now makes me a little queasy.”
She laughed. “It’ll be a walk for me. Or maybe a visit to the gym at the community center.”
Willa and Kyle were still talking, as were Lucas and Frankie. Mitch looked at Harper. “How about a walk? We could go over and get Archie, take him along.”
“Yeah?”
Mitch nodded.
“Okay, sure. Sounds good.” She got up. “Mitch and I are going to run next door and let Archie out. We won’t be too long.”
That wasn’t quite what Mitch had had in mind, but maybe Harper didn’t want to announce they were going for a walk. Just the two of them. Another sign things needed to stay professional between them.
They went down the steps and through the little path between the properties.
He snapped off a green shoot jutting into the way. “I should have the landscapers trim this up next time they come. Maybe even lay some flagstone down for the path.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Making it official, huh?”
“Well, we do use it.”
She smiled. “Yes, we do.”
She opened the front door. “Come on in. I have to get his leash.”
Mitch followed her up the steps. Archie came out to greet them. “Hey, buddy.” He scratched the dog behind the ears. “Want to go for a walk?”
Instantly, his tail started wagging.
“Now you’ve done it,” Harper said. “That’s his favorite word.” She grabbed his leash and attached it to his collar, then handed it to Mitch.
“Me?”
“You still want a dog, right? Might as well get some practice.”
“Okay, right. Good.” He took the leash from her, unsure how to hold it properly.
As if sensing his uncertainty, Harper gestured at the leash. “Stick your hand through the loop, then grab it. That’s what I do.”
Mitch did as she told him. “All set.”
They went back outside. Twilight was settling over the neighborhood, bringing cooler temperatures and soft breezes. Streaks of pink painted the sky.
“I love this time of night,” Harper said. “Don’t you?”
Mitch nodded. His eyes were on Archie. “I do. Jeanie always loved the sunsets.” He sighed. “Sorry. I don’t mean to talk about her all the time, but—”
“You don’t need to apologize for that. You really don’t. I get it. Having Kyle and Ruthie in your house has to have stirred up a lot of memories.”
“It has. But it’s also underscored that life goes on. Whether you’re a part of it or not. And you already know that I’m trying to be part of it again.” He stopped, because Archie stopped to sniff an apparently important clump of flowering weeds. “Trying to figure out how to live again is not easy.”
“You did a great job of that tonight.” She moved closer to him, smiling oddly. “You don’t have to let him sniff everything. Because he will. Especially if he figures out you’re a soft touch.”
Mitch snorted. “Not sure I’ve ever been accused of that before.”
“Animals have a way of doing that to you if you let them. They make you feel protective of them. They make you do things you wouldn’t otherwise do.”
He looked at her. “I suppose the right person could do that, too.”
She met his gaze. “Yeah, definitely.”
The sunset’s soft pink light gave her a glow that mesmerized him. She looked like a painting. A beautiful, available painting. He leaned in and kissed her. A gentle, tentative press of his lips to hers.
Almost immediately, he pulled back. He shouldn’t have done that. She didn’t want it. Did she? No, he was supposed to be keeping things professional. He’d screwed up. He’d made a huge mistake, he could feel—
She tilted her head, closed her eyes, and kissed him back.