Chapter Four
It was only a matter of time.
Harper wasn’t going to be thrilled with all the things he’d bought for her and Kash today.
But once he’d started shopping, he couldn’t seem to stop.
They needed beds, but also a place to put their clothes.
And Kash needed a bookshelf. That had him thinking about what other books Kash might like, which led to him thinking about how few clothes both Kash and Harper had.
He’d ended up spending way more than he’d anticipated, but Linc didn’t feel one ounce of buyer’s remorse. Both Harper and her son needed more than the pathetically meager amount of belongings they possessed. And he could afford to buy them.
But he knew without a doubt that Harper wasn’t going to be as appreciative as Kash had been when he’d seen his new room.
The new sheets, blankets, rugs . . . it was kind of like putting makeup on a pig, as the rooms still needed a lot of work.
But he’d wanted to make both their private spaces feel like a sanctuary . . . for as long as they’d be here.
He had no idea how long that would be, but surprisingly, he wasn’t too worried about it.
Kash was a good kid. He’d spent enough time with him before today to know that, but spending one-on-one time with him, while they walked through the house and Linc told him what his plans were, and as they “cooked” side by side, it was even more obvious what a good person Kash was.
Harper was doing an amazing job raising him. He was sensitive, kind, and protective.
Though . . . Linc had seen a hint of a very familiar emotion in his expression when he’d asked about school.
He’d allowed Kash to change the subject, but it wasn’t hard to see that the boy didn’t really like school, which was a shame, since he was so smart he should be excited to go every day. To learn something new.
Linc got the immediate feeling Kash didn’t like school because of how he was treated.
Which Linc hated for him. Kash was amazing, and just because he was a late bloomer who enjoyed astronomy and science more than sports, that shouldn’t put him in the crosshairs of school bullies. But it probably had. And that sucked.
Linc knew all too well how it felt.
It was ironic that it was Kash’s mother who’d made Linc feel that way.
He shook off the melancholy. Those days were well and truly behind him. He needed to concentrate on the here and now. And that meant hearing whatever Harper wanted to say. And it was obvious she had lots of thoughts running through her head as she walked down the stairs toward him.
To his surprise, Linc wanted to grin. She was actually cute.
She still had on the khaki pants she wore to work and the navy blue polo shirt that did nothing for her shape or coloring.
She looked tired but determined. He liked seeing her in mama-bear mode.
And he had no doubt that’s what she was.
She might not stick up for herself, but for Kash, she’d face her enemies head-on .
. . not that he was an enemy. Far from it.
It had been less than a day since he’d offered to let her and Kash move in, and he was already getting to know a completely different Harper than she showed the rest of the world.
A more vulnerable one. Unsure of herself.
Hanging on by a thread. It was a far cry from the self-assured, almost conceited girl she’d once been.
“It’s too much, Linc,” she said without preamble as she approached. She kept her voice low, likely so Kash wouldn’t overhear her.
“What is?” he asked, acting confused. He knew exactly what she was talking about.
“You know what. The beds, the clothes, the books, the freaking shower curtain!”
“You’d rather water get all over the bathroom? Sleep on the floor? Keep Kash’s books in stacks around his room?”
“Well, no . . . but you said you had beds,” she accused.
“I lied,” he said easily.
Harper’s mouth fell open. “I can’t believe you just admitted that.”
“Why not? It’s true. Look, you needed a place to go. Kash needed a place where he didn’t have to worry about his mom storming off in the middle of the night to sleep in her car. I have the room, it’s not a big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” Harper said, quietly and a little calmer. “To me, it’s a huge deal.”
Linc supposed she was right, and he said so.
“I don’t mean to belittle your feelings.
Look, I like Kash. He reminds me a lot of myself.
I was a scrawny, quiet little kid in school too.
I was obsessed with planes, and he’s obsessed with space.
He’s going to do great things, Harper, I just know it.
But he needs a safe place to land. One without judgment. And I can offer that to him. And you.”
Harper just stared at him.
Linc took advantage of her speechlessness and went on.
“Your rooms are drafty, and will only get more so as we head into the heart of winter. Warm bedding was necessary because it’ll get chilly in your rooms, until I can get the windows replaced and resealed.
I know you noticed how much work there still needs to be done, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable in the meantime.
And it’s not as if the beds and bedding will go to waste after you’re gone.
They can be reused. I needed to get some furniture, and your arrival just sped up that process a bit. That’s all.”
“And the stuff for Kash in the bathroom? And the books?”
Linc shrugged. “Those were spontaneous purchases. I thought he’d like them.”
He could see emotions flitting across Harper’s face. “He does.”
Linc nodded.
“I just . . . I don’t want him getting too attached. We’re leaving as soon as I save up enough money,” Harper said.
For some reason, that sent a pang of pain through Linc. But he pushed it down. Wasn’t he just thinking about how difficult it would be to live with someone else? How hard it would be to keep his insomnia and nightmares from them? He’d known when he’d made the offer that this was temporary.
“I understand that. And I hope you’ll take all the things I got for Kash with you when you go. But that doesn’t mean he won’t always have a place here.”
“You aren’t his dad.”
The four words were said sharply and with an intent to hurt. Which they did.
“I understand that too. But from where I’m standing, he has no father. And Victor certainly hasn’t acted like a loving grandfather. Kash is starved for some positive male attention. I don’t want to be his dad, but I wouldn’t mind being his friend,” Linc bit out.
Harper sighed and looked at the floor. She ran a hand through her hair, pulling out the ponytail holder, letting her auburn hair spill around her shoulders.
She lifted her head and looked him in the eye.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. Rude.
And you’re right. About all of it. I’m grateful that you’re letting us stay here.
That you’re being as cool as you have been with Kash.
He looks up to you, and there’s no one I can think of who’d be a better role model.
I swear, I can’t remember a time he voluntarily offered to do dishes.
He’s been here less than a day, and you’ve already been a good influence. Thank you.”
Linc nodded.
“But . . .”
He knew there was a but coming.
“I don’t want him to be disappointed when we leave. Don’t want him to resent me in any way. We’ve always been a duo. We’ve only ever had each other. I don’t want to lose that closeness.”
“You and Kash will always have a bond that can’t be broken,” Linc said gently.
“Nothing I do or say will ever change that. I don’t know anything about what the two of you have been through together, but Kash always has your best interests at heart.
He insisted you get the bigger room, and he made sure yours was perfect before he touched any of his stuff.
“All he talked about was how hard you work and how excited you’d be to have dinner waiting when you got home.
He asked me if I’d teach him how to make other stuff, so he could make sure you had food waiting when you got home after you moved out.
He knows staying here isn’t a permanent thing, Harper.
He’s a great kid. Loyal, protective, and you’ve done a hell of a job raising him in what I’m guessing were difficult conditions.
“But he is growing up. Will want time to himself more and more. I can offer that to him here. He’ll always have an open invitation to hang out. Spend the night if he wants. There are no strings attached to that offer either.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And before you find out yourself, I should tell you that I stocked the pantry and fridge today as well.”
“Um . . . all right?”
“No, I mean, I stocked it,” Linc informed her. “Here, let me show you.” He walked over to the pantry and opened the door.
The shelves were packed from floor to ceiling with pasta, canned food, crackers, potato chips, protein bars and drinks, and everything in between.
“There wasn’t room for it all, so I cleared out the front hall closet and turned that into a second pantry,” Linc said a little sheepishly. “And I bought an upright freezer as well. It’s in the mudroom off the back door, because there wasn’t any other good place to put it. It’s stocked as well.”
Harper stared at him incredulously.
“Kash is a growing boy,” Linc defended himself, feeling a little embarrassed at how overboard he’d gone.
“This makes the three bags of snacks I brought home seem pretty lame,” Harper said under her breath.
“They’re not lame. While Kash was showing you the upstairs, I put away the things you got. I had no idea he liked wasabi peas.”
“He loves them.”