24. Harmony
CHAPTER 24
Harmony
A s soon as possible ends up being almost nine hours later. I’m more stiff and sore than I was before. Gibson and James are waiting for me in the lobby when I finally walk out at the instruction of an officer for the last time. I hold my belongings in a manila envelope close to my chest. Gibs takes it from me, and James puts a supportive hand on the small of my back.
“I don’t think we were followed, but you know the drill, Harmony. Stoic face— no reaction if someone shoves a camera at you. No words. I’ll do the talking.” I nod my understanding when he looks at me. “We’re going to your apartment, but we’ll take a weird route just in case.”
He stops and looks at me again. “Ready?” I nod again. We walk out, and it doesn’t appear that the paparazzi are here, but I keep my face emotionless and my mouth shut like I was told. The children of the Blind Rebels were trained at a young age not to engage with the public—especially if they had cameras.
James walks me to the passenger seat of Dad’s SUV. I can tell it’s his. I recognize his Kali’s Surf & Skate sticker on the corner back window. Obviously they are in town, but neither he nor my mom came to pick me up. That speaks volumes.
My heart breaks even more about this whole situation. I’ve finally done it. Pushed them to the point of no return. They’re too embarrassed to have come for me themselves.
I buckle in while Gibs slides across the backseat and leans forward to hand me my phone and wallet along with my jewelry from the envelope. I snap my nose ring back in place and shove my bracelets on my wrist.
At a stoplight, James turns to me. “Gibson mentioned you were shoved around by one of the officers. Are you physically injured in any way?”
“No.” My voice is barely a whisper.
“Did they leave any marks—bruises or scratches? Are you in pain right now?” He looks at me hard as the light lingers on red. I’m obviously not doing a very good job of lying.
I shrug but continue to stare at the floorboards like I’ve been scolded.
“Harmony, I need to know these things. It’s important.”
“My left shoulder and arm hurt a little.” My voice is tiny, like it was back in Montana when I first thought Dad didn’t want me when I met him with my social worker.
“Your shoulder?” He narrows his eyes on me. Not because he’s angry but concerned. His worry for me fills his eyes, and while I appreciate it, the people who I’d really love to see are my parents. “How did it get injured?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe from the officer that shoved me into the police vehicle.”
James nods at me. “You’re officially my client, Harmony. Killian retained my services for you. However, you’re an adult, which means anything you tell me stays between us. I can’t tell Killian what you tell me. Not that I would anyway, but I want you to understand that.”
I know what’s coming next.
“Gibson said you’re pregnant?” My eyes well with the sting of tears, remembering how I had to shield my baby from getting smashed against the cop’s cruiser. That’s when things went sideways and the cop got rougher with me. I lift my eyes to James, acknowledging my baby. He nods and turns back to the road.
“They impounded your Jeep,” Gibson says from the back seat. “Sammy’s already dealing with that.” I tip my chin to my chest because it’s the only thing I can do. My uncle probably wants his Jeep back, even if he painted it pink just for me.
James has a phone to his ear in the next minute and Gibs answers his own when it rings.
“Yeah, we’re on the way. I mean, it’s like I said. You’ll see when we get there. She’s just…different.” Gibs listens and when he speaks his voice is low. I almost wonder who he’s talking about and then it dawns that it’s me.
James gives me a quick glance as he drives. “Your doctor has agreed to meet us at her office for an emergency visit. We’ll get you checked out, and she’ll document any injuries. This is necessary just in case the district attorney decides to pursue charges.”
“Okay.” My voice is a shaky whisper. I feel dumb because I never, in a million years, would have thought this would be my life.
Port Haven is a small town. Toby’s surely smeared my name all over to his benefit—he was already doing that from the start. His words will be taken verbatim because why wouldn’t they be? It doesn’t help that I wasn’t there to open The SeaSong today. People will talk and Toby will probably fan that fire to get them on his side. Just as I was starting to build a decent regular clientele too.
I’ve ruined The SeaSong by doing what I thought was the right thing. Now, I see I was so wrong. I should have ignored Claire completely or just called the cops and followed her from afar until they got there.
I can’t help the yawn that escapes me as I lean my head against the window. James drives us around Port Haven in odd circles until he’s convinced that we aren’t being followed.
And then pulls into the small parking lot of my doctor’s office. The office is just as empty and it’s weird being here when it’s closed.
“Harmony! Come on back, let’s take a look at you, hon.” My doctor holds open the door that separates the lobby from the exam rooms. She wears a white coat over a knee-length floral dress instead of her usual scrubs. “Let’s go right into room one.” She escorts me.