Ghostly Despair (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 10)

by Lily Harper Hart

  “Hey, Dad.”

  Harper let herself into her father’s rented house without knocking. He’d recently moved to the place, which was close to the beach, and spent the bulk of the summer months barbecuing and ogling younger women in bikinis. Now that the weather had shifted, Phil had moved the party indoors. While Harper was glad he didn’t have women gathering in the living room — that was a real problem when he was holding court close to the water — she wasn’t thrilled with her father’s television choices.

  “What is this?”

  Slouched on the couch, a beer on the coffee table in front of him, Phil made a neat picture ... of a man desperately trying to be something he wasn’t. “Southern Charm. It’s about this group of women in the south ... and they’re charming.”

  Harper made a face. “Are you even watching it? If so, you should come up with a better description. That one was ultra-lame.”

  “I’m not good under pressure.” Phil slid his only child a sidelong look. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “What makes you think something is wrong with me?”

  “I can read your moods, kid. You’ve got an expressive face, and right now that expression seems to be signifying the end of the world. I don’t think I can stomach the end of the world before this week’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills marathon.”

  Even though she found her father’s antics of late to be irritating, Harper couldn’t hold back her smirk. “You just like saying things to throw people off, don’t you?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Harper rolled her neck and relaxed on the couch, her eyes drifting toward the television screen. “Did you hear my ex-boyfriend came back from the dead?”

  As far as opening lines went, it wasn’t Harper’s finest offering. She had no idea how to broach the subject, though, so she went straight for the jugular.

  Phil almost choked on his beer he was so surprised by the comment. “Excuse me?”

  “Quinn is back.” When Phil didn’t immediately say anything, she barreled forward. “Quinn Jackson, that guy I dated until he was in the car accident and wandered away from the scene, the one everyone thought died in the woods ... um ... he’s back from the dead.”

  “I remember Quinn.” No longer interested in his program, Phil hit the remote-control button and switched off the television. “Are you saying he’s alive?”

  “He showed up a few days ago. He had amnesia after the accident. He moved to New York.” Even as the words slipped out of her mouth, Harper realized how ridiculous they sounded. “He had a head injury and only started remembering things a few weeks ago. He came back to see me and clear things up with the cops.”

  Phil was utterly flabbergasted. “How come I’m just hearing about this?”

  Harper held her hands out and shrugged. “I thought everyone in town knew.”

  “You should have called.”

  “So you could do what?”

  “I don’t know.” Phil’s frustration bubbled over. “I’m still your father. I know you don’t see it that way lately, but as your parent, I demand to know certain things about your life. Your dead boyfriend showing up would be one of those things.”

  Despite herself, Harper was amused. “Of course I still see you as my father. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because, the last little bit hasn’t been a shining example of what I’m capable of,” he admitted, sheepish. “Your mother drives me crazy, though. I can’t help it. I have to fight with her. I don’t want to draw you into the fights, so I don’t visit as much as I should. That’s on me.”

  “Dad, you don’t have to worry about that.” Harper awkwardly patted her father’s knee. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she’d found some of the fights her parents engaged in rather amusing. Of course, she also found them tedious. “You know I’m always on your side no matter what, and that’s only partially because I like watching Mom melt down.”

  “I know.” Phil poked her side and offered a wan smile. “I still love you, Harper. This is big news. I mean ... huge news. How are you dealing with this?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “It’s a mess, Dad.” Harper’s eyes turned glassy. “When I first saw him, I thought for sure I was dreaming. I’ve dreamed of him coming back before, like it was some big mistake and he wasn’t really dead or missing ... just delayed.”

  “I think that’s probably normal.”

  “Is it?” Harper cocked an eyebrow. “Zander and I were out at Betty Miller’s field because she claims her scarecrow is coming to life and haunting the property — I really need to follow up on that tomorrow because I’ve been distracted — and when we went back to Zander’s vehicle after running some tests, he was waiting next to the truck.”

  “How does he look? I mean ... is he deformed from the accident or anything? What? If this were a movie, he would be deformed.”

  “You watch way too much television, Dad.”

  “It’s a legitimate question.”

  “He looks largely the same, although different,” Harper supplied. “His hair is a little lighter and he has a beard. His eyes are the same, though.”

  “What about his personality? You said he had amnesia. Does he act the same?”

  “Kind of.”

  Phil stared hard into his daughter’s eyes. “Do you want to expand on that?”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Harper felt helpless as she slouched lower on the couch. “I know this is going to sound terrible, but I’m starting to wonder if I ever knew him at all. I haven’t spent a lot of time with him — a few hours here and there — and he hung out at GHI yesterday.

  “He seems gregarious and engaged in conversation, and he asks the appropriate questions about my life,” she continued. “There’s no connection between us, though. Quinn came back because he felt he owed me an explanation, but the thread that should be tying us together is absent.”

  “Harper, you were young when you dated Quinn.”

  “I know.”

  “You were barely out of college. You and Zander were running around doing your ghost thing, but back then you were aimless and without focus. Of course you didn’t have a deep connection with Quinn. You were too young to maintain it.”

  “I had a deep connection with Zander,” Harper argued. “We formed an even deeper connection when we were kids.”

  “That’s different. He’s your best friend. He’s been around through thick and thin. Quinn was never around for anything more than a few drunken parties. And, if you want me to be totally honest, I never really liked him.”

  The admission hit Harper hard and fast. “You watched football and stuff with him.”

  “I pretended to like him,” Phil clarified. “I did that for you. I mean ... I didn’t hate him. He was too bland to hate. I certainly didn’t love him, though. I thought you could do better.”

  “But ... .” Harper had no idea what to make of her father’s words.

  “Harper, you were barely an adult back then and your mother and I were doing our best to hold onto the last shreds of our marriage, even though we didn’t want you to know that,” Phil explained. “We didn’t want to add to what you were dealing with at the time by telling you we thought your boyfriend was a bit of a tool.”

  Harper’s mouth dropped open. “Mom didn’t like him either?”

  “Again, it’s not that we hated him. It’s just ... he was annoying. He was always sucking up. There was nothing genuine about him. He pretended to be interested in what I had to say, but I could tell it was all for show.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?” Harper felt like a teenager all over again. “If you’d said something, maybe ... .” She trailed off, uncertain.

  “Maybe what?” Phil pressed. “Maybe you would’ve broken up with him and he never would’ve gotten into the accident and been left with amnesia? Maybe then you wouldn’t have blamed yourself and felt guilty for year
s? Don’t you think I’ve considered that myself?”

  “It’s not that I felt guilty,” Harper hedged. “It’s that ... okay, I felt guilty. He was only here for me, though. He stayed in the area because of me.”

  “That’s not on you, kid.” Phil was firm. “You were young. Most people kiss a lot of frogs before they find the prince. I just figured Quinn was one of those frogs. You would date him for a bit and then figure out you didn’t belong with him.

  “Unfortunately for you, that never happened,” he continued. “Once he died — or everybody thought he died — you stagnated for a bit. You blamed yourself. No one could talk you down from what you were feeling. Zander was so worried he insisted the two of you live together because he wanted to keep an eye on you.”

  “He phrased it a different way when he suggested it to me,” Harper grumbled, annoyance threatening to take over. “He said it would be a smart financial decision.”

  “The fact that you fell for that shows how out of sorts you were at the time.” Phil’s grin was rueful. “Harper, don’t dwell on it. You came out the other side. You and Zander have built a strong business. You know who you are and aren’t afraid to live the life you want to live.”

  “All of that is well and good,” Harper hedged. “I guess I can deal with most of that ... although I’m not happy to know you thought I was dating a putz.”

  “I don’t believe I used that word, but it’s not incorrect.”

  “Ha, ha.” Harper rolled her neck and stared at the ceiling. “Believe it or not, Quinn is not my big concern right now. It’s Jared. He seems ... odd.”

  Instead of clucking with sympathy, Phil barked out a raucous laugh. “Odd? You think he’s acting odd? Oh, why ever would that be?”

  “Nobody needs your sarcasm,” Harper grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. “I came here for the male perspective. I didn’t come here to be laughed at.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to put up with both.” Phil turned serious. “Are you honestly surprised that Jared isn’t okay with Quinn’s miraculous resurrection?”

  “I would think he’d be happy. Quinn isn’t dead. That’s a good thing.”

  “I doubt very much that Jared wants Quinn dead,” Phil noted. “It would be easier if his feelings were that cut and dry. Jared isn’t upset because Quinn is alive. He’s upset because he has a rival for your heart.”

  “He doesn’t, though. I love Jared. I don’t love Quinn.”

  “I know. You never loved Quinn.”

  “Everyone keeps saying that to me,” Harper groused. “I know it myself, but people keep dropping that bomb as if they’re trying to enlighten me. It’s ridiculously annoying.”

  “People are simply trying to help.”

  “It doesn’t feel helpful.”

  “That’s because you’re in a gloomy place.” Phil sipped his beer before offering it to Harper. “Do you want to take the edge off?”

  Harper shook her head. “If I start drinking now, I may never stop.”

  “Oh, stop being dramatic.” Phil was obviously enjoying himself, a fact that set Harper’s teeth on edge. “As for Jared, as much as he knows that you love him, it has to be difficult to see the man who changed the course of your life back in town and sniffing around. That can’t possibly be a comfortable scenario.”

  “Quinn didn’t change the course of my life,” Harper scoffed.

  “Honey, his death did.” Phil gentled his voice. “Had you been allowed to end the relationship on your terms, Quinn would be no more than the guy you trot out funny stories about when you’re drunk and reminiscing. The fact that he died — or you thought he died — froze you in place for a bit.

  “It wasn’t that you loved him so much that you were crushed into oblivion, it was that you got weighed down by guilt and didn’t allow yourself to let go of his memory,” he continued. “Personally, I’m glad Quinn came back to tell you what happened. Now you can let him go.”

  “That’s the problem, though, I don’t think I’m the one hanging onto him. I think Quinn is hanging onto me.”

  “Well, I’m not an expert, but that might be normal,” Phil offered. “If he’s only recently started remembering things, you might be an anchor to the past he needs to rediscover. Once his emotions settle, he’ll realize what everyone in town does.”

  “That we were never right for each other?”

  “That, and the fact that you and Jared are meant for each other. It can’t be easy on the guy. Even though I’m sure he didn’t want you to suffer, part of him had to be annoyed that you weren’t sitting around pining for him.

  “You moved on, though,” he continued. “You fell in love with a great guy, made plans to move in together, and basically eradicated most of the memories of Quinn from your life.”

  Harper rubbed her cheek as she regarded her father with plaintive eyes. “So ... what do you think I should do to make Jared feel more secure and get Quinn out of town?”

  Phil’s answer was simple. “Just love Jared the way you always do. The rest of it will shake out how it’s supposed to. There’s a bigger power at play here, and things always turn out how they’re supposed to. Trust me.”

  HARPER PARKED AT THE new house rather than heading to the current one. She was anxious to head inside, maybe find a project to busy herself with. She needed a distraction, and mindless housework seemed like a good way to start.

  She had her keys out, but they were unnecessary. The front door was open. When she pushed open the door and heard The Rolling Stones playing in the next room, she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Jared loved The Rolling Stones, and he was clearly here to do some thinking, too.

  She quietly placed her keys on the table by the door before moving through the house, her eyes lighting when she realized Jared was cleaning cupboards while singing softly to himself. He looked serious, intent on his task, but there was also something adorable about the way he swung his hips as he scrubbed.

  “All you’re missing is a maid’s uniform,” Harper teased, causing Jared to swivel quickly. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “You scared the crap out of me,” Jared admitted, his expression rueful. “I didn’t know you were here. I didn’t hear the front door open.”

  “I think that’s because you’re rocking out to the oldies.”

  “Yeah, well ... .” Jared licked his lips as he watched Harper shed her heavy coat. “Where have you been? I thought you would be with Zander at the house, but he was knee deep in cooking preparations and said you’d been gone for a good two hours.”

  Harper recognized what he wasn’t saying. He wanted to know if she’d been hanging out with Quinn. “I was with my father,” she volunteered. “We had a long conversation about life, ex-boyfriends coming back from the dead, and some weird show about Southern belles.”

  “Oh.” The relief emanating from Jared was palpable. “Well, that’s good.”

  “It is,” Harper agreed, her heart going gooey when she realized that Jared was trying so hard to do right by her that he was ignoring his own needs. “Hey, Jared?”

  “What?”

  “I love you.”

  Jared’s eyes were serious when they locked with hers. “I know. I love you, too.”

  “No, I don’t think you do. I mean ... know. I get that you love me. You’re worried about Quinn, though, and I really wish you wouldn’t.”

  “I’m not worried about Quinn.” Jared said the words with bravado, but worry remained firmly rooted in his eyes. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me, just like I’m not worried about Quinn.”

  “Uh-huh.” Harper wasn’t convinced. Also, she was no longer willing to tie herself into knots of fear. “Let’s not worry, shall we?” She strode across the room and wrapped her arms around Jared, grabbing a fistful of his hair and giggling when he widened his eyes. “Let’s focus on each other and leave all the worry outside.”

  Jared hugged Harper against him. “I think that sound
s like a fabulous idea.”

  “We can even get pizza delivered ... once we’ve spent a little quality time together, of course.”

  “That sounds like a plan.” Jared lowered his lips until they were a hair’s breath away from Harper’s mouth. “Do you want to focus on me first, or shall I focus on you?”

  “We’ll do it together. That’s the way we work best.”

  “It really is.”

  Sixteen

  A makeshift picnic on the living room floor was just what the relationship doctor ordered. They spread out on a blanket, made plans for the future, and laughed about Zander’s upcoming Thanksgiving nightmare.

  “I know he likes to fuss about things, but I don’t think I’ve seen him this excitable over a meal before,” Jared noted as he wiped his hands and closed the pizza box. “How come he’s so worked up?”

  “Because, in his head, he’s billing this as our last holiday together,” Harper replied, her hair mussed from rolling around on the floor for an hour before they placed their dinner order. “He can’t help himself.”

  “That’s ridiculous. We’re still sharing holidays. You’re going to be across the road, not in another state.”

  “He can’t see that far into the future. It will be okay. He can’t help himself from getting worked up. It’s part of his personality.”

  “Well, I wish he would knock it off.” Jared idly took Harper’s hand and flipped it over so he could trace the lines on her palm. “You seem to be in a better mood than earlier.”

  “I wasn’t in a bad mood earlier.”

  “You weren’t in a good mood.”

  “I guess not.” She pursed her lips. “I went to see my father because I wanted to talk about men, you in particular. I’ve been struggling with how to make you feel secure given what’s going on.”