by Jacie Floyd
“Thanks, Libby.” He stretched his arms around her pregnant body and squeezed. “You shouldn’t even be here. Aren’t you on restricted bed rest?”
“Since you’re the one who put there, you know I am.”
“I told her not to come,” Bill said, “but she wouldn’t hear of staying home.”
“I’m honored, but you need to get off your feet. Want me to take your blood pressure before you take off?”
“One last time? For old time’s sake? Thanks, but no. My new doctor’s got it covered.” She nodded at Josh, who was approaching with a grim and determined look on his face.
“Take care of yourself,” Zach said. “Have a happy, healthy baby boy.”
“Take care of yourself. I’m naming him Zach.”
“I’m sure Josh will let me know when he arrives.” Damn, he wasn’t supposed to be the one getting choked up.
“Hey, Libby. Time for you to head on home while I borrow Zach for a second. I’ll see you next week.”
“What’s going on?” Zach asked his brother. “I noticed volunteer fireman heading out the door.”
“That rumble we felt? Explosion at Engler’s Grain Elevator.”
Zach winced. Granary explosions were the worst. There hadn’t been one in about twenty years, but he remembered the devastation caused by the last one. “How many people affected?”
“Ten to fifteen unaccounted for, but some of them could be here at the party. Old Jacobson hasn’t been seen, for sure. That whole row of houses by the south fence is going up in flames. The Sanders family is already on the way to County with third degree burns. Likely to be at least half a dozen more hurt.”
“Let’s get going.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“Was there any doubt?”
“Technically, you’re off the payroll here, and you have a flight out of town in the morning. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to sit this one out.”
“Can’t do it.”
“Do you want to tell Harper you’re leaving? I’ve already filled Susannah in, but it’s best if we get out of this building before the explosion becomes public knowledge.”
“Go ahead and take off. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
Harper excused herself to Rachel and Daxina when he motioned her over. “Problem?”
“Yeah.” He explained to her about the granary. “When there’s an explosion, they go up hot and fast. Anyone in the immediate vicinity goes that way, too. There could be any number of injuries, and Josh needs my help.”
“Of course, he does. Can you drop me off at home or should I get a ride?”
“I was hoping Rachel could take you.”
“I’m sure she will. Don’t worry about me.”
“Let’s keep this news quiet as long as we can, okay? I don’t want everyone panicking and running out there and getting in the way.”
“They won’t hear it from me.”
“Walk out with me?” He linked his fingers with hers. “This is going to ruin our last night together. I’m sorry about that.”
“Your work will always take precedence in any relationship you’re in. I understand that, and maybe it’s just as well we end it with the time we had together this afternoon. I didn’t know it was the last time, so I was able to enjoy it more than if I’d had that refrain running through my head.”
“What refrain?”
“Last-time-last-time-last-time-last time.”
“Okay, I get it.” He pressed his fingertips to her lips and then pulled her to him and kissed her, loading the caress with as much apology as he could convey. “But that wasn’t our last kiss. I’ll come over as soon as I get done at the hospital. No matter what time it is. I hate to leave you like this.”
“Like this or some other way won’t matter. The result’s the same.” She separated herself from him and gave him a little push toward his truck, but his feet were already moving. “Just go. I’ll see you before you leave.”
Before getting into the truck, he stole a few seconds to watch her as she walked away.
Chapter Twenty-three
The next morning, Harper woke up stiff and sore, a combination of the accident two days before and sleeping on the couch instead of her bed. Well past dawn, rain still pounded the roof, and Zach hadn’t shown up yet. Would he? Footage of the explosion had dominated one of the national news channels for most of the night. They reported three confirmed deaths and at least ten injured. Damages like that would have required him to stay on duty all night without much time to spare this morning. He’d be going full bore from one job to another. But she would put on coffee, just in case he managed to stop by.
Considering running over to the pastry shop, she decided she wouldn’t risk missing him. She could text and tell him where she was going. Or she could just sit here and wait. The idea of another public appearance didn’t sound appealing.
She pulled her grandmother’s afghan over her and huddled under it. Calliope leaped up on her, circling around until she found the perfect spot.
Harper gave a double-take as the front door opened. In came Zach, brushing rain off his hair and shoulders. Good thing he was leaving. Having him come in the front entrance instead of the back would have taken some getting used to.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry. The explosion and fire was worse than anyone would have guessed, and I was elbow-deep the entire night. Josh finally made me leave so I’d be able to catch my plane, but I don’t have much time.”
She pulled the afghan more tightly around her. “I know. It’s okay.”
“Do you want to go with us to the airport? Dad’s waiting to take me but he would understand if you want to ride along.”
“No, thanks. I don’t want to intrude on your family time.” Or make a fool of myself in public. “Have you showered, want some breakfast, knock off a quickie? What?”
Dropping onto the couch, he draped his arm around her. “I’d love to do all of that, but I can’t. Dad’s probably pacing the floor and contacting Jimbo for a police escort to get us there on time. I just want to be here with you for a minute, all right?”
She nodded her head and snuggled into him.
“This isn’t how I wanted to say goodbye.”
She cringed at the word. “Then let’s just don’t, okay? I’m aware of what’s happening, and I don’t need that word to make it official. I can say goodbye in about ten different languages, but they’re all just too depressing.”
He tightened his arm around her. “Then what words can I use to tell you what you mean to me? How much I adore you? How much I’ll miss you? How I wish I had met you sooner?”
“Oh, those words are perfect.” Cradling his face in her hands, she kissed him on the lips, savoring him and memorizing his taste. Calliope meowed and jumped to the floor. “Drop me a line if you have time. Call if you have phone service. Live a good and meaningful life and think of me when you go to bed at night.” Tears inconveniently leaked out of her eyes.
“I won’t have any choice about that last one.”
She swallowed her grief. “And you don’t have any choice about leaving now.”
He nodded and stood, taking her with him. She wished she had dressed, brushed her teeth and combed her hair. She wanted to look her best as he moved to take a larger place in the world, but he probably wouldn’t have noticed all that. They kissed, of course, they kissed, shadowing all the familiar emotions with hints of bittersweet and regrets. She wanted to give him more than that, Something that would last forever.
“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.
“What?” He pulled his head back. “No, don’t say that. You know I can’t make any commitments.”
“I love you.” She kissed the palm of his hand and closed his fingers over it. “My gift to you. Take it with you and keep it forever. No strings attached. No expectations or promises for tomorrow.”
“Harper.” When he crushed her to him, she felt
his struggle over whether to accept or reject her claim. “I don’t know what to say, and I’m out of time. I don’t know what happens next, but I’ll never forget you.”
One last kiss, and he was out the door. Harper’s heart went with him.
Along with the autumn rain that had started on the day of Zach’s party, a gloom seemed to have settled over the town. Sunnyside still reeled from the explosion that had destroyed the grain elevator, taken several lives, and left several others severely injured. The constant rain was interfering with the fall harvest. Add Zach’s departure to the mix, and there were mostly grumpy faces around town.
His healing diplomacy and soothing presence were sorely missed. The weather, the dismal harvest, the explosion, and Zach’s relocation were not Harper’s fault. But somehow, because he’d made their relationship public the same weekend those events occurred, she was punished, or just ignored, by many Sunnyside residents. Next, they’d be trying to blame her for the national debt.
As if daily life wasn’t depressing enough, she tried to set those feelings aside on the day of the library reopening. But she was afraid a phone call from her father was about to make things worse. It usually did. He’d never been good at small talk, but it suddenly seemed like he was trying.
“How do you like your new position?” he asked.
“I love it. How’s your work?”
“Busy. I’ve taken on another new partner, but there’s always too much to do.”
“That’s the trouble with cardiology, isn’t it? Hearts keep breaking.”
He cleared his throat like he always did in their conversations. The serious surgeon either couldn’t tell when she was teasing or he didn’t know how to respond. “I got a call from some idiot who thought he could blackmail me.”
She should have guessed. “I’m sorry you were bothered with that.”
“I told him to stuff it, but then I thought I should check with you. Do you want me to handle it differently?”
“No, you handled it just right.”
“Do you need help getting rid of him and these accusations?”
Her heart took a sudden dip. He so seldom invited himself into her life. “What kind of help?”
“Financial? Legal?”
Ah, yes, the impersonal kind of help he excelled at. “I’ve got it covered, but thanks for asking.”
“All right then. I have a consultation in a few minutes but I wanted to let you know your sister’s getting married.”
Confused, her first thought was about Fiona, but that couldn’t be right. Then she realized he meant his daughter. The one who didn’t acknowledge Harper as part of her family. “Congratulations. When will the wedding be?”
He cleared his throat again. “It was originally planned for June, but has now been moved up to February. Apparently, matters need to be expedited.”
Harper was glad he couldn’t see her mouth drop open. The rightful heiress pregnant? That news must be rocking the castle to its foundations. “So, you’re planning for two happy events in the coming year.”
“I suppose so.” He didn’t sound happy. “I know you and Miranda aren’t close, but she’s drawing up the guest list and wanted to know if you’d like to come.”
“She did?”
Harper pictured him adjusting his collar. “I suggested it. I don’t want you to feel left out.”
Emotion clogged her throat. “I would probably come if I’m invited.”
“Thank you. I’m adding your name now. Maybe you’d could stay for a visit after the ceremony. If you’re not too busy.”
She didn’t even know how to respond. She’d always wanted his time and attention. Maybe this offer was coming too late, but how could she refuse?” “I could probably arrange that.”
“Good. I’ll be in touch with the details.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Good luck with this business about the photographer. I hope it’s not causing you too much trouble.”
“I’m sure it will work itself out.”
This was her big day, made even bigger by her father’s cautious phone call. She didn’t have time to ponder the ramifications after they broke the connection. Pushing in a chair at a computer table in preparation of the grand reopening, she could only hope this was a good sign.
Although she’d opened the doors to limited usage before every little detail was complete, the official celebration had been delayed until the middle of November, when every last light, shelf, book, and table were in place. Andrew Berkman was scheduled to arrive any minute now, and Harper couldn’t wait for him to see what they had accomplished.
She stopped at the top of the second-floor staircase to take in what she had accomplished. The old building had great bones, but it had been up to her to make its surface shine. And shine it did. She hoped the town approved of her decisions.
When the doors opened, Harper and her staff lined the main entrance, greeting the town council, their congressman, the library board, the county board of education, and all the general public who could cram themselves into the space. Many of them made a point of ignoring Harper and making over Myrna and her contributions to the day.
“Everything looks fabulous,” Harper overheard Kate say to the older woman. “I’m sure you’re happy to have your job back.”
“Are those Bennie’s paintings in the Children’s Room?” Brianna asked. “Who knew he was so talented? Mother said you’re trying to arrange for him to have his own showing. Will it be here at the library? Won’t that be exciting?”
Harper had arranged for those things, but that was okay. The older librarian was a known quantity to most of them, and Harper was an outsider. And suddenly, she wasn’t just an outside but a suspicious outsider as well.
Before the speeches began, the phone in her pocket beeped with a text. Andrew wanted her to call him. Oh, no. She was hoping the billionaire’s appearance would overshadow any ill-will that was felt for her. But if he didn’t arrive, his absence would probably be held against her, too.
“Yes, Andrew?” she said when she reached him. “Where are you?”
“Stuck in Montreal. There are bad storms up here and I’m socked in. Sorry, kiddo, but you’ll have to carry on without me. How’s everything look?”
“Amazing, if I do say so myself.”
“I’m sure it does. Skype me in, okay? And I’ll drop in sometime next week. I know it won’t be the same, but it’s all I can offer you right now.”
Not kidding herself about it, his absence took some of the luster out of the day. Many people who had been warming up to her before Zach left, gave her the cold shoulder now. The town teens and the girls from the What Not To Wear project all pretended nothing was amiss, but Harper’s heart carried the weight of disappointment.
It might have helped if India or Fiona could have shown up, but they were in the middle of a project in Prague that week. An enormous bouquet of balloons, books, and flowers conveyed their regrets and congratulations and resided in a place of honor at the circulation desk.
Feeling let down by the sub-par celebration, her phone rang as she let herself into her house at the end of the day.
“How was it?” Fiona asked. “Did you get the bouquet we sent?”
“Thank you so much! It was a lovely gesture and almost overshadowed the event.”
“Oh, no. Those sticks-in-the-mud. What are they upset about now?”
Harper juggled her phone from ear to ear as she removed her coat. “Same old, same old. It’ll pass soon enough. What’s up with you, girl?”
“I hate to be Debbie Downer, but more bad news I’m afraid.”
She paused in the act of removing her boots. “Now, what? There’s nothing wrong with India or Wexley, is there?”
“Nothing like that, but Dad heard from Blaine this morning.”
“He contacted my father the other day, too.”
Fiona paused before asking, “How do you know?”
“Father called and told me abou
t it himself. He didn’t even staff it out or write an email. He made an actual phone call.”
“I’ll bet that was weird.”
Weird didn’t begin to describe it, but she was still processing the conversation. “Totally, but it sounded like he brushed off Blaine’s demands, and he wasn’t too judgmental about my involvement with such a low-life reptile.”
“Well, that snake tried to shake us down for big bucks, and Dad refused with some pretty colorful language. We just heard from another source that Blaine sold the photos to a national tabloid. It’s only a matter of time before they hit the newsstand.”
“I hope that rat-bastard rots in hell.”
“That would be too good for him. I hope a pack of wild boar rip off his testicles, tear out his entrails, and sever him limb from limb.”
“That does sound worse.” Harper had to laugh at the vivid description, but all the while the top of her head threatened to explode. Many of the Sunnysiders were skeptical of her now, but how many of her friends would give her the benefit of the doubt and stand with her when they heard about this?
She worried it would be too damn few.
The boy with the snaggly teeth grinned bravely at Zach after he set the arm that had been broken in an early morning bombing of the village. Zach’s heart lurched at the inhumanity witnessed by the villagers here on a daily basis.
This boy. These people. They needed medical care. They needed what he had to offer. Nothing had been as professionally gratifying as the challenges he faced here with these undernourished, health-challenged, poverty-stricken villagers.
His patients in Sunnyside didn’t face the same challenges or the same type of difficulties, but from this distance, he had a better understanding that their issues were just as great, just as important to them. To him. He wondered how Libby Taylor was progressing with her toxemic pregnancy. If Old Man Shorter’s emphysema was acting up. If Josh was watching Cora’s blood sugar as closely as he should.
