by Emily Greene
“Yes, Mother.”
She beamed at me so I knew my answer was the right thing to do in that moment.
“Good.”
“Where is Katie? She’s almost 30 minutes late!” Nicole was clearly annoyed and just as she was about to launch into her diatribe about Katie’s consistent tardiness, there she was strolling in.
“Hi everyone! Sorry I’m late, the meeting with the wedding planner went longer than expected.”
And just like that, all was forgiven by my mother and Nicole. My mother was positively beaming from ear to ear, and I glanced over at Nicole and she had the exact same look on her face, her eyes sparkling with glee.
“Oh my gosh, Katie, tell us everything!” Nicole gushed.
I had never been so happy to hear about wedding talk in my life. All of the attention had been taken off of me and I didn’t have to deal with the nagging about my love life from both Mother and Nicole. Katie talked for what seemed like hours and finally around 8:30 p.m., we called it a night.
“You are going to make such a beautiful bride, sweetheart,” Mother was practically glowing.
“You really are,” I chimed in.
“Thank you, Mother, thanks Harper,” she smiled.
“I am so excited for your day, Katie!” Nicole exclaimed, and then she looked over at me.
“Maybe we’ll be hearing about you and a certain special doctor soon, too!”
“Don’t pressure her, Nicole. Harper will find her perfect guy when the time is right.” Katie gave me a little wink and a smile.
I loved Katie, she understood me and I was grateful for that. She also preferred Detective Sloane for me over Matthew because while she thought Matthew was nice, she felt he was too buttoned up for me. I had to agree. I was exhausted and so ready to go home. I gave hugs and kisses and called it a night.
Chapter Ten
As soon as I opened my door I expected to see Gracie lying on the mat waiting for me, but she wasn’t there when I walked in. I didn’t think much of it as I called her name.
“Gracie? Gracie? Where are you sweetie?”
I put my keys and purse down on the counter as I looked in the kitchen, and when I didn’t see her I figured she must have been in her favorite hiding spot. I looked in the laundry room next to the dryer and she wasn’t there either.
“Gracie, are you hiding from me? Where are you?”
I noticed my basement door was closed and I found that to be strange because I was almost positive I had left it open. I opened it, flipped on the light and Gracie came running toward me up the stairs. I picked her up and her heart was beating faster than normal.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” I asked as I looked around. Something had definitely spooked her. I didn’t notice anything out of place as I went downstairs and looked around the basement.
I heard a door slam upstairs and fear swept over me as I raced up the stairs. I quietly grabbed an umbrella that was standing in the corner and, holding Gracie in one arm and the umbrella in my other hand, I prepared to defend myself if necessary. I peeked around the corner to see if anyone was there and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t see anyone. My house was not very big so I was able to look around quickly and determine that I was alone, but I still was shaken up.
I put down the umbrella and reached for the phone to call Detective Sloane when my hand stopped in mid-air. There on my kitchen counter next to my purse and keys was a handwritten note:
STOP SEARCHING AND STOP ASKING SO MANY QUESTIONS
My blood ran cold as I stared at the note. Someone did not want me to find out what happened to Sarah, but the note only made me want to know more. I dialed Andrew’s number immediately and he was at my house within 10 minutes.
His eyes feverishly searched mine. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, just a bit shaken up.”
“Okay, stay here while I check around.”
“Andrew, no one is here.”
“Harper, please just do as I say.”
His voice was firm so I decided it probably was not a good idea to fight him on that one. Gracie sat in my arms purring as I gently stroked her fur and I could tell that she was happy to be near me. I was glad that whoever had been inside my house did not hurt her.
Andrew came back a few minutes later slowly letting out a deep breath as his eyes searched mine.
“All clear. So that is the note?”
“Yes, and it was not there when I walked in.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, positive. I know that because I set my keys and purse down when I came in. Thanks goodness those are still here.”
“Harper, did you touch the note?”
“No.”
“Good.” He pulled out a pair of rubber gloves and a plastic bag and put the note inside. “I am going to have the lab analyze this and hopefully we’ll be able to get a set of fingerprints and figure out who did this.”
I heard footsteps coming up to my house and seconds later a forensic team and a couple of deputies entered the room.
“Detective? Where do you want us to start?” The forensic guy asked.
“Guys, over here, dust for fingerprints all over the kitchen island and the patio door since it was the likely the point of entry.” He handed them the note in the plastic bag. “We need to send that to the lab.”
“Yes, sir.”
Andrew asked me several more questions but there really wasn’t much I could tell him. When the forensics team left, he asked the deputies to set up surveillance around my house. He looked at me, his eyes searching mine.
“Are you okay, Harper?”
“Yes, thanks, Andrew.” I gave him a small smile and then realized that he was going to leave and I was going to be alone. For the first time in my life, I was uneasy about being alone in my own home in Prairie Cove. I definitely did not want to live with that kind of fear so I was determined to put an end to it. I just had to figure out the best way to do that.
He stood looking at me with concern on his face.
“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”
I managed a small smile. “Yes, just a little freaked out. It’s strange that someone actually broke into my house to leave me a menacing note. Things like this just don’t happen in Prairie Cove.”
He looked around taking a deep breath and his eyes were filled with worry as they settled in mine.
“I think I should stay on your couch tonight, Harper. I don’t know that I feel safe with you here alone tonight after this incident.
“That’s really not necessary, Andrew. I’ll be fine.”
He gave me a look of doubt and even I didn’t believe my own words. I had to admit, I was scared and having him there would make me feel a lot safer.
“Harper, I am going to have to put my foot down on this one. Since this just happened today, I really think it would be best if you were not alone in the house. If you have an extra pillow and a blanket, that would be great.”
His tone was firm and as much as I hated to admit it, I felt safer knowing he would be there with me that night. No one had ever broken into my house, so I had no idea that I would feel so rattled about it. Andrew had always been nothing but professional, so I had no qualms about having him stay the night on my couch.
“Okay, I will be right back.”
I returned a few minutes later and started making the couch up for him when he grabbed the other end of the sheet,
“Here, let me help you with that.”
We made up the couch in silence and when it was all ready for Andrew he sat on it and patted the seat next to him.
“Sit with me for a few minutes.”
His blue eyes were irresistible and there was nowhere else I would rather have been in that moment than right there, sitting next to Andrew, on my couch. I sat next to him and he just looked at me giving me a small smile.
“What’s that smile for?” I asked.
“It is good to see you relaxed. You looked scared when I first arrived her
e so that is why I did not want to leave you alone.”
“You are very perceptive.”
“Well rest assured, I will find out who was in your house tonight. I promise.”
I gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”
He smiled at me and it gave me butterflies. We sat there in silence for about a minute and I realized I had not offered him anything to drink.
“Oh my goodness, Andrew, I did not ask you if you wanted a beverage. I am so sorry! Can I get you anything?”
“Actually, a glass of water would be great.”
“Coming right up.” I went into the kitchen to get a glass of water for him and it felt so natural to perform such a small gesture. I was completely comfortable with Andrew in my home and I liked having him there. Gracie rubbed up against my leg as I handed Andrew his water. I took a seat on the chair next to the couch, setting my glass on a coaster on the end table.
“Thank you.”
“Sure, no problem. It is the least I could do with you taking the time to spend the night. Is this part of your job description, detective? You spend the night with damsels in distress?” I surprised myself with the blatant flirting but I couldn’t help it. Andrew was so handsome and I just could not get over that he was sitting in my house, on my couch, protecting me.
“No, this is not normal for me, but this situation is unique. Murders are practically non-existent in Prairie Cove, well, at least they were until recently, and I want to calm the community’s fears starting with you. As long as I am around, Harper, nothing is going to happen to you.”
His eyes held mine, and my mouth went completely dry. I was so tongue-tied I could not think of a thing to say, but in my mind, I was thanking him profusely. It was very sweet, what he said, and I wanted to fling my arms around him and thank him for vowing to protect me, but I did not have the nerve to do that. I took a sip of my water and it offered me the relief I needed to be able to reply to him.
“Thank you, Andrew, really, it means a lot to me that you said that. I have never been afraid in Prairie Cove so this is a strange situation for me.”
He reached out and gently touched my arm. “You have nothing to be afraid of.” He gave me a small wink which sent butterflies flying in my belly. “We’ll catch the person responsible.”
I nodded my head and allowed myself to swoon for just a few seconds. I was snapped out of my reverie when his cell phone buzzed. He glanced down at it and I could see the expression change on his face as he remembered something he must have forgotten. He looked at me with apologetic eyes.
“I have to take off around 7:00 tomorrow morning. An officer will still be stationed outside of your place when I leave.”
“Okay, I am going in to the bakery tomorrow around 7:30 so that will be fine. I’ll be okay.”
“I can come back to check things out tomorrow evening if you’d like.”
It was a very sweet offer, but I was going to have to feel comfortable in my home again by myself. Prairie Cove was not the type of place where one needed constant police protection and I was not going to allow it to turn into a place like that. That was just unacceptable to me.
“Thank you for the offer but I will be okay. I was a little bit spooked tonight but I am not going to let the bad guy win.”
“That is one of the many things I like about you, Harper Madison. You are a strong woman.”
“One of the many things, huh? What else do you like?”
I could have sworn his face turned as red as mine felt as those words slipped off of my tongue without any thought. What had gotten into me?
He just smiled and glanced at his watch.
“It’s getting late, we should both get some sleep.”
“You’re right. Thanks again for staying tonight, Andrew.”
“No problem. Sleep tight, Harper.”
I gave him a small smile. “You too.”
I turned off the light and practically floated up to my room. I had the best night of sleep I’d had in a very long time.
Chapter Eleven
I heard a loud rapping on my door the next morning and glanced at the clock which showed it was 6:30. I remembered that Andrew was on my couch and I quickly jumped out of bed, threw on my robe and slippers and rushed down the stairs. He was already at the door, his gun held down at his side as he peered through the peephole. He glanced at me and did a double take, making me think that I must have looked like a real mess.
He stepped away from the door and put his gun away as he raked his fingers through his hair. He looked so handsome, it was almost too much to bear and I had forgotten why I was standing there.
“Good morning, Harper. You’re going to want to answer that.”
I gave him a confused look as I looked through the peephole and a huge feeling of dread fell over me. The rapping was incessant as I opened the door and my mother barged her way in, frantic with worry.
“Harper, honey, are you okay?? Nicole told me that she heard over Greg’s police scanner that Detective Sloane had to come to your house last…” she stopped in mid-sentence when she saw that he was still there. She stood there for a moment, confused, and then I could see the wheels spinning as she looked back and forth between the two of us.
“Oh my goodness, I didn’t mean to intrude.”
My mother was flustered and I needed to quickly clear the air.
“This is not what it looks like Mother and I hope you would know me better than that. Detective Sloane stayed overnight on the couch because someone broke in last night and I was a bit shaken by it. I can see the look of panic on your face, but everything is fine, so please don’t worry.”
“Someone broke into your house?!” she shrieked.
“Yes, Mrs. Madison, but nothing was taken. I stayed as a precaution. We will get to the bottom of this, I promise you,” Andrew said.
“Well, I have to say that I am happy that my daughter has a friend who is a detective. Thank you for staying with her.”
What was I witnessing? Was it possible that my mother was actually softening toward Detective Sloane?
“You are very welcome. Well, if you ladies will excuse me I must be going. Harper, if you need anything I am a quick phone call away. Have a good day, ladies.”
With that he was gone, leaving my mother staring at me in disbelief. Her eyes slowly crawled over my hair, my face and my attire, but the look in her eyes was different from the look of frustration I had seen too many times before.
“Mother, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Honey, I don’t know if I have ever seen you look more beautiful. Detective Sloane must really have a hold on your heart because you are positively glowing. Your hair is perfectly tousled, your skin is flawless and you look happy. Sweetheart, it is so nice to see you like this.”
I seriously thought my mother was delusional, I had literally just rolled out of bed, so I walked over to the mirror to take a look at what she thought she saw. I nearly shocked myself as my image stared back at me. Mother was right; I did look beautiful. I remembered how Andrew did a double take when he saw me and I could see why. The beauty fairies must have sprinkled magic dust on me while I slept because I did not recognize the woman who was staring back at me. My hair had never done what it was doing in that moment and my skin had never had the glow that I was witnessing. My good night of restful sleep had worked miracles. I turned to look at my mother who was happily watching me.
“Mother, why are you here so early?”
“I told you, Nicole heard about the detective coming to your house last night.”
“Yes, so you said, but it is nearly 7:00 AM and you have been here since 6:30. Did Nicole call you just to tell you about Detective Sloane?”
“No, of course not. I called her to ask about Katie’s surprise bridal shower.”
“You called her before 6:30 AM about that? Mother, that is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“No, I knew she would be up, she is working on a big project at work and
goes in at 6:00. The shower is in less than a month and we still have so much to do.”
“My part will be done on time so please don’t feel that you have to call me at an obscene hour to discuss what I need to do for the shower, okay?” I teased.
