Page 73 of Harper

“No, Dad,” I say softly. “Obviously, I couldn’t.” I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I want him to understand. “I couldn’t talk to anyone who might have tried to pressure me into keeping her. At the time, that was out of the question for me.”

He puts his hands flat on the table like he’s going to stand up and leave.

“Gary,” says Gran, her voice laced with iron, her grip on my hand just as strong. “Calm down. Let her finish talking.”

My father sits back in his chair, staring down at his lap.

“Raven’s birth was…bad. Really bad. Her placenta…well, I mean, I lost a lot of blood, and I needed surgery, and I was told I’d never be able to conceive naturally.” I don’t know where it comes from, this sudden well of joy, but I feel my lips wobble, then spread, and soon, I’m smiling so wide for this baby, for this unexpected mercy, this beautiful second chance. “I never expected this to happen, but it did. I’m pregnant again, and this time, I’m keeping it.”

“Oh my god!” cries Reeve, beaming at me. “We’re gonna have a baby around here? I’m going to be an aunt?”

“Aunt Reeve,” I say, nodding at her.

“When?”

“If my math’s right, he or she’ll be here by the first week in April.”

“Awesome!” she says, picking up her fork and spearing a potato. “And so nice not to be the youngest anymore.”

“Are you worried?” asks Parker. “After what happened last time?”

“I’ve been in touch with a perinatologist obstetrician in Anchorage. She specializes in high-risk pregnancies. I’m headed up there in two weeks for my initial appointment, and I’ll probably deliver there. But as long as everything looks okay, I’ll have most of my ultrasound appointments at the clinic in Skagway.”

“Can I go with you?” she asks, her eyes worried, and her smile shy. “Up to Anchorage?”

“I’d love that, Park.”

“I’m coming too,” says Gran. “I’m not letting you two have all the fun.”

“In case you’ve all forgotten, we’ve got a business to run,” growls my father. He’s angry with me. Disappointed. And that hurts, but the women in my family are showing up for me so spectacularly, I can handle my father’s displeasure. “Three down’s going to make that awfully difficult.”

“But not impossible,” says Paw-Paw, leaning forward to grin at me over Gran. “Ain’t done a tour in years, but I can pick up some slack. Congrats, Harp. Family could use a new addition.”

Oh, man, I love you, Paw-Paw.

“Gran and I can prep the meals the day before,” says Reeve, “and I’ll keep everything humming here while you three are gone. I promise!”

“Sawyer, can you handle a Yukon tour alone if necessary?”

“Of course I can. Or, heck, I could always ask Quinn Morgan to come along if I needed a hand.” He shoots a look at Parker. “Quinn’s back in town. Did you hear?”

“Shut up, Sawyer,” she mutters.

“So that’s settled,” says Gran, bringing my hand to her lips for a kiss before letting it go. “Business will run as smoothly as ever, Gary. Parker and I will go to Anchorage with Harper. The rest of you will hold down the fort.”

“Congrats, Harp,” says Sawyer. “It’s super weird that you’re having a baby, but cool, I guess. I knew something was up!”

Hunter stands up and comes around to my seat. He kisses me on top of the head. “You’re gonna be a great mom, Harp.”

“Thanks, Hunter.”

I look up at my dad, who’s watching me with hurt in his eyes.

“Dad,” I say, “I really want you to be on board with this. My baby needs a granddad.”

He skewers me with eyes as blue as my own. “This is a lot to digest, Harp. I’m surprised. I’m…shocked. I’m disappointed. I have a granddaughter somewhere out there, and I didn’t even know about her. Never even met her.”

“I could ask for a picture of her. I’m in contact with her mother.”

---