Page 84 of Missing Pieces

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Harper!”

I roll over in my bed and bury my head beneath the blankets and pillows after peaking at the alarm clock and the bright red letters reading 7:32am. It is far too early for me to go running to my mother’s aid.

I know I’m out of luck though as I hear the door handle jiggle. “Harper, wake up. I know you’ve been sick, but it’s been over a week. Pull yourself together and get out of bed.”

She barges into my room before I am given a second to respond. She attempts to pull the covers back while I fight to keep myself hidden with them.

“For Pete’s sake, get out of bed!” She yanks them so hard she stumbles backward. She straightens her top and sits down on the side of my bed. “Sweet girl, I know you’ve been sad, and I understand you’ve had a rough year. But today is the last day of the year. I think you need to get out of bed, put on a dress and have some fun.” Her hand cups the side of my face, comforting me like she used to do when I was a child. I miss this side of my mother. The empathetic side. “I am not letting you sit in bed all day today. We’re going to the spa and shopping and we are going to make you look fabulous for tonight!”

“Please don’t tell me you’re matching me up with a future husband tonight, Mom,” I groan.

She chuckles, actually chuckles. I don’t even remember the last time I heard my mom chuckle. “Honey, I think I’m going to take a small step back and let you figure this out on your own this time.” She sighs as she looks around the room. “I hate to admit this, but I think you were right, Drew really was not the right man for you. And I feel like I might have pushed you a little too much with that marriage.”

“Mom that had nothing to do—“

“Honey, please. Let me get this out. You are a smart girl and you were right to leave him when you did. I was just too blind to see the fact that you weren’t happy with him. I was never going to tell you this, because you didn’t need to know, but your father had an affair years ago before you were born. I wanted to leave him, but I didn’t, I made us work through it. I thought that if I could have made it through then you should have forced yourself to as well.”

I stare at her in shock. I have no words. I let her continue, “But when I saw you with Easton,” she pauses, tears glistening on her eyes. “I don’t think I have ever seen you as happy as you were when your father and I visited you in White Creek. You were glowing. I hadn’t seen that side of you in years.”

I grab my mom’s hand, trying not to cry along with her. “I was happy with Drew. Don’t think I wasn’t.”

“I know sweetheart. I think I just missed when you fell out of love with him. I have been so involved in all the things in my life I wasn’t even there for my daughter when she needed help.”

“It’s over and done with, Mom. I’m fine now.” She gives me a stern look and it almost makes me laugh. “Okay, I might not be fine, but I think I’m better than I was. It’s hard, but I’m doing what I can to get by.”

“You are, sweetie. And I can see you need help now. That man in Tennessee did a number on your heart. But I need you to see it’s not broken yet, you can still repair the damage.” I stare at mother, unsure of how to take her advice. She pushes my hair off my forehead and gives me a sad smile. “I also don’t want you thinking any less of your father. That was thirty years ago. I love him now more than ever. Now how about you get up and we can go have a girl’s day.”

I sit up in bed and give her a hug. “Thank you, Mom. I could really use you right now. Maybe I should start the new year out on a different foot.”

“I love you, sweetheart. This will be good for you. For both of us actually.” She pulls away and smiles at me. “Now go get dressed and meet me downstairs in thirty minutes.”

I laugh as she gets off the bed and walks out the door and pauses. “But Harper, you might want to wash that bird’s nest out of your hair before we go out.”

* * *

The day with my mom was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. She didn’t even bring her phone with her and anytime we saw someone she knew she told them she didn’t have time to talk. I couldn’t believe it. She was like a mother I never had before.

We sit down at a waterfront restaurant for a late lunch to discuss the plan for this evening.

“Mom, I thought this New Year’s party was at the country club, not some swanky hotel.”

“Honey, we’ve been doing this every year since we moved here. I swear I told you about it.”

I think back to all the times my mom told me stories and how I managed to mute her voice out for most of it. “I guess I just thought they were always at the club.”

“Don’t be silly. That’s why we need to hurry up and finish this lunch. We have an appointment at Neiman’s in thirty minutes. We need to find you a beautiful dress.”

I stare at my mom and I’m pretty sure my mouth is hanging open. There is no way I am going to try on dresses with my mom. Half the reason I was faking an illness the last week was because I have a small bump beginning to show and while most people would think I was bloated I’m sure my mom would see it for what it was. And considering I haven’t eaten much in the last couple weeks.

“Close your mouth, people are starting to stare.” I shut my mouth abruptly and realize the women I spent the day with is gone and my normal mother is back.

“Sorry Mother, I just don’t know why we have to go shopping for dresses. I have a few from Chicago still.”

My mother just shakes her head. “Nope. Those won’t do. You need a gown.”

“A gown?!” I shriek and try to cover it with a cough, although I already caught the attention of half the tables here.

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