Page 31 of Relentless

“I — well, we’ve met,” Audrey sputtered. “What can I get for you?”

“Small black coffee for both of us,” Maeve replied, observing her sister’s glassy look, hidden poorly behind her dark sunglasses. “Actually, go ahead and make them a large.” She could only imagine Harper was starving after her harrowing day. “Would you like anything to eat? The cinnamon rolls are popular.”

“Does it look like I eat cinnamon rolls?” Harper’s lip curled in disgust.

Maeve knew the line of civility between them was wearing thinner by the second. “Why don’t you sit with me, Harper.” She went to the back of the cafe to her usual spot and slid into the chair.

Harper surprisingly complied, sitting across from her without even a snide remark.

“You sure you don’t want to take off your sunglasses?” Maeve asked, realizing her cadence was one she would use with a toddler. Reminding herself she was speaking with a grown woman who was actually a year older than she was, she corrected her tone. “It’s always a little dark in here. Oakleigh calls itaccent lighting.”

The small talk was as awkward as it felt.

“I know what accent lights are,” Harper seethed. “Where do you think she learned all ofthisfrom? She certainly didn’t pick it up in somebarn.” Harper looked away out the windows and onto the dimly lit street.

Just at the right time to cut the tension, Audrey brought the giant mugs of black coffee filled to the brim. She set them down on the table with a gentle clink, her steady hands not spilling even a drop.

Harper not only failed to say thank you but ignored her presence entirely, causing Audrey’s contagious positivity to fade. A profound misery emanated from every pore and bled onto anyone with the misfortune of being in Harper’s proximity.

Maeve lifted the heavy mug of coffee to her lips and closed her eyes, taking a long drink. She had missed the taste of good coffee but was missing Dallas even more. When she opened her eyes again, Harper was still scowling. She wished she could say the hurt was gone after all the years of silence between them, but everything in her felt tense and reverberated with wounds still struggling to heal. Maeve couldn’t help but wonder if Harper was even aware of the wreckage she left in her wake.

She steeled herself, venturing to break the weighty silence between them.

“Thanks to Oakleigh, there are several places you can stay in town tonight. I’m sure you’ll want to catch the first flight tomorrow,” she said. “I can have one of the boys pick you upin the morning.” Even as she said it, she quickly reconsidered the offer.

Harper was her problem to deal with.

“I’ll pick you up, actually,” she changed course, rattling off plans with hopes of quickly wrapping up their time together.

Harper unraveled her arms that were wrapped around her like armor. She picked up the large white mug and took her first sip, seeming to savor it. It was the first indication of any emotion besides utter disdain.

“I know you want to get rid of me as soon as possible, Maeve,” she stated. “I’m sure whatever dodgy little motel you have in mind will be fine for the night.” She glanced up, finally making cold eye contact with Maeve.

“Harper, why are you here?” Maeve bit her lip, fighting the urge to say something she knew she might regret. “If it’s money you need —“

Harper shook her head, backpedaling in defense. “Don’t be absurd.” Crossing her legs, she tugged at the collar of her shirt. “Awfully warm in here, Maeve. You really should tell your barista.”

“Her name is Audrey,” Maeve calmly informed. “Let’s get back in the truck, and I can start calling around for vacancies.”

“I’m here to see Oakleigh,” she announced. Harper didn’t appear to be convincing herself, let alone her intuitive younger sister.

Maeve looked down at her nails, picking away a little dirt as she collected her thoughts. She couldn’t help but feel like therewas something cracked behind the solid walls Harper had constructed around herself. Even though everything within resisted, it was time to press for answers.

“Harper, I’m not going to ask again.”

“I said —” Harper set her mug down hard and whipped off her sunglasses, revealing that her blue eyes were red and bloodshot. Pressing her lips together, she inhaled deeply.

The ploy of bringing her to a public place seemed to be working.

Harper tilted her head to the side, donning a falsely bright tone and her signature smile. “I’m here for Oakleigh,” she repeated. “I’m allowed to visit my own daughter? Right, Maeve?”

“Of course,” Maeve replied, lifting her mug and taking a drink. “But you made it pretty clear last time that you aren’t interested in a relationship with her.”

“The heat of the moment, Maeve.” Harper rolled her eyes, punctuating her statement with a wave of her hand as though it erased away all of their tumultuous history in one sweep. “We all make mistakes.”

Picking up her coffee, she gave Maeve a knowing glance over the rim of the mug. “You should know all about that.”

Maeve knew Harper wanted a reaction, and she was determined to not grant her wish. She calmly thumbed the handle of the mug, considering her words before she spoke.

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