Page 128 of An Engagement for Erica

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GO WITH THE FLOW

“You’ve got some explaining to do,” Harmony said on Sunday afternoon when she returned home.

Erica was thrilled that by the time she woke up the second time, she’d felt almost human.

She’d like to think the banana helped somewhat. Then Tucker made breakfast for them and they tried to figure out plans for their day.

In the end, they went to the pumpkin patch and then picked apples.

Being outdoors in the fresh air felt good and it was something they didn’t have to put much thought into.

Not even carving the pumpkins and putting them on his front porch and the dock out back with candles in them.

“About what?” she asked. It wasn’t like her sister to attack her like that when she walked in the door or actually look ticked off.

“This,” Harmony said, holding out the fake engagement ring Tucker had put on her finger over a month ago. God, had it only been that short of a period of time? “What is this?”

“It’s a ring,” she said and took it away from her sister. “What were you doing in my jewelry box?”

“Looking for something to wear,” she said. “We always share our jewelry. I went out last night on a date.”

“You didn’t tell me you had a date,” she said. “Who and where did you meet?”

“Oh no, no, no,” Harmony said, waving her hand. “That’s a diamond ring. A big one. Are you engaged and not telling anyone?”

She let out a sigh and knew that she couldn’t hide this anymore.

There was no reason for it anyway.

It’s not as if other people weren’t aware of it. What was one more person?

“It’s not real.”

“What isn’t? This ring?”

“Yes,” she said, bringing it to her room and putting it away. “Nor the engagement.”

“Wait,” Harmony said. “Back up. Engagement?”

“I’ve got apples in my car. Let me get them and I’ll explain what is going on.”

Harmony was all but hopping in place as her patience was flying away.

She’d only brought her clothes in with her from the car and her laptop on her shoulder. No reason to try to carry apples she and Tucker picked at the same time and end up dropping them everywhere.

When she walked back into the house, Harmony took the bag out of her hands. “Talk.”

“It’s simple. When TC had his stroke, I went to see him that night. I guess TC woke up and saw me with my hand on top of Tucker’s. The next time he was awake enough, he was confused and kept asking Tucker about his fiancée and when thewedding was. Tucker tried to tell him he wasn’t engaged and his grandfather was getting worked up.”

“So he lied to his grandfather about the two of you and you went along with something like that?”

The appalled look on Harmony’s face told her how silly and out of character this was for Erica to have agreed to it.

“I did,” she said. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. It’s not like Tucker and I weren’t dancing around each other already.”

“But you hadn’t even dated or kissed, right?”

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