Page 37 of Redeeming Harmony

Nathan smiled a little. “Yeah. Although I’ll wait a year or two before I change the name. Ease the town into it, you know?”

Wyatt laughed. “Probably a good idea. See you later.”

“Later,” Nathan said. He climbed into his truck and shut the door before starting the engine. Fighting with Harper wasn’t exactly how he’d planned on celebrating his new clinic.

But fucking her was?

He ignored his inner voice and followed Wyatt’s truck out of the parking lot.

* * *

“Oh,you are the sweetest girl. Yes, you are.” Harper scratched the lab mix behind her ears. “How many babies you got in there, huh, mama?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Savina said. “Rayna hasn’t done x-rays because Izzie here is doing fine, and the rescue can’t afford unnecessary vet costs. Although, Dr. Henshaw thinks there’s at least four just from palpating her belly.”

Harper curled her feet under her and leaned back against the couch cushions. Despite her sizeable belly, Izzie jumped up beside her and leaned against her, panting happily when Harper scratched her throat.

Savina sat across from them in the old and worn recliner that belonged to her late husband. She took a sip of tea and tucked the blanket around her lap. “God, this place gets draftier every year, I swear.”

“Have you ever considered selling it?” Harper said. “You could get a lot of money for this place and find a smaller house in town.”

“I’d have to give up my chickens and fostering dogs,” Savina said. “Besides, I love my house. I don’t want to leave it or its memories.”

Harper smiled at her. “I know. And honestly, I’d be devastated if you sold. I spent just as much time here with you and Uncle Alan as I did at home. Probably more in my teenage years.”

“Your dad told me about your conversation with him this morning,” Savina said.

“Did he tell you I cried like a little kid?” Harper said.

“He didn’t mention that,” Savina said.

Harper scratched around Izzie’s ears. “I don’t know why I was so shocked that he sold our house. I mean, yeah, Nathan was right. It makes sense to include it in the sale of the clinic.”

“I’m sorry you found out from Nathan and not your dad,” Savina said. “That must have been difficult.”

“Dad apologized for not telling me. He said he wanted to, but I’d been so upset about the sale of the clinic that he wanted to give me a couple of days. He feels awful, but I told him he shouldn’t. Honestly, it’s not like he had to tell me, right? It’s none of my business what he does with his house.”

Savina cocked her head at her. “Honey, it’s okay to be upset about losing your childhood home.”

Harper sighed. “Everything is changing, Savina. And it’s like I don’t know how to process it or handle it, and Nathan is…”

“Nathan is what?”

“Stupid and handsome,” Harper said. “And a great kisser.”

Savina blinked in surprise but recovered quickly. “Okay, so you and Nathan are dating?”

“God, no. I’m not dating anyone, not while I’m such an insane mess. I’m two outbursts away from being Mom.”

“Stop that,” Savina said sharply. “You are not your mother, Harper.”

“You never liked her, did you?” Harper said.

Savina stared at the steam rising from her tea. “I didn’t hate her. She had a lot of issues that she needed help with but refused to get that help. Which meant your life and your dad’s life were more difficult than they should have been.”

“You didn’t hate her, but you didn’t like her,” Harper said.

Savina met her gaze. “No, I didn’t.”

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