Page 41 of Redeeming Harmony

“You can’t live in South Falls,” Addison said. “It’s only gotten worse since you left, you know. There are rumours that a meth house has started up there.”

“Shit, really?” Harper said.

“Yes. Oh, and six months ago, Paul Rondeau overdosed and died in some scungy apartment on Oak Street.”

“Paul? The trombone player from band?” Harper said.

“Yes. You can’t rent there, Harper. It isn’t safe.”

“I’ll try to find something I can afford that isn’t next door to a meth house,” Harper said. “Dad’s condo has a den, and he says I can stay in it for as long as I need, but it doesn’t feel right. It feels like Dad is finally trying to move on, and if I’m around in his face, twenty-four/seven, I’m not sure he can. You know?”

“Your dad loves you,” Addison said.

“And I love him. But I also want him to be happy, and having his grown-ass daughter sleeping in his den isn’t going to help him find someone new.”

“You can’t rent in South Falls,” Addison said. “If worse comes to worst, I’ll ask Preacher if you can rent his apartment above the shop. It’s sitting empty.”

“Thanks, pinky-pie, I appreciate that,” Harper said.

“You’re welcome,” Addison said. “I told Kira I’d make some potato salad for the barbecue tonight. Do you want to hang out with me while I make it?”

“Sure,” Harper said. “I’ll even peel the potatoes for you.”

“Such generosity,” Addison said with a laugh before touching Harper’s hair again. “I can’t wait for Kira and Gracie to see your hair tonight. They’re going to flip out at how amazing it looks.”

* * *

Nathan rubbedat the back of his neck before knocking lightly on Warren’s front door. The sun had barely risen, and Nathan hoped like hell he didn’t wake him, but Warren wasn’t answering his phone. He was about to knock again when the door opened.

“Nathan.” Warren smiled at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry, it’s so early,” Nathan said. “I tried calling, but there was no answer.”

Warren grimaced. “Shit, I must have left my phone on silent. Truth be told, since you started doing most of the emergency calls, I’ve been terrible at remembering to switch my phone off silent.”

“That’s okay. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“Nah, my neck’s been bothering me some the last few days. Makes it hard to sleep,” Warren said. “Come in.”

He followed Warren into the house, smiling at Winston curled up in a bed in the corner of the kitchen, his back leg still in a sling. Nathan crouched and petted him gently. “You got sprung from your jail cell, huh?”

Warren grinned. “You know, I was leaving last night and made the mistake of stopping in the dog kennel before I left. Winston was sitting at the front of his run, giving me the saddest look I’d ever seen on a dog. I decided it couldn’t hurt to let him stay at the house with us for a couple of hours. Only, when I went to return him to the clinic, he’d already settled into bed for the night, and I hated to disturb him what with the leg and all.”

“Oh, right, of course,” Nathan said with a grin as he sat down at the table.

Warren poured him a cup of coffee and set it in front of him. “You look like you could use this.”

“I can, thanks.” Nathan sipped at the strong, black coffee, welcoming the jolt of caffeine into his tired brain. “Did you make an appointment with that doctor in New Cassel?”

“I did,” Warren said. “But he’s booked up until January. He must be good.”

“He’s the best in his field,” Nathan said. “He fixed my Nan’s chronic neck and back issues within six months.”

“Well, I appreciate the recommendation. So, what emergency call happened last night to bring you by so early on a Tuesday?” Warren sat down in the chair next to Nathan’s.

“Dad? Do you know where my…” Harper walked into the kitchen, trailing off when she saw Nathan sitting at the table. “Oh, uh, hello, Dr. Henshaw.”

He stared at her. He hadn’t seen her since their fight on Friday night, and he refused to admit that a small part of him had hoped she’d be awake, despite the early hour. She wore skinny jeans with a grey t-shirt with a graphic of a coffee grinder with coffee beans spilling out of it and the words “Grind my Beans” below it. Her shoulder length blonde hair was now a pink pixie cut that looked amazing on her. His dick stirred in his pants, and he immediately pushed in close to the table to hide his lap.

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