Page 7 of Redeeming Harmony

“Enough, Princess,” the man said, petting the poodle absently with one hand.

Ignoring the growling poodle, Harper grinned at the curvy blonde woman sitting behind the reception desk. “Hello, Laila.”

Laila’s face lit up, and she stood and hurried around the desk. Harper met her halfway, throwing her arms around Laila and hugging her hard.

“Harper, I’m so happy to see you,” Laila said before touching her hair. “You’re blonde now. I love it.”

Harper laughed. “Thanks, gorgeous. How are you?”

“Oh fine,” Laila said. “Nothing new to report.”

“It’s been a year since I’ve seen you,” Harper said. “Don’t give me that bullshit.”

“Please, it’s Harmony Falls. Nothing exciting ever happens here,” Laila said before returning to her seat. “How’s New York City?”

“Big, loud, and smelly,” Harper said.

“You miss it already,” Laila said with a grin.

“Like crazy,” Harper said. “Why are you sitting at reception?”

Laila was the clinic manager and didn’t usually answer phones.

“Just helping out Brooklyn until Fatima returns from her doctor’s appointment,” Laila said.

The phone rang before Laila could ask why Harper was back home if she missed New York so much. Not that she would have asked. Laila wasn’t the type to pry into other people’s business, making her a rarity in Harmony Falls. Harper would be fielding questions from hundreds of people in the next month or so, and the idea of trying to hide her failure and inadequacies over and over again made her want to puke.

She straightened her back and waved at Laila before heading to the back of the clinic. A silver haired man stood at the counter, placing a vial of blood into the centrifuge. He closed the lid and turned on the machine as Harper set her bag down and leaned against the counter next to him.

“Hello, Hal,” she said.

“Hello, Harper,” he said.

She held out her hand, and he shook it solemnly before a smile broke out on his face, and he pulled her into his embrace. He hugged her hard, and she kissed his cheek. “You’re looking pretty good for an old man.”

He laughed. “Thanks, I think?”

She kissed his cheek again. “I like the beard.”

“Yeah?” He rubbed a hand over his face. “It has a lot more gray in it than the last time I grew it.”

“It looks great,” she said.

He gave her a gentle squeeze before releasing her. “You look good too, kid.”

“Thanks, Hal.” She smiled affectionately at the vet tech. Hal was one of three vet techs who worked at the clinic. He’d been at the clinic for as long as Harper could remember, and she loved him almost as much as she loved her dad.

It was Hal who’d given her an informal education on being a vet tech. Hal who’d shown her how to work the various lab equipment, how to draw blood from a frightened animal, and how to safely handle the feral cats that came into the clinic.

He never once complained no matter how many questions she pestered him with, and she’d never seen him flustered or upset. He was a natural with animals, and they responded well to his calm and quiet manner.

She reached into the pocket of her hoodie and pulled out a small, tissue paper wrapped package. “I have something for you.”

“Oh yeah?” Hal took the package from her, his scarred fingers smoothing the crumpled tissue paper. “What is it?”

“Open it up,” she said.

He unwrapped the tissue paper to reveal the tiny green ceramic sea turtle. “Holy shit.”

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