Page 30 of True North

“Good, we’ll make something amazing.” The last two syllables are weak with emotion. It’s all I can do to not cry again.

I mean, he was a miserable old man and made her life a living hell. But he was Harry’s father, and I’m sure he’d been a good man at one time. He would have had to, for a woman like Rosie to have married him.

I walk with her back to the truck. Harry sits in the driver’s seat, turned outward, heels resting on the running board. The brim of his hat rotates through his fingers.

“I should find Evelyn. She should be here somewhere. You two make your way back. I’ll see you later, my love.” She nods to Harry. He returns the gesture as the hat stills in his hands. “And you Wednesday, Louisa.”

“Sure, Rosie.” I hug her again; I can’t help it. I want to protect her, the way she did for me before...

She breaks from my hold a moment later and walks for Evelyn’s car. I wait until she is safely inside and the car drives away.

“Thank you for coming, but you didn’t have to.” The voice behind me is raw. I have to compose myself before I turn around.

When I do, Harry’s deep blues are stuck on mine instantly.

“I wanted to,” I utter. I don’t move closer.

God, all I want to do is protect his heart from all this. Like he should have had his entire life, instead of a father who tormented him. It’s my guess Rosie stayed because financially she’d no other choice. And now?

“Come on, you should get back to the diner.” Harry stands and rounds the hood, pulling my door open.

The diner is the last place I want to be right now. But after my shift ends in about two hours, I have an afternoon of Brad.

I almost forgot about the buffer I’d created. My Brad buffer. Who is supposed to be the wall between me and none other than the man in front of me. And currently, I’m wishing I never put it there. But I slide into the seat and stay quiet on the way back to the diner.

Five minutes later, Harry pulls over in front of the diner. He stares at his hands gripped around the wheel as we idle, parked in an awkward silence.

“Well, thanks for the lift,” I say, feeling stupid as hell the second the words leave my mouth.

Harry clears his throat and hops out. A moment later, my door opens. Taking it as my hint to leave him be, I slide from the truck. The thought of leaving him, though, doesn’t sit right. We might not be friends, or even on the same page right now. Despite the fact we can’t seem to get out of each other’s orbit, my heart aches to leave him this way.

“If you need anything,” I utter, popping to my toes to kiss his cheek.

My nerves are shot.

My words weak.

But he simply nods and closes the door behind me as I walk down the street. I turn back at the diner entrance, glancing at the old buckboard. He sits back behind the wheel, staring at his hands again. Pushing through the doors, I make my way into the back and change.

My mind is a scattering of Harry, Rosie, and the life I left behind ten years ago. The what-ifs of if I hadn’t run halfway across the country from it all. What would things look like now if I’d stayed put when he dropped to one knee?

“How you doin’, darlin’?” Cynthia slides into my space with a soft, empathetic smile.

“Oh, hey, I’m fine.”

I’m the last person this small town should be worrying about. Harry and Rosie need their support, not me.

“Well, if that changes, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Cynthia. How was the morning?”

“You know, the same old, same old. Not much changes in this town, hon.”

I chuckle. “Guess not.”

The entire reason I left was because of that very sentiment. Now, being back here, I’m not sure whether that’s a bad thing anymore. I promise myself I’ll check in on both Rosie and Harry in the next few days and set my focus on the last few hours of my shift and my afternoon with Brad.

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