Page 13 of Bridge to Home

“As you wish, Harlow.” Her father took a step back. “But I’m only cutting you slack because my daughter has asked me to. It doesn’t excuse your behavior.”

“Dad.”

“I’ve said my piece.” Wynn turned his back and walked over to the window.

Robert stepped closer to her bed and kissed the top of her head. “You look better, babe. How are you feeling?”

“Like crap.”

“But you’re already on the mend,” he said in a low voice. “You’ll be out of this bed and walking before we know it. The clock is ticking.”

Harlow stared at him in disbelief. Robert wasn’t there out of concern but to remind her she had a contractual agreement to fulfill. “I’m not sure what part of my accident you don’t understand. I’m in a great deal of pain and am going to have trouble getting around.”

“We need to get a second opinion. This Dr. Ashton could be a quack. I…”

David Wynn spun around. “I’ve heard about enough. You can’t be serious. Harlow will need time to heal.”

“I’ve already told her invalids and sick people aren’t my thing. I’m working on arranging the best care possible.”

“What good are you?” Wynn exploded. “This is your wife, for heaven’s sake.”

Robert had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. He quickly recovered. “I won’t stand here and be insulted by a stranger.”

“This is my father,” Harlow reminded him.

“If he’s so concerned, maybe he should take care of you.”

Harlow’s heart pinched at her husband’s callous suggestion. The bottom line was he couldn’t care less about her injuries, other than how it affected her ability to uphold her end of the movie contract. “Maybe he will.”

Robert’s cell phone chimed. “I need to get going. I’ll call you later, when you’re alone.”

David made an unhappy sound, and Harlow could only imagine what was going through her father’s mind. He thought her husband was a jerk.

He waited until Robert was gone. “When are you being released?”

“In a day or two. By then, I should have some help lined up.” Harlow forced a smile and met her father’s thoughtful gaze. She never could get anything past him, not when she was a child, or a teen…or even now.

“Robert is right. Why don’t you come home?” he gruffly asked. “I have more than enough room. Lottie’s always hanging around. She could help me and Eryn care for you until you’re mobile again.”

“Who is Lottie?”

“Lottie Fletcher. She’s a neighbor who has been tending to the gardens.”

“She’s there almost every day,” Eryn added. “She works part time for the Grand Hotel, tending to their gardens too.”

David heaved a heavy sigh. “For some reason, the woman has decided I need a friend, not to mention she has a hard time taking no for an answer.”

“Lottie has a green thumb. The gardens look amazing.” Eryn turned to Harlow. “She’s also one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet and has a heart of gold.”

“We can see if she’s interested in helping if we need her to.” Wynn cleared his throat. “What do you say?”

Harlow looked away, reminding herself of the hard feelings and bad blood between father and daughter, all going back to the fire that had destroyed the lodge and killed her mother.

A fire the insurance company deemed suspicious and refused to pay out. A fire that took the life of Ginger Wynn, yet Harlow’s father managed to walk away unscathed.

So many unanswered questions about the fateful night. Faced with the thought her father might be responsible, Harlow had packed up and left Mackinac Island, vowing never to return.

No phone calls on Father’s Day. No cards sent at Christmas. To his credit, David Wynn had tried. He’d left messages, sent letters, reached out. Harlow, still blaming him for the tragedy at Wynn Harbor Inn, had ignored each and every one.

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