Page 12 of Midnight
"Okay, I'll check in regularly and call when I can."I lean in and kiss her.
Even the thought of being separated from her hurts, but we will figure this out.I know we will.
On my way to work, I resist the urge to call her and only text when I get there.
Me:Made it to work.How are you doing?
Harper:Doing good.Settling in to take the test Gloria sent over.
Me:Good.Do your best.You’ve got this!
I know she is nervous about school, but I know she can do this.She just needs to stop putting limits on herself.
After I settle into my desk, I do the one thing that kept me from calling out of work yet again.Looking up her dad, it doesn't take long to find that he has filed a missing person's report on her.
Because she’s eighteen now, she doesn't have to go back and live with him.But she'd just have to come down to the station file a paper stating she wasn't missing, she left of her own free will and is choosing not to go back.
Though, I want more protection for her.I want us to be married before she does this.But I also won't rush her.I don't want her to ever question why we got married, or ever question my feelings for her, because losing her isn't an option.
So, I go talk to my boss, James, who happens to be my brother-in-law's older brother, another perk for taking the job.
"Hey, Nate come in and sit down," he greets me.
When I close the door behind me, he raises an eyebrow because unless it's a sensitive topic you just don't close the door around here.
"Everything okay?"he asks when I sit down.
"Mostly.I ugh, I met someone.No.I met the one."I tell him and a huge smile creeps across his face.
"About damn time.When can we meet her?"
"Here's the thing.She's been through a really rough time, and I was hoping to take her away for a little bit.I have a bunch of vacation time and..." I start, but he holds up his hand and my heart sinks.
"You are one of the best guys here.Paperwork is always done, you do things by the book," he starts and my gut churns.
If he only knew how not by the book my personal life was right now, he would probably be sending me back to Seaview so damn fast everyone's heads would spin.
"As your boss, I say there's no reason you can't take vacation time.But as family, I can see there's something bothering you, so I'm telling you to take vacation time.I'm also going to remind you I'm here to talk if you need me."
"Thank you and I very well might take you up on that.But my sister doesn't know anything or even about the girl yet.And I will probably need your help with something, but I need to get her to talk to me some more."Because I will need his help with regards to her father, I figured I'd best put it out there.
"What kind of trouble is she in?"he asks.Now, he’s back to his serious work voice.
"All I know is that her father is causing problems.I promise when I get back we'll chat."I tell him and he just nods.
At least now if something more were to come up, I can say I talked to him, and he knew there was an issue without all the details.It's a lame excuse, I know, but I'm trying to cover our bases as much as possible.
"Well, call me if you need anything before then.Submit your paperwork properly and I'll see you in two weeks."
After being dismissed, I waste no time getting back to my desk and filling out the paperwork so I can go home to Harper.
I really don't like being apart.It’s making me anxious like my gut is trying to tell me something that I'm not seeing.
Chapter 10
Harper
"Iswearthisvacationwasmeant to be, everything lined itself up from the moment that I was given the time off," Nate says with a huge smile on his face.
