Page 134 of Shortcake
I looked up at the scaffolding. Holy shit. He wasn’t kidding. It was intimidating as hell. Pipes and metal flooring and ladders precariously leaning up against it.
Fuck my life.
“Goddammit, Harper,” I whispered as I hoisted myself up on the first ladder. I wasn’t sure if I’d be more relieved to find her here or not. On one hand, she shouldn’t climb this.Ishouldn’t climb this. Hell, I wasn’t even sure that the ‘professional’ down there should climb this scaffolding. But on the other hand,notfinding her up there would mean I was back to square one.
This was my only lead and I wasn’t going to waste it.
A combination of nerves and exertion, my heart pounded so hard against my ribcage, it was a wonder it didn’t crack right through the bones. I remembered this being a hell of a lot easier when I was a teenager. Granted, back then we simply broke into the building and climbed the stairs inside. We didn’t have to scale an entire fucking building.
When I crested the lip of the roof, I nearly cried at the sight of Harper sitting up there, knees pulled to her chest. Head down. Shoulders trembling.
Sweet girl.
I crossed carefully to her, trying not to startle her. “Harper,” I said, gently.
Her sobs got louder. Shoulders quaking harder.
At least she knew I was here. I settled, sitting next to her and wrapped my arm around her bouncing shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, Harper.”
The dam broke with my apology and Harper launched herself into my arms, sobbing. Her tears saturated my shirt as I held her tightly against me.
After several minutes, her tears slowed and she pulled back, swiping her sleeve across her splotchy, wet cheeks.
“I’m—I’m not m-mad…” she hiccupped. “Atyou. Not anymore. You and Dad being together feels so small and stupid compared to my… my…” her chin quivered as she struggled to finish her thought. “M-mom.”
“I know how you feel,” I offered gently. “Finding out that your mom who barely had time for you is having another baby? That sucks.”
Harper chuckled, but the laugh quickly transformed into another sob. “Itdoessuck. She didn’t even think to invite me to her wedding. Didn’t think to tell me she was engaged. I mean, did you see her belly? She’s been pregnant for a while!”
“She has,” I agreed. There wasn’t much point arguing it. “When I found out that my Dad had another family, my feelings were all over the place. At first, I was kind of excited… I mean, I had asister. I’d always wanted a sister. But then, that realization that she got the life with my dad that I had never got hit me hard. And as she started talking more and more with my brothers, I just got more and more resentful over it. She already stole my father from me. And now she was taking my brothers, too.”
Harper sniffed again and pushed her hair out of her face. “But they’re her brothers, too. And it wasn’t her fault that she was born. That your dad had an affair or whatever.”
“Exactly. If I rob her of knowing her family, I’m no better, right?” Harper nodded. “So… which you're fully entitled to be mad at your mom, and absolutely within your right to be angry with her… but regardless of any of those feelings, there’s a little baby who’s coming. And he’s going to be your brother.”
She blinked, looking out as the sun dipped toward the lake. “Yeah. I think I’ll be a pretty good big sister.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Pretty good? Oh my God, come on. You’re going to be the cool older sister from the United States! And take it from me… having a brother is awesome, too. Even if he’s little and younger than you.”
I saw a glimmer of Harper’s smile for the first time in days. “Iampretty cool.”
“Psh. Thecoolest.”
“But what about my mom? I mean, she’s so… ugh! She’s just such a narcissist! And in order to visit my brother, I’m going to have to seeher.”
I swallowed my sigh because I got it. God, did I get it. I also wasn’t really equipped to handle this conversation. I wished Conrad was here. “Look, I’m not a therapist. I don’t really know what to tell you other than this is precisely what I’m going through, too, kid. My brothers are all gung-ho to get to know my dad. Meanwhile, I’m not sure I can even look him in the face, let alone forgive him. Only you can choose what you want your relationship with your mom to look like. I’m not sure if there is a right or wrong there.”
“Your Dad wants you in his life, though. Not like my Mom. She doesn’t even want me in her hotel room,” Harper said, her blue eyes boring into me.
She had me there. Already, my dad was one-upping her piece of shit mom. Not that I’d ever say that toher. “But when I was your age, Ineverheard from my dad. Ten years ago? I didn’t get visits or calls. He was just… gone.”
“But he’s not gone now,” she whispered. “He invited you to his wedding. He’s trying, right?”
“You’re right,” I nodded. “He’s making an effort.”Well, sort of.“And if he is… maybe I should, too.”
Harper snuggled into my arm, hugging into me. “I bet my dad would go to the wedding with you. Be your support.”
