Chapter 6

Six

Leo

A s Harper drove away, guilt wrapped around my chest and squeezed tight. It was different from the guilt my mom laid on me for not settling down and giving her a grandchild. I hated the idea that I’d done something to make Harper feel like she wasn’t wanted.

On the way home, I called Gia.

Despite the late hour, she answered after one ring. “Why are you calling so late?”

“I was at family dinner, and when Harper was leaving, she mentioned something about wanting to move. She wants a backyard for Evie.”

“Evie’s getting bigger, so that makes sense.”

“Can she afford to move?” I ran my free hand through my hair, wondering if I sounded as conflicted as I felt. I hated the idea of her not living above the restaurant. I liked being close to her, even if I was only just admitting it to myself.

“Honestly, she doesn’t confide in me about financial stuff. Why are you so worried about Harper all of a sudden?”

My heart thumped a little harder, worried she’d read through me. “She said some things that made me worry. She said she wanted to be independent from the family and that Mom watching Evie is too much. Maybe she thinks that she’s taking advantage of Mamma and Papà.”

“That’s ridiculous. They love Evie like a granddaughter.”

I sighed. “I told her that, but she still feels guilty.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“Don’t let her know I talked to you about her. She seemed irritated with me.”

Gia laughed at that. “I get annoyed with your big brother, overprotective routine too.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever used it on Harper.” She never needed it like Gia had, but then I was starting to see her in a different light.

“She hasn’t needed it, I guess. I’d say we missed what was going on with Manny, but then, I don’t think it was ever serious.”

“Oh, really?” I tried to keep my interest light, even though I really wanted to know what had happened between him and Harper.

“She was ready to break things off when she found out she was pregnant. She was upset, you know. She didn’t want to be a single mother like her mom had been. She wanted to give Evie a better life. I think she feels like she’s not worthy of someone better than Manny, which is ridiculous.”

“Why would she think she’s not worthy of a great guy?” A nice guy who could give her a new house and all the amenities. The thought of someone else holding Evie, loving her, and being her stepdad made my throat tight.

Gia blew out a breath. “Her mom and her boyfriends did a number on her. None of the guys her mom dated ever married her.”

I huffed out a laugh. “That’s because her mom was dating losers.”

“I don’t think Harper thinks of it that rationally. Honestly, it’s a little frustrating because she’s amazing.”

“She is.” Harper was sweet and kind, reliable and hardworking. She was a great mother to Evie and worked hard to provide for her. She was worried that she was taking advantage of my family. She was the best kind of woman. How hadn’t I seen it before? Maybe I had blinders on, not wanting to like my sister’s friend. She was younger than me, and I knew my parents wouldn’t be happy with us together.

Mom wanted me with a nice Catholic Italian girl, and Harper wasn’t that. She was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks we’d brought into our family. But she was so much more than that. I could understand her wanting to be seen differently, to prove herself. But I didn’t want to lose her. I liked her working at the restaurant and living so close.

“She can’t live in that apartment forever. Evie deserves something nicer.”

“I agree. Does Dad still have that rental property? The townhome?”

“I think so, but there might be a renter there. Doesn’t Harper want to get a place on her own?”

“That’s what she said.” It didn’t stop me from wanting to help her.

“If that’s what she wants, you can’t interfere.”

“You’re right,” I said as I turned into my driveway. I didn’t want her to see me as a brother, but rather as a man she could see herself being with. Inviting her and Evie to my house was more in line with that idea. Getting her another family rental wasn’t.

I pulled into the garage and turned off the engine, switching the call from the SUV to my phone. I pushed the button to close the garage door and headed inside, disgusted that I hadn’t made any progress on the house.

“You know any good contractors?” I asked as I dropped the keys onto the kitchen counter.

“Are you finally going to fix up your house?” Gia asked, getting excited.

I sighed as I took in the chipped Formica countertops and red walls. “It’s time, and I don’t have the energy to take it on.”

“What would Papà say?” Gia asked, and I could hear the smile in her voice.

“He doesn’t have to like it, but I’m tired of living here like this.”

She laughed. “It’s about time. I’m proud of you.”

Gia had always rebelled against my parents. I don’t know if it was because she was the only girl or if it was because she was the youngest. But I felt the pressure to be the perfect son at a young age. It was expected that I would take over the restaurant, and I wanted to, but on my terms. I didn’t want my parents calling the shots forever, and I was starting to worry that would be the case.

Maybe creating the home I wanted would be a good first step in going out on my own. I could understand why Harper felt the same.

“I’ll send you Cade’s contact information. He co-owns Morrison Brothers Construction. I’ve heard he’s reliable, and the prices are reasonable.”

“I appreciate it.”

“If you need any help with designs, let me know.”

“I will. I’ll let you go.” I was tired and drained from the busy night and Harper’s revelation. I didn’t know why I hadn’t anticipated it. I guess I thought she’d always be there. That nothing would change. But that was life. People moved on. If I wanted Harper, I needed to make a move sooner rather than later.

“Night,” Gia said as she hung up.

I sat on the couch and pulled up Harper’s name.

Leo: I’m off tomorrow. You want to come over with Evie?

Harper: We’d love that.

I’d need to get up early and clear out some things, make sure the grass was mowed and the playground was still in good condition.

I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but I liked Harper. I loved her little girl, and the thought of her moving away and creating distance from my family hurt. I wasn’t ready to let her walk out of my life before I figured out if she felt the same way about me.

There was something in her eyes when we talked outside her car. It felt a little like the anticipation of a first kiss on a date, but it wasn’t a date, and I hadn’t planned on making a move on her. But had she wanted me to?

I got ready for bed with hope simmering just below my skin. I wanted Harper, and maybe it had taken me a while to figure it out, but I wasn’t going to let any more time go by without doing something about it.

Some other guy would scoop her up, or Manny would realize what a mistake he’d made in walking away from her and Evie. I wanted to be a factor in Harper’s life going forward.

The next morning, I got up early, threw on some old clothes, and got to work on the yard. I cleared the sticks and debris so I could mow, then weeded the bare garden patches. I inspected the playground, making sure everything was secure and there were no nails protruding.

Then I worked on the small shed. I moved the lawn mower and leaf blower to the garage. When the small storage space was clear, I hosed it down to clear the cobwebs. I didn’t know much about little girls, but I knew Evie hated spiders. There was no way she’d play inside if she thought one was living there.

Then I hosed off the patio, grateful I’d bought some outdoor furniture. We’d have a place to sit while Evie played and ran around the yard. The only thing missing was a dog.

I’d always wanted one, but I worked long hours at the restaurant. But wouldn’t Evie love to play with one? When had everything in my life come down to what Harper and Evie would like?

When my stomach rumbled, I realized it was lunchtime, and I hadn’t had anything to eat since having a bagel at breakfast. I jumped in the shower and washed off the grime and sweat. Then I pulled on new jeans and a T-shirt.

Barefoot, I padded to the kitchen to make myself a quick sandwich. I piled on the lunch meat, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce before I poured my mom’s homemade Italian dressing on top. It wasn’t as good as the subs we made at the restaurant, but it was close.

The doorbell rang, and I left the food on the counter to get it. My nerves kicked up right before I opened the door.

“Leo!” Evie cried, right before she wrapped herself around my leg.

I untangled her and lifted her into my arms.

Her nose turned up. “You smell.”

“Probably like salami,” I teased her. “You hungry? I have lunch on the counter.”

“We ate—” Harper began.

“I want some,” Evie said as I carried her down the hall to the kitchen, which opened to the backyard. I set her on the counter, standing in front of her so she wouldn’t fall. I wouldn’t make a good impression if Evie fell off my counter and broke her arm on the first visit.

“What do you want on your sandwich?” I asked Evie.

Harper stood across the island from us, taking in the outdated space. It never bothered me as much as it did right now.

Evie pointed to the salami and the cheese.

“That’s it?”

“Uh-huh. Salami is yummy, but Mommy says it’s bad for me.”

“She didn’t.”

“She said it’s process or something.”

“It’s processed meat,” Harper corrected her.

“Don’t let my mamma hear you say that,” I teased Harper.

Her nose wrinkled. “Trust me. I know.”

I wondered if she was careful around my family. If she was worried she wouldn’t be accepted at some point. I didn’t know how to broach that subject with her and reassure her.

I made Evie’s sandwich and handed it to her.

“Yum,” she said after the first bite.

Harper pushed her water bottle across the counter for her.

“I’ll need to get some kid food if you’re going to be coming around more often,” I said lightly, wondering how Harper would take it.

Evie nodded. “I like lemonade and cookies.”

“Is that it?” I asked her, amused by her answer.

“Uh-huh.”

“You know we eat healthier than that.”

“I have watermelon in the fridge. Would you mind grabbing it?” I was grateful I’d thought to buy the cut-up melon when I went grocery shopping.

Harper went to the fridge and pulled out the container, scooping a few pieces into a bowl and giving it to Evie.

After a few bites of melon, Evie asked, “Can I see your playground?”

She’d eaten a few bites of her sandwich and watermelon, so I let her down. “Sure.”

She went to the slider and opened it.

When Harper moved toward the door, I said, “I checked it this morning. It’s safe.”

Harper moved back to the counter, closing the open food containers.

“I can get that. Why don’t you watch Evie, and I’ll be right out?”

I moved to grab the lunch meat, and Harper touched my arm. “Thank you for this. It’s nice for us to get out and do something different.”

I nodded, and for the first time, I wondered if they were lonely.

Harper went outside, closing the slider behind her, leaving me alone. I stowed the food in the fridge, wiped off the counters, and refilled Evie’s water to carry out to her.

Evie was on the swing, giggling and screaming, “Higher,” to Harper.

“If you go any higher, you’ll fly over,” Harper teased.

I watched while Evie slowed to a stop, and she climbed the ladder to the fort.

Harper approached me. “This is nice.”

“I don’t have kids, and I thought about tearing it down, but it’s in good shape. Besides, Evie can use it, and maybe one of us will have kids soon.”

Harper nodded. “You’ll meet someone soon. You’re a good man.”

“You think that about me?” I asked as Evie looked through the periscope on the railing of the fort.

“Well, yeah. You’re so put together. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”

“Any woman?” I asked, a little mesmerized by her words.

Her cheeks flushed, but she kept her gaze on Evie and the playground. “Of course.”

We fell silent for a few minutes.

“Whatever happened with your ex? Everyone thought you two would get engaged.”

I scuffed the dirt with my toe. “Bianca cheated on me. She’d been doing it for a while before I figured out what was going on.”

Harper turned to face me. “You’re kidding.”

“She dated me because it was what her parents, and mine, expected. We were considered a good match, but I wasn’t what she wanted.”

“I can’t imagine the pressure to date a particular person. Someone your parents think is a good match.”

“I know my parents want the best for me, and despite the cheating, we had a good relationship. But looking back, we were better friends. The sex wasn’t amazing.”

She blanched.

“Too much?” I asked, slightly amused at her reaction.

Harper shook her head. “I don’t need to know the details.”

“You asked,” I said, enjoying her discomfort. I liked to think she didn’t enjoy the thought of me being intimate with someone else.

“I’m sorry. No one deserves to be cheated on.”

My heart clenched. I wanted to say no one deserved what she’d been through in her life—her mother’s inattention and Manny’s absence—but she had me and my family.

“What about you and Manny?” I asked, emboldened to ask the same question of her.

Harper shook her head. “I was going to break up with him when I found out I was pregnant. I told him I was keeping the baby, and he could be as involved as he wanted to be, but that we wouldn’t be together.”

I’d always thought Manny left when he found out about Evie. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

“I knew he couldn’t step up the way I needed him to. The way Evie needed him. I knew more than he did how hard raising a child was, and he wasn’t up for it.”

She was smart, practical, and strong. I admired her even more.

“Does he support you at all?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t overstepping.

“Occasionally, he’d give me money, but I filed for child support so that I’d have a record of him not paying. Sometimes we track him down and garnish his wages, but most of the time, he claims he can’t find a job.”

“You think he’s purposely not working?”

“He’s never been a hard worker, and he’s not good with responsibility.” Then she shrugged. “It is what it is. As long as I don’t expect much, then I don’t get frustrated. It’s just those times when he comes around, demanding more time with her, that it gets to me—”

“What do you mean?” I didn’t like the idea of him hassling her.

“Every so often, he shows up and acts like he’s a dad. He wants to see Evie. He wants to take her somewhere, but I don’t trust him. I don’t know if he’s dating someone who wonders where his kid is or if he wants to prove something to his parents. I don’t think it’s because he genuinely wants to be a father.”

“I’m sorry for Evie.” My heart ached for that little girl. To me, she was so bright and happy. I couldn’t imagine not wanting to spend time with her and supporting her mother. “I’m sure my family is a poor substitute for an absentee father, but you’re not alone.”

“I appreciate that.”

I liked Harper, and I wanted to give her everything she was missing. Was I crazy to think I was the right guy for her?