36. Unshackled

Chapter 36

Unshackled

H arper pulled her luggage from her room that early Sunday morning, shutting her door behind her for the very last time. Making her way to the stairs, the sound of the luggage wheels on the hardwood floor resonated down the long, silent hallway. The only downfall of leaving quietly was that there were no strong men nearby to help carry her things.

Late into the night, she could hear the excited voices of the girls catching up in the living room below. There had been a part of her that yearned to join them. It had been so long since they had all been together.

Harper resisted, honoring the terms of their deal. She resolved herself to stay scarce until her flight home.

Wheeling her bag into the entryway, she caught a glimpse of herself in the large mirror. Since being at the ranch, she had noticeably put on some weight.

Nothing a little pilates and a juice cleanse couldn’t fix.

There would certainly be a much-needed visit with her cosmetic surgeon as early as his next open appointment. If Shep planned to continue his campaign to publically humiliate her, then she would endure it all looking fabulous .

She exhaled, taking one last long look around the warm, cozy living room.

They’ll be glad to see me go.

Glancing down at her screen, she tapped on the rideshare app. The driver was making his way down the long dirt road.

Dozer announced himself with a loud bark, dashing through the living room with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. The excited pup jumped on her, causing her to stumble backwards to maintain her balance.

“All right, boy,” Harper smiled, giving the dog a stiff pat on the head. “We’re friends now.”

“Can’t sneak away that easy,” Maeve’s voice chimed from the kitchen.

“Not a chance in this house,” Harper replied dryly.

Maeve made her way through the living room with a travel mug in hand.

Just a few short weeks earlier, the sight of her sister would have brought out the worst from her — but there had been some healing between them, and she found herself feeling grateful for it.

“I think you’re the first person to get an Uber to come all the way out here,” Maeve observed with an amused smile. “I wouldn’t have minded dropping you off.”

Harper waved her away. “You’re the pastor’s wife now,” she shrugged. “You can’t miss Sunday service. ”

Maeve took a deep breath, appearing to collect her thoughts. “I’m sorry to see you go.”

“I bet you never expected to say that,” Harper replied, with a wistful smile.

“I’m planning to talk to Paisley —” Maeve began.

“Don’t you dare,” Harper cut her off, her eyebrows gathering. “I can’t blame them,” she admitted, a tinge of regret in her tone. “Can you?”

Maeve chewed on her lip. “Just — let me know if you need me, Harp.”

Harper looked away, feeling the vulnerability of it all beginning to edge under her strong armor. “I need to start untangling the mess I’ve made,” she choked out. “That’s my job, not theirs.”

Harper’s phone chimed with a loud notification.

“My driver’s here,” she announced.

Maeve put her arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug.

Harper stiffened, keeping her hands firmly at her side, hoping with everything in her that the hug would end.

“We’ll always have a place for you here,” Maeve said.

The sincerity of her sister’s tone brought a lump to her throat. She closed her eyes, feeling rebellious hot tears squeeze out from her tight eyelids.

“Thank you, Maeve,” she whispered. “For everything.”

When Maeve finally released her, she stepped back and put the steel travel mug into Harper’s hands.

She noticed immediately that it felt light. “It’s empty? ”

“I figured you could stop off in town on the way to the airport,” Maeve suggested. “Get some coffee for the road.”

She knew precisely what Maeve was trying to do, and it wasn’t going to work.

They said their final goodbyes, and Harper wheeled her luggage to the porch. She filled her lungs one last time with the sharp, mountain air, while waiting for the driver to open the hatch. Lifting her eyes across the pastures, she considered what she would be facing when she got home. There would undoubtedly be a fierce custody battle over the twins.

Harper had one last chance to be a mother to two of her children, and she was determined to get it right. In the meantime, a large empty estate was waiting for her, which was lonelier and colder than any Montana winter.

She licked her lips, tasting the lipstick she had applied that morning. It had been a while since she had put on makeup, and she was already feeling more like her old self. She lifted the luggage across the snow-filled driveway, feeling her impatience swell as she waited for the driver to take it from her hands.

“Well?” she demanded.

“Well what?” the driver asked.

“I’m not going to stand here all day,” she barked. “Load up my things.”

“Listen lady, you got one star,” he fumed, his eyes going wide at her audacity. “You’re lucky I’m here at all.”

She rolled her eyes sharply. Pushing past him, she felt her muscles flex as she loaded her luggage into the back of the SUV. She went next to the passenger door, and whipped it open. Settling into the leather seats, she pulled her seatbelt firmly across her chest.

“You’re pretty far out here?” the driver huffed.

“How about you just don’t talk to me,” she snapped, still feeling her temper bubbling over his lack of hospitality. “Just get me to the airport.”

He shrugged obnoxiously, and steered the car down the long dirt road.

She picked up her mug, wishing Maeve had just filled it with coffee instead of playing her silly games. Attempting to push her sister’s suggestion from her mind, she focused her eyes on her phone screen. Scrolling through her notifications, she noticed Oakleigh’s latest viral post.

The post featured a large diamond ring on her finger, while the couple stood together, engaged in a passionate kiss.

Oakleigh’s followers were going wild over the exciting announcement.

“He did it,” Harper whispered. A proud smile spread across her face, and she felt the sting of a tear in her eye. She took a deep breath, flicking it away. “Dang it, Harper, they’ve made you soft.”

“How’s that?” the driver demanded.

“Nothing,” she answered sharply.

She had learned so much about Oakleigh throughout her short stay. Her daughter had become such a strong, capable, and courageous woman .

Maybe she’s always been that way, and I missed it.

No matter how much she tried to push it aside, Harper felt the ache of longing in her chest.

“How could I have missed it?” she whispered.

It felt like yesterday that Oakleigh had been a child. Harper remembered her pride in holding her beautiful baby girl. Her bright hazel eyes looked at her with unwavering trust and adoration — simply because she was her mother.

Harper focused her gaze out the window at the white countryside whirring past, holding back the sorrow warring against her sturdy walls. She was grateful that Maeve had revived the fire in her daughter’s heart after she had doused it so thoroughly.

Maeve had been so generous — even after all she had said and done that had caused so much hurt.

Harper felt the guilt consuming her as she uttered a desperate prayer.

Help me unravel this mess.

Her eyes caught the sign for White Bridge, causing her heartbeat to quicken.

“Driver, I think I’d like some coffee,” she announced, steadying her shaking voice. “Turn off here.”

“Your flight, ma’am?” he said.

“I don’t believe that’s any of your concern,” she snapped.

“This is the last time I pick up a one star,” he grumbled, pulling the car off the highway. As they crossed the bridge, the white church steeple appeared through the bare trees like a beacon to the lost.

Main Street was still empty, but there would be crowds that day now that the weather was a touch warmer.

The driver parked in front of Ruth’s Coffee Shop.

Even though there was a closed sign in the window, Harper knew they would be busy preparing for Sunday service. She pushed open the passenger door, and stepped out onto the icy pavement. Catching a glimpse of herself again in the reflection of the large storefront window, she ran her fingers across her delicate white blouse.

She gave the door handle a little shake.

It was locked.

Rapping her knuckles on the glass, she caught Audrey’s attention.

“Sorry, we’re closed,” Audrey announced, her voice muffled through the locked door. Recognition hit, and her eyes went wide with a touch of fear. She quickly came to the door and unlocked it, pulling it open with a loud jingle.

“Mrs. Davenport, I’m so sorry.”

“Is Oakleigh here?” Harper asked, glancing around at the empty shop.

“Not yet, ma’am — I mean,” Audrey corrected nervously. “Sorry.”

“I’m used to it,” Harper replied, stifling her annoyance. “I don’t suppose I can get a coffee?”

“No problem at all,” Audrey said, going straight to work to fill a travel cup with fresh, steaming hot brew.

She set it down on the counter.

When Harper reached for it, Audrey pulled it back from her grasp.

Pursing her lips, Harper raised a sharp eyebrow. “Is there something wrong, Audrey?”

The young barista steadied herself with a fortifying breath. “I don’t like being bullied by you,” she declared, her words strung together as though she had been practicing all morning. Her confidence noticeably evaporated as quickly as it arrived. “I’m sorry, here’s your coffee.”

Harper smirked as she took the cup and pulled it to her lips. “Good for you, kid.”

Taking a long sip, the coffee was just as good as she had hoped it would be.

“You remind me of someone,” she considered, thinking now of her last conversation with Clara. “Someone I need to get coffee with as soon as I get home.”

Before Audrey could stammer a response, a white Jeep flashed by the large shop window and pulled into the church parking lot.

“If you don’t mind,” Harper interrupted, pulling two large cardboard carafes off the countertop. She was thankful for the first time that she didn’t have the burden of acrylic nails. “I’ll drop these off for you.”

Without another word, she backed her way out of the coffee shop, the door jingling as it opened and closed behind her. She lifted the heavy carafe, gesturing to the impatient driver to keep waiting. Glancing both ways on the empty Main Street, she muttered a quick prayer that she wouldn’t slip on a slick patch of ice.

Going up the steep steps to the front of the church, she paused at the large double doors, taking a moment to catch her breath.

She hooked a finger through the iron pull, which was undoubtedly another aesthetically pleasing choice in Oakleigh’s design vision. Heaving the heavy wooden door wide open, she slipped into the dark, quiet sanctuary.

Oakleigh was already inside, setting up the table and ensuring everything was in its proper place.

“It’s about time, Audrey,” she scolded.

Turning around, her eyes went wide as she took a quick second glance.

“Mom, seriously,” she gasped, bringing her hand to her chest. “You’ve got to stop doing this.”

Harper suppressed the smile over her daughter’s theatrics, setting the heavy carafes on the long table.

Oakleigh crossed her arms as though reinforcing her strong armor. “I thought you left?”

“I did,” Harper replied. “I just thought I’d stop for one last cup of coffee. ”

“Okay,” Oakleigh shrugged, diverting her attention back to her work. “Have a good flight.”

Harper knew she had a choice to make.

“Oakleigh, I don’t know how to say this,” she began, “And I’m not really good at any of it.”

She cleared her throat, praying that her voice would stop shaking. “My parents, well —” she paused. “They weren’t good at it either, I know that’s not an excuse.”

She was rambling now.

Her gaze flicked to the beams across the ceiling, and she took a sip of air with frail hopes of steadying her nerves.

“Mom,” Oakleigh interrupted, her eyes glossing over with tears as she nodded. “It’s okay — I know.”

Harper choked back her emotion as she considered.

Maeve had chosen her peace, but had diligently prayed for her all those years.

And Oakleigh.

Despite all the hurt she had caused, her daughter had still earnestly brought her before the Lord — and it had not been for nothing.

He had heard them.

And his pursuit of her had been relentless .

Unshackled from her painful memories, she was finally able to love and accept that she was forgiven.

Harper was free.

“I should have told you this a long time ago, and I’m so sorry I didn’t, Oakleigh.” She allowed her strong walls to collapse around her as she stepped across the empty church entryway. Ignoring her daughter’s wide-eyed look of surprise, she did something she had never done before.

Harper wrapped her arms around Oakleigh, and pulled her into a tight hug.

“I am so proud of the woman you’ve become. I love you.”

Harper’s voice shook as she held her daughter close for the first time since she was a child. She felt Oakleigh bury her head in her shoulder, her tears dampening her delicate white top.

“Thank you, Mom,” Oakleigh whispered. “I love you too.”