18. “You and a girl. A Girl!”

EIGHTEEN

“YOU AND A GIRL. A GIRL!”

SHEP

“Right here.” I point towards the long driveway up to my parents’ house.

Harlow turns in and once we reach the top, neither one of us speaks. I know I should’ve thought about this before I agreed to let her come with me, but I was so focused on the bruises and wanting her to be okay, it didn’t cross my mind.

“You don’t have to come in, it’s okay.” I go to reach for the door handle when she stops me.

“Wait, what’re your parents’ names?” She softly smiles and, wow. I thought Harlow’s eyes were pretty, but seeing them crinkled up with a glint of happiness makes me forget how to speak.

“Yoohoo, earth to pool boy .”

I’ll ignore the name calling for now. “Sorry, I just… Did you know you have really pretty eyes? They’re like this really nice shade of emerald.”

A blush creeps into her cheeks but then she frowns. “Shep, your parents’ names?”

“Right, right. Mom will just want you to call her Mom or Momma Fords, but Laura, and then William is my dad’s. I don’t even know if he’ll be home, but Mom for sure is.”

“Okay. Let’s do this then, I guess.” Harlow gets out of her car and before either of us can make it to the front door, it swings open.

“Hi, can I help—oh my gosh, Shep it’s you. You and a girl. A girl! ” Mom steps out of the doorway with Dahlia running out from behind her. She makes a beeline for me.

Or so I thought.

“Hey, my girl,” I start to say, squatting down to embrace her, but she breezes right past me, my jaw dropping, and immediately stops to sit in front of Harlow.

In a voice that I would’ve never imagined coming from Harlow, she greets Dahlia. “Oh hi, pretty girl!” She gets down to meet her and leans into the side of her neck as if giving her a hug.

I’m done for. I’m actually done for. Harlow and Dahlia, together, in front of me. I think I have died and gone to heaven.

Mom walks out and cuts a glare my way before getting closer to my two girls. “Well hi there, I’m Laura, but you can just call me Mom or Momma Fords.”

I roll my eyes before snickering while casting Harlow a playful look.

“Hi, I’m Harlow.” She stands up and reaches out her hand, my mom ignores it, embracing her instead. Harlow winces and I realize my mom has no idea about her injury so without raising any alarms, I quickly speak up.

“Harlow is swimming at the rec right now because she has a hurt shoulder.” I clear my throat. “She’s on the college team but,” I raise my voice just a little, “is injured.”

I widen my eyes at her before she lets go with a small gasp. “Oh, sweetie! I’m so sorry.” She smacks the side of my arm before lowering her voice, chastising me. “Maybe you should have mentioned that sooner.”

Harlow, noticing the interaction, speaks up, “I’m okay. I mean, yes sometimes hugs do hurt, but it’s okay. It’s been over a month now since I dislocated it. I think I’m still afraid it’s going to hurt more than it actually does.”

“Well, I’m just so sorry you’re hurt! What happened, if I may ask?” Mom looks between Harlow and myself. I shake my head, trying to sway her.

“You can ask. I think you might be the first person who has, actually.” Harlow laughs softly to herself. “I had an accident at the back to school party that Chi Kappa throws. I’m not sure if you’re familiar, since…” She motions in my direction.

“Oh, yes, I’m familiar. Shep didn’t go this year because I was sick and his father had to work. He’s the sheriff, I’m not sure if Shep mentioned that.”

“I did,” I cut in.

“Yes, well anyways, sometimes Will has cases that don’t allow for him to come home like he might plan to. That week he was working on one of those cases while I was sick, so Shep stayed home to take care of me.” Mom gives me side eye with a small smirk, and I’ll be damned if my own mother isn’t trying to wing-woman for me right now.

“Alright, that’s enough,” I stop her from continuing.

“How nice of you, Shep.” Harlow raises her eyes at me as if to show she’s shocked but honestly, I don’t think she is. “But yes, that party. I fell and dislocated my shoulder.” Her eyes become distant when she stops speaking, as if her mind goes somewhere else.

“Well, that’s just awful! I’m really sorry to hear it, but I’m glad you’re getting better now!” Mom reaches out and lightly pats Harlow’s hand. “Why don’t you two come in? I just started dinner and I think your dad will be home soon, son. He said he’d try and finish up by six-ish.”

I look at Harlow for her lead and she gives me a shy nod.

“Okay, that works for us, but also we can’t stay too late since Harlow was kind enough to drive me to get Dahlia. I’ll need to get back to my truck at some point.” I start walking towards the house, casting a backwards glance to see my usual furry shadow trailing behind Harlow. My heart does a weird flip, but I can’t fixate on that, not now.

As we enter the house, Mom wastes no time treating Harlow like it’s the millionth time they’ve met. Harlow takes in the house and I notice she stops every few paces to look at the photos filling the space. There’s a weird sensation invading my body, watching her exist in a place that’s so personal to me. Maybe this is how she feels having me at the pool when she practices.

“Have you lived here your entire life?” Harlow’s voice is soft.

“I have.” I point to another photo farther up the hall near the kitchen. We walk to it together and she stops to take it in. It’s an old photo from when I was about five. Dad has me on his shoulders and we are standing in the yard by the front door.

“That’s really special,” she says. “It’s a beautiful home.”

“Thank you!” Mom calls out from behind the wall, clearly eavesdropping on our conversation.

“Need any help, Mama?” I walk over to the sink and wash my hands. Usually when I’m home during any meal time, I’m recruited for some sort of task. I’m not great in the kitchen, but I like trying at least. I wonder if Harlow can cook.

“That’s okay. You two just have a seat. I’m turning on the stove for a pot of tomato soup and I was going to make some grilled cheese. Is that okay with you, honey?” Mom grabs a few cans from the pantry.

“Yeah, that’s?—”

“Not you,” Mom interrupts me. “Harlow, is that okay with you?”

We both sit on the bar stools by the counter and Harlow laughs, her cheeks blushing again. Seeing this side of Harlow is life altering. It’s not that I thought she was devoid of human emotion, but I never expected the first time I’d see it, it would be in my childhood home.

“Yes, that’s perfect. Actually, that’s one of my favorite meals. I get it every time at Summit, the sandwich shop.” I make a mental note of this, before catching her nervously picking at the end of her shorts. Without thinking, I reach out and place one of my hands over both of hers. She stills, but doesn’t try to move me off.

“Interesting, it’s one of Shep’s favorites too. And, oh, we love that little shop!” Mom glances at our hands touching then gives me a look that lets me read her thoughts. Lifting my hand, I don’t know what compels me to say what I do next, but the second the words leave my mouth, I’m filled with regret.

“Harlow’s dating one of my fraternity brothers.”

Mom drops her hands by her side and disappointment washes over her face. Harlow’s body language changes immediately too, and she quickly stands up, putting space between us.

“Do you have a bathroom I can use?” Her words are so rushed, they fumble out of her mouth.

“It’s just down the hall, the door should be open,” Mom answers her with a polite smile.

“I can show you,” I start but Mom interrupts me.

“Shepherd, I think she can find it on her own.”

Damn. Now I really know I’m in trouble.

“Okay, thank you. Excuse me.” Harlow quickly removes herself from the room and the second the bathroom door shuts, my mom drops the soup cans on the counter.

“Shepherd William Fords. I don’t know what you just did, but I can tell you right now, that girl has no interest in whoever that guy you just brought up is.” She puts her hands on her hips.

“I don’t know why I said that. I guess I thought maybe after you saw me touch her hand, it would stop you from asking if we’re dating or something. I didn’t want you to make her uncomfortable.”

“Oh no, I don’t think I was going to, but you just did.” She picks the cans up and turns her back to me as we both hear the door reopen. “But if she’s dating someone else, what business do you have putting your hand on her like that?”

Before I can answer, Harlow wanders back into the kitchen.

“Sorry about that. Laura, did you want help with the soup?” Harlow doesn’t look at me once.

“Sure! If you’re okay with that, of course. I’ll just get the can opener and then you can be in charge. Spice it up, make it yours.” Mom opens the drawer, getting out the rest of the items needed to make dinner.

“Actually, I’d love to.” Harlow takes the can opener and gets to it. I sit there in silence as her and my mom work in this unspoken routine, moving about the kitchen, handing each other things, Mom showing Harlow where something is, all while the most delicious smell fills the room.

Harlow idles by the stove, stirring the soup while Mom cleans up where she was cutting the sourdough bread to make our sandwiches. Neither of them have really acknowledged me and even Dahlia has focused on staying between them and not me.

I really messed up.

“I think everything’s ready,” Mom states, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Great, I’ll get the bowls and plates.” I stand and find my own place in the rhythm of this dinner-making experience.

As I open one of the cabinets, the front door creaks and my dad’s voice calls out. “Laur, who’s—” He stops speaking as he enters the kitchen and looks between Mom, me, and Harlow.

“Will, sweetie, this is Harlow.” Mom greets him with a hug and kiss on the cheek before motioning to Harlow. “She knows Shep from school and the rec center.”

“I see, that must be your Bronco then?” He extends a hand towards her and she shakes it tentatively.

“Yes, sir. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Dinner is ready! We were just about to serve ourselves and sit down.” Mom changes the conversation and I watch Harlow step back as if trying to remove herself from the situation.

I don’t know anything about her family, other than Pierce mentioning she has a sister, but I get the sense she feels like an outsider. Trying to regain control of the moment and also make up for my idiotic comment earlier, I butt in.

“Har, why don’t you go first, since you’re the guest.”

Har? Where the hell did that come from?

“Uh, okay. Sure.” She takes the plate from me and gets a grilled cheese off the counter before filling up her bowl with soup.

“So, are you dating my son? Or what brings you here?” Dad’s words have everyone whipping their heads towards him. To Dahlia’s delight, Harlow’s grip loosens on the plate and her grilled cheese slides off and onto the floor.

“Oh!” Mom calls out. “Well, lucky you, miss girl.” She dotes on Dahlia to distract from what happened.

I notice the look of panic covering Harlow’s face so I gently grab her hand. “We’ll be right back.”

I guide her into the hallway by the front door. We stand there for a few seconds in silence before she pulls away.

“I’m so sorry,” she finally speaks, before folding into herself. “I didn’t mean to drop the sandwich, I just?—”

“Hey, hey.” I go to comfort her again but she flashes a look that makes me put my hands up and back away in surrender. “It’s okay. I’m sorry Dad said that, but it’s okay. I promise.”

“I’m just so out of place here.” Her words come out with a whimper. “I don’t know the last time I had a meal with my family that was home-cooked, or someone asked what happened to me, or I spent time in my childhood home,” she trails off.

Taking in Harlow and all that she is in front of me, my heart aches for her in a way that makes me feel helpless. There are so many sides of her I’ve yet to discover and I’m eager to, but I get the feeling there’s so much hurt Harlow is carrying. It doesn’t scare me off, but I can tell she isn’t one to ask for help—much less take it. Either way, I won’t stop showing up for her and reminding her she’s worth caring about.

“I think you fit in just fine,” I softly smile at her. “Hell, even Dahlia went to you before she did me, and that’s never happened.”

Harlow continues to look down, avoiding my gaze. I wish she could see herself the way I do. Before I can say anything else, Mom peers around the corner. Harlow quickly tries to fix her posture, presenting that everything’s okay.

Baby, why do you do that?

“Shep, why don’t you go help Dad with getting everything put together on the table? Harlow, do you want two grilled cheese triangles with your soup?”

“Yes, please.” She looks at my mom and then at me.

“I’ll go take care of that then.” I step towards Harlow and decide to give her a small hug before turning to Mom and smiling.

“We’ll be right there,” she calls after me.

Just before I’m out of earshot, I hear Mom again, “Alright sweet girl, I think we need to talk.”

I’m glad I don't have anything in my hands yet because I probably would have dropped it just like Harlow did earlier.