Chapter 6

Harper's heart was heavy with worry as Owen drove along the familiar streets of Sapphire Bay. She'd called Mabel to see if her granddad needed an ambulance. Whatever was happening didn't sound too serious, but any change to Benjamin's health loomed large in her mind.

The possibility that he might have suffered another stroke was a fear she couldn't ignore. He'd been so good about taking his medication, eating healthy food, and exercising as best he could. But, no matter what he did, it might not be enough.

She was grateful for Owen's kindness and the silent support he provided just by being beside her. He hadn't tried to make small talk or tell her everything would be okay. Her grandfather had been through a lot. His heart was weak and the right-hand side of his body was even weaker. If he was going to have another stroke, this was the time it could happen.

As they pulled up to the house, she threw off her seatbelt.

"I'll come with you," Owen said quickly. "You might need a hand to move your granddad."

"Thanks, Owen. I appreciate it." Together, they hurried to the front door.

Mabel met them in the entryway, her expression taut with concern. "Thank goodness you're here," she said, her voice betraying her worry. "Zac's on his way. We should have contacted you sooner."

Harper placed her hand on Mabel's arm. "It's okay. I would've done the same thing." She hurried into the living room. Her granddad was sitting in his armchair with his eyes closed. He looked frail and vulnerable, and so different from the vibrant man he used to be.

"Granddad, how are you feeling?" she asked, her voice thick with concern as she knelt beside him.

His weak smile did little to reassure her. "I've had better days."

Harper's mind raced through the checklist of symptoms of a stroke. "Granddad, can you squeeze my hand?" she asked, seeking the reassurance of his strength in his grip. Though weak, his response was enough to ease her worry. "Now give me one of your big, wide smiles."

Benjamin forced his mouth into a smile, and she touched his hand. "You're doing great. Can you lift both arms up for me?"

With more effort than it should have taken, he raised his arms. His right side was still weak from his last stroke, but she wasn't worried about that. "You're looking good, Granddad. Now tell me about your day. What did you enjoy the most?"

Benjamin knew what she was doing, but he wasn't grumbling. Of all the people in the room, he would've been the most terrified of having another stroke.

"I enjoyed seeing you laughing and talking with the people who visited your booth. You spend so much time looking after me that I don't get to see you with other people very often."

Harper sighed. His words weren't slurred or distorted, but what he'd said touched her heart. "I spend plenty of time with other people, but I also enjoy being here with you." She leaned close and whispered, "Being a social butterfly is overrated."

That earned her a genuine smile from her granddad. "I'll remind you of that one day."

"I'm sure you will. While everyone's here, I'll grab my first aid kit." On her way out of the room, she smiled at Owen. He was standing beside the doorway, watching everything that was happening. "Thanks for staying."

"Do you need me to do anything?" he asked.

"Can you call the medical clinic's after-hours number? It'll go through to Zac's cell phone. Tell him I've done an initial exam of Granddad, and it doesn't look as though he's had a stroke. I'll call him if I find anything else. If you could ask him how far away he is, that'd be great, too."

Owen nodded and pulled out his cell phone.

With a quick look over her shoulder, Harper hurried to the kitchen and grabbed her first aid kit. Returning to her grandfather's side, she opened it and pulled out a stethoscope. Gently, she placed it against Benjamin's chest, listening intently for any irregularities in his heartbeat. The steady thump-thump was comforting, but it was only part of the picture.

After she'd checked his pulse and taken his temperature, she was cautiously relieved.

As they waited for Zac, Harper sat close to her granddad, holding his hand and offering words of comfort.

When Zac arrived, she watched, her heart in her throat, as he examined her grandfather. When everything appeared relatively normal, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. With the promise of going straight to the hospital if anything changed, he left them to carry on with the rest of their evening.

When Mabel placed a hot cup of coffee beside Benjamin, he looked at everyone with a tired but grateful smile. "Well, that's a relief," he said, his voice stronger now. "I'm sorry you were so worried."

Harper returned his smile with a watery one of her own. "You know how to give us a scare, Granddad. I'm just glad it's not another stroke."

Benjamin patted her hand, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint she'd always loved. "I'm not ready to leave you just yet. There are more ice cream sundaes we need to share, and too many of Owen's glass pieces to admire."

Harper laughed softly, the sound carrying a mixture of relief and fondness.

Mabel picked up her bag. "Allan and I should go home. Is there anything you need?"

"We'll be all right," Harper assured her. "Thanks for looking after Granddad."

Allan gave Benjamin a hug. "We had a great day. Next time, we'll come home sooner."

"I wouldn't change anything," Benjamin assured his old friend. "I enjoyed every minute at the festival."

Mabel kissed his cheek. "Take it easy tonight. Doing cartwheels down the hallway is banned."

Benjamin sent his friends an affectionate smile. "I'll do my best to stay out of trouble."

As Mabel and Allan were leaving, Owen touched her arm. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I think we're okay for now, but thank you," she said, her gratitude genuine. "I don't know what I would've done without your help."

"You're welcome. If anything happens during the night, I'm only a phone call away." He looked around the room and picked up a pen and a notebook she'd left on the coffee table. "Here's my number. I'll drive back to the park and pick up your bicycle. Did you use a padlock?"

"I did, but don't worry. It'll be fine until the morning."

Owen didn't look so sure. "It's no trouble."

Harper smiled. "Sapphire Bay isn't Detroit. Nothing usually goes missing. If it does, someone will know where it's gone."

"Well, if you're sure." Owen walked across to Harper's granddad. "It was good seeing you again, Mr. Nelson. I'm glad you're okay."

"So am I, son. When you see your dad, tell him to call me. I miss our poker nights with the boys."

Owen smiled. "I'll do that. Have a good night's sleep."

Harper walked with him to the front door. "I appreciated you being here."

Owen sent her a warm smile. "I wouldn't have been much of a friend if I'd let you bike here. Are you sure I can't help you get your granddad into bed? It's a big job and you aren't as big as I am."

Flexing her arm, Harper grinned. "In this instance, size doesn't matter. I might only be five-foot-four, but I'm strong." She was grateful Owen didn't flex his own muscles. His biceps would have made hers look like peanuts.

Reaching out, he touched her arm. "You've got my number. If you need help at any time, give me a call. I'm not far away."

"I will." Harper leaned against the doorframe, watching Owen as he made his way back to his truck. The more time she spent with him, the more she saw just what an amazing person he was. But while her granddad needed her, spending more time with Owen wasn't high on her list of priorities.

"Is everything all right, Harper?"

She closed the front door and walked into the living room. "Everything's fine, Granddad." With a relieved smile, she sat on the sofa. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

Benjamin nodded. "You can tell me as many times as you like. I love you too, Harper. Can you do something for me?"

"Of course, I can. What would you like?"

"Don't tell your mom about today. She'll worry for no reason."

Harper frowned. "But Mom will want to know what's happened."

"She wants me to move into an assisted living apartment in Polson," Benjamin said with a tremor in his voice. "I don't want to live there. This is my home."

Harper squeezed her granddad's hand. "That's only because she worries about you. But, with the caregivers Zac organized, and your friends coming to visit, there aren't many times when you're on your own." The gleam in her granddad's eyes dimmed. He wasn't comforted by what she'd said. "If it makes you feel better, I won't say anything."

Benjamin breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I'd be lost if I didn't live in Sapphire Bay."

"I know." Harper was caught in the middle of an emotional tightrope. She understood her mom's concern, but she could also see why it wouldn't be good for her granddad. Regardless of the friends he could make in Polson, the activities he could be part of, he was set on not moving from his home. And, for as long as she could help him stay here, she would.

"Do you feel like watching a movie, Granddad?"

Benjamin nodded. "How about Casablanca? We've still got forty minutes to watch from the last time we played it."

Harper smiled and picked up the remote. "That sounds perfect. I'll get the popcorn while you organize the movie." With her grandfather focused on the television, Harper walked into the kitchen. Thankfully, whatever had caused him to feel dizzy and sick had passed.

This time, she wouldn't tell her mom. But, if anything happened that was more serious, she'd have no choice but to tell her everything.

The following evening,Owen settled into the familiar surroundings of Pastor John's living room, the site of their regular PTSD support group meetings. A few months after he arrived in Sapphire Bay, he joined the group. Owen hadn't been to many meetings, but he enjoyed them. He felt safe sharing what was happening in his life and listening as everyone spoke about their challenges without the fear of being judged.

Tonight's meeting was a lot smaller than usual. Apart from John, only Andrea, Connor, Steve, Jarrod, and Levi had arrived. Owen smiled when he looked at the dining table. What they'd lost in numbers, they'd gained in food.

Eating a meal together made these meetings better than any he'd attended in Detroit. They still talked about their lives and worked through different ways of reducing their triggers, but it was the friendships they'd formed over dinner that made the biggest difference. Food had brought them together and made it easier to celebrate still being alive.

As they delved into a discussion about coping mechanisms and the small victories they'd each achieved, the door opened, and Harper walked into the room.

"Hi, everyone," she said hesitantly. "Sorry I'm late. I saw Shelley a couple of hours ago and she told me about tonight's meeting. It took a little while to find someone to look after Granddad."

Owen immediately felt a surge of protectiveness. It wasn't easy stepping into this kind of meeting on your own, especially when you had someone else to look after. "It's great you could make it," he told her. "There's a spare seat beside mine if you'd like to join us."

She sent him a grateful smile. Before she joined them, she held up a dish as if it were a peace offering to the group. "Shelley said everyone brings a plate of food. I brought apple pie for dessert."

Connor, the expert in all things sweet, sent her an appreciative smile. "I'm glad you brought something for dessert. It's my favorite part of a meal."

Andrea grinned. "And my café will be forever grateful for your sweet tooth, Connor. Welcome to the meeting, Harper."

"Thanks. It's good to be here." She left her pie on the dining room table and took a seat beside Owen. He could sense her unease, the internal battle of whether she belonged here, but he was glad she'd come.

As the meeting progressed, each person took their turn to speak. Harper's voice trembled as she told them about her experiences working at the hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic. She spoke of the long, harrowing shifts, the sense of helplessness, and the profound impact it had on her, leading to her PTSD diagnosis.

"I have trouble sleeping, and the thought of going back to nursing..." Harper's voice trailed off.

Owen understood her fear. Despite working at the medical clinic, the idea of returning to her previous role must fill her with dread.

The group listened intently, their expressions a mix of empathy and support. Pastor John, after a moment of reflective silence, offered some inspirational words. "It's okay to feel uncertain about the future," he said. "What you're feeling is valid, and we're here to support you through this journey." He then handed Harper a journal. "Writing down your thoughts each night can help clear your mind. It's a small step but, sometimes, it's the small steps that lead to the biggest changes."

As the meeting wrapped up and they gathered for dinner, Owen checked in with Harper. "It's good to see you here," he said softly. "How are you feeling?"

Harper looked at him, a mixture of gratitude and something else—perhaps relief—in her eyes. "Overwhelmed, but in a good way. It feels right to be here, to hear everyone's stories. It makes me feel less alone."

Owen nodded. "That's how I felt when I started coming here. PTSD changes your life, but it's easier to manage when you don't have to cope on your own."

Steve handed Harper an empty dinner plate. "And it's easier when you're eating great food. Try the chicken tacos. They're incredible."

After pointing out each dish Harper should try, Steve tried her apple pie. "Yum. This is just as delicious as the pie Andrea bakes at The Starlight Café."

That caused an even bigger discussion when Andrea heard what Steve had said. After Harper promised to send her the recipe, the easy banter continued over dinner. The laughter and shared stories that filled the room made Owen thankful Harper had come to the meeting.

Pastor John had once said it's not the absence of fear or pain that defines people, but how they face it. Owen had learned the hard way that it was okay to feel overwhelmed and lost. It was part of being human and not something to hide.

He just hoped Harper felt comfortable surrounded by people who were going through the same thing as she was. For better or worse, they were all dealing with PTSD as best they could. This group had helped him discover a brighter future for himself. It'd be fantastic if Harper could find the same thing.