"No, I haven't. We don't go out to dinner all that often. We prefer to be with the kids, and if we do go out, it's usually to one of our own restaurants. I'd love to meet you there. One o'clock all right, or is that too late?"
"One is fine. I'll see you then."
"I'm looking forward to it." She hung up and walked down the hallway to Parker's office.
"Linda, is he busy?" she asked the secretary.
"No, go on in. I believe he's looking over the quarterly reports. He'll probably welcome a distraction, Harper."
Harper knocked, and when she was told to enter, she was greeted with a smile. "Hi, I'm glad it's you. Come on in."
"I won't keep you. I just wanted to let you know Bonnie invited me to have lunch with her, so I'll be leaving to meet her a little before one."
"That's great, baby. I'm so glad you're making friends. I know with the move, the marriage, the kids, and this place, there hasn't been much time for that."
"It'll be nice to have some girl time with someone nearer my age. Don't get me wrong, Mary, Ellie, and Annie are all wonderful, but it'll be nice to have a friend like Bonnie, too."
"Have fun. Is John picking up the kids?"
"Yes, he's on the schedule for today. We don't have to worry about that."
"Why don't you take the whole afternoon off? You can go shopping or whatever you feel like doing after lunch."
"If you're sure you won't need me here."
"I always need you, baby. But there's nothing major going on today, except going over these reports and a meeting with our accountant, later. I can fill you in on the details, tonight, and you can look at the figures, tomorrow. I'll see you later." He got up and walked around the desk to give her a kiss.
"I'll see you at home."
Bonnie was waiting for her when she arrived at the restaurant. They were seated and had ordered when Harper told her, "I'm so glad you called today, Bonnie."
"I've been meaning to call you since the night we had dinner together, but with the holidays and all, I figured you were busy."
"I have been busy, but I could've made time for you."
The two women shared an enjoyable lunch and enlightening conversation. They found they shared a lot of the same interests.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Bonnie said as she sipped her Coke.
"So do I. And since I haven't had much time to meet new friends since moving to Chicago, I'm thrilled."
"We'll get together again soon, I promise. And the four of us will have to have dinner again."
"I'd like that, and I know Parker would, too. He mentioned to me that Aileen didn't socialize with his friends much."
"No, she had her own set of friends. It was just a different type of relationship."
"Yes, I know, and I can't understand it at all."
"That's because you're nothing like her. You're warm and caring. Parker is lucky to have found you. He deserves a good relationship. He's a gem, in my book."
"Yes, indeed, he's a gem."
"I can tell you love him deeply."
"Does it show?" Harper asked in surprise.
"Only with every breath you take and every word you say."
"Oh, my, I didn't know I was so obvious."
"It's okay to be in love with your husband, Harper."
She remembered that Bonnie didn't know the truth behind the marriage. "He's also my best friend, Bonnie. We share everything."
"Then it's a marriage made in Heaven, and I'm happy for the both of you." She checked the time on her cell. "I hate to cut this short, but I have an appointment. I really need to get going."
"I should go, too. I'll call you."
"Do that. Give my love to Parker and the kids."
"I will. Please tell your hubby I said hello."
Harper and her newfound friend walked out of the restaurant together, into the cold Illinois wind. Waving goodbye, Harper walked to her car. Once inside, she decided to go on home. She preferred a walk to her bench instead of shopping. She hadn't been out there since they'd returned from their beach house holiday. Even though it was a cold January day, she felt she could go for just a short while.
She parked the car in the driveway. Wrapping her scarf around her neck, she pulled the hood of her coat over her head, put on her gloves, and began the walk to the clearing in the woods. When she got to her bench, she sat and enjoyed the late January sunlight. Her thoughts went to her lunch with Bonnie. Losing track of the time again, she looked at her phone. Aloud, she said, "I'd better get back to the house before I get in trouble. No one knows I'm out here. A good hot cup of coffee in front of the fire sounds really good right now." She pulled her coat tighter and began the walk back to the house.
When Parker arrived home, he found Lorena Laramie waiting for him.
"Lorena, hello, what are you doing in Chicago?"
"I flew in to speak to you about the offer you declined. It could be put back on the table," she said in a confident tone.
"Come into my office." He led her into the home office and closed the door. "Have a seat," he said, offering her a chair.
"So, you're interested."
"I didn't say that, Lorena. Did your father send you to soften me up?"
"No, Daddy doesn't know I'm here. I believe he may be giving up on acquiring your restaurants. He's moved on to other things. I, on the other hand, will never give up, Parker."
"My wife and I discussed it, Lorena. Although it was a very generous offer, we're determined to keep The Heavenly Gourmet a family-owned business, in our family. We plan to run it together."
"I was sure the young little thing would like all those dollar signs. I heard she worked as a receptionist in a doctor's office, before she met you."
"She did, that's true, but Harper isn't like that. The money meant nothing to her."
"Perfect little Harper."
"Yes, she is perfect—for me. She's perfect for my kids and perfect for my business, as well. The day she came into my life was certainly my lucky day."
He could see Lorena cringing at his words.
"As a matter of fact, she'll probably want to say hello to you. She had lunch with Bonnie Jameson today, but I'll see if she's back yet," he said, twisting the knife a little more.
"Hobnobbing with Bonnie Jameson; she didn't waste any time getting into the Chicago social circle, now did she?"
"Bonnie and Jared are good friends of mine, so it makes sense Bonnie and Harper would become friends, Lorena."
He called Ellie on the intercom. "Ellie, is Harper back from her afternoon with Bonnie? Could you have her come into my office for a minute, please?"
"Parker, her car is here, but she's not. I'm beginning to worry about her. It's awfully cold outside. Do you think she walked to the woods? Poor thing is probably frozen."
Parker's face went ghostly white as he told her, "Have John meet me at the back door. We're going to look for her."
"Is the little woman missing, Parker?" Lorena asked sarcastically, when he rose from his chair.
"Lorena, this meeting is over. I'll talk with you later."
"Sure, Parker. I hope you find your missing wife. Maybe she's meeting a secret lover."
"Lorena, that's not funny; it's downright ridiculous. Now go, please, so I can locate her."
"Goodbye, Parker, happy hunting," she said as she flounced out the door.
John was waiting for him when he reached the kitchen. He was holding a flashlight and a blanket. Ellie handed a thermos of hot coffee to Parker, and the two men headed for the woods.
"Harper!" Parker cupped his hands and yelled her name, but there was no answer.
"Oh, my God, over here, Parker," John yelled, a few minutes later. He had found her crumpled on the ground, with what appeared to be a nasty bump on her head. Dried blood covered her forehead.
"Harper, my sweet, precious Harper." Parker cradled her in his arms.
John immediately took out his cell and dialed 911. He asked them not t
o have the siren blaring. He didn't want the children to hear it. "Don't pick her up, Parker. Wait for the paramedics to get here," he barked, taking control of the situation.
He then phoned Ellie, telling her not to let the kids see the ambulance. He also asked her to call Mary, Grace, and Annie.
The paramedics arrived momentarily and began administering help to Harper. "How long has she been unconscious?"
"We don't know. She had lunch with a friend. She must have gone for a walk when she returned. There's a clearing farther back in the woods where she likes to sit. I can't imagine, as cold as it is, she could have been out here for long, though," Parker told them sadly.
"We became worried when we noticed her car in the driveway, but there was no sign of her," John added.
They had given her oxygen, put a neck brace on her neck, and lifted her onto a gurney.
"Can't I ride with her?" Parker asked.
"It would be better if you followed in your car."
"I'll drive you, Parker. I'll stay with you until your mother arrives. Ellie is calling her," John said sadly.
"Thank you, John." The two men hurriedly ran back to the house and got into the car. They followed the ambulance, arriving at the hospital within minutes.
Harper had been taken to a cubicle in the ER, and Parker was asked to wait until a doctor had examined her. He filled out the necessary paperwork and sat down in the waiting area. John handed him a cup of coffee.
Mary flew into the room. "Parker, my God, what happened?"
"She apparently tripped and fell in the woods when she was walking back to the house. She hit her head. Mom, she was bleeding, and she's not conscious."
Mary sat down next to her son. "Ellie called Grace. She's catching the next flight out. John will pick her up and bring her straight here. Just stay calm, Parker. We'll see what the doctor has to say."
"The kids—"
"The kids are fine. Ellie's with them, and she kept them away from the windows. They don't know anything about this yet."
"I can't lose her, Mom," Parker said as his mother comforted him. "I can't do this again."
"Parker, don't talk like that. Nobody has said anything about losing Harper. She's a fighter. She's young, and she's strong."
"Call Bonnie," he told her in a broken voice.
"Bonnie Jameson?" she asked.
"They're friends; they had lunch earlier today. She might be able to give us an idea how long Harper was in the woods. The paramedics wanted to know. I'm sure the doctor will, too."
"I'll call her. Do you have her number?"
"It's in my phone." He handed his cell to her, and she quickly found the number and dialed.
Parker listened as his mother explained what had happened.
"They're on their way," she told Parker as she handed his phone back to him.
"Good, I'm glad. Where is that damn doctor?" He got up and began to pace.
"Parker, let them do their job. As soon as they know something, they'll come and get us."
"Ma'am, if it's all right, I believe I'll go back to the house and help Ellie with the little ones. I'm assuming you'd rather we not tell them what has happened," John said sadly. He was quite fond of the young Mrs. Bentley.
"Go on, John," Mary replied. "Make sure to be at the airport early, in case Grace's flight gets in earlier than scheduled. Don't tell the kids yet. Not until we know more about Harper's condition. When we know more, either Parker or Grace and I will tell them. Thank you for everything, John."
"Yes, Mrs. Bentley. I'll bring Mrs. Easton as soon as she gets in."
Several minutes later, a nurse came out. She asked Parker to come back to Harper's cubicle with her. Mary asked if she could go, too. "I'm Harper's mother-in-law."
"Of course, come on back." She led them into a small cubicle, where several people appeared to be attending to Harper.
"Mr. Bentley, I'm Dr. Phillips. Your wife sustained a head wound, as you know, and we believe her left arm may be fractured. I've arranged for X-rays of the arm and a CT scan. After those results come in, we'll have a clearer picture of what we're dealing with. I'm going to admit her. The nurses will let you know her room number as soon as she's settled."
"What about the fact she hasn't come to yet? Is that a reason for concern?" he asked as he glanced at Harper lying still in the bed.
"That's not uncommon with a head wound. We'll watch her closely. It's too soon to be alarmed yet. She may come around soon. If, after a few days, she hasn't, we might want to do further testing."
"All right, thank you. We'll wait for the nurse to tell us where to go next," Mary told him, smiling.
"Can I see her for just a minute?" Parker asked.
"Sure, but only for a minute; we need to get her down to radiology."
Parker walked over to the bed and lifted her lifeless hand. He held it to his lips and kissed it. "I love you, Harper. You have to come back to me." He gently placed her hand back on the bed and walked out of the room, followed by Mary.
Back in the waiting area, he sat down and cried like a baby. "Mom, what am I going to do? I've wasted all this time."
"What time did you waste, son? You and Harper have had a wonderful marriage so far."
"In that cubicle, just now, was the first time I ever told her I loved her."
"What are you yammering about? Everyone knows you love Harper."
"Everyone but Harper." He dropped his head.
"I'm not following. Are you sure you didn't bump your head, too?"
"Mom, Harper and I are great together in every way. You know that. But because I rushed her into marriage for the sake of the company, I didn't take the time to properly court her. I never told her I was in love with her. I was waiting for her to say it first. Stupid, I realize now. But, in my head, I thought she had to fall in love with me before I told her. I didn't want to rush her any more than I already had. When she agreed to a physical relationship from the start, even after I'd told her I would wait until she was ready, I thought the love would soon follow. But she's never said it. And neither have I."
"You silly, silly boy; that girl has been in love with you since the day you married her and probably long before that. It's evident in the way she looks at you and the way she speaks of you. Has everyone seen it but you? Why do you think she was so willing to accept a marriage of convenience? Why do you think she wanted a physical relationship immediately after the wedding? It wasn't because she was lusting after you. It was because she loved you."
"Harper has morals. She told me she wanted me. But she also said that she would never have slept with me as long as I was her employer. But I never thought she might already be in love with me. The only thing I've needed all along is Harper's love. Now you're telling me I've had it all this time. And now she may never know how deeply in love with her I am. What have I done?"
"Sweetheart, don't beat yourself up over this. You'll get another chance to tell her. I just know it; I can feel it."
Bonnie and Jared had arrived by this time. Jared sat down with Parker.
After looking at their friend, apparently in so much anguish, Bonnie pulled Mary aside. "What's going on, Mrs. Bentley?"
"Call me Mary, dear. Apparently, Harper was walking and fell. She hit her head. They think she may have a broken arm as well. She's still unconscious."
"Oh my, what about Ava and Aiden?" she asked.
"We haven't told them anything yet. Grace—that's Harper's mother—is on her way.
"If there's anything we can do to help, just let us know. We can take the kids for a few days or just sit with all of you. We're both very fond of Harper."
"Thank you. The nurses will come get us when they have a room ready for her. She's in radiology right now, having an x-ray and a CT scan."
"I just had lunch with her this afternoon."
"That's what Parker said. I believe he wanted to ask you some questions about that."
"I'll see what I can do," Bonnie said as she stood up.
&n
bsp; Mary followed her.
"Parker, what did you want to ask me?" Bonnie had walked over to Parker and sat down beside him.
"Do you remember what time the two of you split up after lunch? The paramedics wanted to know how long she'd been unconscious, and I had no idea."
"We left the restaurant around three. I had an appointment I needed to get to."
"Did she say if she was going shopping or straight home?"
"No, I'm sorry, Parker, she didn't. She promised to call me, and we said our goodbyes."
A nurse came to them and told them what floor they were moving Harper to, giving them the room number and wishing them luck. The four of them found the elevator and went to the fourth floor as directed.
"We'll wait in the lounge while you two go on in. I'm sure they have a limit on how many can be in the room at once," Bonnie told them as she squeezed Mary's hand.
"Thank you," Mary replied. She turned to follow her son down the hallway. They found the room number and went on in. Harper was in the bed, lying as still as before. A nurse was attending to her.
"Has there been any news yet?" Parker asked the nurse.
"No, I'm sorry, not yet. Dr. Phillips will be in as soon as he knows anything. He knows how anxious you are."
Parker pulled a chair close to the bed and picked up Harper's hand again. He placed it inside his own larger hand and said, "I'm here, baby, and I'm not leaving your side. I love you, Harper Jo Easton Bentley, and I'm not letting you go."
Mary sat down and began to pray.
An hour later, Dr. Phillips entered the room. "I'm so sorry for the delay. I wanted to go over everything before I spoke with you."
"What can you tell us about my wife's condition?"
"We were correct in thinking her arm is fractured. I've arranged for it to be casted. I don't believe she'll need surgery, which is good, because of the head injury. It's not a bad break, so she may only need the cast for three or four weeks."
"What about the head injury, Dr. Phillips?" Mary asked.
"Harper has a concussion. There doesn't appear to be any bleeding on the brain at this time. We've already cleaned up the cut and stitched it. That was done in the ER. As far as her being unconscious, we wait. We have IV fluids going into her body, as well as antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug. She'll be monitored closely for the next twenty-four hours. I'm assuming you plan to spend the night in that chair?"
Her Convenient Dom (Dominant Men Book 2) Page 18