One Choice I'd Never Make

by Remi Carrington

  She grinned. “And of my garden when I finally plant something. Maybe even a picture of Clint if he’ll allow it.”

  “It’s all in how you ask.”

  She laughed. “Smart girl.”

  I spent the rest of the morning eating cheese toast and helping her get an account set up. Then I raced over to the studio.

  Haley was waiting at my desk. “Soooo? How’d the weekend go? Is he still your superhero?”

  “More than ever.” I pressed a hand to my heart. “His family loves me.”

  Haley threw her arms around me, and Nacha cheered.

  “When did you sneak in?” I turned and hugged her.

  “I was in my office and heard the good news. I’m happy for you.”

  I sighed. “Now if I can just get my parents to agree to meet him. They don’t call me back that often because I’m off doing my own thing. That’s how Mom puts it. Dad just doesn’t talk to me.”

  Nacha hugged me again. “Cami, I know that’s hard. But always remember that you have family here. Blood isn’t what makes us family.”

  I nodded, but it didn’t make the sting go away. It hurt that people who were strangers a year ago cared more about me than my parents.

  If I could just get them to meet Harper, they’d see that I had a handle on life and that I’d figured out how to be an adult.

  They’d be proud of me.

  For the next two weeks, wonderful things happened, and life continued to improve. Things were still dicey with my parents, but even in that department, there was good news.

  Side by side, Harper and I stood in my kitchen, making dinner. Emmy and Diego had sent a few recipes, and so far everything Harper and I had tried making tasted amazing.

  “So I told you how Joji had me start managing her social media for the farm. And then Lilith asked me if I’d be interested in managing the social for the venue. Those pictures of the picnic were perfect for that! Well, guess who called me today and wants me to run her social media?”

  His brow pinched. “You already run Tessa’s page for the doughnut shop. And the one for the studio. Are you going to do one for the lingerie shop? Will there be modeling involved?” He danced his eyebrows.

  “Modeling yes, but not by me. And not lingerie. Tandy called me.”

  The adorable red colored his ears.

  “And since I choose what to post, guess which cover will not go up on her social media page?”

  “Thank you.”

  I kissed his cheek. “You’re welcome. I know all this extra stuff is keeping me busier, and I’m sorry.”

  “You clearly love it. And I’m happy to see you doing what you love.” He slid the food onto plates as I held them out. “Let’s hope this tastes as good as it looks.”

  “It looks fantastic.”

  During dinner, we chatted about how work was going for him and about the goats. Because we always talked about the goats. Then afterward, we cleaned up.

  I wiped my hands, then hung the dishtowel over the stove handle. “Mom called me back today.”

  “Good.”

  His muted reaction irritated me.

  “Isn’t that exciting? I asked about going to visit for Thanksgiving, but Mom suggested that they drive here and meet us for dinner this weekend. It’s not ideal, but they want to meet you. And I haven’t seen them since I dropped my stuff off.” I wanted him to share my hope that things were finally changing.

  “I’m glad she called you.”

  “You don’t sound glad. You sound miffed.” I tried unsuccessfully to keep the edge out of my voice.

  He scrubbed his face. “I’m concerned that you’ll be disappointed again. It hurts to watch you get your hopes up only to have them shattered.”

  “You think I should just stop trying? Ignore them?”

  “I’m not saying that. I don’t know. Maybe I am. I don’t like the way they treat you.” He walked toward me.

  I backed up. “They’re my parents! You have your big happy family where everyone loves you and is proud of you. Don’t you think I want that too?”

  “Cami.”

  When he moved one step closer, I shook my head. “Just go.” I walked into the kitchen so that I wouldn’t have to see him leave.

  The door closed quietly. I guess I was the only one with an urge to slam things.

  Pacing in the living room, I was too angry to cry. And every time I walked toward the far wall, the happy couple who used to live on the farm mocked me from their happy little picture.

  Slamming it to the ground would bring me all kinds of bad luck, but I could at least take it off the wall. When I did, a notecard fell to the ground.

  I love you.

  Words that I knew in my head penetrated my heart in a way they never had before.

  I raced out the door, hoping to catch Harper before he pulled away.

  And I nearly tripped over the man.

  Harper was sitting on the top step, and Boingo was next to him with keys dangling out of his mouth.

  After taking the keys away from Boingo, I nudged my way in between them and sat down. “I’m sorry.” I handed Harper the notecard. “When did you hide that one?”

  “I hid all of them on the same day. While Joji showed you around the farm on that first day, I stashed notes in different places for you to find. I hid the one in the coffee cup after we unpacked that same night.”

  “That was months ago.”

  He nodded. “I knew then, but you were in a big transition period, and you didn’t need me complicating it. I felt fairly sure you wouldn’t find that one for a while.”

  I leaned my head on his shoulder, trying to ignore the idea that he now knew all the places I hadn’t cleaned since moving in.

  “And, Cami, I’m proud of you. My mom calls me all the time, excited about what you posted. Did you know that she follows every page you manage? She even started buying Tandy’s books. Let’s just hope she never figures out who is on that cover.” He put his arm around me. “If your parents are disappointed, that’s their issue. Not yours.”

  I wiped tears off my face.

  “I will happily go with you to dinner to meet them. I will be pleasant and gracious. And no matter what, I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “Are you saying you won’t slug my dad?”

  “Yes.” He pulled me closer. “But showing up and being nice, I’m not doing that for your parents. Not to impress them or to make them like me. I’m doing it because of you. Because I love you.”

  “Thank you. I want to give them one more chance. Mainly, so they can meet you.”

  “Let me know where and when. If I’m on the schedule, I’ll find someone to cover my shift.”

  “If I’d known you were so incredible, I never would have left you standing on the sidewalk.”

  “Some women leave a glass slipper. Others leave a tail.”

  “I love you, Harper. No matter what happens with my parents.” I needed him to know that deep in his bones.

  “I know you do.” He sounded sure.

  “How did Boingo get your keys?”

  “I gave them to him.” He crinkled his nose and made a funny face. “It made sense at the time.”

  I climbed into his lap. Against the evening chill he was warm.

  Leaning a head on his shoulder, I burrowed even closer. “Because then you couldn’t leave.”

  He rubbed my back. “There was no way I was going to leave.”

  “I should never have said that. I want the problem to go away. You aren’t the problem.”

  He rested his head on mine. “Please don’t let them make you think that you’re the problem, Cami. You aren’t.”

  “I think I know that. But I’m still not sure what to do.” I shifted so that I could look him in the face. “Right now all I want to do is just be here with you.”

  “And Boingo.”

  Boingo bleated after hearing his name.

  I relished the security of Harper’s arms, not for their strength, but becau
se of the protective, unconditional love they represented. “He loves me.”

  Harper gave Boingo the side-eye.

  I laughed. “But you love me more.”

  His breath tickled as he whispered in my ear. “Don’t ever doubt that.”

  Chapter 24

  I stopped in the middle of the living room and slid my hands down my skirt, smoothing out wrinkles. I’d splurged on a dress that would meet with my parents’ approval. I felt a little bad about it until Harper arrived. After seeing the way his gaze traced my dress, I was thrilled with my purchase.

  “Want me to smooth out those invisible wrinkles for you?” Harper danced his eyebrows.

  “Very funny.” I inhaled, then let out the breath slowly. My normal breathing techniques weren’t helping me calm down. “Mom and Dad booked a reservation at the restaurant right down the road. That Cowboy Chef guy owns it. He’s a big fan of Joji’s cheese and has been out to the farm a few times.” I paced in the trailer, checking the time every thirty seconds. “Have you met him?”

  Harper wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Relax. Whatever happens tonight won’t change the life you have here. Remember that.”

  I nodded. “Right. I’m trying not to get my hopes up.” After turning to face him, I straightened his tie. “You look amazing all dressed up.”

  “Cami, you can hope. Just remember that you aren’t responsible for making them happy. You aren’t responsible for making anyone happy.”

  “I know.” I ran my hand down the lapel of his coat. “I know.”

  “We should go. Are you going to grab a coat?”

  “No. I don’t want to have to keep up with it. I’ll only be running into the restaurant and back out to the truck.”

  My hands shook as I climbed into the passenger seat. My stomach was in knots, and I’d hardly eaten all day. But I didn’t have long to worry. It only took three minutes to drive to the restaurant, and the whole time I fretted.

  Since Mom and Dad had never been to my place, I wasn’t even sure they knew how close it was. Not that it mattered.

  Mom had probably read about the Cowboy Chef in some write-up.

  Harper held my hand as we walked inside. My parents were already seated at a corner table.

  Again, Dad had staked his turf first. Thinking about dinner as a warzone wasn’t a great start. Another deep breath helped me maintain my smile.

  The expression on Mom’s face was rewarding. Harper was an amazing person, but he was also easy on the eyes. And Mom noticed.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Harper.” Excitement added a quiver to my voice. “Harper, these are my parents, David and Nora Phillips.”

  My dad extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’d say we’ve heard so much about you, but she hasn’t said much at all.”

  As tempting as it was to tell him that if he’d bothered to talk to me I would have been happy to tell him all about Harper, I chose to keep the conversation steered in a more positive direction.

  Mom made eye contact with me but only for a split second. I kept a smile plastered on my face as Harper and I took our seats. We hadn’t even ordered, and I was beginning to regret coming to dinner.

  I refocused on the goal. Having my parents meet Harper was why I was here. My family wasn’t going to instantly morph into a TV sitcom family. But they were my parents, and Harper was the man I loved.

  And the man I wanted to spend forever with. That hadn’t come up in conversation, but we hadn’t even dated a year.

  Harper clasped my hand under the table, and that small gesture helped settle my thoughts.

  I tried to think of something to say that would end the uncomfortable silence but wouldn’t create an awkward conversation. “How are things at home?” A nice open-ended question was good, right?

  Dad shifted in his chair. “We’ve already ordered drinks for everyone.”

  How did he know what we wanted?

  Harper smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Before we order dinner, I just want to say that after giving it more thought, I might’ve been too harsh with you, Camille.” My dad crossed his arms. “It’s been months, and not once have you called asking for money or even hinting that you need help. You seem to have gained some independence during this rebellious streak of yours.”

  Until the rebellious part, I thought maybe I’d get the compliment I’d craved for so long.

  Harper’s hand tightened around mine.

  My dad continued as if he were spreading good cheer. “If you are happy with what you’re doing, that’s good. I hope one day you’ll settle down a bit more, but I’m glad to see you’ve developed a strong work ethic.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” I was surprised he came so close to an apology.

  His words didn’t hold the elation I thought would come when they accepted my choices, but from Dad, this was high praise. My dream that they wanted me to be happy was coming true. Why wasn’t I giddy about it?

  We ordered, and Mom filled me in on what all my former classmates were doing, which was basically a rehash of tidbits she’d already messaged.

  “Listen to me going on and on. Harper, tell us about you. How did you meet Camille?”

  “We met through mutual friends. At a pool party.” He straightened his silverware. “She’s a captivating woman, and I’m lucky I met her.”

  Mom pressed a hand to her heart. “How sweet. What do you do?”

  My dad sat in silent judgement, but at least he wasn’t frowning. I took that as a positive sign.

  “I’m a fireman.” Harper kept hold of my hand, letting his thumb brush against my skin.

  My sweet boyfriend was the whole package, and I beamed as he answered. Then I noticed Dad’s face turn to stone. It was worse than a frown. Hard and cold, his expression knotted my insides.

  Harper hadn’t said anything rude or out of line. Why was Dad reacting like that?

  Mom’s smile widened in the way it did when she was trying to make lemonade out of lemons. Not that she’d ever in her life actually made lemonade. She hired people to do that. “Oh? A fireman.”

  The waiter appeared with our food, and the awkward conversation hung in the air.

  When our server walked away, Dad stared at Harper across the table. “I’ve given Camille room to explore what makes her happy, but I won’t let her ruin her life. She’ll marry a professional—someone more suited to her upbringing—because financial security is important. And shift work isn’t going to get her that.”

  Harper tensed. “Sir, I love your daughter.”

  I grabbed his hand, hating that my dad would try to make Harper feel unworthy of me. I used to think the opposite was true, but now I knew better.

  “Dad, please don’t say that.” I shot a look at Mom, wanting support, but she only stared at her food.

  My father waved away my words. “I’m talking to Harper. If you care about my daughter . . . if you care about our relationship with her, then you’ll get up from this table and walk away. I came here tonight hoping to smooth over the rockiness of the last few months. That can’t happen with you in her life.”

  Flames seared my brain, and I squeezed hard on Harper’s hand as he slid his chair back from the table. He wouldn’t look at me, but I could see how angry he was. I also knew my hero would do anything if he thought it would make me happy.

  If he thought I’d choose to live under my father’s thumb rather than loving my hero, he was wrong. Nothing about that idea made me happy.

  Harper had to know that. Right?

  After giving my fingers a quick squeeze, he walked away without saying a word.

  I watched him until he made it to the hostess stand. Nothing was going right.

  “Well, that went more smoothly than I anticipated. I expected him to put up more of a fight.” Dad picked up his fork. “Food looks great. Where did you hear about this place?”

  Mom wiped her eyes and met my gaze across the table. “Cami posted about it on that picture app.”

  If Mom knew
about this place from what I’d posted, she also knew I was in love. I hadn’t made a secret of that. Neither had Harper moments ago.

  The raw apology in her expression told me that she knew.

  My dad had completely embarrassed me, and Harper had left. Those were two separate problems, and I’d have to deal with them one at a time.

  I gripped my napkin in my joined hands as I stood up because I didn’t want my dad to see me shaking. “I have tried to walk a tightrope between living in a way that makes me happy and being the daughter you’ve always wanted. But that isn’t working.” My emotions were in knots, but my thoughts were clear and unfiltered. “You don’t know the first thing about love. You love the idea of having a daughter. But you don’t love me. When I stopped asking for money, you stopped acting like you cared. That’s not how love works.” I pointed across the restaurant in the direction Harper had gone. “I love that man. And he loves me . . . not because I’m great at my job or because I’m beautiful. There is no because. He just loves me.” I laid my napkin on the table. “Mom, you have my address if you ever need to contact me. And if I move, you can ask Joji about me. She’ll always know how to find me.”

  That last part probably stabbed at Mom’s heart, but the words were true. Joji had become my family.

  My rant may not have made sense to them. But for me, it cauterized a wound.

  Dad motioned for me to sit down. “What’s the point in making a display? He left you. Walked away without even saying goodbye.” His tone was icy and cruel.

  I took one step away from the table, struggling to choke out a goodbye without screaming at my heartless father. Part of me didn’t want to believe that Harper had left, but could I blame him if he had?

  Mom started crying, which she never did in public. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m walking home.”

  “You can’t. Someone might grab you off that dark road.” She sobbed between words.

  “I’ll take my chances.” I waved over my shoulder, avoiding eye contact with the other restaurant patrons as I marched toward the door.

  Tunnel vision set in as I walked through the dining room. Staring at the door handles, I made that my goal. Once outside, I’d figure out how to get home.