Harper’s heart went cold. Embarrassment and dread flooded her system. “Oh my God, Tommy. You were reading my book? How could you!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I swear. It was an accident. Please believe me,” he begged. “It was just there, and it caught my eye and... and it was very good.” He was trying to salvage the situation but failing.
She put down the plates and reached for her laptop. “I gotta go. I can’t believe this. I trusted you of all people not to betray me.”
Tommy put a hand on her arm, and she jerked it back. “Harper.”
“Don’t touch me!” She had held back tears but now they were flowing over her cheeks. “Pippi, let’s go.” The dog’s ears were flattened back on her head. She’d never seen her owner that upset and had started to shiver. Harper motioned for Pippi to hop in the tote bag and threw that over her shoulder. Then she stormed out of the bar in a huff.
She got two steps outside and realized she’d left her forest-green puffy coat in the Sin Bin. It had been warm when she arrived, but a cold front was coming in that could even bring snow that evening. She hated to go back in to get it, but it was a long walk home and one of her favorite coats she had in Wisconsin. She turned around and pushed open the door.
“Oh good, you came back.” Tommy had been coming after her. “Harper, I...”
She put up her hand to stop him talking.
“I just need my coat.” She grabbed her jacket off a stool at the bar and wiggled her way into it. “And I amnotcoming back.”
“At least let me drive you. It’s cold, Harper.”
“You’re cold, Tommy!” It was the only insulting thing she could think of in the moment. She knew she sounded childish, but she was so mad that her emotions got the most of her.
Tommy decided it was better to back off than to push her. He held the door for her to leave.
“Harper, I know you’re mad at me. But it was an accident. And, honestly, I was very impressed with what you wrote. I was just a little surprised. You’ve never told me what it was about.”
“Don’t, Tommy. Just don’t.” She didn’t look back as she took a left and headed to Maple Avenue.
“I should have known it would never work,” Harper said to Pippi, who bounced along her hip. She wiped away her tears and felt regret heavy on her shoulders.
As the door closed behind her for the second time, she felt the finality of another breakup. She stormed off, walking as fast as she could back to their house.
At least she knew how that felt—it was a feeling with which she was way too accustomed.
HARPER CAREENED INTOthe house and the door slammed behind her.
Mary’s head popped out of the kitchen.
“Hey. Are you okay?” she asked Harper, who was still visibly upset.
“I’m fine. I just need a minute.” She took Pippi out of her bag and handed her to Mary. “Mind feeding her?”
“Sure, but do you want to talk about it?” Mary asked.
“Not yet.”
Mary knew not to push. Harper went upstairs to her loft, while Mary gave Pippi something to eat and fresh water.
“What happened out there, Pip?”
The dog tilted its head, trying to understand.
Chapter 68
Dot came home that night around 9 p.m. She’d been working very long days at the office on the campaign. It was crunch time. There were just two weeks until Election Day.
“Drink?” Mary asked.
“Just one. But be generous.” Dot shrugged out of her long, pastel pink, faux fur coat and hung it in the closet.