Page 88 of Seeing Harper

“Did you tell all this to your father?”

“Yes. And he’s treating him like a long lost friend, while doubting what I told him. He said that I probably misunderstood and it’s not his fault he’s so attracted to me because I’m a shifter and he’s human. I hung up on him when I tried to explain it to him over the phone and he refused to see my side. All he did was downplay it and tell me he likes him and I could do worse. And while I do realize my anger could possibly be over the top because nothing actually happened to me, I don’t feel it’s completely unwarranted.”

“He didn’t tell me any of this.”

“The asshole, Joel, not Dad, even said something to the effect that if I wasn’t more receptive to him that it wasn’t really looking like a good thing for his company’s business relationship with Dad and the farm.”

“He said that?!”

“I'm paraphrasing, but yes, he did. He is an overly confident dick. And I’m offended and angry, I mean, what makes him think he has the right to coerce any female into cooperating with his advances? He made suggestive comments all freaking week, constantly touching my shoulder, or my knee or my waist. And again, while it was a quick few minutes of interaction that finally sent me over the edge, he didn’t manage to take advantage of me at all, and now somehow I feel like I’ve reacted off the charts, even though it doesn’t change a single thing about his character and what he had in mind.”

“Stop saying that. It sounds like you’re trying to apologize for your reactions. You have every right to feel like you feel and you owe no one an explanation, and I’m inclined to believe you didn’t react enough.”

“I feel like I might have caused trouble for Dad and the farm. I could have just punched him and walked away, but instead I just walked away, and the whole situation has gotten in my head and I feel so tied up over it.”

“Maybe you feel like you were trying to do something to help out Dad, and it went south, and now you feel bad about it.”

“Maybe. And it might be because Dad didn’t take my word for what happened and played it off as ‘Joel just likes you and you should understand that it’s not his fault’.”

“Hmpf. We’ll see about all of that. You’re okay staying at Summer’s for now, baby?”

“Yes, ma’am. And I’ll be there until I feel like coming back. Well, other than to work with them on whatever it is Dad wants to try to do. I gave him my word I would, and regardless, I won’t break it.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning for a few minutes at least before you head out into the fields with Dad, right?”

“Yes, I’ll try to get there a little earlier so we can have a few minutes alone. I love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, baby. You won’t mind if I have little conversation with your father, do you? It’s simple to me. If he set you off at all, he’s crossed a line. That should be enough.”

Harper sighed as she thought about it. “Please don’t. I don’t want to cause an argument.”

“There will be no argument. You stand beside your children no matter how old they are. He’s straddling a line between doing so, and still trying to maneuver his business into a favorable place in the industry. Priorities… that’s what this is all about, and I’m thinking maybe I need to make sure he remembers where his should be.”

“You don’t have to, Mom. I’ve got this.”

“And I’ve got you. I will see you tomorrow morning. Bye, baby. Bye, Summer!”

“Bye, Aunt Libby!” Summer called out.

“Bye, Mom! Love you,” Harper said, then ended the call.

Summer glanced at Harper a time or two before she finally spoke. “My dad always said that your mom handles one of the most difficult males in our Pride, and for that he respects the hell out of her. I think your dad is about to be handled.”

Harper flashed a quick smile, but let it fade just as quickly. “I don’t want to cause any trouble between my parents. What’s wrong with me, Summer? Why am I so tied up in knots. I get being offended by Joel. But why am I so emotionally boiling in the background. It shouldn’t upset me, it should just make me mad.”

“Uh, Clay…”

Harper nodded sadly.

“And maybe your mom is right. You feel like you might have let your dad down. Start again and tell me from the very beginning. Everything, no matter how minor you think it is, and we’ll go over it until you feel better,” Summer said.

“Okay…” Harper said as she leaned her head against the head rest behind her and closed her eyes. She took a few moments to breathe deeply and relax for the first time in days, then she started talking. And she talked all the way to Summer’s parents’ house without Summer interrupting her a single time.

~~~

“Ma! I’m home! I brought Harper to stay with us for a while,” Summer shouted as she walked through her family’s front door and dropped Harper’s largest suitcase just inside the foyer.

“Hi, Aunt Renata!” Harper called out, lugging the rest of her luggage, her carry-on bag, and her purse.