Page 26 of Always My Love

“I don’t remember ever having a homemade meal.” Her eyes moved up to his.

His heart sank. “Because your mother was an addict?” he asked, wanting to know a little more about her childhood.

He knew plenty of addicts. There were a handful he had to deal with in or around Pride. Some didn’t care who they hurt. Others he visited at least once a month for domestic calls. But others were good people and good parents. He couldn’t make assumptions about Harper’s mom.

Harper nodded. “We were lucky if there was any food in the house at all. We hated summers because it meant we couldn’t have school meals. That was pretty much the only source of nutrition that we had growing up.”

“Surely the state sent someone to check on you. There are plenty of programs—” he started, but he stopped when Harper shook her head.

“We were taught from a young age to hate cops and social workers. We were programmed to run and hide if a strange car drove up to our place. If they asked us at school, we were told to lie. Hailey and I became really good at lying. Then, when we got older, it was just easier not to go to school.”

He frowned. “You didn’t finish school?”

She frowned down at her hands. “I stopped going when I was sixteen. Hailey was fourteen. I tried to homeschool her, but things were just too hard. We spent most of our time away from the house. To avoid…” She shook her head, then suddenly she jumped up and rushed to the bathroom.

He stood outside and listened to her empty the contents of her stomach.

When she stepped out again, he wrapped his arms around her. “Was it my cooking?” he tried to joke. Thankfully, he heard a soft chuckle from her as she plastered her face against his chest.

“No, I’m sorry. It’s just… there’s a reason I don’t like to talk about my past,” she said in a muffled voice.

He nudged her back until she looked up at him. “I’m thankful you opened up to me. It’s not necessary, but I will tell you this. It’s helpful to have someone you trust to talk to.”

She nodded slowly. “I’d like to finish breakfast. If there is more quiche.”

He smiled. “Plenty.” He took her hand and they walked back to the dining area.