"I'm taking you home. You can tell me about it there. "
"I . . . yes, that's best. " She drew back a little, wiped at her face. "I don't want to see anybody else just now. I sure as hell don't want anyone to see me. I'm a little bit of a wreck, Harper, and imagine I look like a major one. "
"Don't worry. Want me to carry you?"
"Oh. " Tears stung her eyes again, but warm ones. "My sweet boy. No, I can walk just fine. Tell me something first. Everything's the same in here, isn't it? Everything's as it should be in here?"
Because there was such tension in her voice, he looked around the greenhouse. "Everything's fine. "
"Okay. Okay. Let's go home. "
She let him lead her through the rain, around the buildings, and let out her first sigh of relief when she climbed into his car.
"Just relax," he ordered, and leaned over to fasten her seat belt himself. "We'll be home in a minute. You need to get warm. "
"You'll make a good daddy. "
"What?"
"You've got a nurturing bent - comes from being a gardener, maybe, but you don't just know how to take care, you take it. Christ, these have been a lousy couple of days. "
"Did you have a fight with Mitch or something?"
"No. " She kept her eyes closed as he drove, but her lips curved a little. "I don't get hysterical over a spat. I hope to God it takes more than that to bring me so low. "
"I've never seen you cry like that, not since Daddy died. "
"I don't guess I have. " She felt the car turn, and opened her eyes so she could watch Harper House come into view. "Did you ever want me to give it up, this place?"
"No. " His expression was utter shock as he looked over at her. "Of course not. "
"Good. That's good to know for sure. I don't know if I could have, even for you. "
"It's ours, and it's always going to be. " He parked, and was out of the car and hurrying to her side before she could get out.
"I'm just a little shaky, Harper, not mortally wounded. "
"You're going straight up, getting into some dry clothes. I'll bring you up some brandy. "
"Harper, this is going to sound stupid, but I'm not quite ready to go upstairs. "
"I'll get you some dry clothes. You can change in David's room. "
"Thanks. " He didn't even ask why, she thought. Didn't hesitate. What a man she'd raised.
"Go on back to David," he ordered. "Tell him I said you're to have some brandy, and some hot tea. "
"Yes, sir. "
Before she could move toward the stairs, Mitch came out of the library and started down the hall.
"I thought I heard the door - I've been keeping an ear . . . " He trailed off as he got closer, then lengthened his stride to reach her. "What is it? Are you sick, hurt?"
"No. Do I look sick?"
"You look pale as a sheet, and you've been crying. What is it?" He looked over her head into Harper's eyes. "What happened?"
"She doesn't really want to see anyone right now," Harper began.