Lauren’s lips press together. “No. She didn’t. She does very well in school. She was one of the first kids to learn to read, in fact.”
“Huh,” I say. “Interesting. I guess the teacher must enforce rules that keep the other kids safe in her classroom. I hear parents can do that, too.”
Harlow sucks in a breath and someone near the doors lets out a low, “now he’s done it” whistle. But surprisingly, Lauren doesn’t say another word.
Not to me, at least.
She just turns to her mom and says, “I’m going to take Keith up to the room. This sleigh ride is already fifteen minutes late, and he’s a nightmare if he misses his nap. Will you watch Kiki and Kelly for me? And get them a snack after if they’re hungry?”
“Of course,” Gina says. “But you can stay if you want, honey. Looks like they’re ready to load us up now. Daddy and Uncle John are already in the first sleigh with the girls, so we could ride together.”
“No, thanks,” Lauren says, visibly seething though she’s taking great pains not to look my way. “I don’t feel comfortable here anymore.”
She turns and hustles away, the little one grinning at us over her shoulder like he found the entire altercation highly amusing.
Once she’s gone, Gina turns to me with an apologetic expression. “I’m so sorry, Derrick. She’s just in a mood. She gets like that when she feels guilty. She lashes out at other people to compensate for how bad she feels inside. But she’ll come around and make nice later. You’ll see. She’ll apologize to you and offer to pay for Harlow’s haircut, and it’ll all be fine.” She motions toward the now open doors leading outside. “Are you two coming? It’s a beautiful day for a sleigh ride.”
“Yeah, we’ll be there in a second, Mom, thanks,” Harlow says as she slides off my lap and gets to her feet.
“Okay, good! I’ll tell them to wait for two more,” Gina says before turning to go.
Harlow reaches a hand down to me; I take it and let her help me up. My lips part on an apology for overstepping. But before I can speak, her mouth is on mine and she’s kissing me with a focused deliberation that’s different than any of the kisses that have come before.
It’s deeper, slower, but every bit as intense, and as she cups my face in her hands and funnels every bit of her soul into the moment, I have no choice but to do the same.
I wrap my arm around her waist and draw her against me, promising her with every brush of my lips against hers that I’m here for her. And that I want to stay here, right here, for a damned long time…if she’ll let me.
After a beat, she pulls away, holding my gaze as she whispers, “Thank you. No one has ever stood up to her for me before. Not even my parents. And they always get so mad at me for standing up for myself that I just…stopped trying.”
“But you’re the little sister.”
She sniffs. “Yeah. But they’ve always treated Lauren like she’s made of glass, especially after she got pregnant when she was so young. And I know that was hard and she does struggle and need support, but so do I sometimes. Like today.”
I’m about to promise her that I’ll always be here, whenever she needs me—even though that’s crazy and the opposite of what I should be doing if I’m trying not to scare her away—when a small hand squeezes my elbow.
I flinch with surprise and glance down to see Gram with her walker, her bright eyes beaming warmly into mine.
“Sorry to scare you,” she says softly, glancing back and forth between Harlow and me. “I just wanted to let you know that you two don’t have to ride in my sleigh if you don’t want to. I’ve seen enough to know.”
Harlow blinks. “To know what, Gram? And, of course, I want to ride with you. You’re my favorite person here.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Her eyes shift back my way as she pats my upper arm. “I think you like this one a little bit more. As you should. Anyone with eyes can see he’s devoted to your happiness and that’s all I need to know. Save me a front seat at the wedding.”
Harlow tenses against me. I can practically feel the guilt oozing from her pores, so I step in with a soft, “Thank you. And will do.”
“See you out there!” Gram shuffles toward the doors where Harlow’s mom and the activity attendant are waiting with a ramp to help her into the last sleigh in line.
“So, we did all that studying for nothing,” Harlow says with a laugh.
“Not for nothing.” I snatch her hat from the floor and slide it back onto her head, careful to tuck the rogue short hair under the wide knit brim. “I had a good time with you last night.”