"So, as it turns out, keeping your heart closed off doesn't help you avoid the very thing you've been hoping to avoid. And I'm going to guess that your happiest moments over the last few months have been the ones where you've let Sam in, even just a tiny bit."
I didn't respond to that, either, because there was no need to.
"With the baby, you two are now joined forever. That means you have time."
The rest of the day, my staff walked around me like they were on eggshells. I wasn't grumpy or snapping at them. I think they were uncomfortable because of the scene that played out with Sam earlier. My staff and I were all friendly, but there were still some things I didn't want the people who work for me to know about my private life.
Luckily, it was the weekend, and even after a holiday, our regular crowd was back, along with tourists in the area. Our Sunday lunch crowd was bigger than usual, probably from people down visiting family for the holiday who were having one last meal before heading home.
Thankfully, Monday, we were closed, and I was able to once again hide in my bed. I was irritated at myself that I continued to draw away from the world. Normally, I was the type of person to take action. Reactionary is what Ethan used to call it. It was what got me into the position I was in now. Reacting but not listening.
Midmorning, my phone rang. First, I was going to ignore it, but then I didn't want to be the pathetic person who hid in their bed anymore, so I answered it.
"Hey." Harper's voice came over the line. "I know you're closed today, so I want to invite you over for lunch. I feel like I haven't seen you in a while, but with these two kids, it's hard for me to get out."
I couldn't imagine that the news about me and Sam hadn't reached her even though she wasn't openly saying it.
"I don't know. Not feeling very well."
"If it’s because you're tired and you need to relax, you can do that here. We have a beautiful beach. If it's because you're hiding, that's not like you, Kate. So, get your ass out of bed and over to my house."
I grumbled, but since she was right, I got my ass out of bed and over to her house.
As I pulled up to her driveway, I passed Sam's house, and my heart pinched tight in my chest. Would it do that every time I came to see Harper now?
When she opened the door for me, her expression was sympathetic, but then she put on a smile and welcomed me in.
"I know you must know what's been going on. You don't have to pretend like you don't." I figured I’d make it easy for her.
She let out a breath. "I do know, but I want to hear from you. More than that, I want to know how you're doing. Physically and emotionally. I'm not sure if you remember, but I was sort of in your position at one point."
I didn't know all the details, but I knew that she hadn't told Noel right away when she was pregnant. She did something even crazier than me. She went to Mexico to confront a woman who was the head of a cartel.
Noel came in from their terrace. He gave Harper a nod and then turned and smiled at me. "Hello, Kate. How are you?"
Married people told each other everything, so he had to know about me and Sam, as well. "Hanging in there, Noel."
"I’m going to go up and check on the kids. I'm not sure Mo will be down for very much longer, and I don't want him waking up Noelle."
"Thank you, baby." Harper gave him a flirty smile. "I owe you."
"You know I'll make you pay."
Outwardly, I rolled my eyes at this sappiness, but on the inside, it felt like my heart was breaking all over again. That could've been me and Sam.
"Come on. Let's go for a walk on the beach. It'll clear your mind and senses."
Couldn't imagine there was anything in the world that would help me feel better. But it couldn't make me feel worse, could it? I followed her through their yard and out the back gate to the beach.
We strolled southward. In the distance, I could see two people down at the farthest end of the beach. They had just reached the cliff and were turning around, heading back toward us. Although I couldn't make out their features, I knew one of them was Sam. There was something about the way he walked and carried himself.
I stopped. "Maybe we should walk the other direction first."
"I know that you are not too much of a coward to face Sam, are you?"
I looked at her. The pain lanced through me that she would goad me.
Her features softened. "I'm sorry. But you can't run from this. And the longer you try to hide, the harder it’s going to be to fix it."