He laughs louder at my … lie.
“Oh, wow. Weird. Are you up for it?” Harper asks as she walks to the bed.
“Actually, it’ll be a second date, Harper.”
“Oh, baby, you’re going rouge here,” Lucas whispers. “With no backup or anything.”
“When? I mean … well, yes, I mean when.” Harper smiles, and her eyes, they show she’s truly happy about this.
“In New Jersey. He stopped by the hotel and took me out to dinner. It was nice.”
“Mom, are you still on the phone with him?” Harper whispers
“Yes, I think. Lucas, are you still there?”
“Yep, making popcorn and settling in.”
“He’s still here.”
“Tell him thank you for the gifts and ask him if he wants to meet Piper.”
“Yes, I want to meet Piper,” he says, all sorts of happy.
“He heard you and said yes, he wants to meet Piper.”
“Cool. Okay.” She sits, watching me.
“Lucas, I’ll see you Friday night.” I end the call and look at Harper. “Are you upset about this?”
“No. No, of course not. It’s just weird that it’s Lucas, you know.”
“If your dad were here, I would never—”
“Of course not. I know that. Everyone knows that. He wants you to be happy, Mom. So do I.” She laughs. “It’s just weird that it’s Lucas Links.”
I nod. “He’s been a friend for a long time.”
“He’s going through a hard time, too.”
“He is.”
“Well, I’m glad you have each other. Who knows? Maybe—” She stops and laughs. “Why didn’t you tell me you went on a date?”
“It was uncomfortable to do, let alone talk about.”
“You have to tell Matthew and CJ, Mom.” She hands me Piper and pulls out her phone.
“No, not yet. I don’t want them to be upset. Harper, it’s a date. Just a date.”
“Upset? They have been the ones saying you need to get out there. Dad would want you to. He’s said so in all our letters.”
I watch her hold her phone out as she Facetimes her brothers.
“Hey, Matthew. Just waiting for CJ to pick up on Mom’s phone.” She grabs my phone and dials CJ.
“Harper, I don’t think—”
“Hey, Mom, what’s up?”