Page 102 of A Home for Harmony

31

SPEAKING THE TRUTH

“Somehow that dinner turned into something I hadn’t expected,” Harmony said when they got into Micah’s house hours later. “I know my siblings are just as surprised.”

He wasn’t sure what to think of it.

It wasn’t what he expected. There were plenty of rude comments made, some in his direction, but maybe Harmony’s motherwastrying.

“What are your thoughts on it?”

“I don’t know,” she said, shrugging. “I’m working at gathering them. I want to think my mother is really going to change. I saw it with Daisy once Theo cut off communication.”

“That’s good that you noticed a change,” he said.

“And she was better with Erica and Tucker too. She honestly expressed her hurt at being left out of wedding planning. I saw Erica soften then.”

“I guess kindness goes a long way.”

“I’ve said that for years,” she said.

“You’re one of the kindest people I know,” he said. “I mean that. You’re almost too good for everyone around you.”

“Don’t put me on that pedestal,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m just being me. I think if you hadn’t given me a bit of a pep talk before we got there about telling my mother how much she hurts me, I might not have. I did it when I was younger and she only made me feel worse.”

“How?”

“By telling me I was being a baby. That I was too soft and people would take advantage of me. Did it happen in my life? Sure, it did, and I learned, but then brushed it off. If it makes someone else feel better about themselves to knock a person down, that is on them. I can’t change it and there is no reason to let it work me up.”

“Which is your mother’s personality, but you let her work you up,” he said.

She turned and frowned. “I never thought of it that way. I think it comes back to what you said. She’s my mother. She should have been there for me. She should make me feel like I can always go to her, whether or not she agrees. I’ve never felt that. I haven’t felt it with my father either. Not until recently.”

He moved over and put his arms around her. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I worried when I was younger. My parents and I didn’t always agree, but I knew I could go to them for anything.”

“It’s a nice feeling,” she said. “I know it now because I can call my father. I’ve always known Erica would be there for me. Theo would too, but he’s that much older and always had so much going on in his life. Maybe I’ve leaned on my sister more than I should have.”

“There is no such thing as leaning more than you should,” he said. “You needed it, but I’ve seen that she leans on you just as much. Can you not see that?”

It didn’t even have to be what Harmony had told him about how she’d helped her sister to decide to move here and startover. Helped with her work even though she was busy. They shared the household responsibilities.

People said more than once that Harmony had helped Erica become her former self over the past year.

He wasn’t sure what had happened, except that she was stressed and grouchy, but he didn’t see any signs of that today.

He never did with Erica.

“I see it,” she said. “I know what I bring to people. They see me and judge. They don’t think I’m smart, but I bring humor and happiness into their lives.”

“Don’t you dare knock yourself down,” he said. “Everyone in the world has value. I don’t think you realize how great yours is. Do you know how many people wake up each day and can barely get through the day? Then maybe they see your video or words of encouragement and think you are talking to them and they listen. Or you put a smile on their face over a simple thing they are taking for granted? That’s huge.”

Harmony blinked her eyes. “That might be one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. I’ve always felt it and didn’t think I’d need the validation, but maybe I did. I know you don’t approve of my career.”

Micah didn’t think it was a matter of approving as much as it was not what he’d felt comfortable with personally.

She moved into his arms. “Everyone needs validation in life, Harmony.”

“I doubt you do,” she said, poking him in the side with her finger.