Page 112 of A Home for Harmony

“Do you think this could be him?” He was typing the name into his computer to see if he could find any record. He turned his laptop around. “Is this him?”

“Yes,” she said. “And no, I don’t think it’s him sending these messages.”

He scanned what came up. Nothing. Not even a driving violation.

“There isn’t anything on him. Does he reach out directly anymore?”

“Once in a while,” she said. “I don’t think it’s him. I didn’t know him before this all started. And once we went on that date, he would have stopped. He’s not the type to leave silly emojis like that.”

“I don’t think that men do,” he said. “Unless they aren’t that mature or they are trying to be someone they aren’t.”

“Do you think this is a teenager?” she asked, frowning.

“I don’t think or know anything until I can see all the messages,” he said.

He wasn’t convinced that she wasn’t in danger, but when looking at it with an open mind as law enforcement and not her boyfriend, there was no threat.

There was nothing he could do in his job without more evidence.

Sometimes he hated the rules and the laws, but they were there for a reason.

“I can bring my laptop over tonight and show you,” she said. “If you want me to come over still. Maybe you don’t want me around Scarlet and I understand.”

She sniffled. He stood up. “Come here. I think we can’t change your pattern and I’m not walking away from you. I’m insulted you’d think I would.”

Harmony went into his arms for a hug. “I’m sorry. I know I’m making more out of this.”

“No,” he said. “You’re not. I tell my daughter and every other person, man or woman, to go with their gut. That is what you’re doing and have been doing. Something is telling you this isn’t right or normal. We’ll figure it out and we’ll take more precautions.”

“I’m not sure what more I can do,” she said.

Neither was he.

34

EASED HER MIND

“Happy Birthday,” Scarlet said when Harmony walked in the front door of Micah’s house that night.

She felt like such a fool breaking down in front of him and having to confess what she’d kept hidden for almost two years.

When she summarized it all, it was what he said. Annoying and not threatening.

She had to admit she felt better getting it off her chest.

“Thank you.” Harmony put her bag down that had her laptop in it. She wasn’t sure when Micah was going to look at things or if he wanted Scarlet to know.

“I made lasagna,” Scarlet said. “I started it after school. I hope you like it. I made you a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and strawberries on top because I’ve seen you like chocolate-covered strawberries so I put this together.”

“Aww.” She hugged the teen. “That is so considerate of you.”

“I like making people’s favorites.”

“How did you know those are Harmony’s favorites?” Micah asked, walking into the kitchen. He must have just gotten homeand was showering. She’d let herself in after she knocked and walked in herself.

“Harmony posts things like that. Everyone does, Dad.”

She turned to see his eyebrow raised. “It’s normal to do that,” she said. “I have a lot of loves or favorites in life, but I do talk about Italian food and chocolate-covered strawberries a lot.”