Page 97 of A Home for Harmony

“She knows your first name and that you work for the Connecticut State Police. She didn’t even ask more,” she said. “Part of it annoyed me, the other part made me feel good.”

“Do you know why she didn’t?”

“Yep,” she said, nodding her head. “Which is why I let it go. She can see it for herself.”

He smiled. “Are you going to tell me?”

“You need to smile more,” she said. “I know I say that a lot, but you’re just so cute. I want to reach over and kiss you, but I’d have to take my seat belt off and then I might get a lecture.”

He squinted at her. “I think I smile a lot. Or more than I used to. Maybe you bring it out of me.”

He remembered Luke’s words not that long ago about feeling as if he wasn’t worthy. He hated that might be the case and was trying to relax.

That compounded with his parents telling him to let go of the failure of his marriage. He didn’t want his past to bring down his future.

His mother was right. Many people could look at the same situation and all see it differently.

“That’s like honey-coated goodness,” she said. “People always say that about me. I don’t even try.”

“It’s who you are,” he said. “Remember that when people like your mother bring you down.”

Harmony batted her eyes and he was having a panic moment that she was going to cry.

“I appreciate you saying that. I remember those things. I often wonder where I get my personality from. You met my dad. He’s drier than charcoal toast.”

“I like your father.”

“Because he’s a little like you. Or you’re a little like him,” she said, giggling.

“I don’t think I’m that dry,” he said. “Or serious.”

“Yeah,” she said. “You are, but not nearly as much. My father is like that ninety percent of the time. I’d say you’re only about fifty. You’re not with Scarlet and not so much with me.”

He would have said he was like that for more than half, so maybe he was getting better.

“And it sounds as if you’re nothing like your mother.”

“You’re lucky I don’t break up with you for even having those words in the same sentence.”

He smirked. “You just be you,” he said. “Who cares where you get it from? We are products of our environment.”

“We are,” she said. “And please, don’t hold anything said today against me. At least my siblings will be there too so with any luck, my mother is focused on Daisy and the future baby.”

“It’s your birthday dinner,” he said.

“But not my birthday. A few more days,” she said. “To me, this is just dinner with my mother that I’ve put off for a long time. I haven’t seen her since Thanksgiving, so I expect she’s going to be on my case for that too.”

“I’ll protect you,” he said. “Don’t worry.”

“Wear your gun in,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “That might quiet her.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary, do you?”

“But you’d do it for me, right?” she asked.

“I’d do a lot of things, but not that unless there was a safety issue. It can stay in the glove box.”

Micah never left home without a gun. He was always carrying, but if he was visiting someone’s house, it stayed locked in his car.