Page 15 of Daddy’s Little Charmer (Daddy #36)

Harmony knocked on Mrs. Owens’s door.

“Oh, my, Harmony. This is a nice surprise.”

Harmony bent and tenderly hugged the older woman and then turned toward Christian.

“Mrs. Owens, I’d like you to meet my … friend, Christian.”

Mrs. Owens chuckled. “I bet he’s a special friend.”

“Yes, ma’am, I am,” Christian said and held his hand out to shake hers gently.

“Come in, come in,” Mrs. Owens said and waved. “Let’s go into the living room.”

Christian and Harmony sat down carefully on the small antique love seat, and the woman sat in a chair across from them.

“I wish I’d known you were coming, I’d have made cookies.”

Harmony grinned and turned to Christian. “She makes the best cookies.”

Harmony turned back to Mrs. Owens. They talked about the neighborhood for a few minutes.

Harmony’s stomach tightened. “Ma’am, I’m not sure how to say this…”

Christian cleared his throat and took Harmony’s hand. “Mrs. Owens, we found a place for you in a retirement home close to where we live.”

Mrs. Owens stared dumbstruck. “I’m sorry. I think I misunderstood.”

Christian grinned. “We have a room at a retirement home that has your name on it.”

“That’s very nice, young man, but I can’t afford that.”

“It’s paid for the rest of your life.”

Mrs. Owens gasped. “Why would you do that?”

Christian glanced at Harmony. “Because this woman loves you, and she worries about you all the time, and that makes me worry. So, I’m moving you to a safe place, and then we can come see you more often.”

“Oh, my. I don’t know…” the older woman said in dismay.

Harmony slid to her knees next to Mrs. Owens’s chair and then grasped her frail hands.

“Please. I need to know you’re safe.”

“Think of it this way,” Christian commented. “You’re doing this more for Harmony. And can you really say no to that face?”

Mrs. Owens chuckled and cupped Harmony’s cheek. “It makes me uncomfortable, but I’ll do it because I would do anything for you, dear.”

Harmony smiled even as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Owens looked up to Christian. “When would this happen?”

“Now.”

Her eyes widened. “Now? How?”

They didn’t want to tell her about Sunny. They were afraid of what would happen when the pimp found out his money ticket had escaped.

“We’ll take you and what you’ll need for today and your special mementos because we don’t want them damaged, then my men will come and pack the rest and bring what you want to your room.”

Mrs. Owens patted her chest. “Oh, my. I…”

“We’ll help you. Please,” Harmony begged.

A flicker of life filled Mrs. Owens’s eyes. “All right, then. Let’s get to work.”

They packed all her clothes, a box of pictures, the Bible, and her books to take with them.

“How about the furniture?” Christian asked.

Mrs. Owens looked around her room.

“The only things I’d want to take would be the love seat, my chair, and those two tables.”

She glanced at Christian. “Will there be room in the place for all of that?”

Christian nodded. “Absolutely. It’s a nice, spacious room. We hope you’ll love it. They have three meals a day, and a lot of activities you might enjoy.”

“It sounds wonderful. I’m still uncomfortable with the fact that you’re paying for it.”

“Believe me, I can afford it, and it makes Harmony happy.”

Christian carried the suitcases and box to the truck before walking Mrs. Owens out.

Harmony looked back at Sunny and waved. She probably wouldn’t see the other woman again, but she hoped she’d call when she got where she was going.

Harmony sat in the middle of the seat and conversed with the older woman the entire way to the home. Harmony gasped. This would be the first time she had seen it, too, and it was so much more than she expected.

Mrs. Owens’s eyes widened. “Oh, my. Is this it?”

Christian grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

The building was a single level and pristine white, with black shutters. It looked more like a home than a retirement place. There were flowers and bushes all along the front, and a walkway that circled the entire building, allowing residents to take a leisurely stroll.

“Come on, ladies.” Christian helped Mrs. Owens out of the truck and then Harmony.

Harmony and the older woman walked arm in arm through the front doors. They stood back as Christian talked to the woman at the front desk.

“This is Mrs. Owens,” Christian said to the employee.

The woman was in her forties or fifties with a soft, round body, and a friendly face came around the counter and took hold of Mrs. Owens’s hands.

“I am so happy to meet you. Mr. Sharp has told us all about you.”

Mrs. Owens smiled. “I have to admit I just found out about you this afternoon,” she said to the younger lady and laughed.

“What a nice surprise. Well, let’s show you your new home.”

Christian and Harmony followed behind while the woman chatted with the retired teacher down the hallway until they came to an open door.

“Here it is. We hope you like it.”

Mrs. Owens pressed a hand to her chest as her eyes skimmed over the room. Large windows faced a courtyard that held all sorts of bird feeders, benches, and flowers. The giant trees in the area protected it from getting too hot during the day.

The view out her old window was of junk cars, garbage, and dead grass.

Her room was spacious and bright. Her furniture would fit very easily, and she still had space for a small table and chairs if she chose to get them.

The employee walked around the room and showed her everything.

“It is kind of set up like an apartment. You have the one bedroom, bathroom, this living room, and a small kitchenette. We have some guests who prefer to prepare their own food, but we encourage everyone to dine in the dining hall together. It’s good to socialize.

It helps with mental and emotional strength. Besides, it’s also paid for.”

Mrs. Owens moved around the rooms, touching different things. The bedroom already had a bed set up with nightstands that were much better than her own.

“If you have your own furniture you’d like to use, we can move anything you don’t want out so your furniture will fit. If not, we have a small warehouse that holds all sorts of different things people have donated that you could use.”

Harmony looked up at Christian with a worried frown when the older woman stood looking out the window.

“Mrs. Owens, if you don’t like it, we can find another place,” Harmony told her.

Mrs. Owens turned and faced the three.

Harmony relaxed when she found a huge smile and tears that made the older woman’s eyes sparkle.

“I love it. I can’t imagine a place better than this.”

Harmony walked to her and hugged her gently. “We are so glad you like it. How about you check everything out while Christian and I bring in your things?”

Outside by the truck, Christian handed Harmony the smallest of the bags.

“I can take more.”

Christian shook his head. “No, that’s the only thing I’ll let you carry. The rest is too heavy.”

Harmony rolled her eyes and followed him back into the home. The employee left to return to work, as Harmony and Mrs. Owens began putting things away, waiting for Christian to come in with another box or suitcase.

Christian tucked his phone back into his pocket.

“The guys have everything and are headed over now.”

Mrs. Owens raised her head. “So soon?”

“Yes, we want your first night here to be perfect,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

Less than an hour later, Harmony turned her head when she heard a grunt from the doorway. She grinned as Connor and Nico carried in the love seat.

“You remember these guys, don’t you?” Harmony asked the older woman.

“Oh, yes,” she said, smiling. “You’re friends of Harmony’s.”

Nico grinned and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Where would you like this piece to be set?”

Harmony continued to hang clothes in the closet as the men brought in and arranged all of Mrs. Owens’s furniture the way she wanted. The pictures were set out on tables, and the dishes were in the cupboard.

Connor stopped beside the older woman.

“Is there anything we missed?”

Mrs. Owens shook her head. “No, in fact, you brought things I forgot I had, and I’m happy they’re here. You even remembered all the food.”

“We cleaned the place out,” Nico said. “The only things left were the bed and garbage.”

“I can’t thank you boys enough.”

“We were glad to help.”

Nico and Connor hugged Mrs. Owens gently and left.

Harmony slapped at Nico’s hand when he ruffled her hair as he walked past. Both guys laughed at her growl on the way out the door.

Mrs. Owens sat down in her chair and looked around in amazement.

“I can’t believe this. It’s like a dream.”

Harmony blinked back her happy tears as Christian curled an arm around her waist and pulled her against him, and then placed a kiss on the side of her head.

“Agnes?”

Harmony and Christian turned toward the door.

“Oh, my, is that you, Clara?” Mrs. Owens said as she stood.

Clara clapped and walked to Mrs. Owens, and they hugged.

Clara took a step back. “I thought I recognized your voice. I can’t believe you’re moving in.”

“These two have helped me move in today.”

Clara smiled at them. “Are they your children?”

“No, my son is in Baltimore.”

“When is the last time you’ve seen him?” Clara asked.

“It’s been a few years, but the boy is busy,” Agnes explained.

Clara’s mouth tightened.

Harmony and Christian glanced at each other. They felt the same anger Clara did at the thought of her son not caring enough to visit. Had he even known where his mother was living and all the danger she was in? Or hadn’t he cared? If Clara knew where Agnes had been living, she’d be livid.

Harmony walked to Agnes and kissed her cheek.

“We’re going to leave if there isn’t anything else we can do?”

Agnes tightened her arms around Harmony and then walked to Christian and hugged him, too.

“I can’t thank you both enough. It’s overwhelming, but in a nice way.”

“I’m just glad my girls are happy,” Christian said and pulled Harmony to his side again and smiled when the older lady blushed.

“Don’t you worry about Agnes. I’m going to show her around and have her meet the girls I visit with every day.”

Harmony smiled at the spark of interest in the older teacher’s eyes. The poor woman had spent so much time alone in her apartment because it hadn’t been safe for her on the streets, and whatever friends she had, stopped coming to visit because of the horrible conditions.

“Now, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Mrs. Owens,” Harmony said jokingly.

“You’ll come back soon?” Agnes asked, hopefully.

Harmony nodded. “Of course, and the desk has our numbers, so call if you need anything.”

“Thank you, child. You’ve been a godsend to me.”

“I’m blessed to have you in my life, so we’re even.” Harmony let Christian lead her out the door as they listened to the older ladies laugh and start talking.

Harmony turned toward Christian at the truck and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Thank you so much for helping my friends.”

Christian curled his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.

“I’m glad to do it,” he said and kissed the top of her head. “I told you I’d do anything for you, and I meant it, Baby.”

Harmony stood on the tips of her toes and placed a quick kiss on his lips, and then tried to move back. She grinned when Christian growled playfully and yanked her back. Christian took her mouth, tasting and showing her without words how much she meant to him.