Page 57 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business

Chapter Thirty-four

Harper

The remnants of Harper’s assembled dinner sat in the center of the dining table, and Mia finished the last bits of what was on her plate.

He’d just seen his ex-wife off on a date, and adding to the already unbelievable series of events, his sweet daughter Mia was exhibiting disrespectful behavior that he’d never envisioned from her.

He poked at his plate, deciding how he was going to address his daughter.

“Mia,” he began. She turned to look at him. “Listen to me. I don’t want you to be disrespectful to Mom. Or Mr. Kwesi. It’s not cool. You’re already on punishment. Don’t make it worse. Okay?”

Mia looked down at her plate, then eventually nodded without looking at him. Then she slid her seat closer to him and wrapped her arms around his torso to snuggle closer. Harper couldn’t help but meet her warm embrace with his own.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Mia said into his chest.

“You ought to be. You gave Daddy a real scare.” Harper kissed the top of her head.

“I know,” Mia said softly.

“Daddy loves you and will do anything for you. But you shouldn’t be lying to get what you want. Don’t ever do that again.”

“I’m sorry to mess up work. I know it’s important.”

Harper tipped her chin up so that he could look in her eyes. He wanted to make sure she heard him. “Work is not more important than you, honey.”

Mia met his eyes. “Okay,” she said, but her tone was unconvinced, taking Harper aback.

“Wait. No. Is that what you think?”

Mia shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know it’s important and brings us money so we can live good.”

“Live well.”

“Live well, ” Mia corrected herself.

Harper had to take in what his daughter was saying about his priorities.

What she felt they were. How that didn’t align with what she meant to him.

What he’d always thought his priorities were.

The truth of the matter was that before Mia called him to come, he wasn’t just working.

Mia’s daddy had been making a real connection with her Auntie Jordan.

In love. Or so he thought. But now, here, he wasn’t working, not yet, and it seemed like he’d really set things back with their new chapter.

And he wondered if Jordan, just like Mia, had a different view of where she stood in his life.

He let Mia pick the show they’d watch together, and then he’d stop parenting for a little while.

So he could focus on Jordan, who, after numerous texts, voicemails, and emails, hadn’t responded.

He did however get a thumbs-up emoji from Murch in response to his distress signal to delete that photo.

Harper could concentrate on mending fences with Jordan, then discuss it with Robyn.

In the meantime, Kwesi had given him an idea: If Jordan wasn’t responding to words, he’d find a Malibu florist to shower her with a much more impressive order than the one sitting in Robyn’s kitchen. It’d at least be more than words.

Harper picked the largest arrangement he could find on the florist’s website, of white and red roses and greenery, and specified the accompanying note for Jordan, one that he hoped would get him back in her good graces even before he returned.

Longing to hold you in my arms again.

Love Harper.

With one eye on Mia, who was happily engaged in their movie, he confirmed the order as quickly as he could.

He didn’t want to make her further confused about his priorities.

He was there, after all, to be with her, no matter that she’d called him under false pretenses.

He’d needed to see what was happening here, to know how Mia felt, and how she’d been presumably acting out because of it.

Something was going on here not just with Mia, but also with his ex-wife.

Robyn was hiding something. Not about her relationship so much, but her business.

Up to now, Harper had taken a kind of “I told you so” stance with her taking off to Accra like she did.

He had resolved to let the chips fall where they may.

But something about seeing her here, once again in this environment, showed him how the motherland did suit Robyn.

Things hadn’t gotten any better or easier in the States.

She had the chance to be reborn here, and she’d taken it despite the stressors that seemed to be mounting.

She was managing, but maybe she could use some assistance.

Mia certainly could. She had fallen asleep snuggled up next to him.

Harper covered her with a throw blanket.

He knew he should put her to bed, but he liked having her right there.

She was growing up so quickly. And he was only getting glimpses half a world away.

Harper had a hard time believing in a higher power when he was younger.

He saw many instances that changed his mind as an adult.

And now he fully believed in destiny and things happening the way they were supposed to.

So, despite the circumstances that had brought him to Accra, Harper felt he was supposed to be there.

Be here with Mia and witness Robyn in all her splendor and all her challenges with the restaurant.

And to have an opportunity to tell her in person about Jordan.

He owed her that. As he tucked Mia into her bed, he felt that somehow, everything would work out in the right way.

He’d make sure Mia knew she was his priority, get Robyn sorted, and find his way back to Jordan.

With Mia asleep, Harper showered and settled in to relax on Robyn’s couch to check his phone.

Still nothing from Jordan. He checked the delivery confirmation for the flowers.

It said they’d been deposited at her front door.

She’ll get them soon, he thought, and wondered what she was doing.

Hiking? Having a latte? Journaling? Maybe thinking about me too…

Harper sighed. It was driving him crazy not knowing.

Harper enlisted the fellas with the group chat.

After filling them in, they all agreed in a cascade of advice.

Just keep the lines of communication open.

Tell Jordan you’ll be back in a few more days.

Quentin put it more succinctly.

Y’all waited 30 years, what’s a few more days?

Communication was the right call. Why don’t I just call her?

Harper hit the button to dial Jordan and got her voicemail, again, except this time, it was full.

He followed up with a text that he’d be just a few days longer and hoped she understood.

That he wanted to keep the lines of communication open .

He wanted to talk to her. It had been two days for him, but it felt like a lifetime ago since he’d spoken to Jordan.

At least the Jordan that he thought he was going to spend the rest of his life with.

He wanted her to know that she was his priority also.

Harper, finally feeling the effects of travel on his body, lay on the couch, with a pillow under his head and neck, ready to drift off to sleep.

The living room lights were already off, and the nearby window was bringing in a soothing breeze.

Harper grabbed his sleep mask from the side table and placed it on his head, primed to slide it down over his eyes.

He took one last look at his phone and… are those text bubbles?

Finally in his text exchange with Jordan, he saw the three dots of a forthcoming reply.

She must have gotten the flowers, Harper thought.

Excitedly, he sat up on one elbow to see what she’d say.

Bubble, no bubbles, bubbles again, no bubbles.

It is maddening… technology. Harper was barely breathing. Finally, the message came through.

Leave me alone.

What? Then he received the automated indicator that her notifications were set to silent. Did she just block me? He stared at the words in disbelief. Am I dreaming? No. The message was clear. Harper’s stomach dropped and churned. He read the words again.

Leave me alone.