Page 63 of Harley

“Harley, I don’t have one,” I gasped suddenly.

Harley reached out and held me. “Reading Hall is home for now until we get our place in Chicago, and we’ll find somewhere in RC, too. The question is, will Archer be able to cope?”

“Do you mean that?” I asked as my throat clogged.

“What?”

“That you want them to stay with us?”

“Oakley, don’t be stupid,” Harley said, and I scowled, tears drying up instantly.

Matthias let out a low chuckle and stepped back. “Never call a woman stupid,” he murmured.

“Pardon?” I snapped, temper rising.

“Where are they gonna live? Am I going to throw them on the street? As Aspen’s been locked up for three years and drugged against her will, she’ll need support. Do you really believe I’d take Aspen’s only family away from her? In this state?” Harley demanded a little irately.

“Um, no,” I replied, feeling slightly foolish.

“Exactly. Aspen and Archer will require a lot of love and care. Damn, I wish I hadn’t signed that contract. Talk about bad timing,” Harley remarked, somewhat annoyed, and I had a flash of insight.

“Stop beating yourself up. The Cubs is your dream. I’d never let you sacrifice that,” I said, stepping into Harley’s embrace.

“Oakley, I knew Archer was autistic. I should have considered that. Moving Archer from Reading Hall to a home in Chicago to a home in RC is going to be rough,” Harley explained.

“Archer doesn’t like change. But he used to move between Aspen’s home and my parents often. Not that they looked after him. I did. But Archer was familiar with going between homes. We need to listen to what Archer tells us. He gets feelings aboutbuildings; the house may be perfect for us but not him, which will cause Archer huge distress.”

“So don’t buy a place until Archer has seen it?”

“Basically, yes. Although Aspen might want to move into her own home straight away. I can’t imagine what’s she suffered here,” I whispered.

Harley leaned his forehead against mine. “No, I can’t either, but we’ll make sure Aspen’s not alone,” he promised.

???

Aspen willingly followed me out of her cell—room—and sat in a chair. Harley had made a phone call and rather vindictively given Dylan Hawthorne permission to hunt my parents down. They had not arrived, or we’d have seen them. Considering the police presence, it was highly possible they’d noticed the activity and fled.

Aspen looked at Harley blankly.

“Aspen, I’m Harley, Oakley’s husband. We’ve come to take you home,” Harley said gently.

“There isn’t one. I don’t think my rental would have held on this long,” Aspen replied in a dull voice.

“Aspen, you’re coming to live with us while we get you off the shit they’ve pumped into you. And then we’ll find a home big enough for everyone,” I promised.

“We are free? Oakley, this isn’t a dream?” Aspen begged, her thin hands clutching me.

“No. It’s not, I’m really here,” I swore.

“Get Archer to safety,” Aspen pleaded.

“We’re getting both of you somewhere safe. Come on, honey, let’s blow this joint. Archer, would you like to hold mine or Mommy’s hand?”

Archer looked between us and headed for Aspen. She rose to her feet and wobbled a little before grabbing Harley for balance. Harley wrapped an arm around her waist and helped Aspen walk.

Nurses stared as we walked down the hallway. A doctor boldly interfered.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded. “Miss Cannon is highly volatile.”

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