Page 11 of Bridge to Home

“I’m confident with rest, some limited physical therapy and your commitment to it, you’ll see encouraging results fairly quickly.” The doctor recommended a therapist, topnotch in his field and one of the best on the West Coast. “I’m sure after meeting with him, you’ll work together to come up with a plan to get you back on your feet.”

“Harlow needs a doctor in Michigan,” Eryn said.

“Michigan?” Ashton’s brows furrowed. “You’ll be convalescing out of state?”

“No.”

“Yes,” Eryn said in unison. “At least if I have my say. Harlow can heal at home, where reporters and the public will have limited access to her.”

“I have to say the press has been quite persistent.”

Harlow pressed her hand to her chest. “They’re already here?” She should have known.

“Camping out since not long after you were admitted, I’m afraid,” Dr. Ashton said.

“See? You won’t get any rest at all.” Eryn motioned to the doctor. “How long do we have to wait before Harlow can fly?”

The trio discussed the timeline. Basically, she would need a couple of days to confirm there were no internal injuries that hadn’t yet surfaced.

“I have colleagues at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, one of the premier facilities in the country, who can help coordinate based on what part of the state you’ll be recovering in.” He patted his pocket. “I’ll get a list to you before the day is out.”

Harlow thanked the doctor and waited for him to leave. “I don’t want to go back to Michigan.”

“Why not?”

“Because…you know. I haven’t spoken to my father in years. For all he knows, I could be dead.”

Tink.Harlow snatched her phone off the bedside table. “Robert texted. He should be here in a few minutes.”

“Good. It’s about time.” Eryn placed her hand on her hip, a determined gleam in her eye. “Your father loves you. He misses you. I’m sure he would be thrilled to have you come home and help care for you. In fact, I’m certain of it.”

“Dad would not be thrilled,” Harlow insisted.

“We’ll see about that.” Eryn pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped the top.

Tink.The phone beeped, notifying her she was getting a text. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“Please don’t call him,” Harlow begged.

“It’s too late.”

Harlow started to say something and abruptly stopped. A man with gray hair and thick, bushy eyebrows appeared in the doorway. “Dad.”

Chapter 4

David Wynn gazed at his only child, his heart plummeting at the sight of his daughter lying in the hospital bed. Bruises on her cheeks, a bandaged hand. Looking so small and fragile, unlike the images he’d seen on television. At galas, movie premieres, award shows. Skiing in Switzerland. Photos of her vacationing on some billionaire’s yacht in the Mediterranean.

David Wynn had seen them all. It was the only contact he’d had with Harlow since the fire that had taken his wife’s life, destroyed his livelihood, and caused his only child to leave Mackinac Island.

The years had dragged on. Year after year. Meanwhile, Wynn Harbor Inn, or what was left of it, slowly deteriorated. Not that it mattered. Wynn had nothing left. Nothing but clinging to the hope Harlow would one day return home.

For five long years, he waited. When he’d heard the news Harlow had been involved in a serious car crash, he immediately called Eryn Marquette, his daughter’s best friend and David’s last line of communication.

Even Eryn had difficulty cutting through the red tape, trying to figure out where Harlow had been taken. The hours leading up to this moment had been filled with worry, terror, even fearing Harlow was dead and the news hadn’t yet reported on it.

At first, Eryn told him she didn’t believe it. She told him Harlow had called her, sounding upset and wanting to talk. Both figured it had something to do with Robert.

Eryn always insisted she never could understand what Harlow saw in the man. He was nothing but an opportunist. Granted, he was attractive in a rugged sort of way, but the image he projected, how he appeared in the news stories, reminded her of a cardboard cutout, a person with little warmth or genuine personality.

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