Page 22 of Bridge to Home

“So far, it’s tolerable and temporary.” Harlow shifted. “He mentioned you’ve been helping him with the gardens. They’re beautiful.”

“Not to toot my own horn, but I have a bit of a green thumb. So does your father.” Lottie grabbed the tip of a rose and caressed the petals. “Isn’t thatright Pearl?” She stepped over to a speckled orange lily. “Look at Lillith, showing off her late summer blooms,” she sing-songed.

“Lottie talks to all the plants and flowers,” David explained.

“Every living thing needs a little encouragement.”

“It’s even prettier than I remember.” Harlow’s leg tingled, warning her it was going numb. She winced and wiggled, attempting to relieve the pressure.

Lottie clomped over. “Oh dear. Look at me rambling on with my nonsense. Are you uncomfortable? I have a pillow at home that would be a perfect fit for the seat to cush your tush.” Lottie laughed, a merry tinkle of laughter. “Get it? Cush your tush.”

Harlow grinned. She liked Lottie…liked her a lot. She shot her father a sly side glance. He didn’t seem irritated. In fact, he struck her as being slightly amused…along with something else.

“That’s a sporty scooter,” Lottie complimented. “I bet it cost a pretty penny.”

“Dad rented it for me.” A wave of shame washed over Harlow. She’d all but abandoned her father and here he was, spending his time and money helping her get back on her feet without asking for anything in return…unlike so many other people in her life.

Everyone wanted something. A favor. An introduction to her connections. Money. Harlow was starting to realize her privileged career had been sucking the very life out of her.

Perhaps this was God’s way of forcing a reset. Forcing her to step back and take stock of where she was going and who she allowed into her inner circle.

Lottie removed her gloves and ran a light hand over the scooter’s handle. “I bet this baby can get up and go.”

“I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out how to operate it.”

“I have a friend who has one. Would you like me to show you a few of the nifty features?”

“That would be great.”

Lottie explained some of the controls and where the horn was located. “Oh, fun. You have the duck horn.” She pressed a button.

Honk. Honk.

Harlow laughed out loud. “It sounds like an angry duck.”

Lottie’s expression grew mischievous. “I bet you could clear a walkway if you wanted to.”

“Or give someone a heart attack if I came up on them too fast.”

She became distracted and began fiddling with the back of Harlow’s seat. “There’s extra storage here where you can hide a little sippy sip.”

“Sippy sip?”

“Refreshing beverage.” The woman’s eyes lit. “You have the turbo version.”

“Turbo version?”

“Check this out.” Lottie pressed the handle’s red button. The scooter shot forward. Harlow’s head snapped back. She collided with a boulder and nearly flew out of her seat. “Whoa.”

Lottie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Did I give you whiplash?”

“You’re going to have my daughter in a body cast,” David joked.

“I am so sorry. I won’t touch anything else. Remember, the red button acts like jet fuel. If you need to get away from someone rather quickly, hold the button down and let ‘er rip.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” Harlow pointed to another button, this one with a green lightning bolt etched on it. “Do you have any idea what this one does?”

“Don’t…”

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