Page 31 of Bridge to Home

“Mort is excited about the cart.”

“He loves grocery day because he knows he’ll be getting special treats.” Her father tapped the side of his forehead. “The dog is no dummy.”

Eryn reluctantly stood. “I need to head home and get ready for work. I’ll walk with you and Mort to the front gate.”

“I wouldn’t mind tagging along,” Harlow hinted.

“The more the merrier.” David reached for the door handle. “Do you want to take the scooter?”

She waved dismissively. “Nah. The wheelchair is already here. I’m fine with that, if you don’t mind giving me a hand.”

“Not at all.” Her father helped her into the wheelchair and off they went.

While they walked, Harlow told them about life in the Hollywood fishbowl. How she and her husband Robert had learned to handle the attention. She mentioned the high-tech security systems installed at their Malibu property, the doorman/security guard at their New York apartment and Florida condo, and the detailed pre-planning it took for the couple to dine out at a restaurant.

Nothing was spontaneous or impromptu. Everything was planned out with military precision, accounting for every minute of their trip. Harlow didn’t bring up what she and Robert called “the incident.”

A deranged fan talked his way into their Palm Beach condo, making it past the on-duty security guard. Somehow, he’d figured out which unit was theirs and even succeeded in sneaking in.

Thank God they weren’t home. The man had scared their housekeeper half to death, demanding to see Harlow. She convinced him she wasn’t there, and he finally left.

The housekeeper promptly called security. The man made it as far as the parking lot where he was detained and eventually arrested. Harlow and Robert later discovered he had a stun gun, zip ties, duct tape and a hunting knife in his backpack. With a little behind-the-scenes work, the couple managed to keep the story out of the news, afraid a copycat potential kidnapper would read about what had happened and try again.

“Over the years, through trial and error, we put practices into place that have kept us safe,” Harlow summarized. “I’m not sure about hiring bodyguards I don’t know, who haven’t been vetted.”

The trio reached the main gate and found the grocery store’s delivery driver pulling up.

Harlow wheeled herself along the sidewalk, easing in next to Eryn while her father and the driver began transferring grocery bags from the wagon to David’s camo-colored cart.

She tugged on Eryn’s arm and whispered in her ear. “My groceries are delivered out of necessity, but I have to say I’m surprised Dad doesn’t go to the store and shop for what he needs.”

“Not to the grocery store. Not out to eat. He runs his errands, but that’s about it.”

“He doesn’t leave the house?”

“Doesn’t leave the island,” Eryn corrected. “I’m going to take a wild guess and say he hasn’t been to the mainland in over a year. Getting him to tag along today is nothing short of a miracle. In fact, I was shocked when he flew to California.” Eryn gave her friend a quick hug. “I need to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.” Eryn’s words echoed in Harlow’s head after she left. Her father was a recluse.

While the men finished loading the groceries, David joked with the driver, chatting easily as if they were old friends.

The realization Harlow had no clue about what her father’s life had been like for years hit her full force. Five long, wasted years.

Despite feeling guilty over their estranged relationship, it didn’t change the fact her mother was dead. After all this time, her father had never explained or even theorized how the guests had all escaped, yet her mother ended up trapped in the lodge when the fire broke out. Meanwhile, he was home and asleep in his bed. At least, that was what he’d told her, had told the fire chief and everyone else.

Harlow knew for a fact her parents were having marital difficulties. Ginger had taken up residencein the manager’s unit while her husband lived in their cottage.

The couple were like oil and water. Two opinionated, strong-willed people who butted heads. But they had always seemed to work through their issues.

The driver climbed back into his delivery wagon, waving goodbye as he left.

Mort stuck his snout in a grocery bag and began sniffing around.

David gently nudged him away. “You know you’re not supposed to be digging through the groceries,” he scolded. “I’ll give you a treat when we get home.”

Harlow grimaced, realizing they had a minor dilemma on their hands. “How are we going to get me and the wagon home?”

“I have it all figured out.” David unzipped the cart’s storage pouch and pulled out a piece of rope. He tied one end to the wagon’s handle and loopedthe other end through his belt loop. Checking to make sure both ends were secure, he guided Harlow’s wheelchair through the gate.

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