Page 49 of Bridge to Home

“Look, business is business. You’re on the mend. It’s not like you’re on your deathbed. Besides, I would only be in the way. You need to focus on healing.”

“And I’ll do it from here.”

“Fine. Have it your way. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.” Robert backed up, still keeping a watchful eye on her father and the gun.

Harlow stopped him. “I’ve been trying to reach Vic. He’s not answering his cell phone.”

“Vic is gone.”

“Gone where?”

“He quit,” Robert said. “I told him we wouldn’t need him for a few weeks. He decided to look for other employment.”

Harlow choked back a sob. Her friend. One of her only friends was gone. “He never even called to check on me.”

“You know what a cutthroat business this is. I guess you got to see Vic’s true colors.” Robert’s expression softened. “I know how close you two were. We’ll find you another bodyguard.” He eased in next to her. Keeping one eye on David, he placed a light kiss on top of her head. “I wish the accident had never happened.”

“You and me both,” she whispered.

“Take care. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Harlow watched her husband walk away. He never looked back, never turned around, and soon he was gone. She felt a light hand on her shoulder and looked up to find her father somberly gazing at her.

“D-do you think Robert loves me?” she stammered.

David placed the gun on the table. He wrapped both arms around his daughter, his heart breaking when he felt her shoulders trembling. “I can’t speak for your husband because I don’t know him. I cantell you that your father loves you more than you could ever know. Are you gonna be all right?”

“Yes. I’ll be fine.” Harlow mustered up a half-hearted smile. “Seriously, it will all work out. I’ll either be able to handle the workload or I won’t. Besides, as you have so pointedly reminded me, I’m a Wynn.”

“Yes, you are.” David proudly patted her hand. “Robert Barbetz should know better than to try pushing my daughter around.”

A flash of movement near the front gate caught Harlow’s eye. Her father must’ve noticed, too. Her first thought was Robert had returned, but the figure was too small, too petite.

“What in heaven’s name is she doing here?”

“Who?” Harlow craned her neck.

“Your Aunt Birdie.”

Aunt Bonnie “Birdie” Potts ambled to the picket fence gate and let herself in.

Harlow’s jaw dropped at the sight of her father’s sister, a woman who popped in and out of her life, showing up on a whim every so often when she tracked her niece down.

To describe David and his only sibling as having a contentious relationship was putting it mildly. While Harlow’s father was a homebody, content to spend his days on the idyllic island, living a simpler life surrounded by nature, Aunt Birdie’s personality was the epitome of a free spirit. Although never getting the official version about how her aunt had acquired her nickname, it fit her to a “t.”

To sum it up, Aunt Birdie flitted from place to place, never staying too long in one spot.

And Harlow had always admired her. A woman who spoke her mind, who lived life to the fullest, by her own rules and with gusto. Not only with gusto, but with oodles of money, courtesy of her deceased husband, a wealthy investment banker who had been years older than Birdie. He suffered a heartattack while on safari, during a day trip he’d taken without his wife.

Having no children and Birdie being his only beneficiary, she’d continued her travels, never settling in one place.

Harlow couldn’t help but smile as Aunt Birdie drew closer. Her curly gray hair spiraled out of control, sticking up all over her head. Her sharp blue eyes didn’t miss a thing. “How come I had to find out my beautiful niece Harlow was involved in an accident from the disinformation news on the internet?”

David ignored his sister’s question, answering it with one of his own. “What are you doing here?”

“I invited myself since the last time you extended an invitation was over a decade ago.” Aunt Birdie planted her hands on her hips, her expression softening when she noticed Harlow. “What happened, sweetie?”

“I did something stupid. I tried grabbing my cell phone while driving and crashed.” Harlow absentmindedly tugged at her shirt. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you.”

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