Page 145 of All We Need

Harvey showed up.Notfor me but for his dad, proving that hope is never lost.

“My friendQuinnowns the bakery.You’lllove herDanishes.”Ipoint to the sofa. “CanIjoin you?”

“Please.Please.”Hegestures for me to go first.

We sit a healthy distance apart, both our postures rigid and unsure.Igo to speak, whenHarveyblurts, “Areyou happy?Healthy?”

His question catches me off guard.

He winces. “Isthat the wrong thing to ask?Sandrasaid that was important.Honestly,I’dbe lost without that woman.Mycar keys go missing at least twice a day.”Whenhe looks up, his face is apologetic. “Sorry,I’ma little nervous.”

Harvey andMartinmight share features, but they’re nothing alike.WhereMartinis stoic,Harveyis clumsy.It’sendearing and quickly puts me at ease.

“I’m very happy.I’vehad a wonderful life, raised by two people who have loved me unconditionally since the day they brought me home.I’vewanted for nothing.Andapart from an emergency appendectomy at fourteen,I’mfit and healthy.”

He exhales. “I’mreally glad to hear that.”Thenhis gaze drops to his fisted hands, and without being asked, he offers an explanation. “Iwas very young whenImetRebecca.Mymom andIwere visiting my aunt inRingwoodand we met at a house party.Myaunt moved that winter andInever heard fromRebeccaafter that.”Hiseyes flutter closed as he takes a breath. “Iwant to be honest with you, hadIknown she was pregnant…Well,Ican’t be certain what decisionIwould have made.I’mcursing myself for ignoring my dad’s calls and letters now, but you have to understand, it had nothing to do with you.Wehave a complicated history.

“The momentIfound out, the first thingIwished for was that you had a good life and a family that cared for you.Knowingthat’s the case brings me a lot of comfort.Idon’t know much about you, but from what my dad has shared, you’re a pretty incredible young woman.Acredit to your parents,I’msure.They’dagree with me whenIsay our children’s happiness is intrinsic to our own.It’sclear they’ve raised a beautiful daughter.”Heleans forward, eyes sparkling. “Ifit isn’t too much,I’dlike you to pass on my thanks to your parents.Forraising and loving you whenIcouldn’t.”

Something slides down my cheek.It’sthenIrealizeI’mcrying.

“I can do that,”Iwhisper as he hands me a tissue.

“My dad said you might have some questions about family history and medical records?Idon’t have anything on me, butIcan get that information for you.”Hegrabs a notepad and pen off the table and peers over at me, waiting.

In and out.That’swhatI’dsaid over two months ago whenIfirst arrived inSuttonBay.OnceIhad my answers,I’dleave.

After hearingHarvey’ssincere words, witnessing his misplaced regret, and seeing what a lovely man he is in the short while we’ve been sitting here, those answers don’t feel so important all of a sudden.

“How about today we get to know each other?”Ioffer.

The pen drops to the floor and his eyes spring wide.I’mworriedI’veoverstepped, but then his surprised expression morphs into a smile. “Yes.Yes, that sounds good.”Hecrosses a leg over the other and gets comfortable. “Tellme about yourself,Aly.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

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“I remember your dad.”

My head whips inHarvey’sdirection, a forkful of apple pie hovering an inch from my mouth. “Youdo?”

He nods. “Yeah.Itwas before he opened the restaurant.Hewas older than me, but we went to the same school.Mymom even taught him.I’msorry to hear about his passing.”

I drop my chin. “Iappreciate that.”

Aly,Martin,Harvey,Sandra, andIsit around the large oak dining table inMartin’skitchen, sharing a freshly baked pie fromQuinn’sbakery.Aly“officially” introduced me toHarvey, and we’ve spent the last few hours chatting.It’smostly beenAlyandHarveygetting to know each other.MartinandSandra, like me, are content watching this new bond slowly knit together.Apatchwork of new and old.

I’ve kept my emotions under check, but whatI’mfinding hard to control is the pride threatening to blast out of my chest over the woman sitting next to me.Alysmiles whenIsqueeze her thigh under the table, and shit,Ineed to kiss her so bad.

“He’d be proud to know you’re carrying on thefamily business.”Harveyglances betweenAlyand me. “Mustbe strange having your girlfriend as your boss?”

There hasn’t been a drop of awkwardness this afternoon.

Until now.

Aly andIshare a look.

Sandra nudgesHarveywith her elbow and whispers, “I’mnot sure that was the correct thing to say.”

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