Page 26 of Hard to Hold
Chapter 13
“Thank you, Essie,” he said and kissed the woman’s cheek.
I pointed at the door he’d just walked out. “How come Harlon hearing you say I’m his future wife didn’t even faze him?”
“He already knows. I told him you two were destined when I told him where to find you. I told him that you two will be connected in even more ways than sexual tension,” she said, disappearing into the kitchen.
I followed. “That’s news to me. He didn’t mention that.”
“Would you like some tea, dear?”
“Sure,” I said, leaning against the doorframe for support.
“You’ll have to forgive Harlon for not telling you everything. He has a hard time trusting.”
I raised a brow and sat as she set two teacups on the table.
“Excuse me for a minute.”
I nodded and sipped the tea, closing my eyes and moaning as the tea heated my throat, warming me from the inside out.
Dogs barking had me spinning toward the door Essie had disappeared through. I rose from my spot and peeked inside.
There were three puppies behind a baby gate. Two were fighting with a toy, and the other one was staring at me while Essie filled the bowls with water and food.
“Come and meet Peanut,” Essie said without ever looking over her shoulder. “She’s fated to be yours. She’ll be a wonderful service dog.”
“Service dog?” I asked, walking into the room and dropping to my knees outside the gate. I pushed my fingers through the gate holes, and Peanut pressed up against my touch. I rubbed her head.
“For when you heal the ones you find,” Essie said.
“Excuse me?”
The woman picked up Peanut and handed her to me as she led the way out of the playroom.
“You’re destined for great things, dear.”
I shook my head. This crazy woman wasn’t making any sense. No way was I doing great things, especially in New York.
I liked my life quiet and slow, nothing like this place.
“You must be picking up on one of my other sisters. This is my first time to New York, and I don’t plan to come back.”
She sat the kitchen table and started sipping her tea while Peanut curled on my lap.
“You can’t hide forever, dear. It’s not in your genes.”
I scratched Peanut behind the ears as I stared at Essie.
“You're cryptic,” I remarked with a smirk.
“I’m many things and nothing,” she said. “But would you like me to tell you what you are?”
“Not really,” I said, rising from my spot and pacing the yellow linoleum floor. I turned to stare at her. “Is Harlon going to find his sister?”
“Yes, but not today.”
“Then why did you let him go?”
