Page 28 of Almost Ours
She gave me a dry look. “Believe me, I figured that out.”
“You want some help?”
Her posture stiffened. “It’s okay. Really. I’ll keep trying to get a hold of the landlord.”
“You sure?” I asked, keeping my voice easy. “I’ve got a full set of tools and I’ve fixed more than a few pipes.”
She hesitated, her expression guarded. “That’s nice of you. I just don’t want to trouble you. We’ll figure it out.”
“I don’t mind.” I kept my tone casual, non-pushy. “Besides, you and YouTube need a break anyway.”
Her eyes narrowed at me playfully. “Hey, I tried.”
“And I respect that,” I said, grinning. “But seriously, I’m not doing much of anything today. I can just swing by and take a look–it won’t take long.”
Connor’s face lit up. “Can he, Mom? Please?”
Harper looked between the two of us, clearly weighing the offer. Her jaw clenched just slightly, like she hated needing help–even for something like this.
She sighed quietly, then gave a reluctant nod. “Alright.”
I offered a smile. “Good call.”
“Awesome!” Connor chimed in before turning to Harper. “Did you know Coach Ryan loves apples? He has a whole bag in his cart!”
“Big apple fan, huh?” Harper teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she glanced at my cart.
“Guilty as charged,” I said with a shrug.
Connor suddenly scrunched his nose. “My Dad hates apples. He says they’re rabbit food.”
The lightheartedness shifted in an instant. Connor’s posture stiffened, his hands tightening around the edge of their cart. Harper’s smile faltered, the warmth in her eyes dimming slightly as she placed a gentle hand on her son’s shoulder.
I noticed, but I didn’t push. “Well, more apples for us then, right?” I said lightly, keeping my tone casual.
Connor’s small smile returned as he nodded. “Yeah. More for us.”
A beat passed between us, not quite awkward, not quite comfortable. Harper looked up, her eyes meeting mine with something unreadable in them–wary, maybe. Protective. Yet also… thankful.
“I, uh–” she glanced down, then back up again. “You probably need our address.”
“Yeah,” I said gently. “That’d help.”
She hesitated for a half-second, then pulled her phone from her coat pocket. “Want to give me your number? I’ll text it to you.”
I rattled off my number, watching as she saved it in her phone, then sent a quick message. A moment later, mine buzzed with her text.
Harper: (Connor’s mom)- for the plumbing rescue.
I grinned. “Got it.”
She gave me a tight smile, but it wasn’t unfriendly. Just cautious. “Thanks again. For offering to help. We’ll be home after this”
“I’ll swing by after I drop these off,” I said, giving Connor a quick fist bump.
Her eyes lingered on mine a beat longer before she gave a small nod.
As I pushed my cart away, I caught Connor glancing back at me, waving before turning the corner with his mom.
