Chapter 17: Evan

Blythe and Harbor laughed so much on the way home from the zoo, and as soon as they got inside, Blythe asked if Harbor would tuck her in and read her a story. Harbor gave her a tickle and told her she’d be right up.

As I walked upstairs, Blythe followed in my footsteps. “Daddy, is Harbor my new mommy?” I stopped on the landing and scooped her up.

“No, she’s not your new mommy.” I wondered for a moment if Lucinda or Harbor had said something to her. “Why do you ask?”

I carried her to her room and sat her in the rocking chair her mother had bought when she was pregnant with her. She shrugged her little shoulders and stared up at mine with those gray eyes. “Harbor lives with us like a mommy, and she loves me like a mommy does.” I let out a long breath and didn’t know how to respond. Legally, Harbor was her stepmother, but I hadn’t planned on that being a permanent thing.

“Well, she’s not.” I reached for her shoe to slip it off, but she kicked her foot and squished her face tight.

“I want Harbor to do it.” She met my eyes with a challenging glare as Harbor walked into the room. “I want Harbor to be my mommy!” She took off like a shot and ran to grab hold of Harbor’s legs. “Will you read my story when I’m in the bath?” She ran to get her book as I rose to stand upright.

“I didn’t say a word, I swear.” I believed her.

“You two have gotten closer, so I suppose it’s only natural.” I put my hands in my pockets and watched as Blythe looked through her bookshelves for her nightly pick.

“We need to talk about this; about us. I’ve given you more time, but we have to figure out what we’re going to do.” It seemed that both of my girls were defiant that day.

“Don’t keep her up too late.” I didn’t want to deal with things, and so I bailed. It might have been a coward move, but I couldn’t get into it now, or I’d say something I regretted. My own daughter had chosen her over me, and I couldn’t help but be a bit upset about it.

I walked downstairs and went to my office. Then I milled around there for another hour until the doorbell rang. I let out another long breath and went to the door.

My eyes widened when I opened the door to find Tana on the other side. Leave it to her not to call first. I hadn’t seen her in a long time, but she looked as ready as ever. She rushed me and kissed my cheek as she gave me a hug. “Hello, Evan. I’m sorry to barge in, but I was just down the road when I realized how long it’s been and I was hoping Blythe would be in bed now so we could play.” She stepped forward and leaned on me.

“You can’t be here.” I tried to politely lead her away toward the door, but then she jerked away.

“I want to talk about us. I’m good with the sexual relationship. I’ve had plenty of time to think—

I spun around to see what she was looking at, at what had made Tana’s eyes go wild with fury and found Harbor clutching her chest.

“Evan, who is this?” Tana cleared her throat and glared at Harbor.

I figured there was no need sugar coating anything, and with Tana, it was best to be blunt. “She’s my wife, Harbor. Harbor, this is Blythe’s former nanny, Tana.”

“And your former girlfriend until a month ago,” she added.

“A month ago?” Harbor narrowed her eyes, and I shook my head and crossed the room toward her.

“Not a month.” I glared back at Tana, the troublemaker. “I haven’t seen her since a week before we got married.”

“That’s not true. I wouldn’t believe him. He plays the same games with everything. I guess I got a bit too old for his tastes.” She turned and stalked out leaving me alone to try and sort out the mess she left in her wake.

“You broke the deal. You were with that woman.” Harbor searched my eyes and though I could tell she wasn’t entirely sure she was too pissed off and hurt to stick around to listen.

“I didn’t.”

“What does it matter? The deal is almost over, and you don’t want me. You’ll send me away and replace me. That was the plan. I can’t believe I fell in love with you.” She turned and walked away leaving me there fuming at Tana and angry that Harbor wouldn’t believe me.

She stormed back upstairs, and I ran after her. I tried not to shout and wake up Blythe, but I needed Harbor to know I was serious. “I didn’t cheat with her. You have to trust me, Harbor.”

“Take your trust and shove it. I’ve given you everything, and all you’re hung up on is that stupid bargain. This whole thing was a mistake.”

The words stung more than she’d probably meant them to, but I wasn’t going to break down. “Maybe you’re right.”

She went stone still as the tears ran down her face, and then she grabbed her bag and a few things and headed to the door.

I wasn’t content to let her leave. “You’re not going anywhere, Harbor. Get your ass back here this minute.”

“I’m done letting you control me. You might control my pleasure, but you don’t control my heart. You use your wife as an excuse to keep us from getting serious, but you're hurting your daughter more this way, by denying her someone she already loves. But you know what, I get it. You don’t love me. You never will.”

She went to the door, and I grabbed her arm. “If you have to leave let me at least put you up in a hotel room.”

“Not on your life. I’m done letting you take care of me. It’s killing me.” She turned and stalked toward the door and when she opened it, I saw a car already pulling into the drive, it’s headlights blinding me.

“Who is that? Your boyfriend?” I wanted a reason to be mad at her, but it wasn’t working. I was watching her go, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it.

“It’s Lucinda. I called her from upstairs. She’s giving me a ride. Don’t take it out on her.” I wasn’t going to take it out on her even though I had to admit I wasn’t happy.

“I’m not, but let me take you and check you in somewhere.” The thought of her leaving and me not being able to know where she’s at was really getting to me. “I need to know you’re safe.”

“Whatever. This is no different than me leaving in June, so it’s a little late to start giving a shit now.”

“I do give a shit. I fucking care, or I wouldn’t be involved with you at all.” I closed the distance between us slowly hoping she wouldn’t leave before I could get to her.

“Don’t make this out to be more than it is. You had to be involved with me. But I’m the stupid one. You made me love you, and you couldn’t even claim me as your wife, no. Not until you needed to use it to get rid of your girlfriend. Never again.” She slammed the door so hard that the picture well off the wall beside it and crashed to the floor.

I had a mind to call Lucinda to work, but I decided not to be a dick about it. I could be bitter, but the truth is I had messed it all up.

She’d all but begged me to make it permanent but I’d been too scared. Now she had left, and I had to face what it would be like if I never saw her again. I wasn’t sure I could do that. My world without her was bleak, and then worst of all I was going to have to wake up Blythe and tell her that the woman she loves as a mother just walked out and left her; another mommy gone. I was so pissed at Harbor for leaving me with that, but at the same time, I just wanted her back.

I wondered where she was going and if Lucinda had taken her to a hotel or back home to her house. There was a storm building outside, and I hoped she didn’t go too far. I thought for a moment, contemplating how to figure it out. I could wait a bit and drive by, but then I couldn’t go search every hotel in the area so easily.

Suddenly I remembered something and snapped my fingers. I’d added a GPS to Harbor’s cell phone in case something happened while she and Blythe were out together. All I had to do was pull it up, and I’d be able to see exactly where she’d gone. I wasn’t going to let her get away so easily.

I couldn’t believe Tana, and I couldn’t blame Harbor for believing her. Then I’d used our marriage against her too, just like Harbor had said. I couldn’t admit it any other time, but when it served my purpose.

I had to find her. I went to the living room and found my phone where I’d left it on the coffee table. I turned it on and found the app, and sure enough, there was Harbor. I’d wait until she got settled in where she was going, and then I’d get Lucinda to watch Blythe while I was gone.

I had to have her back. I realized now what I’d been denying all this time. I was in love with Harbor Moore. And though I’d tried to deny it, and was certain I’d stick with the word of the contract and let her go, I needed her in my life. We both did. She’d been the best thing for both of us.

I decided to go upstairs and get the contract off of my dresser. I wanted to bring the scrap of paper with me. I needed to destroy it in front of her.