Harper
I could barely walk as we exited the car at his parents’ house. Bryce worked my body to the point of pleasurable pain. I had my favorite heels on and yet, I couldn’t stay steady. My nerves were shot. I had no clue how I was going to make it through dinner. The Middleton name was synonymous with wealth and class. For years, my mother talked about the three brothers and how it was a pity they were all happily married. She seemed to be rooting for a divorce or for one of the wives to die. I hadn’t mentioned it to Bryce yet, but I didn’t want a big wedding or for my mother to be there. In fact, I didn’t want any of my family there.
The door opened before we made it up the steps. I plastered an uncomfortable smile on my face. His mother smiled genuinely at me. It did nothing to soothe my emotions. It only made me feel like a fraud. Not because of my feelings for Bryce, because those were as real as they come, but for the family I brought along in my genes. I hated my mother and did everything I could to avoid speaking to her. If it wasn’t for my need to see Bryce, I wouldn’t have visited her at all. Her latest husband had the bankroll to help me get a nice place in Reese until I could pay it back.
The life I was living to get here was fake. I took a job I was overqualified for and had a place that wasn’t me. All for a chance to see Bryce and hope he remembered me. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, even though I was embarrassed of who my mother was and her general need for more.
“Welcome, Harper,” she said, pulling me in for a hug and into the house. Damn, the woman was strong. Bryce followed behind, closing the door and chuckling.
“Mom, you can let her go,” Bryce muttered.
She blushed as she unhooked herself from me. “Sorry, I’m just so excited.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Middleton,” I replied, sheepishly ducking my head as Bryce hauled me to his side.
“Goodness’ sake, let them come in, woman. I’m glad it’s not snowing,” his dad said, coming into the room with a jovial presence. This family was more welcoming than I deserved. “Hello, Harper.”
“Hello, Mr. Middleton,” I replied back. “And actually, I would have found the greeting to be warm in the middle of the winter.”
“See, Jacob,” his mom snipped and scrunched her nose at him.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. See what you’re going to have to deal with?” he told Bryce.
“I’m going to feel bad for the men who marry my sisters,” Bryce teased.
“True, but let’s not allow the food to get cold. I’m hungry and I’m sure you both have managed to work up an appetite,” he said with a suggestive wink. He took Mrs. Middleton’s hand and led us into their small dining room. This house wasn’t the place of millionaires or even billionaires. It seemed almost ordinary and I loved it.
The table was set up for us four, but the spread was massive. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the smell hit my nose. My belly began to rumble loudly, so much so that everyone looked at me.
“Excuse me,” I murmured.
“Please, I feel a bit selfish. You haven’t eaten anything because of me. I know I could eat all this food by myself right now, so I know you’re starving.”
“I didn’t realize it until I walked in here.”
“I think it’s the nerves. I remember when I met Jacob’s parents. I did everything I could to keep my belly from doing more flips than a gold medal gymnast.”
“And they loved you,” he said to his wife. They were freaking adorable together, just like he’d told me all those years ago. Bryce handed me a plate but not without stealing a quick kiss.
“So, Harper, tell us. What’s your favorite thing about Bryce?”
“Mom, that’s not dinner conversation,” Bryce joked. I turned purple and ducked my head.
“Ignore him. I feel like there’s more to the story than what happened today.”
“Yes, well, I never mentioned it, but Harper and I met years ago on one of my many fishing trips out by the pond.”
“Really?” His father gave him a knowing look.
“Yes, it’s what we talked about years ago.”
“Wow, okay. Now that explains it. I mean, you got here with the ring in less than twelve hours.”
“Yes, I’ve had it ready for three years now,” he said proudly, raising my hand to kiss it.
“Harper, so tell us more about you.”
I paused not ready to tell them, but I figured honesty was the best way to go with them. “In truth, I have a degree in accounting and moved here to Reese for the sole purpose of hoping to see Bryce again. I never imagined that he would remember me or the promise he made all those years ago, but he did. This morning I was about to quit and go back to California. In fact, I was storming out of the breakroom to come and give notice.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“To quit? I collided into this large man,” I replied.
“No, why were you working and then just didn’t want to do it anymore?”
“Because I felt foolish and naïve. You both walked in the door and the look of love is still strong in your eyes.” I turned my focus to his father and continued, “You, sir, look so much like Bryce that I pictured him with someone else walking through the door that happy, and it was unbearable.”
“Damn, Bryce, what took you so long to find her?”
“I didn’t know where to look and everyone I spoke to hadn’t heard of her.”
“Well, you should have told me. I would have contacted the best and made it happen years ago,” his father barked. He actually looked peeved. “You could have lost her for good if she hadn’t gotten the nerve to make the move.” He turned to me and said, “Thank you, Harper. It was a smart and wonderful decision. I’m glad to have you in the family.”
“Thank you, Mr. Middleton,” I said with a blush. It was crazy that they were so welcoming.
“So am I,” Bryce whispered. “I’m sorry. I should have scoured the Earth to find you.”
“It worked out the way that it should have, Bryce,” I replied. I bit my lip then added, “I wouldn’t have finished college if I’d fallen into your arms sooner. And regardless that you promise me forever, I don’t want to feel stranded should something happen between us.”
“I’m not going to let you go, but I’m proud of you for making your own plans for the future.”
“Speaking of the future, we have a wedding to prepare for.”
“Um about that…I was wondering if we could keep it small.”
“I’m so glad you said that. Since we barely have three days to get it together, the smaller the better.” My eyes popped wide open and I nearly dropped my plate in front of me. I set it down and gave Bryce a look.
“What do you mean three days?” I asked, looking expectantly between the three of them.
“I thought you told her, Bryce,” his mother said, shaking her head.
“I might have forgotten. I was kind of distracted.” I elbowed him.
“Actually, three days is perfect, but I don’t know how to plan a simple wedding.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve already gotten started. All I have to do is get your favorite colors and we’ll need to find a dress. You’ll need to contact your family and get them here.”
“Um. I’d like it better if we didn’t include them.”
His parents looked at each other and shared a knowing glance. “Are you sure? Your mother would be thrilled that you and Bryce are marrying.”
“So you know who she is?”
“Yes, sorry, but we pulled your information and saw your mother’s name as the next of kin.”
“It’s fine. I don’t want her to taint anything that has to do with Bryce.” I took a large swallow from my water. Thinking about my mother interfering was making the nervous tic I had come to the surface.
His mother paused to consider what to say, then replied, “If that’s the way you feel. Is there anyone else you want to invite?”
“No, I don’t have many friends and those I do couldn’t make it in time anyway. Plus, if my mother gets wind of it, who knows what will happen.”
“That’s fine. How about tomorrow when the girls come we can all go dress shopping?” Mrs. Middleton asked.
“I suppose that’s a smart idea.”
“I’ll take you,” Bryce stated before taking a bite of his roasted potatoes.
His mom rolled her eyes at him. I was quickly falling in love with her. “Please, Bryce, the store is in town. We’ll manage without you and your father for a bit.”
“I’ll drive you ladies. Okay?” Bryce replied with a frustrated shrug. I laughed.
His father put a hand up to stop what anyone else might say. “It’s cool, son. I was planning to take your mother anyway. I don’t know when she’ll finally understand that I don’t like her going without me.”
“I do it often,” Mrs. Middleton argued, looking at her husband like she was ready to stab him with her fork.
“Yes, with security, but we didn’t bring them with us,” he answered, slipping his hand behind her and rubbing her lower back. I involuntarily arched my brow.
“Fine. I think you just want to see me try on dresses.”
“Mom,” Bryce called out, grossed out by her implication. I wanted to laugh at him because we’d be his parents in twenty years.
His father wagged his brows with a smirk. “She’s right, but Bryce and I will stay in the car and wait for you.”
Just then the doorbell rang. His parents both stood to see who it was, but his dad said, “Please sit, I’ll get the door.”
We all sat there in silence as we waited, then we heard squeals and giggles. “They’re here?”
“Yes, we are,” one said as she walked in the room.
“Sweetheart? You weren’t supposed to come until tomorrow.” Mrs. Middleton stood to hug her daughter.
“Mom, we were about to board the flight just as you called to tell us. Bryce is just like dad.” She turned to Bryce and added, “I told you so.”
“Hi, I’m Elizabeth,” she said, sticking her hand out. She was absolutely stunning and I felt like I wasn’t even close to her in looks. I was glad she’s his sister. The entire family was gorgeous.
“Hello,” I shyly replied.
She snatched a piece of grilled chicken breast and popped it in her mouth.
“Hey, y’all. We made it,” exclaimed one of the other two that came in.
They were introduced as Kayla and Cassandra. Both were so bubbly and absolutely gushed over me. They seemed like twins, but Kayla was two years younger. All of a sudden I was surrounded by a whole group of women who were eating and talking at the same time. It wasn’t messy or even uncouth, but my mother would have lost her mind by the normalcy that I saw in front of me. This is what real families did for dinner. I loved the chaos and happiness. “I almost forgot,” Cassandra exclaimed. “Did he show you his screensaver on his phone?” Bryce actually blushed.
“No, he didn’t.” I gave him a questioning look.
“It’s nothing, princess, but I’ll show you.” He took out his phone and handed it to me. It was me at the hotel. A very close up picture of me smiling at someone just to the side of the camera. Immediately I handed him the phone, then in a need to express my happiness, I grasped the sides of his face and kissed him in front of everyone. The family all started to clap, effectively ending the kiss.
“So…the store opens at eight tomorrow. Are you going to meet us there? I’m sure Bryce isn’t letting you go on your own cause he’s just like our father,” Cassandra said.
“We’ll meet you there at eight, but I think you’ve all been too much excitement for Harper tonight. Excuse us, but we have a lot to discuss in private.”
“Discuss,” Elizabeth added in air quotation marks.
Bryce rolled his eyes before saying goodnight to everyone and walking me to the car. We drove down the quiet road, then I noticed a car I’d seen before. The town was small, but that seemed like too much of a coincidence.