She Loves Me (Harmony Pointe #3) - Melissa Foster Page 0,44

the nerve to chuckle, and said, “Uncle Harley is a big goofball, isn’t he, Jo? He kisses everyone, even his dog.”

Jolie nodded, and she even smiled a little.

“Maybe you went out with the wrong brother in high school,” Delaney teased. “Harley would have been a safer bet. I’d choose a dog kisser over a cheerleader kisser any day.” She laughed, then winced in pain, and her hand flew to her chest. “Ow, ow,” she said softly.

The color drained from Jolie’s face, and it took all of Piper’s control not to go to her, but to let her family console her.

“Are you okay, Mom?” Sophie asked.

“I’m fine, baby,” Delaney said. “Just a little twinge of pain.”

Jolie pushed to her feet and said, “I’m going outside.”

Delaney frowned. Piper felt her heart tearing right down the middle. She wanted to go after Jolie, to hug her and tell her everything would be okay, but just as she opened her mouth to speak, Sophie jumped up and yelled, “Wait for me!” and ran after her.

Piper couldn’t hold back and leave those girls on their own to figure out how to handle this. She and Debra stood at the same time.

“I’ll bring them some cookies. You stay and visit,” Debra said.

Piper sat down, looking at Harley, who was having some sort of stare down with Delaney.

“What are you not telling me?” Delaney asked. “She hasn’t been herself since she walked in the door.”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Harley said, moving to sit beside her.

“I’m worrying, Harley,” Delaney said angrily. “Those girls are my world. I hate not being able to run after Jolie, to take her in my arms and make her feel safe. That’s my job.” Tears welled in her eyes.

“I know, Dee, but right now your job is to heal so you can take care of them,” he said. “If you do too much, your healing will take longer. We’re keeping communication open with Jolie, reassuring her about what’s going on with you, and Piper bought her a diary, which she’s using. She’s going to be okay. We’re not leaving her to fend for herself. The girls are going to be home for good in a week. Seven more days, Dee, then they’re all yours.”

Piper moved to Delaney’s other side and said, “Harley’s taking really good care of both of them. He’s patient and loving with them, Delaney. I know Jolie is hurting and scared, and she’s twelve. That’s a hard age. Remember what it was like? Everything changes when you’re twelve. Suddenly boys mean something, and friends form cliques, and every emotion feels new and big and overwhelming. Yes, it’s harder for her with you recovering from surgery, but she’s learning to get through it and we’re both watching out for her and Sophie. Harley’s right. You need to focus on getting better so she sees that you’re okay.”

Delaney wiped her eyes and said, “It’s so hard. I used to worry about what effect my working as a single mom would have on them and whether I could do enough at work to maintain a leg up in the firm. Now everything’s changed. I am fighting for my life—for their mother’s life. I have no idea if cancer will come back someplace else. I’m terrified. How can they not be?”

A lump lodged in Piper’s throat.

“Dee, you have clear margins,” Harley reminded her.

“Tell cancer that,” Delaney said, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Hey, big C,” she said cavalierly. “You can’t come back. I had clear margins.” Her eyes narrowed, and she said, “Cancer doesn’t give a damn about margins. It’s a bully that I never saw coming. I swear I’ll never take another second of life for granted.”

Anger and sadness reared up inside Piper. She wanted to take away Delaney’s fear, and she knew that was impossible, so she did the next best thing. “There’s only one way to handle a bully, and that’s to kick its flippin’ ass. If it comes back, you’ll fight with all you have to beat it, and we’ll be there every step of the way.”

“Thank you,” Delaney choked out through her tears.

Harley put his arms gently around his sister, careful to keep his burly body from pressing against her chest, holding her as she cried. Piper felt tears welling in her own eyes and put a hand on Delaney’s back. Harley put his hand over Piper’s, his compassionate eyes holding hers. He pressed a kiss to Delaney’s shoulder and said, “We’ve got the girls, Dee. Now,