Where I Belong

Chapter 1-2

Harper turned to see whoever wanted his attention. One blink in her direction and he knew he should recognize the woman, but didn’t. Waves of nervousness rolled off her, making Harper equally anxious. “Can I help you?”

“I hope so.”

“Do I know you?”

“You used to.”

The pregnant pause swelled between them while Harper racked his brain to identify the woman. Her familiar eyes developed into an image of his mother from his early childhood. The resemblance was unmistakable.

“Maisy?” he said with not a small amount of disbelief.

“No one has called me that since high school,” she said as a tear slid down her smiling face.

Dumbfounded, Harper stood there staring at his long-lost sister as his own tears welled up. Once his brain started functioning again, Harper reached out and pulled her into a long, tight hug, just to be sure she was real and not a figment of his imagination.

Harper stepped back and stared at the winsome woman, searching for the awkward teenage girl he remembered. “God, Maisy. You’re all grown up and gorgeous. You look so much like Mama.”

Pete and Gavin watched the exchange with concern. “Everything okay, Harp?” Pete asked.

“I dunno. Pete, Gavin, I’d like you to meet my sister, Maisy Ellison.” Harper said as he wiped his eyes.

“It’s nice to meet you. I go by Meg now.” She smiled warmly as she shook their hands. Meg glanced over her shoulder at a man across the room who beamed at her brightly. “Harper, can you come sit and talk for a few minutes? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

Pete and Gavin traded an uncomfortable silence. Harper knew what they were thinking. The couple helped glue him back together when he first came to Colorado and he appreciated their worry. “It’s okay, guys. Promise. We’re just gonna talk. I’ll check in with you before I go anywhere.”

Meg led him over to the table where the smiling man waited. “Harper, this is my fiancé, Joe Wainright. He’s a detective with the Raleigh police department. He’s the one who found you.” Joe stood and shook Harper’s hand before quickly kissing Meg’s temple. For whatever reason, he reminded Harper of a six-foot tall, chocolate Labrador retriever wholeheartedly devoted to his sister. It was sweet.

They all sat down and Joe turned his irresistible smile on Harper. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for agreeing to talk with Meg. She was scared you wouldn’t want to see her.”

Harper turned to his sister. “Wow. It’s hard for me to imagine you as anything other than Maisy…Wait. Why wouldn’t I talk to you?” he said as he swallowed the lump in his throat and nearly teared up again.

Meg stared down at her hand intertwined with Joe’s, trying to hide her insecurity. “You never came back.” Harper glanced tentatively at Joe. “It’s okay. Joe knows everything.”

Harper exhaled. Finally, he sighed and said, “Maisy…Meg…What the hell are you doing here? Do Mama and Dad know where you are?”

“Can we not talk about them, please? I want tonight to be just us.”

“As far as I’m concerned, we never have to talk about them. You are the only family I regretted leaving behind.” Harper looked over at the bar where Pete and Gavin watched them intently.

“Gavin’s really cute. You look good together,” Meg said with a sly grin.

Harper rolled his eyes and smiled. Some things never change, especially nosy little sisters. “He’s just a good friend. Gavin and Pete have been together since before I moved here from California. Pete thinks he’s too big to dance, so I dance with Gavin and keep the vultures from swooping on him.”

“How long were you out there?”

“A few years. How long are you here and where are you staying?”

“We’re at a B and B near your house. We checked in, slept a bit, and came looking for you,” Joe answered.

“How on earth did you find me here at Pete’s?” That kind of serendipity wasn’t possible.

“Your neighbor marched her greyhound by your place a few times when we knocked on your door. She told us if you weren’t at home, you were probably here.”

“I should have guessed. Lydia Benedict keeps CIA-level surveillance on everyone in the neighborhood. Would it be okay if we went back to my place? It’ll be a lot quieter and we can talk. You guys could even save a few bucks and stay with me, if you want.”

“I’d like that a lot, Harper. Are you sure it’s okay? We don’t want to be in anyone’s way,” Meg replied.

“It’s fine. I wouldn’t have asked if it were a problem. I live alone and have plenty of space.”

“We’re only here for the weekend. Joe has work and I have to get home for graduation.”

“Graduation?”

Joe grinned proudly at Meg. “May I present the newly minted Margaret Regina Ellison, MD.”

“That’s awesome! What specialty?” The only thing Meg ever wanted to be when she grew up was a doctor.

“Child and adolescent psychiatry. My first year of residency starts in a little over a month.”

“That’s awesome. Let’s get out of here. I’ll let Pete and Gavin know what’s happening. You can run by the B and B and grab your stuff and I’ll meet you back at the house. Mai…Meg—I thought you’d hate me. God, I’ve missed you.”