Angel, with Eli beside her, broke the news of Lucinda's departure to Harris and handed him the note she'd left behind. He read it, crumpled it, and said, "Family emergency, my ass! I moved too fast! I knew she was skittish, but I ignored my gut instinct to slow down. She didn't leave because of some emergency; she left because of me!" He tossed the ball of paper toward his trash can and made a perfect basket. "As soon as I'm back on my feet, I'm going after her." He closed his eyes and Angel glanced at Eli. He was glaring at her. She ignored Eli and said, "Harris, do you want me to call her or anything?"
"No, but thanks. I'm the only one who can straighten this out."
She glanced again at Eli's angry expression before saying, "I'll see ya'll tomorrow."
She was halfway to her RV when she heard Eli call out. "Angel, wait up."
She turned to see him striding toward her and her heart started pounding. Did he want to make amends? His question, however, quashed any hope of reconciliation. She could see he was still angry when he stopped in front of her. He said, "Looks like you've been given the perfect opportunity to comfort Harris. Lucinda's questionable retreat may turn out in your favor."
Angel couldn't believe his outrageous remark and reacted instinctively by thrusting her hand out and slapping him. "You're such an ass!" She whirled around and ran to her RV and he did nothing to stop her. Safely inside her bedroom, she peeked out the window to see he was still standing outside staring after her. She glanced at her stinging palm and burst into tears.
Two days after striking Eli, Angel delivered lunch to Harris. She knocked on his door and waited for him to call her inside. As soon as she walked in he said, "Don't move. I want to guess what's under that warmer" He inhaled long and deep and said, "Meatloaf and potatoes, green beans simmered with pork chunks, and cornbread."
She laughed. "That's amazing. How did you know?"
"I have a nose for food. Besides, you've cooked it before and I memorized the smells."
"Well, you're almost right; its collards with ham hocks."
"That sounds just as delicious. Bring it on."
While Angel settled the tray on the bedside table, she felt Harris studying her. Before she could say goodbye, he motioned to the end of his bed. "Have a seat. I want to ask you something important."
"O-kay," she said slowly.
He reached for his cornbread and chomped a bite. Chewing, he said, "Tell me what's going on between you and Eli. Whenever you're in the same room I could cut the tension with a knife." He chomped another bite. "And don't hold out on me, you're no good at lying."
Angel remained mute and stared at the floor.
Harris cut into his meatloaf but didn't put the bite in his mouth. "Well?" he prompted.
She said, "You really don't want to know."
"Yes, I really do. Spill the beans, Angel. Were you and Eli having an affair?"
She jerked her eyes to his and he exclaimed, "Aha, I knew it."
She moved her gaze past him to the window and finally said, "You might as well know the truth because you're part of the problem." She again met his gaze.
He paused in lifting his bite of meatloaf. "I'm listening."
Angel swallowed and took a deep breath. "Since I was a child, I fancied myself in love with you. When I drove to the rodeo in Houston it was to tell you how I felt and ask if you thought we had a chance…" she paused, "…a chance to become more than friends."
Harris merely said, "Hmm."
"But when I arrived, Eli asked if I wanted to join your team. Of course, I jumped at the chance because it would give us time together. My hope was that you and I…" Her voice trailed. "Well, you get the picture."
Harris placed his fork on his plate, leaving his food untouched. He mused, "But it didn't work out that way because you fell in love with Eli."
"That's right. In the beginning I had hoped that you would see me in a different light, but the truth is I saw Eli differently."
"So what put you at odds with each other?"
Angel blinked rapidly to forestall tears. "The day after Eli and I drove your mom home we went to his cabin to relax and, well, we ended up spending the night together." She studied a crease in her jeans and smoothed it out, not looking at Harris. "I was so happy that Eli and I had finally connected and when he said he'd always loved me, it was like all the dots in my life finally connected." She became silent.
Harris gently prodded, "So what changed everything?"
"I had a dream." She smiled sadly, still smoothing the crease in her Levis. "In the dream I was about to tell you I loved Eli and that my feelings for you had been a girlish crush carried over into adulthood. But I guess in my sleep I called out your name and Eli heard it. He thought I wanted him to be you." She sniffed and used her finger to brush away a tear. "He was so angry that he wouldn't let me explain. And then I got angry, too. And that's how things have been since then." She exhaled and blinked rapidly. "And, well, last night he made me so mad that I slapped him. I've never slapped anyone in my life and I feel awful."
She glanced up to see Harris studying her. Finally, he said with a slight smile. "I'm sure he deserved it. So what do you plan to do now?"
"Nothing. As soon as you're back on your feet, I'm going home. I received a great job offer from a manufacturing firm in Dallas that specializes in solar products, and I'm thinking about taking it." She reached and placed her hand on Harris' knee. "Promise you won't say anything about this conversation to Eli, please," she begged.
Harris remained silent.
"Promise me!"
Grudgingly, he said, "Okay. I promise. But if you tell him what you just told me, he'll be ecstatic and the two of you can live happily-ever-after."
"No. I don’t want to be with a man who forms erroneous conclusions because he won't listen to me." She stood to leave but at the door turned and asked, "Why are you so happy since you were so down in the dumps after Lucinda left?"
Harris grinned. "She only ran because she's falling for me, and when I'm back on my feet, I'm going after her." He thumped his chest. "Harris Brightman doesn't give up without a fight."