Ann was in the kitchen cooking breakfast when Harris came downstairs. He stood in the doorrway watching her. It was still hard to believe she was there. God she was sexy in that short silk nightgown and robe with her hair up in a clip. She was putting scrambled eggs on their plates and she looked up to find him staring at her.

"Good Mornin'." She said with a smile

He smiled back walking over to her, coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, "Good mornin' Sassy." He nuzzled her neck as she was trying to flip pancakes.

"Harris, stop that." She teased, "Or we'll be eatin' these off the floor."

"Oooh." He said as he pulled back, giving her behind a good swat before he went to pour some coffee

She laughed, shaking her head, "You're terrible." She said as her cell phone rang

"Let it go to voice mail." he said as he came back to resume nuzzling her

She looked at the caller ID, "It's Emma, probably about her flight tomorrow." It was two days before Thanksgiving and Emma was flying home, "Hi sweetheart. You're callin' awfully early."

"Hi Mom." Emma said cheerfully, "It's 9 o'clock here."

"Oh." Ann said as Harris kissed her neck, she tried to shoo him away, "I, uh, forgot you're an hour ahead." would you stop she mouthed to Harris

"Are you okay? You sound funny."

He finally relented and back away, "Oh I'm fine. So is everything still on schedule for your flight?"

"Yeah." She confirmed, "Are you sure you're okay?" She asked again, "Wait a minute. Daddy's there isn't he?"

"Uh, yes he is." Ann confirmed looking at Harris

"Well, I'm sorry I interrupted whatever it is I was interrupting." She teased, still she didn't fully understand how this turnabout even happened. Something she wanted to discuss with her mother while she was home

"Emma!" Ann scolded

"Let me talk to her." Harris said

"Oh, your father wants to talk to you." She handed the phone to him

"Hey baby girl."

"Hi, Daddy."

"I'm real glad you're comin' home." He said sincerely

"Uh yeah, me too." She wanted to see her mother but she didn't know if she could ever really trust her father

"Emma, I promise you I'm gonna make everything up to you and your mother." He assured her and Ann gave him sympathetic smile as she finished getting breakfast ready

"Daddy, there are some things you can't change."

"I know." He conceded

"Can I talk to Mom again?"

"Yeah." He said, "I love you Emma."

"I know." She said and he handed the phone to Ann, "Mom, are you still picking me up?"

"Absolutely. 1:30 right?" Ann said

"Yeah, I'll text you when I've landed." Emma told her

"Okay." Ann said, "I can't wait to see you."

"Me too, Mom." Emma said, "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart." She said and they ended the call, looking over at Harris his head was down staring into his coffee cup, "She'll come around."

Not looking up he shook his head, "I think it's too late." He looked up out the kitchen window

She went over to him, "Harris, it's going to take time. She's had to do a lot of growin' up herself these last few months. We had plenty of fights before we got to where we are."

"I never wanted to hurt her." He said

She took the coffee cup out of his hand and put her arms around his waist, "And deep down she knows that. You just have to be patient."

"You know patience isn't my strong suit." He said

"Well, you were incredible patient last night." She whispered kissing his neck

"Well, sometimes slow is better." He said with a smile as she kissed his cheek and then his mouth

"Uh huh." She murmered as she kissed the other cheek and slipped her hand inside his robe rubbing his chest

"Annie."

"Hmm."

"Breakfast is gonna get cold, darlin'."

"That's why there's microwaves." She said as she pushed the robe off his shoulders and it hit the floor

/

Emma was getting ready for bed having arrived that afternoon from the East Coast. She and Ann had spent time shopping and catching up. Dinner had been pleasant but slightly awkward with Emma barely saying anything to Harris. She had just gotten in her pajamas when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." She said

Ann opened the door, "I just wanted to say good night."

"You mean tuck me in?" Emma joked getting in bed

Ann came over and sat down beside her on the bed, "I'm glad you're home, sweetheart."

Emma looked at her mother, a woman she was just getting to know, "Why mom?"

"Why am I glad you're home?"

"No, why are you, we here?" She asked, "After everything daddy did."

Ann sighed heavily, "Your father knows he made a lot of mistakes and I believe he's changed."

"But you couldn't forgive Bobby for the one thing he did? Daddy kidnapped me. Not to mention other things he's done and grandmother." Judith went back to Europe still seething over their reunion and to plan her revenge but Harris had a plan of his own

Ann brushed Emma's hair off her her face, "It's more complicated than that." She explained, "I loved Bobby. A part of me I guess still does. But not only did he continually berate me for keeping secrets, he had one of his own. And he didn't see he'd done anything wrong. Not just keeping the secret but framing Cliff Barnes. Your father knows what he did was wrong and he's doing his best to make it up to both of us."

"So he says." She responded

"Emma, you're a grown woman and I certainly can't tell you what to do or make you forgive him. But he is trying. It'd be nice if you tried too. I'd like this to be a nice Thanksgiving."

Emma thought for a moment, she at least owed her mother that, "Alright, I'll try."

Ann smiled, "Good." She kissed her on the cheek, "Good night my sweet girl." the same thing she said to Emma as a baby when she put her to bed

Emma hugged her tight, "I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too." Ann said holding her tight