The Real Deal (14)


"I thought your PI guy was the best around!" Laurel snapped when Mark informed her that his man still hadn't located Harley after almost three months of searching.

"He is the best, but I guess now that Harley knows that someone is looking for her she is being extra careful. There has been no new activity on her credit card since she used it to check into that Bed and Breakfast after she first ran, and she hasn't turned her cell back on since the day you talked to her and unfortunately that call wasn't long enough for Sam to trace." Mark said with an exasperated sigh.

"I can't believe I didn't think about the American Eagle Nest, I remember how much Harley loved that place but never thought to go there and see if that's where she had gone!" Laurel said fighting back tears, "Mark, what if something bad has happened to her? Harley's never been good at taking care of herself that's why I've always been there to take care of her, but it's been almost three months and I'm really scared that she's never coming back," Laurel said as she began to cry.

"We can't think like that, Laurel, it'll only make us crazy. Where ever Harley is she's safe and no matter how far or how long she runs we will find her and bring her home where she belongs."

"You should have let her know how you felt about her Mark, you should have told her that you loved her and made her believe it. If you had maybe she wouldn't have run when she caught you with that woman!" Laurel said as she pushed hard against Mark's chest.

"Laurel, come on Mark is just as scared and miserable as you are, but putting blame on him isn't fair," Shawn said pulling Laurel firmly against his chest in an attempt to console her.

"No, Shawn, Laurel is right it's all my fault. I should have told Harley how I felt about her. Truth is the day she left I had decided that I was going to ask her to be my wife, for real, but I was too late," Mark said sitting down on the couch, "if we don't find her I'll never forgive myself for being too damn late." Mark said running his hands through his already disheveled hair.


Harley sat at the tiny desk and stared down at the blank piece of paper for what seemed like forever. She was writing letters to Laurel and Mark to let them know that she was ok. Laurel's letter was easy. She told her friend how much she missed her and that she didn't have to be concerned about her because she was alright, Laurel didn't need to know that the last part wasn't entirely true, although Harley guessed that Laurel would see right through the lie anyway. She told her that she hoped that things were good between her and Shawn and that when she thought it was "safe" that she would call her because she really missed hearing her voice. She ended it with "I Love You more than words could ever possibly say, Your sister, Harley." Before putting it in an envelope and sealing it. Now almost two hours later she had yet to set pen to paper to start Mark's letter. She contemplated telling him about the baby but knew that she couldn't do that because what if Mark wanted their child, but didn't want her? Or worse he didn't want anything to do with either of them? Her heart couldn't take another rejection from him, especially one of that magnitude, so in the end Harley kept it short and sweet.

"Mark,

Laurel told me about the private investigator that you hired to find me for her, but there is no need to continue to waste your money looking for me. You should be living your own life and not worrying about mine. I hope that you will let this go now, I know that Laurel will push you to keep looking because she worries about me way too much, but it's neither of your jobs to do that anymore. Thank you again from the bottom of m heart for everything you did for me to help out with my mother, but I don't need you to pretend for my sake anymore. You are a great man, Mark Calaway, don't ever let anyone tell you different.

Sincerely,

Harley

Harley placed a gentle kiss on the letter before sealing it in its own envelope. She addressed and placed stamps on them before getting in her car and driving out of Canyon Lake. She had left the American Eagle Nest Bed and Breakfast the day she learned about the PI. She knew that her credit card would be traced back there sooner or later and figured it best to get out of dodge as soon as possible, but she didn't go far. She found a nice little studio apartment and talked the guy into letting her pay in cash for her first month. She figured that the PI would think that since she had been found in Canyon Lake she would get as far away from there as possible and that's just what she wanted him to think, when in reality she had only moved a few miles down the road. She had stopped using her credit cards paying for all her supplies in cash and she turned off her cell phone. She bought a burner phone in case of emergencies but had yet to use that even though she knew it could never be traced.

Harley drove to Shenandoah, where she had an appointment with her new OB/GYN, and walked into the post office. She smiled sweetly as she walked up to the awkward young man behind the desk.

"Excuse me young man, but I'm hoping that you can help me," Laurel said optimistically.

"Sure, ma'am, what can I do for you today?" The young man asked giving Harley a smile of his own.

"Well this will probably seem very strange, but I was wondering, is there a way to send someone a letter from a different postmark?" Harley asked with a chuckle.

"That's not a strange question at all ma'am and the answer is yes, there is actually a way to do just that. There is this great little site that you can visit that gives you all the details called , but if you don't want to go through all that hassle yourself I can do that for you right now if you'd like it only cost ten dollars," the young man replied with much enthusiasm.

"That would be great!" Harley said withdrawing the two envelopes from her purse and handing them to the man.

"Is there any place particular you'd like them to be sent from?" He asked taking the letters.

"Anywhere in the world is fine, as long as it's nowhere in Texas," Harley answered.

"Not trying to pry ma'am but why are you going through all this trouble?"

"It's a long story but let's just leave it at I'm not ready to face some things," Harley said with a lopsided smile, "thanks for taking care of this for me kid you're saving my hide for sure." Harley said smiling again at the boy.

"My pleasure ma'am and if you ever need anything like this done again don't hesitate to come in and ask for Arnold," he beamed at her.

"I'll do just that, Arnold, you have a good day now," Harley said pulling out a twenty and laying it on the counter before turning to leave.

"Ma'am wait, you forgot your change," Arnold said holding up a ten dollar bill.

"Keep it, you've earned it today," Harley said winking at him before walking out the door.


Harley sat in Dr. Devaruex's waiting area more nervous than she had ever been in her life. She rubbed her belly as she thought about how much better and calmer the experience would be if Mark were actually there with her, but knew that that was nothing but wishful thinking.

Harley sighed, Mark was probably at home with his hot new little number, the blonde bombshell, who was most likely catering to his every need, the way he doubtlessly wanted her to be able to do in their sort time together.

At just the thought of Mark and the things they did in their short time with one another Harley began to blush. No, Mark wasn't her first but she had never experienced anything close to what she and Mark had shared and would continue to share in the form of their child, even though Mark would never know about him or her.

Harley was still lost in her own thoughts when the nurse called for her to follow her into the back offices.

"How are you today Ms. Cooper? I'm Tanya I'm Dr. Devaruex's nurse. I'll be checking your vitals and getting all of your information before "Dr. D" makes her way in here to examine you," the nurse said as she had Harley take a seat so that she could get her blood pressure and sugar levels.

"I'm doing very well thank you for asking," Harley said as the suction cup gradually tightened around her bicep.

"I couldn't help but notice your smile and umm, blush as you sat in the waiting area, where you reminiscing about the events that got you here today?" Tanya asked bluntly which caused another blush to stain Harley's cheeks.

"I umm, well yes, yes I was actually," Harley admitted shyly.

"Will the father be joining us? You know you can find out the baby's gender today if you would like to, you know so you know whether to shop blue or pink," Tanya said with a smile as she removed the blood pressure cup from Harley's arm.

"I honestly hadn't thought about whether I wanted to know or not," Harley said stepping up onto the scale so that Tanya could weigh her. Harley grimaced when she saw the number that appeared, one sixty-eight, she had gained over fifteen pounds since she had last weighed herself. She knew it was pregnancy weight but the number still made Harley cringe.

"Well you don't have to find out today you can wait until your next appointment and maybe your husband can join you and you can find out together," Tanya said as she handed Harley a gown to change into, "here slip this on and hop up on the exam table. "Dr. D" should be in with you shortly," Tanya said before closing the file folder and walking out of the exam room.

Harley didn't get the chance to tell Tanya that she had no husband and that there would be no happy reveal about the sex of their baby, but that didn't matter at the moment. The only thing that mattered to Harley was hearing the doctor tell her that everything was fine with her baby. As long as she heard those words today nothing could bring her down.


"Mark, I may have something," Sam Hunt said the second Mark answered his phone.

"Don't get my hopes up again, Sam, what ya got?" Mark asked anxiously.

"We got a partial on a license plate. My guy couldn't make out the last two numbers but it's better than what we had yesterday," Sam said.

"Where?"

"North Carolina, now if it's her she was spotted at a local grocery store, but she still hasn't been to see any of her family," Sam told Mark.

"Keep me updated, Sam, any information you get, I don't care how minuet, you call me, got it?" Mark asked.

"Yeah man I got it, I hate to say this Mark, but your woman is good! No one avoids me for this long," Sam said with a nervous chuckle.

"Well she can't avoid the world forever she has to reappear sometime and when she does I know you'll be there to bring her back to me," Mark said hopefully.

"I'm doing all that I can man," Sam said.

"Yeah well, do more!" Mark said before disconnecting the call, "Dammit Harley, where the hell are you?" Mark said into the air as he looked down at the picture of Harley, Laurel, Shawn and himself that they had taken together one night at dinner. "Come home to me darlin', just please come home."


A/N: If you notice the "book cover" for this fic I want it to be known that "Harley" is a randomly selected googled red headed blue eyed woman, who when I saw her I said..."That's Harley Cooper!" :)