The moment Harper stepped into her dad's world, she'd been prepared to endure the awkward attempts of bonding and conversations that were more forced than authentic. She'd anticipated that she would hate every second of her two-week stay with him and told herself she would handle it like she did everything else in life – with her walls firmly up. She didn't bet on how naturally Ryan fit into her life. There were no grand gestures that were meant to bribe her like she'd expected. Just a laid-back attitude that made everything feel easy.
It had irritated her at first, that carefree demeanor of his. The casual way he would talk to her, and treat her like she was no different than a friend. But that was just part of his charm — the way he would make sarcastic jokes to lighten the mood, the casual dinners where they'd load up on takeout, and the way he'd call her "kid" as if she'd been in his life all along. And then there were the car rides where he'd blast music and the way he'd give her advice without it feeling like a lecture.
The walls she'd so carefully constructed to keep him at arm's length had cracked. She'd let him in without even realizing she was doing it.
Now, sitting in the passenger seat, Harper's attention was focused out the window as the familiar streets zipped by. The music that flowed through the speakers did little to distract her though it did fill the silence between her and Ryan. Each mile brought her closer to her foster home. The excitement she felt about seeing them again was mixed with an anxiety that settled heavily in her chest.
Because what she felt was guilt.
Guilt for going into those two weeks with the belief that she could endure it and move on without a second thought when instead, she'd left Ryan's feeling like she'd opened a door she couldn't close.
After everything her foster parents had done for her, she didn't know how she could tell them that she hadn't hated the last two weeks.
It felt as if she was choosing one family over the other. And one of them would lose.
Harper let out a sigh, hoping that the ultimate decision wouldn't be left up to her because it would be a cruel twist of fate if the system decided to let her make the choice.
As they turned onto her street, Harper's thoughts returned to the present and her gaze shifted from the window back to the road. A smile tugged at her lips at the familiar two-story house that stood on a slight incline; a place she never thought could be anything more than a temporary home when Shane first dropped her off at the end of May. What had started as another foster home had quickly morphed into a place where she belonged and was genuinely cared for. A rarity for someone in the system where kind words and gestures were nonexistent.
"Excited to be back?" Ryan asked as he slowed the car down in the driveway. A smile rested on his face as he looked at her with more understanding than she'd expected. This couldn't be easy for him either, she realized – to say goodbye even if it was just for two weeks.
"Yeah." Her voice came out softer than she intended. There was so much she wanted to say but couldn't put any of it into words. Instead, she settled for a simple, "Thanks. You know, for everything."
Ryan's smile grew. "Anytime. And hey, don't forget that we're grabbing dinner next week."
Harper nodded. "Next week," she said, the small promise giving her something to hold onto. She reached for the door handle before turning back to him. "And don't cook anything while I'm gone, okay? I won't be there to put the fire out."
He let out a laugh, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "I can't make any promises, but I'll try to avoid any major kitchen disasters."
"Good. I kinda want to see your house still standing when I come back," Harper said.
Rolling his eyes, he looked out the window to where the front door opened and her foster family stepped out onto the porch. "Looks like you were missed," he commented with a smile, nodding in their direction.
A smile tugged at her lips when she noticed them, the realization of how much she missed them hitting her like a punch. She'd talked to them daily and saw Lucas at school all the time but it wasn't the same. Not like this. Not like being home. Her smile faded as she looked over at Ryan, the guilt creeping back in.
It was surreal that the girl who'd been bounced from one miserable home to the next was now pulled between two homes — both of which she felt an incredible pull towards.
Ryan nodded toward her foster family as if to say Go on.
Taking a steadying breath, she tried to quiet the chaos that swirled in her mind before reaching for the handle. She reminded herself that she didn't need to have everything figured out, and didn't have to force herself to choose between one family and the other.
For now, she had them both.
And she planned to hold onto them for as long as she could.
Harper barely made it to the porch before Cole barreled into her with a force that almost knocked her over. Laughing, she returned his hug. "Did you miss me or something?" She asked, her voice teasing.
"Maybe a little," Cole said with a shrug, a sheepish smile on his face as he stepped back. "So, how was it? Was your dad as horrible as you thought he was? Did you get lost in his ridiculously big house? "
His rapid-fire questions had Harper smiling at the familiarity of it all. He was never one to hold back, always voicing his most intrusive and not-so-subtle questions. It didn't matter that he overstepped boundaries or dug into deeply personal topics. Cole had a way of asking things without feeling like he was being too nosey. He was just genuinely curious.
Just as she was about to reply, Olivia and Lucas appeared by her side.
"Welcome back," Olivia said, wrapping her in a hug that expressed just how much she'd been missed. "Did you have a good time?"
"Yeah, it was… nice," she said slowly.
Lucas put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a side hug. "We missed you around here."
"I missed you, too," Harper said, letting her gaze travel to the house behind them before seeing Ryan hovering nearby. He gave her a reassuring smile as if he knew what was troubling her, and that made her feel even more guilty. Before she could say anything else, Olivia gave her arm a gentle squeeze before pulling Lucas toward Ryan. She watched as they talked, their voices a low hum of polite curiosity and friendly exchange. Harper didn't catch every word they said but she heard a few phrases like "adjusting well" and "taking things day by day" drift her way. While she couldn't piece together the whole conversation, she knew they were talking about her. A part of her felt uneasy knowing that, but she pushed that thought aside. After all, they were all on her side and this was nothing more than Ryan updating them on how the two weeks had gone.
"So…," Cole started, staring at her with that expectant look on his face. "Are you gonna tell me, or what?"
"Tell you what?" Harper asked as she turned her attention back to Cole, unable to stop the laugh that escaped her lips.
"Everything!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms wide for emphasis. "You've been gone for two weeks. That's, like, an eternity, you know. I need details, okay? Was it super awkward? Did he try to bribe you to like him? Or make you sit through some boring dad speech where he gave you life lessons?"
His dramatic flair was almost comical as he threw questions at her the moment they popped into his head. His unfiltered curiosity was both endearing and overwhelming, and it reminded her just how much she'd missed him. She shook her head, a smile on her face as she tried to find a pause where she could speak up. "It honestly wasn't like that. There were no bribes or cheesy speeches. Just… normal stuff."
"Normal? Come on, Harper, you've got to give me something better than that," Cole said, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Okay, fine," she said, rolling her eyes. "He makes a lot of bad jokes, and his music taste is definitely a bit questionable. My first day there, he almost set the kitchen on fire when he tried to make mac and cheese. He thought the instructions were more of a suggestion so he tried to wing it. So we've been sticking to take out, like, every day after that."
"He burned mac and cheese? But that's like…. How do you even mess that up?" Cole asked, his eyes wide with horror and delight.
"Honestly, I don't know," she said with a laugh, shrugging as she recalled the memory.
"So, what else? Does he have a bowling alley? Or like a secret lab with robot butlers?"
"Where do you even come up with this stuff?" Harper asked. "But, no. He doesn't have a secret lab. But he does have a car collection. Like he wanted to drive me to school in a Lamborghini. It's kinda insane."
"Sweet! That's pretty cool," Cole said, his eyes lighting up.
"Yeah, I guess," she admitted. "But I told him no. I mean, can you imagine me showing up to school in something like that?"
"Are you kidding? That's, like, the dream! Missed opportunity, Harper," he said.
"Yeah, well, I don't need people staring at me more than they already do," Harper said. "But, honestly? Ryan's pretty cool."
"So, what level of cool are we talking here? Like 'dad cool' where he's embarrassing but also kinda funny? Or the 'lets you stay up late and eat pizza for breakfast' type?"
A small laugh escaped her lips at Cole's over-the-top analysis, and she shook her head. "I don't know. I guess it's more of a mix. Like he's genuinely funny and easy to talk to. But he doesn't micromanage everything or force me to bond or whatever. He just tells me that he's there if I need him. It's kinda nice that he doesn't hover like that."
Cole crossed his arms, the smile slipping from his face as he processed her words. "So, you actually like him?"
Harper frowned at the way he phrased that question, like the very idea of her liking Ryan was some sort of betrayal. And perhaps it was, once again reigniting the guilt that hung over her like a dark cloud. "He's just not what I expected, you know?"
Cole nodded but his face twisted into part annoyance, part worry as he glanced away. He shifted from one foot to the other and muttered, "Oh, yeah. That's cool, I guess."
Tilting her head, she watched as he absentmindedly kicked at the porch. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Nothing," he said quickly. "It's just… whatever."
Harper opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get a word out, Olivia's voice cut through the moment. "Harper, come grab your bag and say bye to Ryan before he leaves."
She let out a small sigh as she glanced back at Cole, who was looking anywhere but at her. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was upset as his usual upbeat mood was completely gone now. Not knowing what to say, she reached out and ruffled his hair to which he half-heartedly said, "Hey!" as he swatted her hand away.
"I'll be right back," she told him.
"Yeah, whatever," he mumbled and turned towards the house.
Standing with Olivia and Lucas, Ryan leaned against the driver's side door. His hands were casually shoved into his pockets as he finished his conversation with them. He looked up as she approached, a smile tugging at his lips. "Ready for me to head out so you can have your big welcome home celebration?" He teased.
"Don't make it weird," she said, rolling her eyes.
"It's kinda my job to make things weird," Ryan said with a smirk.
"Yeah, well, you're doing a pretty good job," she replied, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips.
Ryan tilted his head. "You good, Harper?" he asked, the teasing tone gone as he studied her. The question was simple, but the weight behind it was anything but. He wasn't just asking about this moment but about everything.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harper answered with a nod. "So, uhm, thanks for everything."
"You already said that," he pointed out.
"I know, but I mean it," she said, her voice quieter but her words sincere. Twisting the bracelet around her wrist, she struggled with what else to say. These last two weeks had been a good kind of different, better than she could've imagined. "I mean, you didn't make it completely unbearable," she added with a smirk.
Ryan laughed. "That's pretty high praise," he admitted. "Well, I'll see you next week for dinner. And don't let Cole grill you too hard. Lucas told me that kid's got more questions than Google."
"Seriously, that's kinda accurate" she agreed with a laugh, though her smile faltered when she glanced back at the house. The porch was empty, the door closed and she could only assume that Cole was inside brooding somewhere. "He's already working on a conspiracy theory about robot butlers."
"Well, there's only one thing to do: buy a robot butler and prove him right," Ryan said with a chuckle. "Anyway, I should let you go unpack or whatever."
Harper nodded but hesitated for a moment as if deciding on something important. Before she could think twice, she stepped forward and gave him a quick hug, catching him off guard. It wasn't much but it felt like a big moment – a step forward for the both of them. When she pulled back, Ryan looked surprised but his usual teasing grin was replaced with something more genuine.
"I'll see you next week," she told him.
"Can't wait," Ryan said, climbing into his car. The engine rumbled to life and, with a quick wave, he pulled out of the driveway.
She stood there for a moment longer and let out a slow breath. A mix of emotions swirled around her, ones that she couldn't make heads or tails of. When she turned back to the house, she found Olivia waiting for her, a warm smile on her face as she placed a hand on her shoulder. The gesture was light and comforting but there was something unspoken in how Olivia looked at her. Almost as if she knew what was going on inside her mind, of the guilty feelings that lingered beneath Harper's smile.
"How are you feeling?" Olivia asked as they reached the porch steps.
"Good. I'm glad to be home," she said.
"We're happy you're back," Olivia said before gently adding, "But you know it's okay if you like him, right? He is your dad."
Harper froze mid-step with her hand on the railing. The words were so gentle and understanding that they cut straight through her defenses. "I… I don't know what you mean," she said quickly.
Olivia's expression was patient but firm, the kind of look that said she wasn't buying the act. "I think you do. And I think you're beating yourself up because you feel guilty for letting him in."
Harper hesitated, unsure of how to reply. Olivia would know if she was lying but admitting that she was right also felt wrong. "But I just feel like I'm, I don't know, betraying you and Lucas. And Cole. Like it somehow means that I'm choosing him over you guys. But I'm not. I swear, I'm not."
Without a word, Olivia wrapped her arms around her in a hug that was both grounding and comforting. "Harper, no one's asking you to pick between us and your dad. You're allowed to love both of us, and you're allowed to want him in your life. But, no matter what, you have a home here."
Harper leaned into the comfort that Olvia's hug provided, though the knot in her chest refused to loosen fully. She let her words sink in – words she didn't realize she'd needed to hear. "It's just… I didn't expect to like him," she admitted quietly. "And I don't know what to do with that."
Olivia pulled back slightly, her hands resting on her shoulders as she met her eyes. "You don't have to do anything with it right now."
Harper wanted to believe what Olivia was saying – that she didn't have to figure out where she fit between these two worlds. The ultimate decision would be left up to the court, but even that cast a long shadow over her thoughts. It felt like a lose-lose situation no matter what happened.
"No matter what happens or what the court decides, it doesn't change how much we love you. This is still your home, and you don't stop being part of this family just because someone else comes into your life," Olivia said, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
Harper let out a shaky breath but nodded. "Thanks, Olivia."
Olivia smiled and motioned towards the door. "Come on, let's get inside. Dinner will be ready soon, and Lucas made enough food for a small army."
When she stepped inside, the warmth of the house was like a second hug. For a moment, she forgot about all her troubles and the custody battle. She was just happy to be home where everything was familiar and safe.
But the moment Harper crossed the threshold, the energy shifted into something tense. The TV was playing in the background, and she could just make out Cole dramatically sprawled out on the couch in the living room. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest and his gaze was fixed stubbornly on the TV but it was obvious he wasn't paying attention. Every few seconds, he let out a frustrated huff that would've been comical if she didn't know that was code that said covering was bothering him.
"He doesn't hate you. He's just… he missed you, that's all," Olivia said gently. "He's still trying to figure all of this out."
Harper nodded but she wasn't convinced. Something was bothering him, and she knew him long enough to recognize that his dramatic huffing and sulking weren't just about missing her. "I'll talk to him," she said before stepping into the living room. She winced at the loudness of the TV, and lowered the volume a bit so she wouldn't have to shout. "Hey. What's going on?"
"Nothing," Cole said quickly.
"Yeah, okay," she said, rolling her eyes as she sat down on the armrest. "So is that why you're sitting in the dark by yourself and moping?"
"I'm not moping!" He snapped, his angry tone uncharacteristic for him.
Harper frowned, a sigh escaping her lips. "Cole, come on. Something's wrong. Just… talk to me."
Cole sat up and turned to her with a glare that was part frustration and part hurt. "You weren't supposed to like him!" He shouted. "You were supposed to come home and tell us that you hated it there and you never want to go back. You were supposed to tell us that he's the biggest asshole ever. But you didn't. You liked it. And him."
Harper blinked. "It's not like that."
"Yeah, it is! You like him, and now the court's gonna make you live with him. You're gonna leave us after promising you wouldn't," Cole said, the words rushing out of him.
"We don't know what the court's gonna decide yet."
Cole rolled his eyes. "He's your dad, Harper. He wants you to live with him, and you like him so obviously they're gonna side with him. And it doesn't help that you're picking him over us."
"Hey," she said, sitting down beside him but he looked away. She nudged him, forcing him to look at her. "I'm not picking him over you. That's not how this works."
"So why do you like him?" He demanded.
Harper sighed, unsure of how to answer or form her thoughts into words that wouldn't make it seem as if she was choosing Ryan over her foster family. She wasn't choosing anyone — if she had it her way, she wouldn't choose at all. But how could she make Cole understand when he already thought she had one foot out the door?
"It's complicated, okay? Trust me, I wanted to hate him but… I don't know. I got to know him, and he's not who I thought he'd be," Harper said.
Cole rolled his eyes. "What, you'd thought he'd be some evil villain or something?"
"Something like that," Harper said with a tentative smile. "But he's not. He actually cares, Cole. And he's trying. Like really trying. Not because someone's making him or telling him to fight for me. It's like he actually wants to be in my life and no one has ever done that before. No one's ever fought for me," she admitted.
"Mom and dad are! They want you to be in this family, Harper. And so do I but now you're just gonna leave us. You're gonna pick him because he's your real dad. Like, actually. And we're just… we're not. You could just walk away from us," Cole said, looking away as he slumped back against the cushions.
"Cole, stop! I'm not leaving, okay? It'll be months before the court even decides anything, and even if they tell me to live with him it doesn't mean I'll be gone forever. I'll still be around. I mean, you guys are the first real family I've ever had, and I'm not just gonna forget that. You're not gonna lose me," she said, keeping her voice firm as if that alone would make him believe her.
"You promise?" Cole asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, I promise," she said without hesitation.
Cole stared at her for a long moment, his expression still guarded as if he didn't fully believe her yet. "You better mean it," he said with a sigh, looking down at his hands.
"I do," Harper said, the conviction clear in her voice. Smiling, she reached out and ruffled his hair again but instead of swatting her hand away, he let out a dramatic groan.
"Stop doing that. You're worse than dad," he mumbled but a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Harper laughed softly, glad that some of the tension was easing. They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the earlier conversation lingering but it wasn't as heavy as before. It would never completely dissipate but she knew it wasn't something they had to figure out now.
"Hey, dinner's ready," Olivia said as she poked her head into the room.
Cole jumped up at the mention of food, his earlier moodiness momentarily forgotten. "Finally! I'm starving," he said, running towards the dining room without a second glance.
Harper shook her head with a laugh as she followed behind. The familiarity of being home, of a home-cooked meal waiting for her was something she never took for granted even after all these months. She knew how quickly things could change, how nothing was ever set in stone for someone like her. It could all change in the blink of an eye, and there would be nothing she could do about it.
The custody battle certainly wasn't ideal but at least she knew she was wanted. That thought alone brought a bittersweet kind of comfort to her. For the first time in her life, there were people fighting to give her the stability and family she'd always longed for. Having always been a temporary place setting in someone's life, she now found herself with two families who wanted her. The feeling of being wanted was unfamiliar, even after all these months – to know that she wasn't just a responsibility or an obligation but someone who actually mattered. Because of that, she feared that she would disappoint one of them. She'd never been the center of anyone's life, just an afterthought to people who claimed they'd care for her. But now she was at the heart of two families and pulled in two opposite directions.
As she followed Cole to the dining room, she reminded herself of what Olivia had said earlier: that she didn't have to figure everything out right now. For now, she had a home to return to and people who cared about her. It was enough.
The familiar warmth of home wrapped around her like a comforting blanket as she lingered at the edge of the dining room. Harper watched as Lucas set a dish of vegetables on the table, his expression relaxed as he exchanged easy conversation with Olivia, who was pouring glasses of iced tea. Cole, already seated, sneaked a roll from the bread basket earning him a playful swat on the hand from Olivia and a look of mock disapproval. The faint clatter of dishes and the gentle hum of chatter and laughter blended into a comforting melody – a soundtrack of home she hadn't realized just how much she'd missed.
Olivia glanced up, catching Harper watching from the doorway. A knowing smile spread across her face as she gestured for her to join them. "Come on, Harper, dinner's getting cold," she said, her voice warm and inviting.
Harper smiled back and slid into her seat between Cole and Olivia, the faint scape of her chair against the floor blending into the sounds of home.
Cole nudged her arm, a mischievous grin on his face. "So did you bring me back anything cool?"
"Like what?" Harper asked, arching an eyebrow as she reached for a roll. "Did you want me to smuggle you some fancy sports car or something?"
"Obviously," Cole said. "But a robot butler would've been cool, too."
"Yeah, because I totally had room in my bag for that," she said with a laugh.
Lucas chuckled from across the table. "What would you even do with a robot butler?"
"Uhm, everything!" He said as he shoveled food into his mouth. "Like… get it to do my homework and clean my room. Oh! And definitely sneak me snacks after mom says I've had enough."
"Yeah, I can see it now — your robot butler getting grounded for doing all your dirty work," Harper said with a laugh.
"Yeah, well, that's kinda the point," he deadpanned, shaking his head. "It would take the blame for me every time."
"Nice try, Cole," Olivia said. "But nothing will save you from doing your chores."
"Or homework," Lucas added with an entertained smile. "No shortcuts in this house, I'm afraid."
Cole frowned, slumping back in his seat with a loud sigh. "You guys are seriously the worst! Can't a kid even dream?"
"You know the robot would quit after taking one look at your room, right? Even robot butlers have some kind of standard," Harper said before taking a sip of her drink.
"Really?" Cole frowned, an exaggerated look of betrayal crossing his face. "You were supposed to have my back."
"I do," Harper told him, nodding. "I mean, if I didn't, would I have brought you an advanced copy of that one video game you're kinda obsessed with?"
Cole's fork dropped to the plate, the food sliding off onto the floor but he didn't notice. He blinked slowly, his eyes wide as he took in her words. "Galaxy Raiders? Are you kidding me?" His laugh was almost maniacal as he did a little dance in his seat. "That games so fu —" Clearing his throat, he shot his mom an innocent smile. "It's so freaking cool! I can't believe you got it. How?"
Harper clamped a hand over her mouth to stop the laughter threatening to bubble out. "Ryan kinda knows a guy. He thought you might like it."
"Uhh, duh. Of course, I like it!" Cole threw his arms around her for a quick hug before straightening back up, a light blush creeping up his face. "Let's go play! I can't wait to kick your butt."
"Finish your dinner first, Cole," Lucas said just as Cole pushed his chair back. "Then you can go and play."
Cole sat back down in the seat, his expression sour as he sighed dramatically. "Fine."
Harper laughed softly, shaking her head as Cole dug into his food with lightning speed, eager to finish. "Slow down, you're gonna choke."
Cole shrugged, shoveling food into his mouth as if his life depended on it. In between bites, he mumbled something incoherent that sounded vaguely like, "Worth it."
"Chew, Cole. The game's not going anywhere, you know," Olivia said, shooting him a pointed look.
"It wouldn't kill you to show some table manners," Lucas added with a disapproving shake of his head. "Or we could just have Harper take the game back if you don't slow down."
Cole froze mid-bite, his eyes widening in alarm. "You wouldn't."
"Try me," she said as she leaned back in her seat. "I carried it here, I can take it back. And I kinda want you to not choke on your food."
Cole straightened up, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Okay, fine. You win. Please don't take it back," he said, his voice unusually formal as he took slow bites of his food. His eyes darted to the clock on the wall every few seconds but he kept a slow pace as dinner continued.
The conversation picked up automatically, filled with stories and the occasional teasing. Right here, at this moment, Harper felt at home. Worries about the custody battle were still there but more distant, and she let herself not worry about what could happen. Instead, she chose to focus on the present, letting herself sink into the moment.
As the meal wound down, Cole all but launched out off the seat. Olivia shot him a warning glance, but her smile betrayed her amusement. He raced out of the dining room, his excited laughter echoing down the hall. "Harper! Get your butt in here!"
"Be right there," she said, taking another moment to appreciate this for what it was — a stable, happy family. Whatever the future held, she'd deal with it. But for now, she was exactly where she needed to be.
≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I missed the Hudson's so much that I thought they deserved their own chapter. Hopefully, you agree!
Next chapter we'll see Harper interacting with her friends so stay tuned. Because next week is a holiday weekend, I'm not a hundred percent sure if I'll post a chapter. But we'll see. If anything, check my profile for updates.