Chapter One

HARPER*

My foster mom, Sarah, shakes her head with a sigh escaping her throat. “I wish you would stay here and let us pay for your tuition fees.” She sighs again as she sits on my bed and continues to rant in displeasure at me going so far away on the road alone. 

There are no funds available for my foster parents to cover my tuition fees. They would go into debt to help me. I could not allow that to happen. I’m an adult now, and need to devise a plan to attend college and cover the cost on my own.

“Explore the option of getting an apartment nearby. That way, if anything happens, we could be there to help you as soon as possible.”

Tears slip from her eyes as she watches me pack up the last of my belongings. Sarah is the only mother-figure I have ever known. My birth mother died during childbirth. Father raised me alone until a fatal hunting accident occurred. He survived the initial attack from being mauled by a bear, but died a few days after. I will always remember the last moments with him before he passed away, as if it were yesterday.

He had urged me to remain resilient and independent. Cautioned me to steer clear of men who would take control of my independence. ‘Take the money I have for you and allocate it carefully,’ he had said. ‘Have a future where you answer to nobody by assailing and attending college. Strive for greatness, Harper. When you feel you are all alone in this life. My spirit will always be with you. You’re like a bird, never wanting to stay in one place. You are perpetually on the move, so choose your profession wisely. Journey and explore the globe.’

I recorded our conversations on my cell phone. Sarah and Juan uploaded each one onto thumb drives. I had taken those and written them verbatim into diaries. Which I reflect on often, and they bring me peace. I was so lucky to have spent only four days in a home for orphaned children before Sarah and Juan rescued me. I hated leaving them now after the four years of love, comfort, and stability they have given me. The time has arrived for me to leave and go out on my own into the world, though. Where was I heading? I have no clue. But I have the entire summer after turning eighteen to figure that out. I received acceptance letters to multiple colleges throughout the United States. I hope to travel this summer and inspect them all before deciding where to set up roots. My foster parents wanted to come with me for the road trip, so we could have one last family trip before I left for college. After multiple debates about the topic. I persuaded them it was something I needed and wanted to do alone.

I couldn’t keep from glancing over at Sarah while packing toiletries into my overnight bag. I’m going to miss her and Juan so much. With effort, I bit back the tears that burned behind my eyes as they forced their way through. I closed my eyes, hoping the tears would disappear. When I opened them, tears streamed down my cheeks to my chin, anyway, despite my efforts.

“Take a seat, dear, and let’s chat for a moment,” Sarah says, shoving the suitcase I was packing aside. She gestures for me to join her and I comply, plopping down next to her with a huff.

“This is your home, sweetheart. It has to be said, we could never have children of our own. You may not be our blood, but you are our daughter. That remains the same now that you are eighteen and going off on your own. I want daily calls from you to confirm you are alright. Some post cards and snapshots of your travels would be nice as well. When you find a place to call home, let us help you get settled,” Sarah says, wiping away my tears.

“Let’s go fix your makeup,” she suggests while standing, and holds her hand out to me.

***

“Please remember to…”

“Carry my pepper spray. Don’t worry, mom, I’ll be alright.”

“What do you do if you are being manhandled?” Juan asked as he opened and inspected the motor of my vehicle.

“If I can’t get to my pepper spray fast enough, I’ll taekwondo their ass,” I reply while making some quick martial arts moves, and we all laugh in unison.

“All right, sweetheart, make sure you always have a full gas tank. You are so bad about running on empty. If you need money or anything else, promise me you will call us right away,” mom explains, embracing me.

“Let her go, dear. I need a hug too before she leaves,” dad says, pulling me from mom and embracing me.

***

It’s been over a month since I started my journey across the United States. Working as a waitress enabled me to buy food at night, and I’ve been living out of my car. It’s not the most comfortable place to rest my head. But I’m determined to do all that’s needed; so I don’t tap into the funds my father set up for me before he died. Every time I have walked into a restaurant, I always asked to talk to a manager to ask for temporary employment so I could eat. Not once has anyone turned me away. If I had any additional funds after I put gas in my car. Then I would indulge in a budget-friendly hotel room so I could clean up before hitting the highway once more.

Upon my arrival at the University of Austin, the staff refused to provide me with a walk-through. In response, I scheduled an appointment for Monday. However, it was only Thursday, so I had to find both work and a place to stay until then. This situation is frustrating because I will have to use my college fund to cover these unexpected expenses. Unfortunately, I cannot afford accommodations in Austin. Given these circumstances, I decided to go back to a town called Georgetown that I had passed on my way to Austin.

It was a thirty-minute drive to arrive back in Georgetown. I’ve been sitting in front of this cafe for a while now, trying to get up the nerve to go in and speak to a manager. The lunch rush had dwindled because it was nearing three in the afternoon. So if they allow me to work, I would have to return around five. If that happened, I would need to find something to do to kill some time. Taking a deep breath, I check myself out in the mirror before exiting my car and walking into the diner.

As I stepped inside the establishment, a beautiful, kind-hearted girl who seemed to be my age caught my eye. Her flowing brunette hair, tied in a ponytail, accentuated her charm. Her captivating green eyes shimmered, instantly captivating me. Taking on the role of a hostess, she greeted me with a dazzling smile, her voice exuding genuine warmth. “Hello there! Will anyone be joining you?” Her friendly inquiry filled the air, creating a comforting and relaxing atmosphere. I couldn’t help but feel fortunate that I didn’t have to search for someone. It was a stroke of luck that seldom came my way.

‘You’ve got this, Harper. Just do what you’ve already done several times before.’

“To be honest, I’m not here to eat. But I need to speak to a manager about temporary employment, please.”

“You are in luck. Tabby will be excited to have you here. One of our waitresses fell ill with a cold or something and will be out for a few days. Wait here and I’ll go see if I can find her.”

I felt a surge of joy as she hurried towards the rear of the building. It seemed like divine intervention was at play today. It felt like God had guided me to this town and this cafe. I explored the whole town, finding many other restaurants and cafes, but this one gave me the most promising vibes. The town itself was beautiful, with lakes and parks scattered around. Yes, I would have to endure a thirty-minute drive to school every day if I stayed here, but if everything fell into place, I would gladly make the sacrifice. The commute would definitely be worth it in the beautiful town of Georgetown.

A moment later, the girl who had welcomed me at the door returned to me with another woman who looked to be in her late twenties. “Hi there. My name is Tabitha. Tenley said you were searching for short-term employment. I need a waitress to work tonight’s shift. If you could work from 4 to 8, that would be wonderful. Uh, Saturday and Sunday as well, would be nice. Goodness! I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s backtrack, shall we? Do you have any experience with waitressing?”

I held in my urge to giggle. This woman before me was so full of spunk, but she seemed scatterbrained.

“Ma’am, my experience is extensive. I worked at a cafe in a small town in New Jersey for three years as a waitress. I have also been working at random restaurants for a month now, while traveling and visiting colleges.”

“Are you considering attending the University of Texas?” Tabitha asked, glancing at Tenley. “Tenley has been attending there for three years now, and she loves it. Inheriting this cafe from my grandmother has kept me from enrolling in college. If given the chance, I will go there. Oh, my goodness. I got off track again. Tenley, tell me to shut up; why don’t ya?”

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t help but burst out in laughter, and Tabitha and Tenley joined in. I can tell that I am going to have the most amazing time working here.

After we had all calmed down from our laughing fit, I replied, “I’ve only been in Georgetown an hour, but if I enjoy the college, I may stay here, instead of finding somewhere to stay in Austin. Georgetown is so breathtaking. I had originally planned to leave after my walkthrough with the University of Austin on Monday, but this place is way too beautiful to leave.”

“That would be wonderful if you stayed. I am always in need of help around here. We keep busy during the summer with tourists passing through to get to Austin.”

“You said I could return at four, right?”

“Three-thirty would be best, so I can give you a tour before we get swamped again.”

“Thank you so much. You will help me out a great deal. I’ll be back soon.”

***

The number of customers eating inside the cafe is insane. Back when I worked at a small town restaurant in New Jersey, it was never as busy as this. I’ve never been in a place with such a crowd before. Tenley was supposed to leave at six, but she hasn’t left yet. I guess she feels bad for Casey and me. I’m thankful she’s still here, though.

Tenley blows away some stray hairs that had fallen into her face and shakes her head. “Alright guys. I can help you for an hour or until my brother arrives. Which ever one comes first. I have little energy left. But I’m not gonna leave you two stranded, with it being so busy tonight.”

“Your brother is so handsome!” Casey moans, closing her eyes. Then directs her gaze back to Tenley. “It’s almost impossible for me to keep my composure when he strolls in with those fancy suits on.”

Tenley shrinks away in revulsion. “Seriously, Casey! He’s my brother. Don’t go there,” she says, then leaves to take care of a group of guests.

“Girl, you’ll see what I’m talking about. Her brother will make you get all wet in your nether regions,” Casey says, scampering away.

“All right, girls. My brother has arrived, which means I am now a customer,” Tenley says, putting down her order pad and pen. She then takes off her apron and disappears through the door, heading to the break room.

Casey reaches out and clutches my elbow. “Oh geez! He’s seated in your area. Is it alright if I switch with you until they have left?”

“Tenley wouldn’t like that, and I don’t want to upset her. Better luck next time.”

I was busy submitting an order and didn’t notice when Tenley’s brother arrived. I waited for her to come back from the break room. Eventually, I followed her to the booth where her brother was sitting. As soon as I reached the booth, time seemed to stand still. The most enchanting hazel-green eyes I had ever seen captivated me. I realized then why Casey was out of sorts.