Maybe her misgivings would fade as Axel proved himself and his love. Surely, with time, her hesitation and uncertainty would disappear. That was what her mother had told her, anyway. They’d talked last night for an unusually long time and Pearl had said that anyone who’d been through what Harper had in the past year would be cautious and feel a little burned. It was natural.

But Pearl didn’t know about Tobias and how often Harper thought of him. It had been so difficult not to call him.

That was the relationship she felt like resurrecting.

“What are you doing?” Karoline asked, poking her head into Harper’s room on Saturday morning, only four days before Christmas.

Harper hadn’t joined the rest of the family for breakfast. She’d gotten hung up watching Axel’s latest concert on her phone. “Just watching some video clips of the tour on YouTube,” she told her sister.

“How’s Axel doing?”

“Fabulous. As always.” Axel was a magnificent performer. Watching him stirred old feelings, so she’d been viewing a lot of his concerts and videos the past few days. He had a great voice, but it wasn’t just that; it was the way he moved onstage and how he interacted with the audience.

Folding her arms, Karoline leaned against the doorjamb. “Have you decided what you’re going to get him for Christmas?”

“He’s missed so much of the past year, I thought I’d put together a scrapbook of the kids—a small one he can take with him when he travels. You can make them online and they send them in the mail, bound and professional-looking.”

“Something sentimental would be smart. I’d say you’ve come up with just the right thing.”

At any rate, it was all she felt like getting him, so she was satisfied with her decision. But she couldn’t help noticing how restrained Karoline had become whenever she spoke of him.

“You don’t think I should get back with him, do you,” Harper said, opening herself up for her sister’s frank opinion even though she was afraid that would be a mistake.

“Honestly?”

“Are you ever anything but honest?” Harper asked dryly.

Her sister shrugged. “Not usually. But I admit I’m trying to be careful here. I just want you to be happy. If that means you get back with Axel, then I’m all for it.”

Surprised by her sister’s response, Harper smiled. Apparently, Karoline didn’t know everything, although it seemed like it at times. “Thanks for that.”

She gestured toward the kitchen. “Are you going to come out for breakfast? The girls are almost done.”