“We weren’t friends, but we’d worked together for years, and I didn’t want him to be alone,” Brian said. “When the rescue team finally came, they had to lift up the pallet to get him out. All his organs had squished out to the sides. You could see his intestines smashed to the bottom of the pallet, dangling off like a dead worm.”

“Oh, my gosh, Dad.” Harper grimaced. “Why are you telling me this?”

“I’m not telling you to gross you out,” he assured her. “The point I’m making is that it was gruesome. Somehow, the pallet sitting on him was keeping him alive, I guess, because as soon as they lifted it, he died.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, since she didn’t know what else to say.

“I had nightmares about it for weeks afterwards. You could have asked your mother about it, if she still remembered.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “I was a grown man when that happened, and it was just a freak accident. Nobody had been murdered or left to rot in the trees, and it still messed me up for a while.”

“Dad.” She sighed and leaned back in her seat.

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, honey,” Brian said gently. “But I do know that you are going through something. And it’s okay to admit it. It’s okay to be hurt and scared sometimes.”

“I know. But I’m okay.”

“I know you don’t always want to talk to me, but I hope you’re talking to somebody.” He took a sip from his coffee. “Are you going over to Alex’s today?”

“No, Gemma’s over there.”

“So? He’s your friend, too. You can be around him when Gemma is.”

“I know, but…” She shrugged.

“You can still be his friend even though he has a girlfriend.” Brian paused. “Is Gemma his girlfriend?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Kinda, I think.”

“Hmm.” He furrowed his brow. “I guess there could be worse boys than Alex.”

“Yes, there could,” she agreed.

“What about you?”

“What about me what?”

“Are you seeing anybody?”

“Dad,” Harper groaned and got up from the table.

“Harper,” Brian groaned back.

“Why is everybody so interested in my love life all of a sudden?” She went over to the fridge and grabbed the orange juice. “Not that I have one. Because I don’t.” Pouring herself a glass of juice, she muttered, “I don’t like anybody.”

“Everybody’s interested in your love life?” Brian asked. “Who’s everybody?”

“I don’t know. You. Alex.” She squirmed and gulped down the juice so she wouldn’t have to say more. “I know it’s Saturday, but I don’t think I’m going to see Mom today.”

“Okay.”