#bfp1

Harlow had been working on the same details in her latest portrait commission, trying to capture the glint in their eyes just right, and she could feel the familiar ache of overworking beginning to grow between her shoulders. And then, as if on cue, she heard the lyrical tune of the doorbell echoing through the house.

“I’ll be there in a second!”

She dropped her brush onto the sheet below the easel and hurriedly wiped at a smudge of paint on the side of her forearm before making her way to the front door. As she walked, she wondered if maybe Michael had left work early, but when she opened the door she was faced with a total stranger.

“Is Michael here? I was told that this is where he lives now.”

“No, I’m sorry, he’s at work. Are you a friend of his? You’re welcome to come in and wait for him, he shouldn’t be long.”

The woman followed her into the kitchen and took a seat at the barstool. In hindsight, Harlow realised that inviting a stranger into their home wasn’t something people did outside Selvadorada, but Michael would be home before long.

“Can I get you anything? Iced tea?”

“You really don’t know who I am, do you?”

The woman stared at Harlow, and Harlow could see in her eyes that the realisation that she was a stranger to Harlow had hurt her. Maybe they’d met at a party after a few drinks? Harlow was terrible putting faces to names.

“I’m sorry, I… Are you a friend of his parents?”

She looked down at her lap, and Harlow could see the slow patter of tears begin to darken her jeans before she looked back up at Harlow and forced a half-smile.

“I guess you could say that. I’m his sister, Anna.”

Harlow felt as though her stomach had dropped through to the floor. 

“His sister? He never -”

“Never mentioned me? I suppose he never mentioned our brother, either? His niece and nephews?”

Anna crossed her arms, as though she was trying to hold herself together, but Harlow could hear the breaking in her voice when she spoke, and she knew that wouldn’t be enough. She had to help fix this, whatever happened.

“Whatever happened, I’m sure we can work it out when Michael gets home?”

“He has been shutting us out of his life for years. If it wasn’t for that show you met on, I don’t think he’d have even started talking to our parents again. He’s always wanted so badly to be his own person and we always tried to give him space, only now he doesn’t even respond when we reach out to him. And then to find out from a magazine that my little brother is getting married? I just… I wanted to come here, to confront him, but I don’t even know if that would matter. I don’t think we matter to him anymore.”

And with that, any strength Katherine still had to hold herself together was gone and she was inconsolable, every wrenching sob tugging at Harlow’s heartstrings. She walked over and wrapped her arms around her, feeling a tear of her own slide down her cheek.

“I’m so, so sorry. I’m sure there’s an explanation for all of this. Would you like to stay for dinner? He’ll be home soon, and we can sit down and -”

“You’re sweet, Harlow. And my brother is lucky to have you. But finding out that he wants to spend his life with you and hasn’t even mentioned us? It’s made it clear that we have no place in his future. And I will always love him, no matter what, but I can’t keep putting myself through this. I’m sorry, I have to go.”

She was on her feet and out of the house in an instant, and Harlow was left to try and make sense of everything she’d said. And, more importantly, to work out how to ask the love her life why he kept so much of his life secret all this time.

“How many dresses are you making me try on exactly? You know I only need one, right?”

Harlow had been watching Maritza flit back and forth amongst the racks for twenty minutes and the ‘to try’ rack was almost at capacity.

“Yeah, I know, but you need to get an idea of what you like. I mean, aren’t his parents some wealthy, famous, business people? Won’t they have some high expectations?”

“I don’t think so? I mean, they’re always really well dressed but they’ve never seemed judge-y?”

“See! That’s why you’ve got to try on a bit of everything, see what you like, what you think they’ll like- “

“It’s not their wedding, Maz. And besides, they’re just thankful someone agreed to marry their son. But because I love you, I will humour you but no more than the forty-eight dresses you’ve already accumulated.”

“Deal.”

Harlow took a few of the dresses Maritza had picked out into a dressing room and started trying them on, stepping out between each dress for her friend to take a photo ‘for future reference’.

“Is everything okay?” Maritza’s voice floated over the dressing room door.

“Yeah, I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be?” Harlow replied, a little snappier than she intended.

“Because you’re in a cranky-ass mood, and you’ve been in the trying the same dress on for fifteen minutes. Tell me what’s up? And if it’s the way you look in that dress, trust me, the dress is to blame.”

“It’s just… You know the research trip I mentioned? Michael seems really odd about me going and I’m worried it’ll hurt him if I do go. But I want to do this.” Harlow stepped out of the dressing room and ran her hand threw her hair, flipping her fringe out of her eyes.

“Okay, first of all, you look amazing. Second, you love Michael – anyone can see that. And he loves you. You’re so perfect together, and so happy, I don’t see how two weeks apart will change that? You’ve got to have faith in the relationship you’ve built together.”

She knew Maritza was right, as she did tend to be, and decided that when Michael got home that night, she’d sit down with him and reassure him that while nothing would keep her from going back to Selvadorada, nothing could keep her from coming back to him.

Harlow was a little early to pick up Maritza, after using it as an excuse to bail on the conversation with Michael and browsed through wedding dresses on her phone while she waited.

“Surely you’re not dress shopping without me, Harlow Elizabeth.”

Harlow’s head shot up at hearing her best friend’s voice.

“Maritza! How was your flight!” She jumped up and pulled her friend into a tight embrace.

“It was a necessary evil, now that you live so far away.”

“I know, I know. But back to that dress shopping…” Harlow said with a wink, linking arms with Maritza and heading towards the carpark.

“Yes! You read my mind. But first, coffee!”

“You really proposed to make her reconsider a work vacation? You’re really something, Creech.”

Michael shook his head, leaning back against the counter in the break room.

“It’s not like that. I mean, yeah, I thought she’d get caught up in wedding planning and decide not to go but I’ve been wanting to ask for months now. I’m just… I’m worried that something will happen to her while she’s there. They say the temple she’ll be working in is close to ruin. Say it falls and she’s trapped there.”

He was worried about her safety, genuinely, but he knew he was kidding himself acting like her safety was the only factor. It took a long time for Harlow to decided to move away from Selvadorada and if her mother hadn’t fallen ill, she might never have left. He couldn’t help but wonder what she’d do if this trip made her realise just how much she missed it.

“I’m not even going to pretend I believe that. If you’re really so worried about her, I can give you the number of someone who’ll keep an eye on her while she’s there, you know, for a price.”

“I’m not paying a stranger to follow my fiancé, Nicholls.”

“Well, alright. Guess your only other option is to trust her.”

“Thanks for your expert insight.” Michel replied dryly. The only response from Nicholls was a crude gesture as he returned to work.

‘I’m going to trust her. She wouldn’t be marrying if she didn’t want to stay with me.’

He repeated the phrase in his head like a mantra as he muddled through his day and looking at her beautiful face beaming out at him on the frame on his desk had him feeling a little foolish. He’d had no reason to think she’d leave him, but he wanted to know that she would be safe.

He knew he’d kick himself for it later, but on his way out of the office he got the PI’s number from Nicholls and he made the call.

“How’s the future Mrs Creech this morning?”

Harlow smiled into her tea but was quick to retort as Michael kissed her on the top of her head on his way past.

“You know, I might keep my name. I always thought yours sounded like the noise a leaf makes when you step on it.”

Her comment made Michael laugh, but then his expression changed.

“You know, I still can’t tell when you’re being joking at times. You’re ever the enigma.”

“Oh, I was joking. About not changing my name, that is. I stand by what I said about your name.”

“You’re a riot. So, I was thinking maybe we could plan our wedding for the last weekend of spring? It’s so beautiful this year.

“I’ll be in Selvadorada that weekend? It’s right in the middle of the two weeks, and- “

“You’re still going?”

Harlow bit her lip. ‘Did he really propose just to get me to stay?’ She pushed the thought from her mind and forced a smile.

“Of course, I am, I’ve already told the curator that I’ll be there. What makes you think I changed my mind? This trip means a lot to me.”

She could see that Michael was thinking about what to say next, and she decided to interrupt before the conversation could escalate into an argument.

“Oh, I totally lost track of time. I promised Maritza I’d be there to pick her up from the airport. I love you!” and she turned on her heel and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts.

Harlow walked into the lounge right on 6pm and was surprised to see Michael already waiting, the man was perpetually late. She walked over to where he sat, but he stood before she reached him, looking frazzled but happy to see her.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been back here.” She said with a smile as Michael took her hand, “What made you feel like coming back?”

Michael used his free hand to gently brush her cheek before letting out a deep sigh.

“I was thinking, all last night, about how much my life has changed since we were last here and I just feel that maybe it’s time for it to change again, if you’ll have me.”

And with that, Michael got down on one knee and pulled a ring box from the pocket of his suit jacket.

“Yes, Michael! Yes!” Harlow couldn’t contain her excitement, or the tears of joy that had started to brim in her eyes.

“You don’t want to see the ring first?”

“That box could be empty, and my answer wouldn’t change.”

They spent the rest of the night laughing, flirting, and drinking a few too many glasses of rum. When they collapsed into bed at the end of the night, Harlow couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.

The next morning, Michael was up and off to work before Harlow had even opened her eyes. She stumbled half-asleep into the kitchen to look for him and found a note on the kitchen counter.

‘Good morning, baby. Sorry I had to rush off, meet me at The Shrieking Llama at 6? I love you!’

The note made her smile, his messy handwriting adding character, and she hoped it meant that he was still okay with her leaving. She sent him a quick text, ‘See you at 6! x’, and set about getting organised for the day ahead.

“So, what’s your big news?”

Harlow took a slightly bigger sip of her wine than she’d intended and grinned at Michael across the table.

“Well, I uh…  I got a call today from the museum in Selvadorada and they asked me to go back and help to retrieve some artefacts from one of the older temples. Something about changes in the structural integrity of the temple? Anyway, they say it’s urgent and it’s a paid expedition, but it would be two weeks minimum.”

He tried to hide it, but she caught the look of concern as it flashed across his face.

“It’s only two weeks! And you could come with me?”

“I can’t take so much time off so soon, I need to show that I’m committed to the company. But I can tell you’ve already made up your mind, so I’m not going to hold you back.”

“You know I love you, right?”

“Yeah, baby, I know.”