Harper had grown up with other siblings but they weren’t like her. All of her younger siblings were just well normal. It was a different thing to have a sister on her mother’s side. Harper thought it would take awhile to create a bond and become friends with this young woman she really didn’t know at all. Apparently all it took was a few trips to the beach and things started to feel different. Harper started to feel like Mari was her little sister. She was excited that Mari was going to join her and EJ today as they went around doing errands. If they could get everything done maybe they’d go to the Aquarium or the beach. Harper checked her phone and smiled when  she got a messaged saying Mari was there. She opened the door and smiled widely at her sister. “Welcome to crazy land.” She said swinging the door open for Mari. “Come on in.” 

Harper couldn’t sleep. She was having these terrible dreams. She wasn’t sure what they were about but she wasn’t about to let them ruin her day off. She got herself together and decided it was a perfect day to sit on the beach. Though she really didn’t want to lay out on the beach, those days were for when she was with EJ. Today she just wanted to sit with a drink and watch the waves. The water was her happy place. She never felt more at home then in the ocean. Harper dipped her toes into the water and sighed. “A quick swim wouldn’t hurt...” 

Harper really didn’t want to go to the bar. It wasn’t her weekend with EJ and she needed the distraction. She had started to get use to being around him more and more. Before she saw him whenever she could but it was never consistent but starting a year before they moved here to Icaria she had a set schedule and everything. She just needed to keep herself busy. Dylan told her that she could not spend another Friday night sitting on her couch eating ice cream just because her son was with his father. Though why should she even come out? She was way older than just about everyone here or she was way younger. Plus it wasn’t like she wanted to meet anyone. There was no way she was going to go that route. She just needed to get out for an hour and then go back home. She might catch the end of the new hallmark movie that was coming out during Christmas in July. She walked up to the bar. “Please tell me you have wine.” She was not going to drink some hard liquor. She wasn’t 24 anymore. 

Harper was excited to have Bernie come visit her at work today. She knew that Bernie wanted to work with the Dolphins as well. She was well on her way to getting an internship here at the aquarium. She was in the middle of paper work when one of her co-workers told her that Bernie had arrived. She smiled and got up from her desk and headed out of the small room that she shared with the other lead trainer. She was working on the dolphin sanctuary research the aquarium had started a few years ago. She was excited to have a break from research to just hang out with her favorite animals. “Hey!” She smiled and waved at Bernie. “Welcome!” 

Harper knew she was in trouble when EJ told her that all the books at her house were for babies. The boy was 8. He of course wanted books about things he liked. She finally gave up her dream of EJ still being little. Harper walked into the book store and looked around. There were so many books. How would she even know which ones to pick? She knew the types of things her son liked and when ti was game night at her ex husband’s house she saw the books that he had there. It was going to be interesting. She looked around in hopes someone would be able to help her out. 

Harper was unsure why the woman was standing directly in the middle of the sidewalk.All Harper needed to do was make it to her front step and she could place the boxes down. Harper had boxes of research she was carrying to her place that she needed to categorize and such but this lady was not making it easy. “Excuse me!” Harper called out from behind the boxes. She couldn’t really see the woman now that she was close up but she was hoping the woman would move. Harper let out a groan as the boxes slipped through her fingers and fell on the ground spilling. “Greaaat.” She sighed and laughed. “Damn.” Harper started to pick up the papers and place them back into the box. 

Harper was not in the mood for anyone today. She had a rough day at work and just wanted to enjoy her time off. No of course not part of her promise to herself was that she was going to work on her mental health more. She didn’t want to go inside the building. She had seen enough therapists and such back when she had put herself through in patient therapy all those years ago. She was not about to bring herself mentally there again. Before she moved to the island her therapist suggested she find a new one on the island. The only problem with that was the island was so small. She didn’t want to do this. So instead Harper sad outside the building on the sidewalk. 

Harper was getting EJ tonight from her ex husbands house and wanted to be able to surprise him with a sweet treat. She had been to this bakery a few times before and absolutely loved all the cute things they made here. She knew her son loved their cupcakes and so she walked inside to get him one. There weren’t many people in the bakery. There wasn’t even a line. It was Harper’s lucky day. She walked up to the counter and a woman popped up. Harper couldn’t help but laugh. “I didn’t see you there.” She said after she had jumped.