Breaking Clear (Full Hearts Series Book 3) by Mj Summers Page B

walked over and picked up one of the pots. “I see you picked up a few bleeding hearts. They’ll do nicely on this side of the house. This one’s a bit spindly, though. You should put it at the back.” She switched the plant with a large one that Harper had set closer to the house.
    “Actually, I’m going to stick it right out front and centre to give it more sun,” Harper answered, switching the pots back to where they had been.
    “Oh. Well, I suppose that might work too . . . I noticed you cleared out quite a few things yesterday. I bet it was just a mess in there. One man alone in that house all those years.” Mrs. Morley clucked her tongue in disapproval.
    “He’s pretty good at keeping things neat.”
    “Oh. If you say so,” Mrs. Morley went on. “I saw Evan Donovan helping you unload your things the other day.”
    “Mmhmm.”
    “That Donovan boy is quite the looker. Always was. What that awful wife of his did to him! He never should have married that one. Should have stuck with a nice girl from this side of town. Someone he had more in common with.” Mrs. Morley sighed heavily, as though the drama was her own. “I told his mother to warn him, but you know how men are about taking advice. Now, he just goes to work and comes home to his empty house. I still keep in touch with Nancy down in Tucson. She says he’s fine, but I don’t think she really knows. I think he’s hiding it from her. Such a waste for a man like that to be alone.”
    Now Mrs. Morley had Harper’s full attention. She stopped pondering the placement of the plants long enough to risk a glance at her neighbour. “Hopefully he’ll find someone.”
    Mrs. Morley’s stare hardened, indicating that she hadn’t missed that flash of hope in Harper’s eyes. “I’ve been telling my niece to come by so I can introduce them. She’d be perfect for him. She’s a medical receptionist now but she’d give it all up for the right man. Nice girl. He needs someone like her, not some busy career woman or someone who needs a lot of fancy clothes or closets full of designer purses, like that ex of his. A man like that needs a good wife to take care of things at home while he’s at work.”
    The sound of Mr. Morley’s voice saved his wife from the retort on the tip of Harper’s tongue. “Delores! What are we doing for supper? I’m getting hungry!” he called.
    “Just a g.d. minute!” she hollered back. “At least say hello to Harper! You haven’t seen her in ages!”
    The man gave Harper a sympathetic nod and a wave. “Hi, Harper. How’s your dad?”
    “Hi, Mr. Morley. He’s doing much better, thanks!” Harper called back.
    “Tell him I say hi!”
    “Will do.”
    The screen door slammed, indicating that he had gone back inside to wait for his dinner. Lowering her voice, Mrs. Morley said, “Well, I better get back in there. If I leave him too long, he’s likely to start messing around in my kitchen, thinking he can cook. I’ll be days cleaning up the mess.” She shook her head at the thought.
    “Now, you’re going to want to put some bone meal in the holes before you add the plants, a little extra for that spindly one. Makes a huge difference in how quickly they’ll take root. I’ll send Neil over with a bag.”
    “I have some already,” Harper answered, neglecting to mention that it was only because the man at the nursery had thrown it in for free.
    “Good. A handful in each hole. And plenty of water for the rest of the season so they’ll—”
    “Delores?” her husband’s voice called. “Should I start browning this hamburger meat? Are we having spaghetti?”
    “Don’t touch it!” she yelled back, rushing across the street. “You come by for coffee, Harper!” She waved over her shoulder as she scuttled home to prevent the impending culinary crisis.
    Harper swore under her breath as she got back to work, digging holes and planting the smaller perennials. Their conversation swirled around in her brain,