The Road Home

Chapter 18

"There you are!" Robert said as Harper came through the front door of her Nashville home. "Good to see you again."

Harper hugged him. An appetizing aroma told her it was time for dinner.

"Got a lot of plans this week?" 

"Unfortunately." She followed him to the kitchen where the radio was playing and sat at the bar. Robert fixed her a plate of lasagna. "Something smells wonderful."

"How's South Dakota?" He asked tenderly.

"I love it."

"Really?" He set the plate in front of her and leaned on the other side of the counter.

"Thank you," she smiled. "I know it's crazy, isn't it? But the people are so genuine. Just warm and welcoming"

Robert nodded. "That's a small town for you."

"Are you still seeing your friend?"

"As a matter of fact, I am," he beamed. "Hey, there's Cole." Robert quickly walked to the small sleek stereo mounted under one of the cabinets and turned up the song. 

Harper finished eating while listening to Cole's song. A call from Robert's new friend took him into the next room. She put her plate in the dishwasher and headed upstairs to her bedroom as her phone vibrated.

"You have to be in the studio at noon tomorrow for rehearsal," Mel said on the other end. "And there's a group going out to the Wildhorse tonight. Go with us."

"I don't think so." Harper knew how rowdy the downtown saloon could get, especially with her bunch of friends and honestly, she just wanted to be back in South Dakota next to Ben.

"Come on," Mel pleaded. "You'll have fun!"

"Thanks anyway, but no. I'll see you tomorrow." Harper spent the next few hours reading Huston's script and once evening came, put the script down and grabbed her cell to call Ben.

"Wondered how long it'd take you to call."

"What are you doing?" She smiled, glad to hear his voice.

"Don't ask." The ruffling papers told her what he was doing. "How was your flight?"

"Uneventful."

"You know you start filming when you get back?"

She had tried not to think much about it since she knew that filming would only take a couple weeks then she'd be leaving South Dakota. "Brett said it could be as early as Saturday."

He changed the subject. "How are Neva and John?"

"They're good." She moaned. "Stan's calling. I probably need to take it."

"That's alright. I'll talk to you later. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she said, then answered Stan's call. "Yes?"

"Your meeting with Les is still on and I found out that it's a romantic comedy and drum roll, please, Rick has signed on to co-star! With you two in it, this movie will be huge, plus you're on speaking terms and filming is in San Francisco, which means you can live at home and fly back and forth. It sounds like this is the way to go, Harp. I want you to seriously consider it, alright?"

She laid the phone down, saw Ben's name on her phone, and quickly forgot about the movie.