Sophia whips around to face her, “My ***** problem?!!”

“Yeah, your problem! I’ve never heard you speak like that before.”

“Things change Harper.”

“Yes, they do. I’m just surprised that you have so much anger toward me.”

“That makes two of us.” Sophia takes the box from Harper. When she faces Harper again her eyes are full of tears. “This wasn’t exactly how I planned it.” She wipes her eyes with her sleeve.

“How did you plan it?”

“I had hoped we would’ve gone for coffee and talked a little.” Sophia’s voice is quiet and fatigued.

“Talked.”

“Yeah, ya know catch up and stuff. And I wanted to apologize to you for how fucked up things were.” Sophia seems like a completely different person. “I walked in and saw you looking so happy and holding someone’s hand. I snapped. I don’t know what happened. I’m sorry.”

“It’s Shane you should be apologizing to.” Harper’s too mad to be forgiving.

“I will if you let me.”

“You know where the office is.” Harper says holding Sophia up to the challenge.

Shane looks alarmed when Sophia opens the office door.

“Hi.” Sophia says quietly. “Can I come in?”

Shane sits frozen, her eyes scanning behind Sophia in search of Harper.

“I owe you an apology. I’m very sorry for my behavior downstairs.” Sophia’s expression is forlorn and her words seem sincere.

Shane sits quietly, too overwhelmed by the last few minutes.

Harper stands in the door way ready for anything that may happen.

Sophia looks from one to the other before continuing, “I wasn’t prepared to see Harper holding hands with a pretty young woman. Took me by surprise. And so did the jealousy I didn’t even know I had. I promise I’ll never make another scene like that.” Sophia looks at her feet a moment. “I’m sorry.” She says twice, once to Shane, once to Harper. Without another word she’s gone.

Harper walks over to the couch and stands in front of Shane. She places her hand on top of her head and plays with her hair. “I’m very sorry about that. You ok?” Her voice is soft and gentle.

“Yeh, are you?” Shane looks up at her with concern.

“I will be.” Harper is clearly shaken up. Shane rubs her hand against Harper’s leg. “I’m sorry you had to see that side of me. Anger is an ugly emotion that I try to keep in check.”

Shane tries to lighten the mood, “Well, at least now I know not to make you mad.”

*** Special thanks to ~RainDrop~ for the correct Italian translation.  : )