A Walk Along the Beach(47)

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When I returned to the apartment after the shop closed, I found Harper curled up on the sofa, a blanket wrapped around her, although it was one of the hottest days of the summer. She had her head buried under the quilt.

    “Harper, are you ill? What’s wrong?”

She peeked her head out and looked my way. Unhappiness radiated from her face and she swallowed hard, as if she couldn’t bear to speak the words.

This was so unlike my sister that I was immediately alarmed. Easing myself down on the far end of the couch, I searched for a plausible excuse. “Are you still angry with me?” That was the question that plagued me most. I couldn’t bear it if she was.

“No.” Her voice sounded like it took every ounce of energy she possessed to get it out.

“Did you and Leesa have a falling-out?” Perhaps her hopes of sharing an apartment with her best friend had fallen through.

She shook her head.

Not knowing what else to do, I placed my hand on her leg. “Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

She heaved in a huge breath as if rising from the water after holding it in as long as she could manage. “I didn’t make it.”

“Didn’t make what?”

“To Camp Muir,” she snapped, as if that was obvious.

That made no sense. She’d been ready to tackle that mountain. Not once did I consider that she wouldn’t reach past the tree line.

“I couldn’t make it even halfway up.”

“What?” I found that hard to believe. “That’s not possible. You’re in terrific shape.”

“That’s what I thought.” She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against her bent knees. “The only other person who couldn’t make the climb was a fat disc jockey. I don’t think he’s done a day of exercise in his entire life.”

This probably wasn’t the time to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. The mere idea that Harper hadn’t been able to outdo an overweight disc jockey was beyond the scope of my imagination. It didn’t add up.

    “The guide said this sort of thing happens now and again. People who’ve trained all summer choke up. I feel like I let down John and everyone else, myself included.”

Harper didn’t choke. She tackled life with the same intensity that she’d used to take on every challenge.

“How far were you able to go?”

She buried her face again. “Obviously not far enough. It was humiliating. I was huffing and puffing like I’d been smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for the last forty years.”

If she hadn’t been able to make the climb, I was afraid it was something physical that had stopped her. With her medical history, this was nothing to mess with. “I’m going to make an appointment with Dr. Annie.”

“No,” she practically shouted. “Don’t you dare. Stop. Just stop. Why do you think I didn’t tell you right away? I knew this was exactly what you’d do, and it’s the last thing I want.”

“Harper…”

“The air was thin; others had trouble, too.”

But the others had been able to make the climb, despite the altitude. She must have read the doubt in my eyes because she blasted me with “There’s nothing wrong with me. You do this every time. How many times do I have to tell you I don’t want you hounding me about my health?” Her eyes blazed with anger.

I raised both hands like she’d pointed a gun at me. “Okay.”

“I choked,” she said, calmer now. “It happens,” she insisted. “You make it sound like I’m going to fall over dead any minute.”

I narrowed my eyes and let that comment pass. “You aren’t having any trouble breathing while teaching your yoga and fitness classes, are you?”

“None.” Again, she was vehement.

Rubbing my hand across the back of my neck, I debated how much I should or shouldn’t say. One thing was certain: Harper didn’t want me making more of this than she felt was warranted.

    “I know you’re disappointed.”

“That’s not the half of it. I’ve been working toward this climb for months. I thought I was ready. Everyone else in my training group will make it to the summit next week and I won’t be with them.” Her voice wobbled, and I could tell she was close to tears.

“I’m so sorry, Harper. I know how much this meant to you. Maybe next year?”

“Maybe,” she muttered, and lowered her forehead to her knees. After a moment, she brought the blanket over herself again.

I didn’t have any other words of comfort. In her present mood, I doubted she wanted to hear them, anyway.



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—

Harper’s dark mood continued for the remainder of the week. She was a bear to live with. I did my best to ignore her melancholy state and go about my own business, pretending all was well. Not once did she show up at the coffee shop between her classes for her special drink. Obviously, she was doing everything possible to avoid me. With no other choice, I let her.

Her friends from the training group who made the entire climb up Mount Rainier invited Harper to the victory party. It surprised me when she decided to attend. I should have known she would. Although she was bitterly disappointed, Harper put on a bright smile and celebrated with her friends, going out of her way to congratulate them.