Harriet burst into Riley's office, panting, both hands braced on her knees. Riley glanced at Sienna, startled by her sister's sudden arrival.
"Harriet," Riley said, stepping around her desk. "What are you doing here? What's going on?"
Between breaths, Harriet muttered, "Zoey..."
Riley raised an eyebrow. "What about Zoey?"
Harriet straightened, frustration evident in her eyes. "Where is she?"
Riley gave her sister a puzzled look. "Wait... you don't know? She's your girlfriend. What's happening between you two?"
"Just tell me where Zoey is!" Harriet demanded, gripping Riley's shoulders, her voice laced with desperation.
Riley sighed, her confusion turning to concern. "Did something happen? You two have been avoiding each other for a couple of weeks now."
Harriet ran a hand through her hair, visibly frustrated. "Come on, Riley, I went to her place, checked everywhere, but she's nowhere to be found. Even her neighbors haven't seen her in days."
Riley blinked, surprised. "I thought Zoey had been staying with you this whole time," she said, carefully studying her sister.
Harriet let out a bitter laugh. "Just tell me where she is, Riley."
Riley glanced at Sienna before sighing and giving in. "Zoey's in Zurich," she said, her tone serious. "She went back to her hometown."
Harriet's face fell, her mind racing to process the news. "Zurich?" she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. Did Zoey leave me for good?
"Yes. Here," Riley scribbled an address on a sticky note and handed it to Harriet. "You might find her there."
Harriet's hands trembled as she took the note. Riley looked at her, worry creasing her brow. "Harriet... what's going on?"
Harriet swallowed, unable to meet her sister's gaze. "It's... complicated, Riley," she mumbled, staring at the note in her hand.
"You didn't cheat on her, did you?" Riley pressed. "Because I swear, Harrietâ"
"What? No!" Harriet shot back. "I'd never..."
"Then what's this about?" Riley asked, folding her arms.
Harriet's bitter laugh escaped again. "Why are you so interested in my business?"
"Because you're my sister, and Zoey is the company's chief of staff, Harriet," Riley replied firmly.
Harriet closed her eyes, a mixture of exhaustion and sorrow on her face. "You know Zoey had a heart transplant, right? Her heart donor was... Sophie."
Both Riley and Sienna stared at her in shock.
"What?" Sienna breathed.
Harriet took a shaky breath, glancing down. "I found out recently when I talked to Aunt Vivian. I had gone to visit Sophie's grave... to finally let her go. I wanted closure. That's when I learned about Zoey's donor. I hadn't told her, I wasn't able to tell her, but then Zoey found out."
"And she thought..." Riley's voice softened, understanding dawning on her.
"She thought I was with her because she's Sophie's recipient," Harriet whispered, her voice cracking. "She left, said she needed space. She told me to wait until she was ready to reach out."
Harriet crouched down, tugging at her hair. "I just... panicked when I couldn't find her. I was so afraid something had happened to her."
Riley placed a hand on her shoulder, exchanging a look with Sienna. "Harriet, she'll come back," she said softly. "But maybe you need to let her know what she means to you now, not as Sophie's recipient but as herself."
Harriet nodded slowly, her resolve hardening.
Zoey exhaled a frosty breath, watching the vapor cloud the air as she dismounted her bike, the crunch of winter snow beneath her boots. She chuckled softly to herself, gripping the paper bag in one hand while pushing her bike along the snowy path.
Her steps faltered when she noticed a familiar car parked outside her grandparents' house, a figure leaning against it. Snowflakes drifted gently, gathering in a thin layer over Harriet's coat as she stood there, arms crossed. Harriet's red-rimmed eyes met Zoey's, and Zoey bit her lip. Had she been crying?
It had been a week since Zoey's leave began, and now, seeing Harriet's pained expression, her heart gave a heavy thud. She tightened her grip on the bike and moved forward until she was standing across from Harriet.
"Zoey," Harriet's voice was rough, barely above a whisper. In an instant, Harriet closed the gap, pulling Zoey into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, I just... I couldn't wait any longer. I thought something had happened to you," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.
Zoey closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Harriet's embrace thaw her. Still holding her bike, she took a breath. "You shouldn't be standing out here in the snow like this," she said softly, pulling back to brush the snow off Harriet's shoulders and hair.
"Come inside," Zoey offered, pushing open the gate and guiding her bike in. She looked back at Harriet, nodding toward the garage. "You can park in here."
Harriet's throat bobbed as she nodded, sliding back into her car and maneuvering it into the driveway. When she stepped out, she rubbed her neck, looking exhausted.
Zoey watched her for a moment before sighing, taking Harriet's wrist gently. "Did you come straight from the hospital?"
Harriet nodded.
Clicking her tongue, Zoey gave her a gentle tug. "Come inside," she urged, pulling Harriet toward the warmth of the house.
Harriet gulped as she stepped inside. Zoey glanced at her before gently releasing her hand and picking up a pair of soft slippers. "Use these," she said, then turned, calling out, "Mita, I'm home!" She disappeared briefly into a nearby room, and when she returned, she closed the door, looking back at Harriet.
"Why are you standing there like that? Go ahead and sit," Zoey said, motioning toward the living room while she carried her paper bag to the dining table.
Harriet took a seat, but soon, drawn by an impulse, she followed Zoey into the kitchen. Zoey was pouring hot water into a mug when she sensed Harriet standing just behind her.
"Zoey," Harriet murmured.
Zoey closed her eyes, letting out a small sigh before turning to face her. "What is it?" she asked quietly.
"Zoey, can we talk now? Please?" Harriet's voice was soft, pleading.
Zoey met Harriet's gaze. "What's left to talk about?" she whispered, trying to turn away, but Harriet caught her by the arm, pulling her close.
"Zoey..." Harriet's voice was barely above a whisper, and before Zoey could respond, Harriet lifted her chin, leaning in to press her lips to hers. The kiss was urgent, full of pent-up longing. Zoey let her hands slide up to Harriet's coat, pulling her closer, matching the intensity. Harriet gently guided her to lean against the table, deepening the kiss as her hand caressed Zoey's thigh.
Suddenly, a loud voice broke through their moment. "Zoey, whoâGoodness gracious! Who the hell are you?!"
They both froze, turning toward the source of the voice. Zoey's eyes widened as she saw her grandmother standing there, a look of shocked anger on her face, wielding a walking stick like a weapon.
"Mita!" Zoey stammered, rushing to intercept her grandmother before she could swing at Harriet. "Mita, wait, waitâcalm down!" she said, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
The old lady eyed Harriet with a wary look as Zoey tried to calm her. "Mamita, please," Zoey chuckled, rubbing her temples, trying not to laugh at Harriet's mortified expression. "Remember Harriet? The one I told you about? Well...this is Harriet. She's my girlfriend."
"Oh," her grandmother muttered, assessing Harriet with narrowed eyes. After a long pause, she nodded approvingly. "You have good taste, then," she said with a wink, patting Zoey's shoulder and chuckling as she walked away, leaving the two in stunned silence.
Zoey glanced at Harriet, who still looked slightly stunned, and couldn't help but stifle a laugh.