Chapter 7: First Touch

The campus coffee shop hummed with morning chatter as Alex waited, drumming his fingers nervously on the worn wooden table. His phone displayed Jeremy's last message: "I need to see her. Please."

Mara breezed in fifteen minutes late, her dark hair windswept, wearing a dress that turned heads. She carried herself with that particular grace that made everything look effortless, though Alex noticed the slight shadows under her carefully applied makeup.

"Sorry, had to dodge Harmony's questions." She slid into the seat across from him, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. "So, what's so urgent?"

"Jeremy's in Boston," Alex said quietly, watching her expression shift. "At the Marriott."

Mara's perfectly manicured nails froze mid-tap against her coffee cup. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts. "And you want me to help orchestrate some romantic reunion?" She leaned forward slightly, her perfume subtle but intoxicating. "Why should I?"

"Because despite everything, you love your sister."

"Do I?" Her smile was sharp, but her eyes betrayed something vulnerable. She moved closer, her hand brushing his arm. "Maybe I care about other things."

Alex gently pulled back. "Mara..."

"What?" Her laugh was brittle. "Am I not your type? Or is it because you're already falling for my sister?"

"This isn't about me," Alex said firmly. "It's about Harmony and Jeremy."

Something flashed in Mara's eyes – hurt, resignation, acceptance, and something deeper he couldn't quite read. "Fine. But getting her out of that room won't be easy." She stood abruptly, smoothing her dress. "I'll handle it. Just... make sure he doesn't hurt her again."

The way she said it made Alex wonder if she meant Jeremy or herself.

---

"Absolutely not." Harmony didn't look up from her book as Mara rummaged through her closet. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across her room, highlighting the untouched meals and unopened textbooks.

"Dad's worried sick," Mara pulled out a blue sundress. "He thinks you're developing agoraphobia or something. Just lunch, Harm. One hour."

"Since when do you care?"

Mara's hands stilled on the dress. "You remember when I broke my arm in third grade? Fell from that stupid tree?"

Harmony looked up, surprised by the sudden memory.

"You sat with me every day for weeks," Mara continued softly. "Reading me stories, making up adventures where the girl with the cast was the hero." She laid the dress on Harmony's bed, her fingers lingering on the fabric. "Let me return the favor. Just lunch. By the harbor. The fresh air... it helps, you know?"

Harmony studied her sister's face – no trace of the usual sarcasm or sharp edges. Just... something else, something that made her heart twist with both hope and uncertainty.

"One hour," Harmony finally agreed. "No shopping, no setups, no—"

"Just lunch," Mara promised, helping her up. "Sister to sister."

---

The harbor breeze carried the scent of salt and seaweed, the water reflecting the late afternoon sun like scattered diamonds. Harmony walked beside Mara, each step measured, her prosthetic leg moving smoothly after years of practice.

"The water's beautiful today," Mara said softly, then stopped. "Oh."

Harmony followed her gaze and felt the world tilt. Jeremy stood by the water, real and solid, his blue sweater catching the light. Their eyes met across the distance, and everything else faded away except the pounding of her heart and Sarah's words echoing in her mind: "Jeremy needs perfection."

"Mara," Harmony whispered, betrayal creeping in.

"Just listen," Mara squeezed her hand, something complicated passing across her face. "Sometimes love deserves a second chance." She backed away, leaving Harmony alone with her thundering heart and trembling hands.

Jeremy moved closer, each step careful, reverent. His eyes never left hers, drinking her in like a man dying of thirst. The wind ruffled his dark hair, carrying the familiar scent of his cologne.

"Hello, love," he said softly, his accent wrapping around the words like a caress.

"You shouldn't be here." Harmony took a step back, feeling the rough wooden planks beneath her feet.

"Please, Harmony." His voice cracked with emotion. " I need you to hear me out."

"We have nothing to talk about, Jeremy." Her voice trembled. "Leave me alone. Go back to your sophisticated fiancée."

As she turned to leave, her prosthetic caught on an uneven plank. Jeremy lunged forward, catching her before she could fall. In that moment of contact, she felt him freeze as his hands registered the truth about her leg.

Harmony tried to pull away, her whole body shaking. "Go away! I'm not who you think I am," she sobbed. "I'm not good enough for you. Just go and let me be."

"Harmony, calm down," Jeremy cut in, his voice gentle but firm. "I want to see"

Alex watched with an unreadable expression as Mara stood beside him.

With trembling hands, Harmony lifted her dress slightly, revealing the prosthetic leg. Jeremy's sharp intake of breath made her want to run, but then his hands were there, gentle, tracing the line where flesh met prosthetic.

"All this time," his voice was raw. "You were fighting this battle alone. Why didn't you tell?"

"Because I was afraid," she whispered. "How could you possibly want to be with someone like this?"

"I don't know what Sarah told you." Jeremy interrupted fiercely. "Our engagement was an arrangement, nothing more. I ended it months ago." His hands found her face, thumbs wiping away tears. "You are all I want, Harmony. This?" His hand drifted to her leg. "This is part of your story. Part of you. And I love all of you."

"Jeremy, I can't—"

Before she could finish, he kissed her. It was like drowning and being saved at once, his lips soft and tender, tasting of coffee and promises. One hand tangled in her hair while the other wrapped around her waist, steady and strong.

"Do you love me?" Jeremy whispered against her lips.

"I love you," she breathed through tears. "I love you."

He smiled, touching his forehead to hers. "That's all that matters. I'm here to stay, Harmony. I'm not leaving you."

In the distance, Mara watched, something shifting behind her eyes as Alex touched her shoulder gently. "You did good today."

She smiled,"Maybe some love stories are worth saving."

By the water, Jeremy held Harmony close, their secrets laid bare, their hearts finally beating in sync.

Some loves were worth fighting for. But some battles were just beginning.