Morning crept into the Carson house slowly, pale sunlight filtering through half-drawn curtains. Harmony woke to the unfamiliar sound of activity downstairs - usually she was the early riser. Her leg ached as she sat up, reminding her of yesterday's strain.
In the kitchen, she found Mara already dressed in scrubs, methodically organizing pill bottles on the counter.
"You're not working today," Harmony said, reaching for the coffee maker.
"No, but..." Mara gestured at the medications. "We need a system. Morning doses, evening doses, with meals, without meals. Dad's terrible at keeping track."
"Like mother, like daughter," Harmony smiled softly, remembering their mom's meticulous medical charts. "She'd be proud, you know."
Mara's hands stilled. "I keep thinking about her. Yesterday, in that hospital room..."
"Me too." Harmony moved to her sister's side, noting how the morning light caught the shadows under Mara's eyes. "Did you sleep at all?"
"A little." Mara started arranging pills into a weekly organizer. "I kept checking my phone to make sure the hospital didn't call."
"And to see if someone else might text?"
Mara's cheeks colored slightly. "He was just being nice, Harm. That's who Alex is - nice to everyone."
"Mara-"
"Don't." Her sister's voice was firm. "We need to focus on Dad right now. Everything else..." she shrugged, but Harmony caught the slight tremor in her hands.
The sound of a car pulling up interrupted them. Through the window, they watched Alex emerge from his car, carrying what looked like breakfast bags.
"Speaking of nice to everyone," Harmony murmured, but squeezed her sister's hand when Mara shot her a warning look.
"Good morning," Alex called as he let himself in - something that would have seemed presumptuous yesterday but now felt natural after the crisis. "I brought breakfast before we head to the hospital. Real food, not that cafeteria stuff."
"You didn't have to-" Mara started.
"I know." He set the bags down, maintaining a friendly but careful distance. "But someone needs to make sure you both actually eat."
As they unpacked warm bagels and coffee, Harmony's phone chimed with a FaceTime request from Jeremy.
"Go," Mara nodded toward the living room. "We've got this covered."
In the privacy of the other room, Harmony sank into her father's favorite armchair, propping up her phone. Jeremy's face filled the screen, concern evident despite the poor hotel wifi.
"How are you holding up, love?"
"I'm okay. Tired." She touched the key around her neck - already a habit. "Dad's coming home today. Mara's turning into a drill sergeant about his medications."
"Good. You both need someone to fuss over." His smile faded slightly. "I wish I was there."
"Me too." She shifted, wincing as her leg protested.
"Your leg's bothering you."
"Just sore. Yesterday was... a lot."
"Have you done your stretches?"
"Jeremy-"
"Harmony." His voice was gentle but firm. "You can't take care of everyone else if you don't take care of yourself first."
From the kitchen, she heard Mara laugh at something Alex said, followed by a quick silence - as if her sister had caught herself.
"Speaking of taking care of people," Jeremy continued, "how's Mara? And Alex?"
"It's... complicated." Harmony lowered her voice. "She likes him. A lot. But she's convinced he's just being nice because that's who he is."
"Ah." Jeremy's expression was thoughtful. "And what do you think?"
"I think..." Harmony glanced toward the kitchen. "I think right now she needs a friend more than anything else. And Alex is good at being that."
"Like someone else I know," Jeremy smiled. "You Carsons and your walls."
"Hey!"
"Am I wrong?"
Before she could answer, Mara appeared in the doorway. "Sorry to interrupt, but we should head to the hospital soon. Hi Jeremy!"
"Hello, Mara. Take care of my girl, yes?"
"Always." Mara's smile was genuine. "Though she's terrible at letting people help."
"I'm right here," Harmony protested as both her sister and boyfriend laughed.
After saying goodbye to Jeremy, Harmony made her way back to the kitchen where Alex was insisting on driving them again.
"I can drive," Mara argued, but her voice lacked conviction.
"You've been up all night worrying," Alex pointed out, his tone practical. "Let me help. As a friend," he added, and Harmony saw her sister's slight flinch at the word.
The hospital corridors felt different in daylight, less haunted by old memories. They found their father dressed and sitting up, arguing good-naturedly with a nurse about his discharge instructions.
"Girls!" he brightened at their arrival. "And Alex - you're still here?"
"Just the chauffeur, sir," Alex smiled, hanging back as the sisters greeted their father.
"Nonsense. You're family now." Robert waved him closer, missing how Mara stiffened slightly at his words. "After yesterday..."
"Dad," Harmony interrupted, recognizing the emotion building in her sister's eyes. "Let's focus on getting you home."
The discharge process was tedious, filled with instructions and warnings and prescriptions. Mara took notes while Harmony asked questions, tag-teaming like they had since childhood. Alex quietly handled the paperwork, efficient and unobtrusive.
In the elevator down to the parking lot, Robert looked at his daughters. "Your mother would be so proud of you both."
Mara grabbed Harmony's hand, and they rode the rest of the way in silence, each lost in memories of another hospital trip, another elevator ride - but this time, they were bringing their father home.
At the house, Alex helped Robert inside while the sisters carried bags and paperwork. They worked together to settle their father in his recliner, Mara fussing with pillows while Harmony arranged his medications on the side table.
"I'm not an invalid," Robert protested.
"No, you're just the man who scared ten years off our lives yesterday," Mara retorted, but her hands were gentle as she checked his blood pressure.
"I should go," Alex said quietly. "Let you all get settled."
"Stay for lunch?" Robert asked. "There's leftover lasagna."
Mara busied herself with her father's pills, but Harmony saw her pause, waiting for Alex's response.
"Thank you, but I have so much task to complete before tomorrow" His smile was warm but professionally distant. "Call if you need anything. Any of you," he added, including them all in the offer.
After he left, Robert looked between his daughters. "Nice young man."
"Dad," Mara warned.
"What? I'm just saying-"
"How about some tea?" Harmony interrupted, shooting her father a look. "And then we need to talk about these lifestyle changes Dr. Matthews mentioned."
Later, after Robert had fallen asleep in his chair and Mara had gone upstairs to finally rest, Harmony sat in the kitchen, absently rubbing her aching leg. Her phone lit up with a text from Jeremy: 'Just checking in. Everyone settled?'
'Getting there,' she replied. 'Dad's asleep. Mara's pretending she's fine.'
'And you?'
Harmony looked around the kitchen - at Mara's meticulous pill organizers, at the breakfast dishes Alex had insisted on washing before he left, at her father's favorite mug still sitting in the dish rack.
'I'm okay,' she typed. 'Just... remembering. And grateful. For everything we still have.'
'And everything yet to come,' Jeremy replied. 'I love you.'
Harmony touched the key around her neck, smiling as she heard Mara moving around upstairs - probably unable to actually rest, too busy worrying about everyone else. Some things never changed.
And some things, she thought, looking at the empty chair where Alex had sat earlier, watching Mara with unreadable eyes - some things just needed time.