Finding Yourself

chapter 57

After breakfast we all went into town and Anne showed us some of her favourite places about where she lived. If I was Anne, I'd be showing it off too. Ardara was gorgeous, like something out of a book.

Robin and Harry went off to look at some cars leaving me and Anne on our own. We decided to get a coffee and even the coffee shops were beautiful. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, nothing like back home.

We sat at a table by the window and Anne chatted to me like she'd known me for years.

"What made you move here then?" I asked, blowing the steam from my coffee.

"I met Robin and he was thinking about moving here. I wasn't getting any younger and when he asked me, I accepted. I only moved her last year so I still haven't been here too long but I love it. It's very pretty isn't it?"

"It's beautiful, you're very lucky." I nodded.

She looked at me over her coffee mug and placed one of her hands on mine.

"I'm glad Harry found you, you're lovely." She smiled.

"What makes you say that?" I questioned.

"Well, I've never really liked any of his other girlfriends so when he said he had a new one, I didn't think much of it but he spoke about you differently. He looks at you differently. I don't know, I like you."

She gave my hand a squeeze and put it back her mug.

"Well thanks." I giggled. "I'm glad you like me, I was worried I'd mess it up and you wouldn't."

"Don't be silly." She laughed.

"That's what Harry said."

"You can go home and tell all your girlfriends how hip his mum is now." She winked.

"I would if I had any." I said rolling my eyes.

"What do you mean love?"

"All my friends are boys." I laughed.

She gave me a strange look and I shook my head.

"But they're Harrys friends too so don't worry." I quickly added.

"I did have a girlfriend. She was my bestfriend for 8 years. We done everything together, all we really had was eachother so we didn't need anymore girlfriends." I smiled.

"Did you fall out?" Anne said with her eyebrows raised.

"No..." I sighed. "She died."

"Oh love, I'm sorry about that." She frowned. "How long ago?"

I looked down at the table and fiddled with a napkin. "A few months ago, Harry helped me through it though, him and his friends, who are now some of my bestfriends! My brother helped me too, my brother is amazing." I smiled. "But honestly, without Harry, I don't think I'd still be alive."

I looked up at Anne and a small tear was rolling down her cheek.

"Oh Anne I'm sorry. I didn't want to make you upset." I rushed, handing her a napkin.

"No, It's okay love. I'm just soppy when it comes to things like this." She smiled weakly. "What do you mean about not being alive without Harry?"

I looked down at the table again and didn't answer for a few seconds.

"We don't have to talk about this if you don't want." Anne said.

"No, it's okay. It's nice to talk to a girl for once." I smiled. "And Hannah was everything to me, 8 years we were joined at the hip so without her it was like a piece of me died too. It was so hard, ya know, being without her. I found myself just stuck really. Everywhere hurt and my heart ached all the time but Harry was the one getting me through it, helping me get through every single day. It's easier now, I'm more accepting of what's happened. I know she's not coming back. So in answer to your question, if Harry hadn't of picked me up from my dark places, I wouldn't had fought for myself. The darkness would have swallowed me whole and I would of let it win."

Another tear fell from Annes shining eyes and she smiled at me with a sense of admiration.

"Oh love." She swallowed back some more tears. "I can't imagine how that must of been for you. I'm so glad Harry was there for you. And there was me last night talking about plain sailing!" She laughed softly. "It sounds to me like you're a ready made couple! And if you ever need a girly chat or just some advice from an old woman, you come to me!"

"Anne! You're not old, you don't look a day past 25!" I grinned.

"I love you even more now!" She winked.

--

We met Harry and Robin outside of a car garage and went back home. Anne and Robin were bickering on the way home about Robin wanting to buy another car. Anne was trying to tell him they didn't need another one but Robin insisted that the one he wanted was bigger and better. I didn't really take much notice. Me and Harry were sitting in the back, his hand resting over mine while I admired everything we drove past.

We all piled into Annes little white house and I helped her pack away some of her shopping.

"Do you want a coffee Melanie?" She asked walking over to the kettle.

"Yes please." I smiled. "And please, call me Mel, everyone does."

"Why doesn't Harry?" She laughed.

"I don't know, I did tell him too but he prefers calling me Melanie." I shrugged. "It sounds weird if he calls me Mel now." I giggled and turned around.

"Are my ears burning?" Harry grinned as I bumped into his chest.

"Jesus Harry, you give me a heart attack." I laughed. "And maybe. I was telling your mum about your obsession with calling me Melanie and not Mel."

"I've told you, Melanie is a pretty name." He smiled, kissing my cheek.

I rolled my eyes and took my coffee from Anne. I blew the steam away and took a gulp, momentarily burning my mouth.

"Lets go for a walk." Harry smiled. "I'll try not to get us lost."

"Okay." I grinned.

Harry took my coffee from my hands and drank some before putting the mug on the kitchen side and practically pulling me from the house.

He grabbed my hand and swung it between us as we walked.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, Why wouldn't I be?"

"I was just checking." He laughed. "I told you, you had nothing to worry about. My mum likes you more than she likes me!"

I giggled and nudged him.

"I was speaking to her earlier about when you was in the coffee shop." He said quietly.

"Oh?"

"She told me what you said about not being here without me." He said gripping my hand tighter.

I looked down at the floor. I didn't really mind that she told Harry but it was just something I didn't think he'd find out. I guess it didn't matter that he knew anyway. What I told Anne was the truth and he should know how much he means to me.

"She didn't do it in a nasty way. She just said she was glad I found you."

"I know. She said that to me too." I smiled.

"We're a ready made couple." We said together, recalling Annes words.

I smiled up at him and he wrapped me up in his arms. There were no people around. Just the cool air and the flowers that lined the pathways through the village. Being here I think, did help me. Nothing reminded me of anything bad that's happened over the past few months and it was just me and Harry around. Anyone that we did see, I didn't know anyway and they didn't know me and it was nice for people to just know nothing.

"I love you." I whispered.

"Forever and always." He said kissing my head.