December 2020
The rain lashed down on the Evans family home the day of the funeral. Jean shivered into her daughter's goose-bumped arms as they left the house to enter the funeral car. Bright flower wreaths reading the words 'Dad' and 'Husband' decorated the car in front with the coffin. Olivia found herself unable to look at the car in fear that the realisation that this was in fact her dad was really gone was going to sink in. The car ride was silent other than Lauren asking where Harry was. Olivia simply stayed quiet and was now regretting her decision to tell Harry to meet them at the church.
The streets she grew up in became a blur as the car drove toward the destination. She shut her eyes gently, like a child on a rollercoaster waiting for it to stop. When the car did eventually come to a halt her legs had gone numb and she feared she wasn't able to get out of the car without the assistance of her older brother.
A small crowd had gathered in the foyer of the church, waiting for the family to arrive, Olivia spotted a few of her father's workmates, some neighbours, Jess and her family and Harry and his. Harry walked toward the family, giving them all condolences and a hug and Olivia gladly took his hand, feeling more comfortable than she had been all morning.
"Liv, could we talk for a minute" Harry asked.
"Bit busy Harry" Olivia mumbled.
"No, go ahead. They're still setting up something, they said it'll be a few minutes" Jean reassured.
Olivia reluctantly left her mother's side and headed into a small room of the church with Harry where a Sunday School had seemingly took place.
"I don't want to talk about us right now Harry, could we wait till the wake at least" she grumbled.
"No, I promise it's not that. Look, I know you're having the worst time right now, and I'm not trying to score brownie points or anything, but I thought this would maybe make today a bit easier" Harry began before picking up a laptop that sat on the desk at the front and clicking a few buttons.
Harry turned the screen to Olivia who found a zoom call had been set up with everyone back home, the boys had dressed nicely in funeral attire with Simon, Vikk and Josh even putting on a suit. The girls were there too, they waved at the screen as Olivia held her hand to her mouth.
"I thought seeing your friends would make things a bit better" Harry mumbled.
"We'd be there if we could Liv" Simon called through the screen.
"We're sorry we can't be" Tobi said next.
"No tears Evans, I know I look good but come on" Ethan said making Olivia and the group laugh.
"We love you" the girls all chorused.
"Your dads gonna be mega proud Liv" JJ chimed in
"Speaking of which. Harry, have you just taken her from a funeral?" Vikk asked.
"No, you twat we had a minute" Harry answered.
"What if you didn't have a minute, were we just to sit here in suits like dickheads?" Josh said.
"That's just your everyday life in a suit" Cal remarked.
"Thank you all so much. I don't know what to say, I love you guys so much" Olivia said through tears.
"We need to go" Harry said looking at the time on his phone. "Thanks lads" he said before letting the group bid their goodbyes to Olivia and shutting the laptop over.
The pair left the room, shutting the door behind them and re-joining the family, Olivia avoided her mother's questions by saying she would tell her later as she knew the act of kindness would set Jean off. Olivia held Harry's hand tightly as they headed to their seats, keeping him close to her.
"Remind me to get that laptop later" Harry whispered into her ear causing Olivia to giggle slightly.
Olivia sat anxiously through the service as people talked about her dad, both she and Jamie were asked to go up and say a few words and Olivia felt herself getting faint at the thought. When it was her turn, she had to be nudged by Harry before she even registered what was happening. As she stood at the front and looked at all the faces of people, she hadn't seen in years she found herself staring at Harry, using his eyes as a checkpoint, he gave her a small nod and encouraged her to start.
"My dad. I've really struggled on what to say about my dad-" Olivia started "I could say he was great, which he was, that he was funny, which he was, that he was kind, which he was. But everyone says those things and although all they're true, the amount they get repeated almost makes them lose their meaning, you're just saying what everyone expects you to say. Everyone's dad is great, everyone's dad was the best man in the world. But my dad wasn't, and that's what made him so amazing. He wasn't perfect, we would argue about the tv remote and the length of my skirt but if by the end of the night I hadn't spoken to him he would bring me up tea and biscuits before bed and I knew that that was the argument over. He had the biggest heart and you'd be damned if you found someone who cared about their family more than that man. He even loved his extended family-" Olivia looked over at Jess who held a tissue to her face "when my best friend told us she was pregnant he cried tears of joy and offered to take her to all of her appointments if her family were working or elsewhere. When I brought home a questionable boy, he almost ended up in a boxing match, and when I eventually brought home the right boy, he treated him just like a second son-" her eyes were now back to Harry whose eyes were beginning to fill up "I am so incredibly lucky to have had a perfectly imperfect dad like mine, and I don't know how I'm going to go on without him but I'm going to try my hardest because my dad wasn't a quitter and neither am I" Olivia was now letting tears fall freely down her face, soaking her notes below her, she dabbed her eyes with a tissue before returning to her seat.
Jean kissed her temple and squeezed her hands "You definitely got your dads way with words".
The rest of the day was spent at the Evans residence with people popping in and out to offer sandwiches and condolences. Everything started to die down around 8'oclock and the only ones left in the house were Olivia, Harry, Jean, Jamie and Lauren.
Jamie and Lauren had decided to move back into the family home to make sure Jean was okay on her own, and with Olivia moving out soon it meant that they could use her room as a spare if Lauren fell pregnant. The siblings continued this conversation after bringing in mugs of tea for everyone.
"So have you found a place yet?" Jamie asked sitting down beside Luna.
Olivia looked over at Harry and waited for him to answer.
"Yeah actually, it's that one we done the online viewing of Liv, but with everything going on I didn't think it would be a good idea to say" Harry replied sheepishly.
"Wait what?" Olivia said.
"You know, the big one" Harry announced.
"Yeah, I know which one, but I didn't know you got it! That's so amazing".
"We can be moved in before Christmas so my mum was going to ask if you would all like to come over and spend it with us" Harry proposed.
Jean's mouth wobbled at the mention of Christmas without her husband before she answered "That would be lovely Harry, please tell your mum we'll be there"
He nodded sweetly and Olivia gave him a smile.
In the kitchen Harry and Olivia stood doing dishes when he checked the time on his phone.
"I should probably head back to mine".
"Don't" Olivia pleaded
"Don't what?" Harry asked.
"Don't go back to yours. Stay here, please" she continued.
"Liv last night you wanted to break up with me. We haven't even had a talk about this. I don't think I should stay right now" Harry said shaking his head.
Olivia pouted "You're right, sorry".
Harry put a clean cup back in the cupboard "Don't be sorry. I just think we need to sort this yeah?"
"Definitely" Olivia agreed
"I'll pick you up tomorrow and we can go see the house. Sound good?" he asked.
"Sounds good" Olivia nodded.
Harry gave Olivia a quick kiss and flicked the water off his fingertips into her face.
Olivia walked Harry to the door and said goodbye before locking it and turning to go upstairs to her own room. As she arrived at her door she heard the faint noise of 'English Rose' by The Jam playing from her mother's room.
A/N - 3 more chapters till this is finished :(( thanks for all the love so far. Remember to vote and comment!