50 | Little Surprise
Wow! Amazing!
The perfect dream date started with ten minutes of mournful silence as we drove god knows where and the quietness still prevailed.
"Vittoria?" He spoke softly as if I'd break if he raised his voice.
And I did.
A hot tear rolled down my cheek. I kept my head hung low. I couldn't muster the courage to look at him in the eye. He pulled up and the car stopped with a soft jerk.
"I'm sorry, Harrison." I sniffled.
"Hey, look at me Vittoria." He lifted my head up placing his index finger under my chin. "There's no need for you to feel embarrassed."
"I- I'm not doing this to make him jealous or anything." I mumbled.
"What? No! Why would I think so?" He caressed my cheek with his thumb.
Because as far as I know Rafael, he's gonna make it look that way. But it's not. It's not. It's not! I repeated, suddenly questioning myself why I agreed to this.
I felt good with him. I found myself happy when I was with him. I like him, right.
Of course I do.
"Look if you're still not sure about this then tell me. I don't want you to feel pressurized just because you've said yes once."
"No! I mean yes, I want this." The answer left my lips immediately.
Guess that answered my previous question.
"Then we go ahead with our evening as we planned. Give me one chance. I'll make you forget everything."
"Huh?"
"Oh! I mean not like that." He screeched, chuckling nervously. "That sounded so wrong." He shook his head, his face heating up at his own comment.
I laughed seeing him like that. Then he laughed. And just like that, the bubble of the awkward tension bursted.
"So," He started the car. "Are you ready, princess Leia?"
"Totally!" I grinned. "So where are we going? You still didn't tell me."
"Hush hush, darling." He playfully gestured a finger on his lips, his eyes paying attention over the road. "But before that, I want to take you home."
"Home!" I squeaked, terrified.
"Oh please don't be so horrified. I'll introduce you as my friend if you want. I'm not rushing it." He clarified quickly. "Look Vittoria, my family is very small. And we share everything with each other. You're an important part of my life and I just want to share it with them. But if it makes you feel uncomfortable, we can drop the idea. I really won't mind."
My heart soared hearing his words. He had no idea how much his small gesture meant to me.
There was Nate, ashamed to accept me as his girlfriend and then there's Harrison, wanting to start the relationship by introducing me to his family.
I just wanted to hug him so bad and tell him a big thank you. "I'm dying to meet your family, Harri."
"Really?" The wide smile on his face was contagious.
"Really."
I watched him silently, roaming my eyes at his smile which was still intact, his fingers curled around the steering, his plain white button up shirt which was my weakness and then at last, his eyes.
He was gorgeous.
My heart kept comparing him with Rafael but my mind pushed him out forcefully. I shouldn't think about him.
"You look gorgeous today, by the way. I'm sorry I forgot to mention it." He said, pulling up in a parking lot before a building.
We reached already? I didn't even realize.
He hopped out and jogged over to my side, opening the door for me and offering his hand while I got out.
"Thank you."
I noticed he kept on rambling some random stuff that made no sense as he guided me to the elevator.
Harri boy was nervous!
I smacked my lips together and patiently pretended to understand all of it whilst admiring his cuteness.
The elevator pinged, indicating the twenty first floor and we stepped out with Harri twiddling with my fingers.
"Harri." I held his hand tighter. His eyes trailed our hands, not realizing they were connected a long time ago. "Why are you nervous? I should be the one feeling that way." I giggled.
"I just.. I don't know." He sighed as he rang the door bell.
I hope they like me. I don't want Harri to disappoint his family.
The sound of the latch opening cut through the silent lobby and I took a deep breath.
"Are you ready?" Harri asked, still nervous.
"I am." I smiled.
The door opened.
I wasn't ready. Not for this.
A little girl, probably five year old, jumped straight into Harri's arms while he quickly picked her up.
"Dadda!" She kissed him on the cheek, a lyrical giggle departing from her pink lips.
She was honestly there most adorable kid I'd ever seen. Her big grey eyes looked at me curiously, her tiny fingers playing with her dark brown hair tied up in two pigtails.
"Hey there, sugarplum!" I smiled widely, ticking her belly which made her giggle. I loved the sound of it.
"Please come in." He ushered me in where I was greeted by a middle aged man.
"So this is the girl my son keeps talking about?" The man, which I assume was his father, said teasingly.
"Father!" Harri warned shyly.
"This is Vittoria. And Vittoria, this is my father and this little devil here is my daughter Xenia. Say hello to Vittoria."
"Hello Vittoria. You're so beautiful." She blinked as if in awe.
"Not as beautiful as you, sugarplum." I pinched her cheeks.
"It's such a pleasure to meet you Mr Outhwaite." I extended my hand for a handshake, slightly bending to meet his hand as he was seated on an armchair because he had a plaster in his left leg.
"The pleasure is all mine, dear. I'm so happy my son has found such a nice girl as you." He smiled.
"Please have a seat, Vittoria." Harri gesture towards the couch.
"Thanks." I sat down and little Xenia plopped down next to me. I couldn't resist lifting her and placing her into my lap. She was just so cute.
"Is she your girlfriend, dadda?" She looked up at her dadda with her marble like eyes.
"Are you my girlfriend?" He chuckled.
Am I?
"Why yes, I am."
Harri's grin widened and Xenia gasped before giggling shyly. "Dadda has a girlfriend, grandpa." She teased, her miniscule hand flitting to her mouth.
We all laughed at her sweet little comment. The next few minutes passed by in chatting and chortling and collectively poking fun of Harri. His father told me some embarrassing secrets about him when he was a child which I was so going to use as a blackmail against him.
There wasn't a single moment where I felt uncomfortable being here. They were so welcoming, it felt like my own family.
"I'll show you something, Toria." Xenia jumped off my lap, asking me to follow her.
"Toria huh?" Harri tapped her nose. "You've already started with the nicknames."
"Of course." I said, grabbing her tiny finger as she led me somewhere. "We are besties, aren't we Nia?"
She nodded rigorously.
"Well then, go give your Toria a house tour."
"Sure dadda!"
What next, I got a very interests version of a house tour and right now we were in Harri's room. She had saved the best for the last.
As expected, his room was cozy and very British, much like the rest of the house. My eyes widened when they fell over a huge glass trophy shelf which housed over hundred of trophies.
I was speechless.
He had won so many of them in all the diverse fields— acting, directing, modelling and even dancing!
"Nia?" I gasped.
"Toria?" She mirrored my reaction.
"Is there anything your dadda can't do?" I whispered, flabbergasted by his talent.
"Um..yes..kind of." She let out a dramatic sigh. "He can't take his eyes off you. See?" She pointed at him leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms.
"Miss Outhwaite!" He reprimanded her, causing me to break a laughter.
She simply shrugged, turning back to face me while Harri joined us. "You see this small trophy?" She pointed her chubby finger at a tiny one. "This is the only one in my name." She pouted.
I read the words inscribed over it. It was for a dance competition. Like father, like daughter.
"Don't get disheartened, sweetie." I crouched down to match her height. "You're still so young. By the time you grow up, you'll have way more trophies than your dadda. He can't be better than you, come on." We did a high five.
"I believe that." Harri affirmed. "Sweetheart, why don't you wait outside. I need to talk to Toria."
"Okay." She obeyed, skipping out while humming some tune while Harri closed the door and opened the one to the balcony.
Fresh spring air attacked us as we headed out which I savored wholeheartedly. I felt this happy after a very long time.
"So?" He said, resting hisbhands against the wooden railing. "I hope you don't have a problem with me having a daughter."
"What? Of course not, Harri. But yes, you don't top there cutest human list now. I'm sorry." I shook my head with a smile playing on my lips.
"Okay, I'll be happy with the second position then." He jutted his bottom lip out.
"So even you can be a drama queen huh?" I slapped his chest. "I didn't know you were a professional dancer as well."
He passed a sheepish smile, staring out at the city skyline. The view reminded me of Rafael's office. The balcony in his office offered a similar kind of view.
The breeze was calming, carrying with itself a soothing relief. Or maybe it was just his company. I was curious to know about Xenia's mom but I wouldn't bring it up unless he wanted to talk about it. It was in the past anyway.
"What happened to Mr Outhwaite?" I asked.
"His last name is actually Davies." He corrected.
"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't know."
"He's my stepfather, yes. But I don't think even my own father would've done as much as he did for me." I could see how grateful he was. It reflected in his words.
He stared at my hand as if wanting to feel the warmth of it but he was hesitant to interlace it with his.
"You can hold my hand, Harri." I chuckled, locking my fingers with his. "You're too shy, Harri boy! Not that I'm complaining. It's cute."
"My dad is a construction worker. He had a small accident there with his leg." He began. "I told him not to work. That job's difficult. But he won't listen to me. He says he doesn't want to burden me."
He was so lucky to have a step dad like him. Even I had a step dad. Raymond.
"So the money you needed is for him?"
That ethereal sorrow rushed back into his eyes. It was like there was a deep ocean of pain inhabited in those eyes.
"No, it's for Xenia."
My heart broke.
I need to save someone from dying. That someone means the world to me.
Xenia. Dying.
I couldn't speak. My heart hurt like it was being shredded into pieces. She doesn't deserve this. Why was God so unfair?
The lump in my throat grew until I couldn't take it. Tears welled up in my eyes. I tried blinking them away but I failed.
"Vittoria." He whispered, caressing my back.
"I'm sorry I'm such a cry baby and over emotional." I wiped them away.
"It's called being human." He pressed me closer to his chest. The soft melody of his beating heart calmed me down to some extent but the agony prevailed.
"She has atrial septal defect or in layman terms, her heart has a hole in it."
"I'm sorry." I mumbled into his chest.
"It couldn't be detected early so the problem elevated. It requires surgery and Vittoria, I'm so scared to lose her. I can't even imagine my life without her." His voice broke and I felt a hot tear fall over my shoulder.
"Nothing will happen to her. We'll save her. Let me help you, Harrison."
"No." He shook his head frantically. "I can't take your money. You've already helped me with the job. It'll in turn help me with the money."
I tried convincing him but he just wouldn't listen. His self respect wouldn't allow him to.
"There's one more thing, Vittoria."
"What is it?" I still hadn't broken our embrace. At first it was me who needed it and now, it was him.
"Xenia isn't my daughter."
"What!" I snapped my head up at him.
"Yes." He scratched his neck. "She's actually my niece. But I've officially adopted her."
I couldn't muster an appropriate reaction to it. So I just patiently listened to him explain the rest of the story.
"We weren't very well off in London as well. I'd flew here to the States for my career while dad and Rebecca, my younger sister stayed in London. She was a drug addict. She would go missing for days and come back in a terrible state. Someday we would find her fallen in the streets while someday we couldn't find her at all. Then one day she learned that she was pregnant but had no clue who the father was. She tried to get rid of drugs. She really did. And she even succeeded. Then Xenia was born." The smile on his face when he said the last sentence told a million things.
"What happened to Rebecca?"
"She couldn't handle being a mother. It was too much responsibility for her. She started taking drugs again and one day she ran away. Just like that. Leaving her daughter alone."
For their first time, I saw so much anger in his eyes.
"Dad flew here with Xenia. And I officially adopted her. I didn't want her to miss out on the love she deserves. That's all I want, Vittoria. I want to give her the happiness she deserves. Nothing else matters to me."
"And you will." I passed him an encouraging smile, running my fingers through his hair. "I believe you and your capability. No matter what, Harrison. I'll always be by your side. Me as well as Mason. You're not alone in this, okay?"
"Thank you." He pulled me back into him, resting his head over mine. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much relief I felt sharing this with you."
"Come on now! You'll say thank you to your girlfriend for being there for you?" I scolded.
He let out a hearty chuckle, which made me smile. "That reminds me of our still pending date. Shall we go, Toria?" He stretched out his hand for me and we left his room, joining Xenia and her grandpa in the living room.
"You're leaving, Toria?" She said, her face dropping.
"Aww, come here." I bent down, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame, holding her close to my chest. I kissed her rosy cheeks, silently promising her a better future. "Don't worry, sugarplum. You'll be seeing me more often. And next time I come to visit you, I'll get so many chocolates for my baby." I stretched my arms wide open.
"Really?" She beamed.
"Of course! Anything for my Nia!"
"Yay! You're the best, Toria!" She cavorted around the place making my heart soar.
"Alright now, promise me you'll go to bed early and not trouble grandpa. And did you do your homework?" He asked like a dad that he was.
Little Nia made that puppy face which provided him with the answer.
"Xenia!" He warned. But he looked so cute that no one would feel threatened by that warning.
"If I do my homework on time, I'll come across as a nerd. It's a threat to my reputation." The kid agrued.
I was so impressed.
"See?" Harri huffed, looking at me. "You'll slowly learn how mischievous she is."
"Now listen carefully, you little devil." He picked her up and placed her on the couch. "You will be a good girl or else Toria won't get you the chocolates."
"I will." I mouthed secretly and gestured a finger on my lips.
"I saw that." Harri scolded us both.
"Oops!" We remarked in unison, with an innocent shrug.
Mr Davies laughed at the scnene. "Go son, enjoy your date. Don't worry about her. You take care of your girl, alright? It's late already."
"Yep!" He said, poppy the p. "Bye sweetheart, goodnight." He kissed his daughter, we bid them goodbye and left his place.
"Where are we going, Harrison. Tell me already." I strapped my seat belt, getting increasingly impatient and excited.
Thanks to his shift, we already left home after nine and by now it was ten. I wonder what he had planned.
"Wait and watch, darling." He winked.
Vittoria: If you're as excited as me then vote and comment!