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Iris
Friday has come again and I will see Harry today. I texted Lamby a few days before inviting him to our favorite ice cream store. I also told him to invite Harry with him and he, of course, agreed because he knew that it would make Emma really happy. Nobody is suspecting that I'm seeing Harry. Molly asked me the other day how my date was though and I had to give her a fake description of the guy I am seeing. She said that I looked happy when I talked about him.
I really like Harry. We don't get to see each other a lot because we are both working a lot and I am a mother. But we text a lot and we call each other every day and every night. I try to be as sneaky as possible because I know that my daughter is a smart girl and when she listens to Harry's name, she will start to ask questions.
My mother still lives with me. She spends a lot of time with us, and especially Emma, and I am so happy seeing her smiling again. After my father died she was devastated, she couldn't get out of be and I couldn't watch her doing that to herself. I couldn't help her and that was eating me alive. But my little human could. Emma helped nana Sophie much more that she will ever understand.
"Mumma." I hear a little girl shouting at me and I see my little gild running to the place I am standing. A few meters behind her was Millie and a new boy.
"Hello my little love. Hi Millie." I greet the two children I know.
"Mumma, this is our new friend, Ethan."
"Hello Ethan, I'm Iris, Emma's mother." I greet the shy boy.
"Hello, Miss Iris. Nice to meet you."
"Where are your parents guys?" I ask as I look around to see Millie's fathers or any adult looking for Ethan. And where is the teacher? Isn't it her job watching the kids as long as it takes the parents to come and get them?
"There you are guys, I told you not to run." I hear the teacher saying as she comes to the place we are.
"We don't get away from the teacher guys, you have to promise me that." I say to the kids and everyone of them starts apologizing.
"You don't have to wait for them, Iris." The teacher, Pia, informs me. She is around my age and we are on a name basis.
"I know, but I will." She nods and then she excuses herself so she can go back to the other children.
"Mills." I hear Chris saying and coming to our place.
"Hello, daddy." His daughter greets him and hugs him. Millie loves both of them so much, I'm so glad this little girl found the perfect house which is filled with so much love.
"Sorry for being late, thank you Iris for looking after her."
"Don't worry." I say and before I can continue the conversation I see a tall man coming to us saying Ethan's name. Everyone can understand that he is Ethan's dad, they look exactly the same.
"Hello love, sorry for being late." He tells his sons.
"Don't worry, I was with my friends."
"Oh, I see. Hi, I'm William, Ethan's dad."
"Hi, I'm Chris. Millie's dad and this is Iris, Emma's mother."
"Oh, nice to meet you. Thank you for waiting with him." The man, whose name is William tells us. He is blond and very tall, taller that Harry for sure. He is wearing a suit but not a tie. I bet that he works as a lawyer or in finance.
"We have to go." I tell them and take Emma's hand on my own. "But, we have to meet for a playdate this weekend. If that is okay with you William."
"Of course, you can all come to our house. Give me your numbers so we can text for the details." He says and then we exchange numbers.
"Emma, say goodbye to your friends. We are going to be late and Harries will wait for us."
"WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE HARRIES?" She shouts excitedly and all of us laugh.
"Yes darling, we will." I can already see Chris closing his eye on my playfully.
She says her goodbyes with the two kids and also to the adults and she takes my hand and starts to run so we can go faster to the car. When we are safely inside, she tells me that she wants to listen to sunflower. It's so cute to listen to her singing the song with words that don't even exist but match the vibe just right. Harry has to witness that. I hope that one day soon he will.
When we arrive in front of the ice cream shop, we see Harry and Lamby waiting for us. Emma sees them the same time as me and I watch Harry's smile growing bigger on his face. I feel Emma shouts his name and then she leaves my hand to go to him. He crouches down to be easier to hug her and I can see him kissing her head as he stand up with my daughter on his arms this time.
"Hell guys, how are you?"
"I'm fine, how are you sweet girl?" Lambert asks me.
"I'm fine. I watch this love getting bigger and bigger as the days go by." We laugh while watching Harry and Emma, who talk to each other and don't even unknowledge us.
"Should we go inside?"
"We should. Hello, Iris." Harry talks to me for the first time today and leaves Emma free from his hug. I watch her go to Lamby and takes his hand to go inside before us.
"Hi. How are you today?"
"I hate small talk with you. I want to hug you and kiss you."
"You have to wait until tomorrow night." We decided to spend the Saturday night together. Just a dinner-movie date to his house. I won't stay there though. I don't feel ready to leave Emma for the night. I know that mother will be there but i know that I won't be able to stop thinking about her. Harry is so respectful of that.
"I know, I wait to have you for myself. Now we should go inside or Lambert will give in to all of your daughter's wishes." We go inside and I hear Emma telling Lambert about her day at school. I'm sure she will tell Harry too in a few minutes.
We order our ice creams and we sit on the end of the shop so no one can see us. Harry is very protective of his privacy and I see him being a little more protective when it comes to the kids he is surrounded, like my daughter for example.
"I made a new friend. His name is Ethan." She tells all of us as she eats her ice cream.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you darling."
"He is funny and smart." She informs us. "He wanted to play with the dolls with Millie and I. No other boy wanted to do that ever."
"Boys can play with dolls, right Emma?" I ask her.
"I know. He liked it better that the cars. I told that to the other boys too."
"I like playing with dolls too." This guy will do anything to impress my four year old.
"Really Harry?" She opens her eyes a little more.
"Yes, I played all the time with my sister when I was little."
"You can play with me now, don't be sad." She tells him and pats him on the shoulder earning a giggle from all of us.
"We will go to his house with Mills and Chris on Sunday." I inform my two friends.
"You met the parents?" Lambert asks me.
"The dad. I bet I will meet the mother on Sunday afternoon."
"You have to tell me anything. I still want to hear about you know what." Lambert whispers at me and I know that he wants to talk about my date. I have to tell him all the fake details Harry and I thought.
The only people that know that Harry and I seeing each other are my sister and Jeff. We agreed to wait a little before we start telling people about us. He haven't even ask me to be his girlfriend officially. But I know that he will soon, I can feel it. He is as invested in this, as I am.
"What are you doing tomorrow night?" Lambert asks me.
"I have a date." I tell him.
"You too? Oh, why is everyone finding love but me?" He asks rhetorically.
"Me too? Who has a date tomorrow night." I know who is.
"Harry."
"Yes." I hear Harry saying making both of us laugh. My daughter looks at us with the same expression as Harry.
"You have a date tomorrow."
"I do, yes." He confirms.
"Iris has one too."
"I didn't know you are seeing someone." He plays the role too well.
"It's on the early stages."
"Mine too but I know that I will have a future with her." My cheeks blush.
"Mummy, what is a date?" Emma asks me and literally saves the whole plan. Harry looks at me smiling and I can't help but smile at him too.
"It's when you go out with a special friend." She doesn't question anything on this sentence and continues telling Harry about her favorite song of his.
"You have to come to my concert one day little darling. You will love it there."
"Concert?"
"It's a thing where there are a lot of people and I sing for them."
"I will come then. But i want to be close to you so I can hear you sing it to me."
"I will always sing to you your favorite song. We are best friends after all."
..
We left an hour after that. And I just can't stop thinking about that sentence. Harry must have started to grow a bond with my daughter. My daughter is already in love with him. But I don't know how to feel. Should I let her create this bond with this man or should I not let them see each other and only let it happen when i know for sure what Harry and I are? My thoughts are eating my alive.
My phone is ringing and I know that it is Harry. I am in my room. My mother is sleeping at Tonya's house today and Emma is sleeping.
"Hello, H."
"Darling, I missed you."
"You have seen me today."
"Yes but I didn't talk much to you."
"Emma talks so much, right?"
"Don't say anything about my bestfriend."
"She really likes you Harry."
"I know, I like her too. She is the sweetest little girl. And I told you that I want a future with you so your daughter is someone that I want to win."
"You want to win a 4 year old?"
"I do."
"Harry, you have won her from the start. And even if you didn't, a gift is the key to every child's heart."
"I would sing to her, I think that's the key to her heart."
"You are right. Are you excited for tomorrow?"
"Yes, I can't wait to see you. I want to hug you and kiss you and.."
I hear the door of my bedroom open and Emma comes inside closing the door behind her. Her pajamas are a little big for her and her hair is braided.
"Mummy, can I sleep here? My tummy hurts."
"Of course darling. I have to leave." I tell Harry as I watch Harry waving on my screen and say goodnight.
"Is that my best friend?" Emma's eyes lights up.
"Yes, come say goodnight to him."
"Goodnight, Harry. I'm going to call you every night now." He laughs and nods.
"Okay darling. Goodnight sweet girl, goodnight Iris."