"He was just so precious as a child," Anne smiled with pride as she talked about her son. Harry smiled wide while also turning a little pink, happy to be the apple of his mothers eye, but also slightly embarrassed about her going on and on about him.
I couldn't help but look between them, a sly smile pasting itself on my lips when I caught his eye. The twinkle in mine let him know that this was ample payback for him getting my dad to send him my embarrassing baby photos a few weeks prior.
The majority of the afternoon had been spent around this table, picture books getting passed around and stories being shared about his childhood. While it was certainly embarrassing for him to relive things he never thought he would, I could tell that it was all worth it to be around his family. I knew the feeling, even if I didn't have my family with me.
Harry didn't even get upset when Eleanor refused to eat the fish & chips his mother had made for lunch, turning her nose up because it wasn't healthy or on their wedding diet. He ate it anyway, since his mom's fish & chips were his favorite.
His dogs were at his feet, a content smile on his face as the animals would occasionally grunt or lick at his ankle while the table shared childhood stories. His grandmother was making dinner in the kitchen, his mom helping as much as his granny would allow. His grandfather sat at the head of the table, sharing an endless stable of jokes that always made Harry laugh that childhood cheeky chuckle that he was infamous for. His best friend Nick sat across from him, sharing glances and secret words with him in silence. Candy was next to Nick, leaning affectionately against him and giggling here and there, while his sister Gemma was next to her with her husband. Their cousin, Lauren was sitting next to him, both women with children in their lap, although Lauren's was more of a newborn. Harry's stepdad was at the other end of the table, leaving me between Eleanor and the empty spot left for his Mum.
Lauren's kid was balancing on her lap, glancing in awe at the spectacle of the masses of people around her that she had never seen before. She was a spitting image of her mother, but got blessed with the same curly hair that Harry had. She was starting to get restless, grasping at her Mom's necklace and annoying her as she tried to tell a story.
"I don't know what you guys remember, but I distinctly remember Harry being a terror," Lauren laughed mischievously. Harry just gave her a cheeky grin and stuck his tongue out, just like old times.
"He was a good kid," his step-dad Robin chimed in. "A bit ornery and definitely a ham, but a good kid."
"Remember when he almost took out your picnic table with the lawn mower, and broke the blade by chipping it on the concrete?" she chimed, looking up at Grandpa.
Harry snorted while the entire table chuckled at the memory. Even I had to chuckle, trying to mask a bit of my sadness, even though I knew my eyes gave away my unhappiness. Harry couldn't help but notice, and I felt his worried gaze from time to time.
I could tell he was proud of my amiability, in contrast to his fiancé who was sitting at the table completely disengaged, her arms crossed over her chest and barely speaking, even if spoken to. The two of us were so different, and somehow I could feel that whenever our eyes would connect, he would relish in the fact that I wasn't like her at all. It's what brought us closer, I think.
"Oh, come on now," he chimed back, letting his gaze on me falter before addressing the crowd. He watched as the little girl kept trying to get the necklace on her mother's neck.
"You come on," Lauren laughed in response. "You thought you were Dale Earnhardt," she chuckled, prying her daughters hands from her necklace. "Ally, stop..."
Harry notices, and holds his hands out to take her. He smiled brightly as he took the blossoming infant by the rib cage, pulling her to his own lap and letting her stand on his thigh.
"Hi, princess," he mutters, kissing all over her cheeks. He couldn't help but chuckle as she reached up with wide eyes, touching his cheeks with wonder as she learned her uncle's face. "I still can't believe you and Gemma have kids. I feel old," he looks up, mystery in his eyes.
"You are, old man. Gonna be the big three-five this year..." she chuckled.
He rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me..." He continued to stare into the little brown eyes before him, puffing his cheeks out and stealing kisses to entertain her. He groaned when she tugged on his hair, but he playfully bit her hands.
I'm pretty sure my ovaries just expelled an extra egg.
"Look, he's a natural," Lauren's husband pipes up.
"I always thought Harry would make a wonderful Father," his Mom piped up from the kitchen, a mischievous gleam in her eye. You could tell she wanted some more grandkids.
All eyes immediately turned to Eleanor, and she just blinked back in bewilderment.
Harry was too busy to notice, watching the little child as she played with his lip. He couldn't help but look at this tiny creature and think that he could do this. He could take care of a little girl, or teach a boy how to play soccer. He could be a Dad. I could see it on his face, the thoughts passing over his features as he studied the child as intently as she studied him.
"We don't plan on discussing children," Eleanor answered. The whole room got silent, and Harry's neck snapped to her in shock.
She was sitting back in her chair, completely unaffected by the words that just came out of her mouth, as if what she said was something as trivial as the flower arrangements at their wedding. Hell, she took far more time to consider those than she did the status of whether or not they would procreate, but at least she pretended to ask his opinion about flowers. She didn't even do him that honor with one of the most important aspects of their marriage.
He doesn't even realize he's frowning until the baby tries to push the corner of his mouth back up into a smile.
"I don't know if I want kids, either," Candy pipes in, affirming the underlying truth to the statement she just pulled out from under him. He forces a smile, but the bitterness stings the back of his throat. "I really want to focus on my career, ya know?"
Nick just looks at her with confusion. It was awkward enough that they were now discussing kids with the girl he was just fucking, but since when did she have a "career"? Everyone could see the girl crush Candy had on Eleanor, and this mirroring behavior was taking it a step too far.
Eleanor couldn't even be bothered to respond, let alone listen to them. She just picked at her fingernails in a bored fashion.
"That's nice dear," his grandmother piped up. "Anne, honey -- you don't have any crushed pineapple?"
Harry's eyes got big, completely ignoring what just happened because he knew what crushed pineapple meant.
"You know what that means," Gemma piped up.
"Blueberry Crumb Cake!!" All the kids yelled at the same time.
After the commotion died down, Anne re-appeared from the pantry. "Uh -- I thought I did. There isn't any on the counter?" she chimed. "I thought I set it out."
His grandmother just shook her head no.
"Harry, love? Would you and Nick go to the store and get some pineapple for Grandma?"
He jumped at the chance, handing the baby back to Lauren and smiled at Nick. "Babe, you want to come?" he smiles, nudging his fiancé. He knows it was supposed to be a boys trip, but he really wanted to show Eleanor his home town and convince her to love it. To love him.
"No thanks," she shrugs dismissively.
He groaned, looking back at Nick as he pulled his hand off of her shoulder. Nick, trying to follow suit, asked Candy the same. She eyed Eleanor, and also following suit, declined.
"Let's go," both boys chimed happily, quickly making their way for their coats.
"Harry!" his grandma chimes from the kitchen. He obliges, walking in to greet her.
"What's up, Nana?"
She pointed her spatula to my depressed looking form, even though I wasn't paying attention. All I could focus on was playing with the hem of my shirt. If I could see how depressed I was, I would have also probably slapped myself or forced myself out of the house.
"Why don't you take Olivia?" she asked, silently telling him how she needs to be cheered up with her eyes. It's then that he remembers that I'm here with his family because of him and nods.
"Of course," he confirmed, looking back at me with concern again. He turns about and waltzes back into the dining room, a huge front plastered on those beautiful lips. "C'mon, Livvy." I just stared at him confused. "Let's go to town. You're coming."
My eyebrows creased as I saw the smile on his cheeks. Given the alternative was staying with a bunch of people I didn't know, especially Eleanor, there was no way I was saying no.
"Ummm...okay?"
--
Author's Note:
Three chapters in one weekend! Which is saying a lot since I type this shit up on my phone. Lol. I do still have a bit more pre-written, so maybe you'll get another update before the end of the night.
Thanks for helping me cross 1,000 reads and for all of you who have added it to your reading lists.
If you really wanted to make me doubly happy and a faster update, I would love it if you would comment and let me know what you think so far -- or just vote if you really like the story. Helps me tell what's working and what's not!
Xo,
NB