Around noon the four finally arrived at Belle's school.
"Lace," Ian muttered as he checked his phone. "Where are you?" He said looking at the mass of seats and people.
Harry meanwhile tried to see if he could find Hope. It was at times like this he wished Hope was taller. At the thought though, he laughed to himself, already seeing her indignant reaction to his comment on her height.
"What are you grinning at?" Hope asked, standing there before him as a few people parted in order to let her pass.
"You found us."
Hand on her hips, Hope grinned, a laugh on her lips. "Well it's not that hard, you did text me when you guys parked. I've been checking the entrance since. Come on you two, we have seats saved." She said ushering them, trying not to laugh at their previous deer in the headlights looks upon seeing the decorated auditorium. It was hacienda themed with the colors of oranges, yellows, reds, coloring every inch of the auditorium. The Spanish influenced decorations included columns wrapped in red rose twine. The budget for the ceremony was astounding. Hope was sure that it was much more than her high school graduation was. Granted, Hope was also sure the kids wouldn't quite appreciate or understand the theme, they were after all graduating kindergarten.
"Oh my god, thank god." Lacey said seeing her husband and kids. She practically flew to them. Anything to escape her fellow moms who were a tad too intense for her. Lacey was sure they had commented on her Banana Republic dress, and not so nicely because it wasn't name brand like theirs despite the fact her white and navy trimmed column dress looked just as good on her figure as their Chanel wrap dresses looked on theirs, if not better, the snide part of her thought. "Get me away from these women," She muttered harshly in his ear after kissing him.
Ian just chuckled though, he had grown up surrounded by women just like them and knew her pain. He was just glad he escaped his parents' clutches and ended up marrying Lacey instead of one of them. "My pleasure," He said with a kiss to her temple.
And once more Hope and Harry found themselves with two charges while Ian and Lacey went to get their coffee fix at the café across from Belle's school.
Hope just blinked, watching them walk away. She should be used to this, they did often ditch her with their children but her initial reaction of disbelief remained unchanged.
"They just left us didn't they?" Harry asked, beginning to see the pattern. Hope just nodded.
"There's my class! I have to gooooo." Belle said as she hopped up and down beside Harry, looking up at Hope impatiently.
Hope looked down at her niece. "Do you want me to do your hair now or later?"
Belle glanced at her classmates then back at Hope. She squinted her eyes in thought before peering at Hope. "Later."
"Okay, then come back when you're ready. Our seats are over there so we can see you when you get on stage." Hope pointed at their seats. Belle nodded impatiently before skipping off. Hope watching her with a small smile.
"I know she's not even six yet but... I remember the day she was born and..." Hope looked up at Harry, her eyes slightly watering despite what she'd promised herself. She would not cry when Belle graduated kindergarten. She had so many more graduations to go, but Hope still could feel her emotions rising because Belle wasn't really a baby anymore. "This is supposed to be Ian and Lacey's job, not mine to nearly cry because she'll be a grade schooler next year!"
Glancing over at Hope with Landon in her arms, Harry slipped a hand loosely on her hips, gently resting his hand there. He was pleasantly surprised when instead of freezing up, Hope leant against him, resting her cheek on his chest with a small sigh. Smiling ear to ear, Harry went back to watching Belle in her circle of classmates as their teacher went through instructions.
An hour later the ceremony finally started. Harry sat between Ian and Hope, both camera happy though Hope's camera phone was a sad comparison to Ian's Nikon.
There were five separate classes, each were doing their own specially prepared performance. Hope, Harry, and Lacey all shared a look though as the first class began. They were all playing Beethoven's Symphony 9 on glockenspiels.
"In kindergarten I made macaroni necklaces." Hope whispered to Harry as she began to question once more what kind of school exactly did her sister and brother in law send her niece to. Harry laughed as he nodded in agreement.
"The in-laws suggested it!" Lacey defended herself, barely above a whisper. "And suggest is a light way of putting it."
"This is nothing, we did a reenactment of the last supper, Da Vinci style." Ian said to his horrified wife.
"You let me listen to your parents because?!"
It only got better from there. One class did a reenactment of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Act III, Scene III, Caesar's assassination. Thankfully condensed and without weapons. Not to mention the kids were I western garb, giving it a cowboy theme in order to match the Hacienda theme. By the time Belle's class came along, Harry and Hope talked about the incompetence of their own childhoods, sharing stories on the lack of Beethoven and Shakespeare; there was plenty of music of course, oh and cartoons, but definitely no Shakespeare, laughing all the while.
Despite the mispronunciations, lisps here and there. Trouble on the certain consonants, Belle's class was utterly adorable during Somewhere Over the Rainbow and well, Belle was literally belle of the ball as she was also the class' Dorothy, basket and stuffed dog to boot. Harry wasn't sure if Ian had even put the camera down the whole performance.
"Cameron Edwards," the teacher spoke up. Harry's brows rose as the snotty red head boy from that Valentine's day dance nudged Belle before climbing over her, taking the dark blue ribbon that Hope had fastened on Belle's Dorothy braid with him. He continued nonchalantly to the teacher to get his stuff and a handshake, ignoring Belle's furrowed brows and her little fist shaking in front of her with anger. But the audience just laughed at the adorably scene, unlike Harry who narrowed his eyes and watched the brat.
"Ian's not even reacting like you are. Seriously Harry, the boy's not even six."
"Belle's a daddy's girl, she'll only settle for someone like me or Niall." Ian said, almost smugly.
Harry looked nearly triumphant until Niall's name. At his mate's name, he just groaned.
Hope snorted, trying to hide her laughter but failed. Harry merely groaned again but this time hid his face in the crook of Hope's neck.
At Belle's name though, they all straightened up. Hope and Ian once again going camera happy as Belle made her way across the stage.
Watching her though, they all watched curiously as she waved frantically out into the distance. The four turned, craning their heads to see who or what Belle was waving at.
Hope's eyes widened meanwhile Harry's heart felt like it was plummeting.
"Mark?" She whispered.
The second after Belle got off the stage, Hope abruptly got up. Harry's hand that had been resting lazily across her shoulder, dropped.
"Sorry," Hope said as she made her way down the aisle before practically jogging in her heels and blue dress to the door, her eyes never leaving the tall figure.
"For Belle," Mark said, not looking at her as they stepped out of the auditorium. Hope took the flowers, closing her eyes briefly at the bouquet. Plum blossoms...
"Mark, I-"
"Please don't say anything." Mark asked her, cutting her off gently. "I'm just here to see Belle on her special day."
"Of course," Hope whispered. "You've always been such a great guy that way." She clutched the bouquet almost a little too tightly.
"I'm not that great of a guy. I can't give you permission or tell you that I forgive you but I wanted to tell you that I don't hate you. I love you too much, even now to hate you Hope Matherson. You are some of my best and favorite memories thus far... but this summer I can't be here. Not with you and him, being who you two are. I'm leaving for a remote village in Ecuador tomorrow, there's a women's shelter that needs help staying afloat and men to prevent-" Mark stopped, realizing that she wasn't his anymore, she wasn't obligated to know his plans anymore.
"Please go on," Hope said, reading his lost expression.
Mark closed his eyes, sad smile on his lips. "The village has a taboo tradition of fathers taking their young daughter's virginities... where the older women who try to speak out against the abhorrent tradition and domestic abuse are beaten, jailed, etc. so they want volunteers, especially sturdy males that can act as doctor and guard." He finished not looking at her.
"And you say you're not a great guy. Mark don't belittle yourself."
Rueful smile lacking its usual warmth. "And you chose him."
"I, I, I don't really like myself lately." Hope offered the saddest smile. "What I've done to you-" she couldn't finish as she choked up, a sob threatening to escape.
Wiping away a tear, Mark couldn't help but lean into her, her presence almost intoxicating... "God Hope, why wasn't I enough?" He whispered.
"Mark."
Closing his eyes, he took a step back. "I didn't come here for, I." Mark paused. "It's hard to remember that we're not us anymore... though I thought maybe I would be able to bring myself to forgive you. To give us another try. But," Mark said stopping as he remembered the image of Hope and Harry together, jus previously before Belle had seen him. "I lost you a long time ago."
Hope couldn't say anything.
"So I'm just going to say goodbye. Cut my losses now before I resent you and forgo our happy memories for the bitter ones. Goodbye Hope."
"Where's Belle?" Hope asked wiping her eyes just once more to wipe away traces of tears. "Where's Ian?" She asked just noticing his absence too.
"After quivering her little lip then bursting into tears like the little actress she is." Lacey said with a small sigh and shake of her head. "She ran off and Ian went chasing after her. "I think she gets it from you." Lacey teased her little sister before she went to hug her, even with Landon still on her hips.
"You okay?" She finally asked.
Hope just nodded before looking over at Harry who hadn't taken his eyes off her. Harry's lips parted but nothing came out. Hope looked over at him as he reached a hand out but he didn't get another chance to say anything as they were soon surrounded by other families and concerned parents.
"Is Belle okay?" Mitch's Mom asked Hope who returned Mitch's hug when the child hugged her waist.
"I," Hope was about to say she didn't know but Ian came back with Belle happily in his arms holding a glass container.
"We've got a new addition to the family this summer." Ian said with a long sigh.
"Niall!" Mitch yelled in excitement as Belle was put down, looking mighty pleased with herself.
"The hamster." Lacey said in disbelief. "It would be the hamster wouldn't it?" She looked over at her husband who just nodded in defeat.
An hour later, everyone had left the auditorium only to linger near the parking lot. Every parent left couldn't help but sniffle, feeling a little old but mostly sad that their babies were growing up so fast.
To escape her mother's clutches, Belle had demanded Harry carry her so that her mother didn't nearly squeeze her, lamenting with the other Moms on a topic she could relate with.
Harry though didn't mind as the little girl leaned her cheek against his, providing him a distraction from his previous whirling thoughts. Still he stole a look in Hope's direction. She was smiling but it wasn't the usual Matherson smile, yet he looked away saying nothing, giving Hope the space she needed.
"It'll be okay," Ian nudge Harry.
"Ian," Harry said in surprise.
Ian just smiled. "I'll take Belle. You... do what you need to do. But I would suggest some Little Italy gelato. It's the remedy to every Matherson's woes."
~~~
Finally getting back in the hang of writing!
But hope you guys don't mind that its still not over! I can't believe I planned to end it last summer and still now...
I'm a failure but I will try to redeem myself and finish this the way it deserves. So thank you so much for sticking with me!
Brides next!