The Weeks Between • HS

December 2022 • Nola *

***A/N: just a reminder. For this one chapter, December 2022, instead of the same time frame from both perspectives, I decided the split the time frame.

Last chapter was Harry's POV and ended with TWO MINUTES until the wedding ceremony.

Two minutes?!  I haven't even had time to really let all of this sink in. It's not that I don't want to marry Harry. That's not even a half a percent of my issue. I don't know who he invited. I don't know what this wedding consists of. I don't know anything except for that at the end of the day I am going to be Mrs. Nola Styles. I guess, when it comes down to it. I don't really need to know anymore than that.

"Darling, Hope wants to talk with you before the ceremony," Harry says, stepping aside for my best friend to have a few moments. I assume that even though they said I have two minutes until the ceremony, they're not gonna start until I'm ready. So, if Hope and I need ten minutes then we're going to take ten.

"I hope you're not mad that I kept this secret."

"I'm not mad I'm just super surprised!" She smiles and holds out a small blue velvet bag for me.

"Your dress is your something new. So, this can be your something borrowed, old and blue." She drops the bag in my hand and takes my bouquet from me so I can open the bag. " I have no idea which finger it will fit on, but it was Grandma Colette's."

"Is she not here?"

"She is," she tells me, but then continues. "She gave it to my mother on her wedding day. My mother gave it to me and since I'm not getting married today, I figured you could borrow it. Seeing as it's a family heirloom at all."

A feeling of sadness that I hadn't expected suddenly washes over me. "I kind of wish my mom could be here. Not the mom that birthed me, but the one who's taking care of me for the last six years."

"She is," Hope says. "Do you want me to go get them?" I hadn't even thought about the fact that Helen and Albert probably had no idea what was going on until they got here today. Something tells me know that Hope kept this secret from me, but that she probably didn't keep it from everybody.

"Would you please?" I ask her and she smiles and walks away. As soon as she is gone, Harry comes back to me.

"You ready, darling?"

"Not just yet," I say and he looks at me with a worrisome expression. "No, Harry. I'm not stalling. I just want to see Helen and Albert before the wedding."

"Of course," he says, with his hand gently rubbing my back. "I didn't tell them ahead of time, but Hope did. So, they found out yesterday, or the day before. I believe."

Just then, they walk back with Hope. Albert has tears in his eyes. "Oh, sugar. You look so beautiful," he says, reaching for me as Harry steps to the side and shares an embrace with Helen.

"Now, you two DO know that you could've told us about this. We are really good at keeping secrets," Helen jokes.

"I didn't find out about it until about an hour ago. Or maybe two," I say and they both look at Harry.

He holds up his hands in defense. "I didn't want the press to find out about the wedding. The more people I involved, the more likely it was that someone involved in the planning would slip up. Keeping it small and not telling anyone about besides a handful of people, was the one way that I could guarantee that it was our private event." Harry explained to them his reasoning, and it makes me love the fact that he surprised me even more.

Albert switches with Helen and she brings me in for a hug. "We are so very happy for you, my dear."

"Thanks, mom," I say, using the title that I don't use as often I should with her.