Un-Tying the Knot {h.s.}

Chapter 18

"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..."