Together

Hold On To The Memories

A bonus point to anybody who can pick out which paragraph in this chapter is really just something that I actually did lol. Also, wishing luck to any of you who might be taking the AP Lang test tomorrow (like me! send help lol). Enjoy this chapter- it's a cute one. Comment/vote pleaseeee x
-ab

—————————————

March 15, 2026

Harper

I'm so happy that my dad was able to make it to the show today. I know that any day now, I could get the call that he is declining rapidly. It could be tomorrow. What matters right now is that we get to share this moment.

I see Patrick pull something out of his satchel and hand it to my dad, then I notice that it is a small box, wrapped up in pretty pink paper.

"This is for you, love," he says, handing it to me.

"Dad," I tell him, "you didn't have to do-"

"No, I wanted to."

I smile. "Thank you."

Pulling back the paper, a jewellery box is revealed. I flip the top open to find a pendant with a ship on it, and what is sculpted to look like rope around the edge of the circular pendant.

"Oh, dad, that's so pretty," I tell him.

"It reminded me of when you were younger, and you'd just seen Les Mis for the first time... the movie. Do you remember, we took you to the Old Royal Naval College and two dockyards, where they had filmed parts of the movie? You loved it so much."

As soon as he reminds me of that story, the gift makes so much sense. I can tell that it's explaining a lot to Patrick, too. The memory almost brings me to tears. I haven't thought of that moment in so long, as I skipped down the path; College Way, I believe it was called. I didn't seem to care what was going on around me, what maintenance personnel were staring, as I sang 'Do You Hear The People Sing' at the top of my lungs, dressed in a flowery dress as the spring was starting to turn into summer. I'm almost positive that Mum still has a video of that day, stored somewhere on her computer.

And the dockyard was just as much fun. That was a different day, later that summer. It was a longer drive than it was into London, as it was south of London. I still sung, though. I was almost always singing as a kid- not much has changed, in that respect. This time, it was 'At The End Of The Day.'

My family wasn't sure how much I would enjoy the dockyards, beyond the movie having been filmed there. I had never shown any sort of particular interest in maritime activities, and didn't even really enjoy the beach that much. I still don't. There was something about that place, though, that had me entirely captivated. It was so different from anything that I had ever seen before.

Dad's stories remind me of some of the best days from my childhood.

"I'd forgotten all about those days," I tell him. "Thank you, Daddy."

"Every time you wear the necklace, you can think of those good memories," he tells me. "For the rest of your life."

I know when I hear him say that, that though he does want me to cherish the necklace, he actually bought it to help me cherish the memories.

There are so many amazing memories that I've built with him, and as I think about it, tears threaten to spill out of my eyes. I try to rub them away.

"Thank you so much, Daddy."

I stand up and walk over to him, throwing my arms around his weak body and pulling him into a hug.

I never want to break out of the hug, but I have to, eventually. I spend the next few minutes talking with my dad and husband.

"Well," Patrick says after a little while, "I'd best be getting your dad back to the hospital, love. He's seeing a doctor tonight, and I need to be back here in time for your second show."

"Alright," I reply. I give my dad one more hug after helping him off of the couch, then we say our goodbyes.

"I'll see you after your next show, love," Patrick tells me.

"I'll see you."

At that, they both leave my room. Only a few seconds later, Katherine knocks on my door.

"What's up?" I ask her.

"Patrick let me borrow your steamer. Just bringing it back."

"Oh, thanks," I laugh. "I love that Patrick let you borrow it, as though that man knows absolutely anything about vocal steamers."

"Don't be too harsh on him about it," she laughs. "You were out at the stage door, and-"

"Oh, he's my husband," I wink. "I can be a little harsh on him every now and then, if I want to."

"Touche."

"Speaking of, how are Nessa and her man?"

"I've seen a lot of Gabe recently," she rolls her eyes. "I think he's been spending the night, too. I'm always out of the flat before they're awake. If my intuitions are right, and they usually are, then they'll be moving in together soon. Same with Emmie and Ben, her boyfriend. Of course, I'm not able to afford that flat if I'm the only one paying rent on it, so I'm going to have to find somewhere new to live."

"Oh," I frown. "That's too bad."

"Nothing's official yet. Just speculating."

"Patrick and I might be moving soon, too," I admit. "He brought it up a few months ago, but I wasn't ready to have that discussion yet. It's almost time, though. If we are going to have the family that we want someday, then we are going to need a bigger flat than what we are staying in now. With him getting his pediatric training that he's receiving, he's about to get promoted, which will give us absolutely no reason to stay where we are..."

"Oh, Harper, that's so exciting," Kath tells me.

"Don't mention it to him. I'm going to have the talk with him sometime soon, though. I'm ready now. I wasn't, the last time he brought up the possibility."

Katherine smiles. "You've grown so much since you first met Patrick, love. You've changed, and in such a good way. I really do think that he completes you, Harper."

"It means so much to hear you say that," I tell her. "Thank you."

"Now," she says with a cheeky smile, "if you could spare a few more minutes before you've got to start getting ready, the girls and I have a little surprise for you in our dressing room."

"Of course," I say, following Katherine next door, where there is a box of cookies sitting, open at Kath's station.

"Happy Birthday, Harper," they all squeal when I walk in.

"Oh my gosh. You girls are the best," I tell them with a laugh, pulling them all into a giant group hug.