Together

Feeling Happy, Feeling Sad

Hello hello hello! I hope you all had a lovely Saturday! I'm here with your daily update. Wow, guys, I'm just as tired of publish sad chapters as you all are of reading them- but the sad chapters will be done after the next chapter, I promise. Until then, thanks for sticking with me hehe. Comment/vote if you please xx
-ab

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March 26, 2026

Patrick

When Harper and I are done eating, we make our way back to the rental car and start to drive to the hotel. Harper knows where it is, so she directs me as I steer the automobile down the narrow streets of the little town.

"When my family would come to visit, they would always stay at this hotel because they didn't live in this town. It feels lovely to be needing to stay in this hotel."

"Oh, Harper," I tell her, "it's a charming little town."

"It's a charming town for about a week. After that, the lack of cell service and the probability of running into somebody that you know are real turn offs."

"Okay, it's not like we are in the middle of the wilderness with no cell service."

"Go to my house and try to ring somebody, then we can talk about this."

I roll my eyes and let out a small laugh. "Just... trust me. I've seen much worse."

At our hotel, Harper and I set our bags down, then she flops onto her side of the large bed. "I'm already tired."

"Me too," I laugh, snuggling up next to her, "but your mum is expecting us back soon, so we will need to do that."

"Yeah," Harper nods. "She's probably making us dinner and such. I think that I might have some cousins coming over as well. Like, after dinner. One of them said that she's staying with my mum, since the spare room is open. She's pretty close with my mum."

"Oh, alright," I say. "We should probably get back over there, then, because I'm sure she will want to see her daughter without others around."

"You're around," Harper teases.

"You know what I mean. Come on, now. Up."

Harper does as I tell her to, pushing her body up from the soft mattress which was engulfing both of us. Then, she laces her fingers through mine and pulls me up.

"You've gotta get up if you're going to tell me to do so."

"Touche," I laugh. Harper and I gather our things, then get going back to her childhood home.

Sure enough, her mum is hard at work in the kitchen.

"Mum," Harper calls, "we are back."

"Perfect. Make yourselves comfortable on the sofa, alright? I'll be in in a minute."

The two of us do just that, as Harper snuggles into my side and pulls her legs up onto the upholstery of the sofa. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and rub her arm, as though I'm assuring her that everything is going to be alright.

When Audrey comes in a few moments later, we get to chatting, except it isn't the sort of conversation which I was expecting. We didn't talk about Cooper at all. Not even the smallest mention of a name. It almost feels disrespectful to him, to be staring at his photograph hanging on the wall, next to a four-year-old Harper, but not address the elephant in the room. Nobody else seems to be feeling that, though. We even get some smiles out of Audrey, which is nice. I'm glad to see her smiling again.

I suppose that I didn't quite know what to expect here. I've not lost anyone close to me in this way. My grandfather on my dad's side passed away before I was born, and all of my other grandparents are still alive, as well as all of my aunts and uncles, and of course, my parents. I thought that this entire trip was going to be sitting around mourning the loss of a loving husband, father, uncle, and friend.

Throughout dinner, there are no mentions of Cooper. Then, Harper's cousins show up.

A pretty blonde girl and her husband introduce themselves as Clara and Elliot. Apparently, Clara is Harper's cousin, and Elliot married into the family. They appear to be about ten years older than Harper and I.

"Where's Max?" Harper asks.

"He's staying at home with his grandma," Clara replies, in a thick Yorkshire accent.

"That's a shame. I would have loved to see him."

"You'll have to come visit sometime. He just turned four, and he's so sweet."

"The pictures that you post of him on social media are the most adorable," Harper tells her cousin. "Maybe Patrick and I will make a trip up to see you guys after I'm done in Anastasia."

"Oh, are you in a show right now?" Clara asks. "Perhaps we will have to come see you, then. It would be so much fun to see you perform."

"That would be lovely. I can't say that Patrick and I have lots of spare room in our flat for any guests, though."

"I wouldn't expect you to. You're young people living in London. That's not easy to afford."

"Thankfully, Patrick's job pays quite nicely," Harper laughs.

"Oh," Clara turns to me, "what do you do?"

"I'm a physical therapist."

"Wow," she nods, impressed. "That would give you some support, then."

After we all chat for a bit longer, Harper's mum brings out a pie that she baked, which is delicious. We end up talking for another hour or so, before Harper and I decide that it might be best to get back to the hotel.

"I'll see you two tomorrow," Audrey tells us, giving us both hugs.

"Mum, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ring us."

"I'll be alright, dearie. Thank you, though."

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Audrey tells us, then we start to make our way back to the hotel. Thankfully, Harper seemingly does know this small town quite well, as it's getting dark now, and it's not quite as easy to navigate unfamiliar places at night.

Once we are back at the hotel, it doesn't take too long for us to get ready for bed, then we climb under the duvet and cuddle up.

"Do you want to watch telly for a bit before sleeping, or are you ready to turn off the lights?"

"I'm exhausted," she replies. "Let's just get some rest for tomorrow."

"Alright. Are you ready?"

Harper shrugs and sinks down deeper under the duvet. "I'm about as ready as I'll ever be."