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Chapter 16
Drew
My first week back at work was a killer. My family has been on my case, telling me how much I need to look after myself, but I didn’t realise how much I'd let myself go over the last couple of weeks. I haven’t eaten healthily, and I haven’t been in a gym once. The most exercise I’ve had was when Harper and I rode the horses. I’m knackered.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” asks Carl.
“I’m taking Harper out for dinner. We’re meeting my brother and Alice.”
“Things are going well? With Harper, I mean.”
“It’s early days. She’s still at her parents’ house, but we talk every day. She does therapy every second day, and she’s taken up riding again. Tonight will be the first time she’s socialising with anyone other than me and her parents.”
“All positive steps, pal.”
“Yeah. Finally. We have a long road ahead of us, but for the first time, I can see us moving closer to normalcy.”
“Great news. I’m here if you need anything. Tonight, I have a date. If I’m alive on Monday, then I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Good luck.” I pat his back, throw my bag over my shoulder, and leave the locker room.
Positive steps. I think I had become so accustomed to negativity and everything going wrong that I was blinded by it. Either that or I didn’t want to see positivity in case it was all snatched away again.
Tonight is a huge thing for Harper. She hasn’t seen anyone other than me, her parents, and her doctors since all this happened. She wouldn’t even see Pete, and I know it’s killing him. He texts me every day for an update. However, hopefully, after tonight, she will see that everyone doesn’t hate her. In fact, anyone who knows Harper is incapable of hating her. They love her, regardless of everything she’s been through. It has only made people care more. I’ve seen true kindness in people over the last several weeks and I will never forget that. I’ll repay that generosity one day.
Tonight, though, I’m going to enjoy my time with my wife.
***
I pulled my car into the car park of The Tea House, one of our favourite Chinese restaurants in Larbert. Harper has hardly said two words since we left the house. She has fidgeted in her seat, looked out the window, and changed the radio station a gazillion times. I’m antsy just feeling her turmoil.
“Harper…” I turn in my seat towards her and capture her shaking hand in mine. “Talk to me. What do you need?”
“A magic wand. Someone to erase the past.”
“The past didn’t kill us, sweetheart. It doesn’t define us. It can only make us stronger from here on out.”
“I’m just scared of everything, Drew.”
“I'm scared too. No, that’s an understatement. I’m fucking terrified of losing you. I’m terrified of never getting back what we had.” I lift my hand and caress her cheek.
Harper leans into me, and I look at her glossy lips and take this moment to do something I’ve been wanting to do every time I see her. I kiss her. I test the waters first to see if she pulls away or freezes, but when her lips move with mine, I take that as my invitation to probe further. Our mouths collide, softly, tenderly. My heart bursts and I feel the tears under my eyelids.
She pulls back first and leans her forehead against mine. “We’ll be okay, Drew.”
“We will. I don’t care how long it takes, baby. Right now, though, we have two people who are probably starving and thinking we’ve stood them up.”
“You won’t let me run, trip, or fall?”
“Never.” I kiss her nose and get out of the car. I open her door and wait for her to climb out. I don’t want to push her, but I don’t want to encourage her being stuck in a rut. This whole ordeal has taught me to be more assertive.
Harper stands tall, her head held high, and exhales slowly. “I can do this. It’s only Derren and Alice.”
My heart bursts with pride. “You can do whatever you set your mind to.”
We walk into the restaurant slowly. I instantly see Derren and Alice sitting at a table.
“Hi, do you have a table booked?” asks the host.
