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“Of course you are. Does that include the beautiful Harper, by any chance?”
The mention of Harper's name makes me smile. Thinking back a few weeks ago, whenever someone mentioned Harper's name or spoke about her ordeal, I froze. My heart constricted. I was filled with fear and anxiety over never getting another chance with her. Now, here we are, looking to the future, making plans, buying property, making love... two small words remind me of my Saturday night in Harper's bed. I’m just glad that Carl can’t read my mind.
“Yip. Stolen moments with Harper are what I live for, pal.”
Carl makes sick noises and I dig him in the ribs. It’s a good job I love him as a partner.
“Nah, seriously, I’m happy for you. It’s a long time coming for both of you. Onwards and upwards.
Onwards and upwards. I like the sound of that.
***
I abandon my car outside of Harper's shop and notice all the lights are off. I take out my phone and call her. It only rings twice before she answers it.
“Get out of the car and walk across the road,” says Harper.
“What? Where are you?”
“You’ll see. Come and find me.”
The line goes quiet, and I do as I’m told. “Walk along the waterfront, past the back of the pub.”
“Really, babe?”
As much as I’m knackered, I play along. To get Harper this animated, it must mean something to her. I see her silhouette up ahead and the line goes dead. I pocket my phone and we meet each other in the middle.
“Hi.” She kisses my cheek and folds her arms over her chest.
“What’s going on?”
“Look around. Tell me what you see.”
“Apart from my beautiful girl standing in front of me?” She nods. “Sea, cyclists, trees, houses... It’s quiet tonight. Peaceful, even.”
“Now look to your left.”
I do, and I see a beautiful house with a glass balcony on stilts. The garden below it is perfect. Someone with green fingers lives there from the number of shrubs and trees that litter the space.
“What am I looking at?”
She takes in a deep breath and pauses. I hear it clear as day. Harper is nervous.
“I don't want stolen moments with you, Drew. I don’t want to sneak around like kids.”
“Then we won’t, as good as it was.” My words hit the spot because Harper giggles.
“Seriously, I want to wake up with you and go to bed with you. I want to be able to run around naked, order take-out without judgement from my parents, and I want to be able to breathe.”
I'm confused. I’m not normally so slow on the uptake, but I have no idea what to say or where she is going with this speech.
“I can’t come home. Not to that house. It holds too many dark memories.”
If I’m honest with myself, I saw this coming, but I was hoping therapy would solve some of her fear and anxiety around the place we call home.
“Dr Carmichael mentioned something about moving house, but I never really paid any attention, then today Jack said something quite interesting.” She paused and looked out to the water. “Any house can become a home, but I’ll never find another Drew.”
“Is that what Jack said?”
