Chapter fifty

Harry had insisted on escorting me to the car himself. He had no need for nurses or doctors as he helped me waddle through the corridors of the hospital, or as he carried me down the front steps. His Range Rover was parked there, and I longed to be inside it.

“Watch your head,” Harry said as he scooped me up into his arms and folded me into the passenger seat.

I laughed in surprise at the suddenness of his movement.

“You’re awfully chipper,” I said, admiring his beautiful face.

He smiled back before ducking in to kiss my lips.

“Yes I am,” he said simply before closing the door and jogging round the driver’s side and hopping in. He started the car and we drove in a comfortable silence for a while. I watched his face as we drove. It was more exquisite than any countryside view could ever hope to be. He looked as though it was Christmas morning, and this made me think: what was he planning? Yes, maybe he was just happy that we were going home – and going home together, at that – but then I wondered if there was more to it than that. I looked down at my outfit:


Outing by authorsdescriptions featuring cross jewelry

It was hardly glamorous; I had gone for comfort rather than style. I was recovering after all, but if there was a party, surely I could have worn something nicer.

“Harry,” I started.

“Mhmm,” he mumbled around his easy smile, glancing over at me briefly.

“There’s no surprises waiting for me at the house, right?” I asked him bluntly. His smile grew somehow, stretching farther across his features which I wouldn’t have believed to have been possible a moment before.

“I should think not.” He said. I cocked my head inquisitively.

“You mean you don’t know?” I persisted. He was being evasive. Something was definitely going on.

He shrugged. I rolled my eyes, basically having got my answer. Turning on the radio, I mentally
prepared myself for the “surprise” that lay in store for me.

--

We pulled up to the big house; Harry didn’t bother to park in the garage. At first I thought he didn’t park in there so that we wouldn’t have to walk as far to the front door, but then it hit me that there were probably a ton of our friends and family’s cars parked in there. They were sneaky; I’d give them that. I began practicing my surprised look.

“Babe, what are you doing?” Harry asked, watching me closely. He looked as though he was debating whether I was crazy or not.

“Trying to look surprised.” I told him. He looked startled for a moment but then recovered and decided to play dumb.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

I rolled my eyes at him and pressed my lips against his gently. His green eyes widened and his
lips search for more as I pulled away.

“Darling, I know you so well, you can’t hide anything from me.” I said with a wink.

He gave me a knowing look, but carried on with his charade.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said as he enlaced our hands and we walked – slowly, given my condition – up the front steps. Harry opened the door and we walked in. The house was silent, but it felt full. Last time I’d been here, without Harry, I had felt the emptiness. The contrast was stark and I was immediately excited by the thought of seeing all of our beloved friends and family. I placed my purse down on the floor and when I turned around, there they were.

“Welcome home!” Everyone screamed in unison. I smiled and acted surprised as streamers and blow horns went off around me. Harry walked over to me and wrapped me in his arms.
In a voice so tender, he whispered: “Welcome home.”

Eleanor and Dani ran up to us then and hugged me, telling me that they’d been at the hospital the whole time and that they were so happy I was okay. In fact, everyone said how happy they were to hear that I was okay. And, in that moment, I felt okay. The lads all hugged me next and I recognized all their families surrounding up. But, in front of them all, I saw my parents. My mum and Anne had their arms around each other as my father stood protectively beside them. I walked over to them immediately and felt all three pairs of arms around me. Anne kissed my cheek.

“Welcome home, Sarah,” she said, giving my mum a look, before walking away to hug Harry.
Sure enough, my mum was in tears.

“Oh, mum,” I said folding her into my arms again. She stroked my hair, and I admit that it was so comforting.

“My baby,” she breathed. I closed my eyes tight as I leaned into her embrace a little bit more.
My dad put his arms around the both of us, and there was nothing left to say. Everything we’d felt in the last couple of days was conveyed in that moment through that single embrace. When we pulled away, we all felt much better; my mum wiped away her tears and hugged Harry tightly, as he’d just appeared behind us.

I knew for the first time in a long time, that everything was going to be okay. I was going to be okay.

Notes

I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in ages. I'm also really sorry that this chapter was probably lacking. The past couple of weeks haven't been great for me. My relationship has been turbulent and it's really difficult to write about love when you're currently in the process of falling out of it. I hate that I'm begrudging my characters their happy ending, but it's just because I'm jealous of them I suppose. I promise that the chapters are going to get better and that the book will end on a high note at the writing calibre with which I began it. All of your comments have meant the world to me, and I hope that you continue to enjoy it! I love you all and as usual, please rate/comment/subscribe :) Thanks so much for taking the time to read this <3 I promise to update soon!