Page 40 of Harry

“Good to hear.” She looked up and saw when he hesitated just inside the doorway and realized that it was instinctive for him to do so. The place did not hold any fond memories for him.

“We just wanted to make sure she has some nourishment before you go to the pool house.” There was a pleading look on her face. “And I wanted to have the chance to spend some time with her. Rosie sent one of the maids over to do a thorough cleaning and change the linens.”

His laser blue eyes met hers and he felt himself softening. “Thanks.” He stepped over the threshold and removed his jacket, helping Janelle off with hers. “She had breakfast and didn’t disgrace herself by hurling…”

He grinned at the dirty look she threw him. Moving towards her, he caught her around the waist and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’m not hungry, mother.” He murmured before looking down at Janelle. “I’ll leave you two alone while I go upstairs and get some things I need.” He cupped her face. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” she urged, “I’ll be fine.”

*****

“Master Harry!” Rosie met him halfway across the wide hallway as he was about to head to the double doors leading to his suite. The housekeeper’s face was wreathed in a huge smile and there was a suspicious glint in her dark brown eyes. “I am full to bursting.”

“Rosie.” Reaching out a hand, he took her plump ones in his and pulled her in for a hug. She had been one of the people who had made things bearable for him. She had bandaged his scrapes and wiped his tears, telling him repeatedly that it was going to be fine. “You smell of cookies and vanilla as usual.”

She burst out laughing, hugging him tight and possessively around the waist. She only came to his chest, but her ample girth wrapped around him like a protective mother hen. She never had children of her own and had taken care of him like she had given birth to him.

She had seen him through his sufferings and felt rage at how his father treated him. But despite all that rough treatment, he still managed to be a wonderful young man.

Easing back, she tilted her head to study his gorgeous face. “She is a beautiful girl. And you will do right by her.”

“I am trying.” Lifting a hand, he touched her plump cheek. “You’re one of the few people who ever truly understood me.”

“Now you have that lovely girl who cradles your babies in her womb. Be good to her.”

“She won’t allow me to be anything but.” He lifted his head to gaze at the doors. “I need to collect some things.”

“It’s as it always was. I tidy up every now and then. I don’t trust the girls to go in there. Don’t want anyone pawing through your stuff.” Her homely face took on a fierceness that had him grinning. Bending from his lofty height, he kissed her full on the lips.

“Thanks Rosie.”

“I will go down and see that lady of yours. Go on then,” She watched fondly as he strode towards the doors and pushed them open.

Harry stepped into the past and felt his stomach jittering. Standing just inside the doorway, he let his eyes roved around the tidy sitting room with its chocolate brown leather sofas, the big screen television attached to the wall – the coffee table, the large fireplace, and the gleaming hardwood floors.

Stepping down, he walked through to his former bedroom and just stood there. It has gone through several major redecorations over the years.

Once when he was twelve and his mother had given into the plea for a much darker color scheme and then when he was sixteen and wanted something different. Then just before he left for college, he had gone crazy and decided on bold colors. Slashes of red, blue, and green with a spot of gold. He hadn’t spent much time here after that.

College and then university had been an escape for him. It was while he was on his last leg, he received the news that his old man had died of a heart attack. But he never came back here. And had renovated the pool house to suit his tastes.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped further into the room and smiled slightly as the scent of lemons assailed his nostrils. The wooden floor was gleaming and the bookcase with all of his classics and first editions were intact.

He wished he could spend the night here, share the past with Janelle. But staying here always suffocated him. He could not put her through any of it.

His trophies, an entire section of one wall had been dedicated to his achievements – ribbons, medals were all on display.

He had been very athletic, mostly because he had had to find an outlet for the anger inside him.

And he had participated in everything from lacrosse, hockey, football, swimming, and boxing. He had been on the debating team as well as the tennis team. He filled his life with activities so he could keep busy and not have to come home to misery.

Moving forward, he ran his hand over the smooth finish of the mantle and propped a booted foot on the rail. He had a woman downstairs who loved him to pieces. And he loved her to distraction. They were expecting twins - he closed his eyes and willed the panic to ease out of him. He couldn’t think about that – not now.

Not while he was in this place. If he did, the impotent rage would come tumbling through him and he would want to disappear. So, he would not think of it. He would suppress the memories and try and move on.

He had made a promise to her. He was going to stand up as a man and be there for her.

“It will be fine,” he muttered through gritted teeth. “You did not break me, you son of a bitch. I am here and I am going to be a man for her.” Stepping back from the fireplace, he closed hiseyes and struggled for calm as his heart rapped sharply inside his chest. He would get the things and get the hell out of here.

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