Uncle Harry

-16-

Arielle took the easy, less treacherous path when it came to choosing her souvenirs for everyone by making sure we all got the same thing so she wouldn't have to worry about personalizing the gifts. How she and Elliott were able to get through customs with this much alcohol eluded me, but they had a bottle of rum for everyone, the same matching turtle keychains, and especially for Lily, a bright green stuffed dolphin with pooka shells for a necklace. I thought it was hideous, but my daughter screamed delightedly and hugged her cousins in appreciation.

They were the first to have finished packing their bags after the gift giving and that started to chill the warm and newly filled in spot in my heart that wished they could stay longer with us. After packing their car back up, they started making their rounds around the house to say goodbye to everyone. When Elliott hugged me goodbye in the foyer, he got me in a headlock for a noogie and even though I clawed at his forearms, he only let go when I hit him square in the stomach. My hip knocked into a small end table holding an expensive vase with some flowers, but thankfully nothing fell to the floor in shattered bits.

Even though the punch was deserved and nothing broke, Harry scolded us. "Quit fucking around in my house!"

"Ahhh, he's no fun." Elliott laughed even though he was winded and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Call me tomorrow, okay? If you guys are going to my in-laws for dinner this week, we'll meet you."

I tried to smooth out my hair that was all frizzed out from his knuckles. "You got it."

Arielle came to hug me next and she kissed my cheek. "See you in a few days, girl. I'll miss your husband, though." She feigns heartbreak as she clutches her chest.

"See you," I laugh as they step out the door and leave us. Waiting in the doorway, I wave to them as they peel out the long driveway.

Harry decides to go to his office down the hall for a little bit so he can catch up on some emails, the only work he's supposed to keep tabs on while on vacation since a myriad of things could go wrong if he doesn't keep in touch with homeowners and contractors. I can't help but to watch him walk down there, his naked back taunting me with the thought of raking my nails down the smooth muscles. Niall's next to get ready to leave after he showers and changes. He goes to Harry's office to say bye to him since he's not sure if they'll get another chance to meet up by the time his own vacation starts. I decide to go sit on the couch and watch television with Jack and Lily so I'm not sitting alone in the kitchen. I pull one of my legs up on the cushion to sit lazily and Jack instinctively rests his hand on my upper thigh in a loving gesture and gives it a squeeze.

He's, of course, still in an awfully perky mood after last night and I chew at the inside of my cheek to distract myself from the lump forming in my throat. I let my fingers run along his warm hand while he's distracted with the show, stopping at the platinum wedding band around his finger. Being married to him has been the happiest part of my life besides being Lily's mother because of how fiercely and unconditionally he loves me. Well... unconditionally remains to be seen if everything manages to blows up in my face. It was magic when we met as two idiot teenagers and sparks still flew after growing up into adults and parents. It's greedy of me to still want what I have with him while at the same time wanting to discover the other ways Harry can make me feel alive.

Niall walks into the living room and pulls Lily up off the floor to swing her around by the arms. She laughs hysterically and wraps her arms around his neck when he brings her in and hugs her tightly to say goodbye. He sets her down to bring me into his arms next and I hug him tightly back. Thanking him for the lovely dance last night, he winks at me. I sit back down into the soft couch and watch him and Jack talk logistics of the contracts, exchange numbers, and that Niall will send the papers first thing as soon as he gets to the office tomorrow.