Wish Upon A Star [H.S]

4

Age 6:

As people mingle amongst each other, two tiny heads poke out from underneath the gift table that's draped with a long cloth, enveloped by enough sweets to last them until bedtime. They're hiding from the large crowd of grownups scattered around the garden. Credit, however, must be rewarded to the two youngsters. They had been such dears at the wedding, fulfilling the roles of flower girl and ring-bearer, respectively. But it's been several hours since the ceremony has concluded. Her dress, while very pretty, is itchy against her skin, and he keeps fidgeting with the tie around his neck.

The little girl watches as the newlyweds twirl each other around on the dance floor. She doesn't think she's ever seen her dad smile so widely. This day has been so exciting for Y/n because now she has a mum. During lunchtime at school, she bragged about how her mummy in the sky had given her a new mummy on the ground. Carrie had been the most excited for her, said that Y/n and Anne could now go to tea parties with her and her mummy.

The boy sits next to her, licking the icing off a decadent cupcake. She giggles at how silly he is. When he looks up, he offers her a bite, but she scrunches her nose in disgust. Y/n's daddy had taught her that boys have cooties. Although, Harry isn't just any boy, he's her absolute best friend––just don't tell Carrie that––so maybe he's the exception to the rules. They've recently moved in together and it's like having an all-day playdate.

A sudden light has both children squinting. Harry looks up and sees his mum peering at them from the outside. The bride whisks them away, saying something about how they all need a family photograph. Though, he still hasn't quite wrapped his mind around the concept of Y/n being his sister. Jameson is always telling him about how much sisters make everything much harder for little boys like themselves. However, Harry is always so happy when Y/n is around. She's always laughing at his knock-knock jokes and even watches what he wants on the telly.

"I want big smiles from all of you!" the photographer orders. Harry looks down at her hand and holds it in his stickier ones. An odd feeling rushes through him when she squeezes it back. The man behind the camera counts to three, and the four of them all give him their most radiant smiles. "Perfect!"

Marriage is a funny thing. Not only does it have the power to bond two people under the graces of those above, but also joins those closest to them. A widower with a daughter marries a divorcee with a son and they come together to live as a complete family unit. It's the classic storybook definition of 'happily ever after'. Simple and easy. But as everyone knows, not everything is what it appears to be on the surface. What if those above have a different plan, and maybe the widower and the divorcee are just pawns in a much grander scheme of fate?

***

Present Day:

It's been over a week since they'd been founded out. Eric hadn't come home until the early hours of the morning, and he left before either one of them had woken up. He's been working a lot of overtime recently. Anne, on the other hand, still hasn't said a word since retreating to the confines of her bedroom. Never in her wildest dreams had Y/n thought that this is how her parents would react to the news. This is much worse than all the scenarios she'd imagine along the years. Worst case was that there would be yelling and screaming, but eventually they'd accept that her and Harry are in love. Instead, they're met with silent treatment and calculated avoidance.

Eric's heavy steps drag up the stairs, making a beeline for his bedroom. He pauses in front of his daughter's door. His hand ghosts over the doorknob, but he decides against it. Even if he were to proceed, there's nothing he could say to her right now. No one had ever prepared him for this situation. No parenting book or any YouTube video can give him reference on what to do if his kids evidently fall in love with each other.