Against One's Wishes

Chapter 28

Around 4 PM, Harry's standing nervously on the doorstep of Sarah's sister's apartment in downtown New York. He bites his lip as he finally gets the courage to knock on the door.

Harry's not sure why he's even allowed himself to come here; as if he has any right trying to talk to Sarah. But he knows that he can't leave NYC in a few hours without at least trying to make things more right with her... even if they never will be completely right again.

The door opens a few seconds later, and Harry sees Sarah staring back at him. And Harry can't help but notice just how pregnant she is now.

"You're absolutely glowing. You look so incredible," Harry manages to smile at her.

"Thanks. Thankfully, it's almost over," she chuckles some as she's searching Harry's eyes. She gives him a gentle smile. "It's good to see you again... really."

"Is it?" Harry asks quietly.

"Come in," Sarah offers as she's opening the door for him. "I'll make you some tea."

"I'd... like that, thanks," Harry nods and smiles some as he steps inside the home. He sees Sarah's sister Amy in the kitchen preparing food for them and Harry's doing his best to keep himself together while he's here.

He already feels as if he shouldn't be here; what right does he even have being here... hasn't he destroyed enough of Sarah's life by having an affair with her husband? By lying to her about his relationship with Ben? By never uttering a word of their past with one another?

"Nick... told me that you were leaving," Sarah says at once while she's putting the kettle on the stove.

Harry stands in the kitchen doorway, Amy turning to look at him. He does his best to smile as he nods some. "I am, yeah. I'm... leaving on one of the trains... in a couple of hours actually."

Sarah closes her mouth as she's staring at Harry now. "Wow... I didn't realise it would be that soon..."

"A lot... of things have happened... in just the past few days," Harry manages to say, his throat suddenly going dry again when he remembers just how Ben has betrayed him and Louis... and Sarah. "I have to... move on, so to speak."

"Are you going to Hollywood?" Amy speaks finally, a smile on her face as she's staring at Harry.

"I am, yeah," Harry nods some, "my good friend Meredith... she has helped me find a place... and she's putting in a good word for me for several leads. I already have 2 auditions lined up actually..."

"You're gonna be brilliant there," Amy smiles at once. "Really. You've nothing to worry about, I'm sure, Harry..."

"Alright, alright," Sarah almost laughs as she looks at her sister, "I know that he's very pretty and all, Amy... but can we get a few minutes alone please... to talk?"

"Alright," Amy reluctantly agrees and grins back at Harry again. "If I don't see you before you leave, good luck in Hollywood, Harry. I know you'll instantly be famous. How could you not be... look at you..."

Amy's hurrying out of the kitchen with a laugh after Sarah has thrown a hand towel at her head. Harry only shakes his head as Sarah's sister is running up the stairs laughing.

"She seems brilliant," Harry says at once with a smirk. "Wow. And she's older than you?"

"Well, only by 3 years," Sarah shrugs some as she's taking 2 teacups from the cabinet. "So... your mum and sister... they're here in New York, aren't they?"

"They are, yeah," Harry nods some and looks around the small kitchen. He smiles when he sees cat portraits lining one of the kitchen walls.

"Are they going with you?"