A Whisper

27: Harry

"So how's Marco Polo settling in?" I leaned over to pet Gran's cat. Marco Polo was an American Bobtail with orange and brown fur. He was a very social cat that had come from a shelter for Mother's Day.

"He's doing quite well. I think he's happy here," she answered.

"That's good. He certainly seems to be content on your lap." He hadn't moved from her lap since claiming it for his own almost an hour before.

"This is where he spends most of his time," she chuckled.

"You don't seem to mind either. I guess he'll have to do until I have babies you can cuddle."

"Yes he will. Anytime you want to have babies though..."

It was quite the change from the lectures I got when I was a teenager. Gran told me more than once to keep my legs closed. Hadley didn't listen to that of course.

"After what I found out from Detective Weiss, it's going to be a while before kids come into the picture," I sighed.

"I understand that you're angry and you feel a little betrayed by the truth he held back from you, but I think this is something you can get past," she said.

"It's going to take time to rebuild trust. If we're talking about marriage that's for better or worse, right? You pick a person and make it work." I sipped my iced tea.

"I have faith that the two of you will fix things," she said. "That boy looks at you like you hung the moon."

"He does. He's apologized profusely. He sent me a massive bouquet of pink and white peonies this morning."

"I suspect you'll be getting deliveries like that for a while," she chuckled. "I'm sure he's truly apologetic."

"I suspect I will too until he finally pops the question."

"You hoping for that ring sometime soon?"

"I mean not next week but within the year. Do you think it would be a mistake to marry Eric?"

"I don't think so at all," she told me. "Your grandfather wasn't anywhere near perfect. I forgave him for things when we were younger that would probably make you want to pop me upside the head, but I don't regret it for a second. If you truly love someone, you have to love them mistakes and all."

"That's what I was thinking. I know he's not a bad person. He made a mistake. A big one, but still a mistake."

"Exactly," she agreed. "I think that poor boy would be an absolute mess without you. I don't even want to think about the state you'd be in if you chose to leave him."

"I did leave him. I didn't make it twenty-four hours and I found him passed out drunk in the bedroom."

"Oh heavens," she snickered. "His liver wouldn't last very long without you, that's for sure."

"No, probably not," I agreed.

"Well, I'm glad you're giving him another shot. I don't think you'll regret it. Have you asked him about his relationship with Hadley?"

"I have. He said it was just business."

"That's good. Do you know how often he got her parts?"

"I don't. Eric didn't seem to recall too many details. I know she was a client for about six months. It's a little odd she never mentioned him. You know how Hadley was about attractive men, and she definitely would have been attracted to him." Obviously he was attracted to her as well, at least on a physical level.

"Maybe she didn't pay him any mind because he was married at the time?"

"Gran, I hate to break it to you, but Hadley was involved with married men."