Harry and the Assistant

Chapter 3: Hurricane Harry

I started work at whatever moment Harry would need me and Jeff had sent me over a hefty email with so many schedules I felt like pulling my hair out slightly. I had my personal laptop open, my work laptop, my personal phone, my work phone, and two planners opened. I was color coordinating everything. His schedule in green, mine in blue. Travel days in orange, concerts in red. I did this across everything and I slowly started feeling more sane.

My work phone started ringing and Harry's name popped on the screen. I picked up the phone and answered quickly, "Personal assistant hotline, how can I serve you today?"

He chuckled, "By coming over and helping me pack, bringing me an iced coffee and letting me know my itinerary for tomorrow."

"I actually just finished setting your schedule up, let me just...okay, check your email." I smiled clicking save on everything on final time.

"Wow, Christy, this is impressive. And colorful." We both laughed.

"It's what happens when a creative person chooses a job like this, it helps my brain think." I smiled closing the laptops.

"Well, thank you. I'm serious about the packing though. Did Jeff give you my address?"

"No, but text it to me, I'll leave right now. Also iced coffee from where?"

"I will and surprise me, I'm not picky. Just ice coffee with some cream."

"Okay Harry. See you soon."

—

Once I made it through his security and into his house I couldn't help but gawk at how beautiful everything was.

Wow, just wow.

I thought to myself before calling out for him, "Harry. I'm here. I come bringing caffeine."

"I'm up here, first door on the left."

I took one last look around downstairs before heading up the stairs to find him. I walked into the first room on the left and it was a mess the moment I walked in. His suitcase was open and everything was everywhere.

"Harry what the heck happened? It looks like a hurricane hit."

"Yeah, hurricane Harry. I hate packing." He laughed as I approached him handing him his coffee.

"I can see that." I peeked down at the mess he had in his suitcase, "Is that supposed to be stuff you packed already?"

He raised both eyebrows, "Yeah why?"

I looked at the suitcase and back up at him, closing my eyes and laughing slightly, "Let's just...start over? Yeah?"

He laughed scratching the back of his head and nodding, "Okay. Let's do that." He took a sip of his coffee before lowering himself to sit on the floor, placing the coffee on the side."

"Okay, umm, unpack that, and let's make a plan. What exactly do you need to pack?"

"Just enough basics to get me going. I can buy things when I'm out or order them in. It's what I have you for." He said playfully and I nodded.

"Okay, so let's do, two basketball shorts, two sweat pants. Three different colored slacks, three jeans, and enough tops for two weeks. It'll get you going." I smiled, pulling out my phone so I could make notes of what we were packing.

"You really are good at this aren't you?" He said looking up at me from his seated position.

"It's what happens when you have an OCD father." I smiled, taking a sip of my own coffee.

I knelt down in between what looked like a pile of shirts and we got to work on picking out what he wanted to take. In about an hour he was packed and helping me clean up the rest of the mess he had made.

"Harry you really don't have to help. It's my job, I'm sure you have other things to do." I said hanging up some shirts.

"No, it's fine, we have an early flight, I don't want to keep you up too late. You still have to drive home." He said as he messily folded his sweats. He was right about the early day, so I chose to ignore how much I wanted to refold everything he did.

We finished cleaning everything up and I placed a couple pieces in a bag to send to the dry cleaners once we landed in New York.

"Have you been to New York before? I mean other than just a connecting flight stop."

"No actually, it's my first time." I smiled.

"Oh you are going to love it." He sat on the bed smiling.

"I'm excited. I'm happy we have so many days off while there. Well, for now." I chuckled.

"Yeah, Jeff will fill them somehow. He'll find a way, but if we both have the day off, I'll show you around some of my favorite places."

"You have a deal, but for now, I'm going to head out, I still need to pack." I smiled, placing his bag of dry cleaning over my shoulder.

He got up from the bed and walked me down to the door, "Thank you for helping with everything." He said opening the door for me.

"It's my job," I smiled, "Um, so tomorrow, I'll be her at 5am, and then we will go to the airport from here, have to be there by 7 the latest."

"Sounds good, get home safe Christy, I'll see you in the morning." We smiled at each other and I walked out of the door, getting in my car and driving home.

—

When I got home, my dad was asleep on his chair, the tv blaring some black and white show he loved watching. I walked over and kissed the top of his head, "Dad, wake up, let's get you to bed, come on."

He groaned and yawned, opening his eyes, "Did you just get back?" He asked as he stood from his chair, hugging me.

"Yeah, and I'm leaving here at 4am, so I gotta hurry and pack if I'm going to get any sleep." I said and he nodded. He walked over and turned the tv off and on three times before leaving it off. I watched as he cleaned his coffee table exactly ten times, and pulled on the lamp light string four times, leaving it off on the fifth.

"Okay, bed time." He said smiling at me and I made sure to stay out of his way as he continued his bed time routine.

When he finally settled in bed I sat on the edge smiling at him, "You sure you'll be okay dad?"

"I did just fine while you were in London. I'll be okay, Steph and Max from next door check on me enough. I'll be fine. You go travel the world baby. Send me magnets from each place."

I smiled and nodded, leaning over and hugging him tightly, "Okay dad. I will. Sleep tight."