when love lasts | wroetoshaw

seventeen

the drive to essex felt a little longer in winter. the sky was a pale grey, and the fields on either side of the motorway were dusted with frost. the heater hummed softly in the car, doing its best to fend off the chill outside. harry sat beside me, bundled up in a thick coat, his hands tucked into his pockets. "you alright?" i asked, glancing over at him.

"yeah," he said, flashing me a small smile. "just thinking about what your family's going to be like."

"they're normal, i swear," i said, laughing. "well, mostly."

"that 'mostly' is doing a lot of work," he teased.

"you'll be fine," i assured him. "my mum will probably try to feed you every five minutes, my dad will talk about football, and my sisters will... well, they'll just be themselves."

"and that means?"

"lots of teasing," i admitted. "but it's a good sign if they do."

"noted," he said, leaning back in his seat.

~

the streets of my childhood neighbourhood looked even more familiar in winter, the houses lined with twinkling fairy lights and wreaths on the doors. a thin layer of frost sparkled on the pavements, and the air was crisp and biting. "this is it," i said as i pulled into my parents' driveway.

harry peered out the window, taking in the brick house with its snow-dusted roof and neatly trimmed hedges. "looks cosy," he said.

"it is," i said, smiling. "wait until you see the inside. it'll be roasting with all the heating my mum's probably got on."

as we got out of the car, the front door opened, and my mum appeared, bundled up in a thick jumper and scarf. "abbie!" she called, her breath visible in the cold air. "oh, it's so good to see you!"

"hi, mum," i said, hugging her tightly.

she turned to harry, her smile wide and welcoming. "and you must be harry. we've heard so much about you."

"nice to meet you, mrs. taylor," harry said, shaking her hand.

"oh, call me sarah," she said, waving him inside. "come on, don't stand out in the cold."

as we stepped into the warm house, the familiar scent of roast chicken and sage stuffing hit me. my mum always went all out when we came home, and today was no exception. "everyone's in the living room," she said, taking our coats and hanging them by the door.

we walked through the house, the warmth of the central heating immediately thawing the chill from outside. in the living room, my sisters maddie and zoe were curled up on the sofa under a thick blanket, mugs of hot chocolate in their hands.

"look who it is," zoe said, grinning. "and she brought the boyfriend."

"finally," maddie added, sitting up and pulling me into a quick hug.

"nice to meet you both," harry said, smiling as he shook their hands.

"so, you're the one who's been keeping our baby sister busy," zoe teased, raising an eyebrow.

"i guess so," harry replied, his smile not wavering.

"don't scare him off," i warned, giving zoe a pointed look.

"oh, relax," she said, laughing. "he seems like he can handle it."

by the time dinner was ready, the house was filled with the comforting smell of roasted vegetables and gravy. the dining table was set with festive placemats, and my mum had even lit a few candles.