Duplicity

Dieci

I wanted to ask some questions, but the entire house was so silent that it felt almost like a violation of some secret code to open my mouth. We had an entire, efficient system going; Eleanor washed, I dried, and Sophia put the dishes back where they belonged. It seemed that Harry was a firm believer of stereotypical gender roles in his house, which I planned to comment on when I wasn't afraid he was going to beat the heck out of me.

The boys were gone for the day, back in London at their international office. I guess something big is happening soon because I had been told that everyone worked from the house most often. Not that I was complaining that they weren't here, especially my favorite green-eyed captor, but it reminded me that I couldn't even go back to my own city, my own home.

"Eleanor?" I had finally gathered the courage to ask her something that had been bothering me for a while, once she turned the faucet off, handing me the last plate.

"Yes?" She hummed, removing her gloves and placing them under the sink before taking the dish towel from my hands and hanging it on the oven.

"How old is Harry?" She froze for a moment and Sophia raised her eyebrow at me.

"You don't know? Oh, Mary, how old do you..."

"He'll be twenty-eight in February," Eleanor interrupted her and I swore that I could feel the Earth spinning underneath me for a few seconds. I could see in her face that she knew I was upset, but I'm more focused on Harry. I had guessed maybe mid-twenties, but almost thirty?

"He's like twelve years older than me," I mumbled numbly. "He was almost my age now when I was born," I laughed and I probably sounded delirious but I was in shock. I mean I knew that Harry was older than me, but he only looked twenty-three, maybe twenty-four. My father had a kid and one on the way by the time he was twenty-eight.

"Mary?" Eleanor gently laid a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at her with teary eyes.

"I want my mom," I whimpered, calling out for her for the first time in years. I hadn't had a maternal touch in so long and I needed her now. I missed the scent of her lavender lotion and the sound of her laugh when I made her watch cartoons with me. She never got to warn me about the things a mother should, men, heartbreak...I needed her now.

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry about this, you have to believe me.  Do you want me to contact Perrie for you?  You don't deserve this."

"Yes, but nobody does, so she said to hold out if I could so he won't just take someone else.  If I truly need it than I will call her, but...I'm just having a bad day."  I shrugged and she brought me into a kind hug.

"I have an idea," Sophia called out, stepping closer to us with a smile.  "Why don't we go to the grocery store and pick out some junk food?  We can have girly movie night or comedy or whatever you want."

"Really?" I pulled back with wide eyes, as I was never allowed to watch much TV unless it was in my room on my laptop.  I learned at a young age that hanging in the living room was not in my best interest.

"Of course, oh, Sophia, this is a great idea.  I mean we're not supposed to leave the house," she bit her lip and my stomach sank.  "But what they don't know, won't hurt them," she winked at me and I grinned, knowing that it was going to be a good day.  Movies, candy, and getting to piss of Harry without him actually knowing it?  Ace.

**

Three hours later, we were all cuddled together on the couch, me in the middle, while Halloween was playing.  I had never actually seen a scary movie, so needless to say, I was about to cry.  I never knew that a man popping out behind others on a screen could make me feel like I was about to go into cardiac arrest.