A Christmas Wish

Chapter 63

"So where do you think he is?" I asked, looking intently at Zayn. He shrugged and so did Perrie. "Why does it matter?" Harry asked, rubbing my opposite shoulder with his hand. I shrugged. "He wasn't so bad of a person, and I hope he didn't just leave.." I said, looking down. I didn't want to see Harry's face, but I glanced up anyway, and his face was surprised. He was smiling. "You really do care about people, you are like a little care bear, and I love you so much," Harry said, kissing my cheek and Perrie smiled at me. I smiled back and Harry let go of me and walked into the kitchen to carry plates to the main dining table.

"Dear, would you help?" Anne asked me as I nodded quickly to her. "Of course, of course!" I said smiling, grabbing a basket full of rolls and setting it near the center of the wooden table. Val was already sitting down, next to Brian and where Anne was supposed to sit. I smiled at her and she smiled cheesily at me, sticking out her tongue, followed by a shrill child's laugh. I then turned on my heels and grabbed the next plate on the stone counter, it was the bowl of Christmas pudding. "Wait Cat, leave that there, I'll get it!" Anne said, as I handed her the bowl. "You can take this though," she said as she handed me a plate of sliced turkey. I picked it up carefully and set it directly in the center of the table, next to the cranberry sauce, or what appeared to be cranberry sauce. "This looks more like Thanksgiving than Christmas," I giggled to myself. Harry heard me and smiled. "English tradition," he said as he helped me organize the place where the turkey was set. It smelled so good, it was so fresh, Anne must be a REALLY good cook.

I helped finish setting the table, and I even folded a little napkin on each plate like a restaurant would. Harry sat down in the chair next to me, "Babe, you didn't have to do this, it's just my family," he said as I smiled. "I know," I spoke, turning my face to his. "Please, not during dinner," Ben laughed as Harry kissed my cheek again. Harry stuck his tongue out at Ben and they both laughed. "Well looks like nothing has changed between you two," Anne laughed as she helped serve the tender sliced turkey to Robin, who was of course next to her. "It smells so amazing!" Karla said as she sat down on the other side of me, and she took Niall's hand and brought him down with her. "Karla, I can't stay, Liam, Zayn and I already ate," he laughed and Karla gave a frown. "I would love if you could come with me though," he smiled, with a chuckle escaping his lips. Karla smiled and looked down. "I can't I need to stay with Cat because her Aunt is coming and I'm just going to go with them," she said, tucking a strand of her falling hair behind her ear. Niall then bent down to her level and raised her chin with his index finger. He looked into her face, but she continued to look down. "Listen, you can come with me, and I will take you home, whenever you want this month, and I know you are going to have to go back to school soon, so maybe you could stay with me until the new year, ... maybe." he said smiling at her. Karla looked up and smiled into his eyes. She looked back at me, and then back at Niall and then back at me. "So, would it be okay?" Karla asked me, and I shrugged and nodded. "It's fine with me, as long as you come back home before Christmas Break is over," I said as Karla whipped her head back at Niall. Niall was smiling really big. "So you are coming with me?" Niall asked her and she was nodding before he even finished his sentence. "Well we should go," Niall said, trying to lift Karla up from her seat and she shook her head. "Stay. I haven't even Christmas dinner yet!" she laughed and Niall sat down next to her. "Fine," he agreed, slamming his bum onto the wooden chair. "So, tell us about yourself!" Ella urged to me across the table, trying to make discussion. "Well, I um.. Live in Texas?" I started, but Harry set his hand on my upper thigh to be quiet. I looked up at him and I felt my face turn hot. "Let me tell them about you. I want to see if I'm right," he giggled as he tried guessing my favorite colors, animals, birthday, and other things. It was pretty adorable. And he actually got them all right. Weird.
"You are quite lovely by the way," Ella said as she smiled at me. I smiled and nodded to thank her and she looked back down at her plate of food.

"Okay, everyone!" Anne called out as she brought the bowl of Christmas pudding to the table. "It's time to eat!" she finished as she gently flipped over her bowl and the contents slipped out of the container, in a dome. She removed the bowl and put a holly leaf on top and looked at it, please with her work. That's why she didn't want me to put it on there. I understand now.

We all had a lovely discussion, mostly it was centered around how Harry met me, and about our lives. Also, Harry's cousins and relatives that came staggering in late, asked about how it felt to be home since they just got off of tour, and how the tour went, etc.

After dinner, Harry took everyone's plates to go clean them. "He is such a gentleman," Robin complemented as he smiled at Harry. Harry gave his signature cheesy grin and continued getting everyone's empty plates. "I try," Harry answered as he appeared in the kitchen. "Well," Brian weakly said as he stood up, with some help out of his chair, "It was an extreme pleasure to have, well, run into you if I do say so," he said to me followed by a laugh. I giggled. "It was a pleasure to meet you as well. I'm so glad I got to meet all of you," I added, looking around the table, at the now familiar faces, that were all just pictures on the internet before. Ella smiled, and Ben and Matt gave similar cheesy grins as Harry does. They are related after all. Right then, Anne stood up and walked to me. "Thank you so much for everything, for bringing Harry and the rest of the family happiness as well," she chimed and she hugged me in front of everyone. I could feel that everyone in the room was smiling at me, even Zayn and Perrie, who were standing by the door with Liam. "And sweet," Anne said, motioning towards Karla. "Thank you for coming, you are such a doll," she said before hugging her as well. Karla smiled and hugged her back. "Don't stay gone too long," Anne instructed her and she nodded while she took Niall's hand under the table with a smile to Anne. "I think we'd better be leaving. I'm riding with Liam to Wolverhamton, and then we can go to Ireland," Niall said as I saw the light bright up in Karla's eyes. "I can't wait!" I heard her excitedly whisper. "What about the presents? You don't want to watch?" Robin asked Karla. Karla shrugged, and Niall answered for her, "Robin, I think we might miss our plane if we wait up. We'd love to, but we can't," he answered and Robin smiled and nodded, obviously understanding.

"Hey Harry, I'm going to go for a walk by myself a bit since the rain stopped, is that okay?" I asked him as he turned around with a grin on his face. He nodded. "Don't forget your coat, and don't be gone long! I don't think I can go any amount of time without seeing you!" he giggled as he turned back around. I smiled and grabbed my coat, which was lying on top of the full coat rack. I slid my arms through the sleeves and pulled it up to my shoulders. I hadn't worn it, I have been wearing a hoodie this whole time, so it felt weird wearing it over the hoodie. I slipped on the orange beanie Harry was wearing earlier and I waved him off and walked out of the house.

Holmes Chapel was a safe town, and I knew nothing bad would happen to me if Harry was in a 20 mile radius. :)

I walked down the center street, and looked around at all the tiny shops that had signs that said "Closed For The Holidays!" printed on them. I then kept walking and saw a tiny city park. It was more like a few trees and a bench in an array of green plush growing beneath it. A few yellow buds were rising out of the plush, playfully leaning in the freezing breeze. I shivered to myself and I walked straight up to the bench and sat on it. It was a lot taller than I imagined it. My feet dangled off!

I drew an imaginary heart with my right index finger on the concrete bench as I stared up at the darkening sky. There was still a sheet, more like a blanket, of clouds looming above. At least there were no more storm clouds.

I felt the air get colder and colder, but inside, my body heat was rising and rising because of my thoughts. I was thinking about Harry. About how I had just met him, but I feel like I have known him for ages. I thought about how much I truly do love him. How much I actually care about him. And all of these thoughts made me forget the time, and it got late quicker than I thought, so I ran back to the house, trying to dodge the cold winter breeze, almost tripping over a manhole cover, and jumping over short hedges and bushes to get to the driveway, and I ran up the driveway into the house.

I took off my winter coat, and noticed that everybody was gathered around the fireplace.

"Hey babe," Harry said as he greeted me back, he was wearing his Coca-Cola pajamas again, while sitting by the fireplace. "Hey," I smiled as I slid onto my knees next to him. He slid his warm palms down my lower arm. "You're cold, here," he said as he switched places with me on the floor, causing me to be right next to the heat-making fire. I felt the warmth sink into my bones, and I was content. Until my phone vibrated.

I slid the lock screen across to see I had ten missed calls. I tapped to see who called me, and it was Louis. "Who is that?" Harry asked, glancing over at my screen playfully, I knew he really didn't care, but I knew he would if I mentioned who was calling me a bazillion times. I hesitated, but instead of answering him, I kissed him instead, and I heard Gemma giggle and say "awwww" in the background. I think Harry was pleased with that answer... For now.