Something Great (h.s.)

2

Harry's POV:
Being that whenever my son gets into trouble he leaves for months on end, I spend the day preparing for the arrival of my granddaughter. I childproof the house and make the room Harold stayed in as a child more suitable for a little girl; being that Sterling and I'd divorced, he would have to switch between the two of our houses.

Sterling watched him during the weekdays and I got the weekends. Whenever she dropped him off she'd barely acknowledge me, keeping conversation short, and to the point. Whenever I'd try to talk to her about something other than Harold, she'd reply curtly, and find a reason to leave.

She would never even look me in the eyes, keeping them fixed on the grass. I was fine with it, though, because at least I had a reason to see her beautiful face. That's how it was until he was about fifteen, and didn't bother to come visit me. Not unless he wanted something, of course.

I blink away the memories from so long ago, and come back into reality.

I switch his ragged old wooden dressers with my newer metal ones. I decorate the walls of the old room with hot pink wallpaper and glow in the dark butterfly decals; they're a vibrant green to match the baseboards of the room. I have a few extra, and litter them on the ceiling. I hang the fairy lights I found in the attic around the border of the room. At the head of her bed, I paint the name 'Darcie' in a girly, cursive, green font. Her Fathers mangy old sheets are replaced with freshly washed white ones, and I inhale deeply as the scent of gain fabric softener fills the room.

This takes me back to that day when Sterling and I danced around the laundry room together. Harold had just been born days earlier. As she did the laundry, I sat on the dryer and rocked him to sleep.

Sterling started singing  fool that I am by Etta James as she lackadaisically bent over to pick up the basket. She'd been oblivious to the fact that I'd been watching her, and didn't notice when I laid Harold in his car seat. I snuck up behind her, and wrapped my arms around her waist. It startled her, and she let a gasp, immediately dropping the basket onto the floor. She started to pick it up, but I grabbed her wrist and twirled her into my chest, placing  a soft kiss to the back of her neck, giving her goosebumps.

She continued singing the song, and I turned her, facing her towards me, and our chests were touching, as we rocked back and forth in each others arms. My voice was low, and raspy as I mumbled by her ear,"I love it when you sing to me". I then kissed her plump pink lips and she giggled, closing her eyes. I giggle as well, a bit confused,"What?" I asked a grin prominent on my face, as I pressed a kiss to her nose.

She bit her bottom lip, failing to hide her beautiful smile. Her voice was youthful and harmonious as she said,"You're itching me", and she rubbed the scruff on my face with her soft hands. I started rubbing my chin against her cheek, and she laughed, wriggling in my arms, struggling to get away.

I lifted her off of her feet, pulling her back into my chest tightly. Her legs dangled, as we kissed passionately, twirling around.

I'm drawn back into present day as I wipe away the stray tear that left my eye. It seems nowadays, Sterling is the only thing I think about, and the fact that I've let her slip through my fingers is too hard to bare.

I continue preparing for Darcie cleaning the living room, and fixing the broken step on the front porch. I realise the refrigerator isn't stocked, and drive to the department  store down the street.

I grab a bag of apples, a bag of oranges, some bananas (for me), oatmeal, and children's bed time Tylenol. Just in case. I giggle to myself, adding it to the cart. I grab a gallon of whole milk, and a gallon of apple juice. I get a box of rice Krispy cereal, and pop tarts.

I go to the frozen section and get four different flavours in ice cream. I grab three different home pizzas and a few TV dinners. I go down the snack aisle and  pick up random things, adding them to the cart, not knowing what type of things she eats. I grab an extra toothbrush, and some more soap, heading for the checkout line . On the way I see these bins filled with Barbie  movies, and grab five different films. I grab four twix bars, eating one while I wait.

The polite lady at the register checked me out quickly, and I carried my bags out of the store, driving back home. After putting all of the groceries away, I sit on my leather sofa, and relax, turning on the TV as I wait for Darcie to come.

The doorbell rings after I'd been napping for about an hour. I open it and see the little girl, struggling to hold the my little pony roller back pack in one hand while the other hand is behind her back. She's wearing a lilac sun hat with matching rain boots, which are bit too big for her, and jean overalls. Her long fringe comes across her face, covering her eyebrows, and accentuating her big brown eyes.

"Daddy say'd he was in a hurry. He say'd thas the reason why he couldn't come to see you." She furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her little pink lips, eyes towards the ground. She looked up at me through her plush eyelashes as if waiting for me to say something, but I was at a loss of words. It had been so long since I'd last seen Darcie, and she's grown a lot.  I grab her bag, and we walk into the house. Well, I walk. She thuds around in the boots.

We make it over to the island in the kitchen, and she holds up a Manila envelope. This must be what was behind her back.

"For you, grand dad" she smiles and giggles as I take it away from her. I open it, and there's a lump of cash in it, with a sticky note that reads 'one million dollars'. I place it on the counter and start reading it.

'Here's some money that should be equivalent to more than you'd make a year of your pay. I want you to spend a lot of time with Darcie. Make her feel loved dad, she's all I have. Mom said she'll be back in about a week. I want Darcie to spend time with both of you, so you'll switch like when I was a child. Here's moms number:(823) 998-7654. 
She told me to tell you not to call unless it's absolutely necessary. She said she'd be cordial with you for Darcie, so don't blow it.' I stopped reading and grinned.

so if I'm feeling lonely? I continued reading.

'I love you dad. Love on my baby girl.
-Harold x'

I look down at Darcie who is staring at me blank faced.

"How old are you?" I ask, disregarding what I'd jut read.

"This many", and she holds up four fingers, wiggling them around. "Do you know what this many is?" She asks excitedly, then answering herself says,"This many is four. Mommy told me before the men in blue went to take her to the big house", she exaggerates the word big.

Lord she's giving away all of her parents business. "The men in blue?" I ask curiously

"Yeah!" She continues innocently,"Daddy calls them pigs. I told gramma and she say'd that the pigs would come get me whenever I do something bad." She opens her eyes really wide and starts batting her eyelashes when she says," but I'm a good girl, grandad. Mommy's guy friend tells me all of the time."

"I'll ask you about mommy'a guy friend later, but first, let's get you settled in"
I pick her up, tickling her, as I carry her to her new room. She laughs and says,"Granddad? You have a big nose"

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A/n: hi! If you like it, vote. If you don't, tell me why not. -brinkerbelle💋