The Vow [h.s.]

chapter twenty four

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6.27.16 | 5 Days.

"I can't believe it," Anne whispered looking through pictures from her old photo books as I walk back into the room with her tea.

We were gathering different pictures for the slideshow we're putting together for the rehearsal dinner.

"I know, Harry's getting married in five days," I agreed setting the tea down.

"Em, may I be blunt?" Anne asked and I skeptically look around at Gemma, Elyse and my mother.

"Sure," I carefully replied, strangely baffled by her question.

"Why aren't you marrying my son?"

My mother nearly choked on her tea while my sister and Gemma exchanged smiles.

"I, um," I stuttered out and wondered if I had heard her clearly. My pulse increasingly raced and I felt like my cheeks were sunburned. "Harry and I are just friends. That's all we'll ever be..."

"Hm...I don't think so." Anne argued shaking her head and placing the picture of us from when we were little on the coffee table.

I gulped, still bewildered at her comment and not really sure what to say to reply to her.

"I know that you and Harry are meant to be together. Why don't you?" Anne inquired.

I honestly thought she was joking. She had to be. But her mouth remained in a tight straight line, as she waited for a response.

"I-I'm sorry, Anne. But you're wrong. If Harry and I were meant to be together, we would be with one another. But we aren't. He has Violet. He's happy, and she's happy. They're happy together, and I'm happy for them."

"Everyone is just so damn happy aren't they, Em?" Elyse said in a rather mocking tone.

I rolled my eyes at her, frowning.

But I can't believe that I had just lied to Anne. Of course, I wanted Harry to be happy, he deserves to be happy, but I wanted to be the reason.

"Whatever you say, dear." She reached out to rub my hand, "But you're running out of time."

Anne and Gemma then exchanged sympathetic looks, and then glance back to me.

"Emily, there's something we should tell you." Gemma said shifting in her seat and crossing her leg over the other.

"Gem, it isn't our place to tell her." Anne shook her back at Gemma.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Has Harry told you?" Gemma asked ignoring Anne's pleads.

"Told me what..." I pondered becoming worried.

"Maybe now isn't the best time," my mother chimed in, her voice pleading.

"Susan, she'll find out eventually." Anne sighed.

Why do they all know something about Harry that I didn't? This was definitely a first.

Anne looks back over at me, a worried expression on her face, "Harry," she pauses looking back at Gemma, "He's leaving for L.A., and that's where he'll stay."

I felt like the wind was knocked out of me as I grip the necklace he had given me for my birthday present. I was used to having Harry leave all the time, but the uncertainty of him visiting as often as he did was what hurt the most.

"What?"

"Violet and Harry decided to start their life there together." Anne explains trying to sound happy, but I knew she was upset about her youngest leaving.