Where Do Broken Hearts Go? | Unexpected Series Book One

Chapter 35: Bittersweet Memories and Roast Dinners

Beth's POV

I'm not sure how long I've been sitting here for until I hear the bathroom door open and Nick comes in.

I quickly wipe at my cheeks but I can't hide the red rimmed and puffy eyes, blotchy cheeks and snuffly nose.

"Mum, what's wrong?" Nick immediately kneels down by my side.

"Nothing," I say, "I just hit my toe and it hurts."

"No you didn't," he replies, "come here," and he sits down next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders.

I rub my eyes with the palms of my hands and I feel like I've got a massive head cold.

"It's Harry isn't it?" Nick asks, "he left and you started crying."

"It's just a misunderstanding but..." I trail off.

"But it's Christmas Day," he says as he looks at me, his mouth drawn into a sad smile, "and you miss Dad."

He's very matter of fact about it really.

"Every day," I reply.

Wait.

There's been times I've thought about Heath when I've been with Harry, we've even talked about him briefly.

But there were also moments where I never gave him a thought.

It was all Harry.

There had never been a day in the past year I hadn't thought about him.

Until I met Harry.

"So do I," he says before he pauses, "what happened with Harry?"

I let out a sigh because it all happened so bloody quick I'm still not sure.

"I thought it might be best if we just had dinner together tonight, without Harry, and it upset him." I explain.

"Why was he upset?" Nick asks.

"He somehow thinks I didn't want him around...I don't quite know actually..." I reply as I'm still confused about it.

"Well why didn't you want him to stay?" he asks.

Nosy little bugger.

"Because I thought I was doing the right thing by you guys," I reply, "I didn't know how you would all be as it's been a year.  Maybe it's just me overthinking, I'm just trying to protect you all."

Am I wrong?

No.

Regardless if I'm right or wrong, Harry was still behaving like a irrationally.

I pat Nick on the knee.

"We should start getting the veggies ready to cook," I tell him as I stand up from the floor and he does the same.

"You okay mum?" he asks.

I nod my head and sniff.

"Give me a few minutes to clean up and I'll be down and we can start cooking okay?" I tell him.

"Come here and give me a hug," he says as he wraps his arms around my shoulders.

We stand there like that for a few moments as I rest my head on his shoulder as we hug.

"You're not getting snot on me are you mum?" he asks and I pull back to see him grinning at me.

I reach out to swat him on the arm but he ducks and runs out of the bathroom.

I sniff as I laugh so I'm kind of laughing and crying at the same time.

I turn around to the vanity and run some cold water into the basin and then splash the water onto my face.