In The Shadows

Chapter 14

Billie sat quietly on a warm rock with her bare feet dangling in the lagoon, while she watches Harry catch a laughing Tommy as he jumps in with him and the others. She then looks down at the ring on her hand, at times like these she still can't believe how quickly the days have passed. It seems like just yesterday she was running up the steps of their house, into her mom's arms telling her everything that happened that day at kindergarten, and here she is now the last weekend of the school year, the last weekend she'll be a single person, because by this time next weekend she'll be walking down an aisle to married to one of the most beautiful guys she's ever met.
Suddenly someone sits beside her, looking up, Billie sees her dad next to her. "Hey daddy."

"Why aren't you out there swimming with your friends baby girl?" Alex asks.

Billie shrugs. "Just watching, thinking." She says.

"About?" Alex asks wrapping his arm around his daughter's shoulders.

"Everything, I guess." Billie says. "I miss momma, especially now with me getting married next weekend and all." She whispers.

"I do to." Alex whispers back. "You know you look just like her. She would be so proud of you, and she would love that young man you picked. Harry is a great guy Billie Jo."

"I know daddy, I figured that out the first day I met him." Billie says. "He concreted that when I saw the way he was with Tommy. He's going to make a wonderful dad someday."

"Yes, just as you'll be an amazing mom." Alex says. "Now go have some fun, you can be an adult later."

Billie smiles and nods."Love you daddy." She says, kissing her dad's cheek, she then dives off the rock she's sitting on, into the clear blue water, she swims underwater until she reaches the spot Harry is standing, wrapping her hands around his calves, Billie walks her hands up his body until her head breaks the surface.

"Hello love." Harry grins as he bends down and kisses Billie as she breaks the surface of the water.

"Having fun?" Billie asks as she wraps one arm around Harry's neck.

"I am now." He mutters as he nibbles on her neck. "Did you and your dad have a nice conversation?" Harry asks.

"We did, we were talking about you. He thinks you're great, and that my momma would love you." Billie says.

Harry smiles. "That's good, he's pretty great himself." Harry whispers. "And babe, I wish I could have met your mom, but from the pictures I've seen of her and the stories I've heard, she seems a lot like my mom and if that's true you're so lucky to have had her in your life." He says.

"Harry, throw Billie." Tommy yells from the edge of the lagoon.

Harry and Billie look up to see Tommy sitting between Anne and Robin, Alex is next them. "Oh this could be interesting." Harry chuckles. "The parents have never seen us do this trick."

"True." Billie giggles. "Give it all you have this time, I think I'll add a flip."

Harry nods and cups his hands for Billie to step in, as soon as he feels her hands on his shoulders Harry lifts with all his strength, tossing Billie out of the water and into the air. Looking up Harry watches his fiance fly high above his head with her arms stretched wide, then suddenly she tucks into a ball, does a flip, then a perfect dive back into the water behind him. With a huge grin on his face Harry holds his arms out wide, then Billie swims between his legs, and up and out of the water right into his arms, laughing.

"Holy shit." John whispers. "Dad there is no way in hell she can remember watching you and mom do that, Billie was to young. And I don't remember us telling her about that." He says in amazement.

Alex just stares at his daughter and Harry. "I told you, you were just like your mom." He smiles. "But that was even better than she used to do."

"I have to agree with John, shrimp. Where did you learn to do that?" Greg asks.

"Harry and I were goofing off in here couple of weeks ago, he threw me over his shoulder." Billie laughs. "But forgetting our size difference and his strength I went flying through the air, at the last second I dove in the water. After that we were a little more graceful at it." Billie is about to add more when she sees movement near the trees, looking closer she sees her brother David walking toward them, still dressed in his army fatigues. "Oh my God." She whispers as she scrambles out of the water and runs to him.

Harry having seen pictures this time knows who this guy is, climbs out of the water and follows.

"Hey baby girl, why the tears? Did you seriously think I'd miss your graduation and wedding?" David asks as he hugs Billie. When Harry gets to where they were standing David sticks his hand out. "Heard a lot about you kid. If dad likes you then I do to." He says as he shakes Harry's hand.

"Thanks, Bill has told me a lot about you also. Good to finally meet you." Harry says.

"Damn, tall, and polite. You did good sis." David teases.

"Uncle Dave." Tommy yells as he runs across the clearing.

"Tom, my boy. Wow you sure are growing into such a handsome young man." David grins as he swings the kids into his arms and hugs him.

"I've missed you. You should see my tux for Bill and Harry's wedding." Tommy rambles, and everyone let's him. "Harry let me pick my very own color, cause I'm special. I'll be the only one wearing that color." He whispers. "Bill cried because I picked a color to match hers and Harry's."

"Wow, Tom sounds like you and Harry are good friends." David says looking at Harry with even more respect than before.

"Harry's my new best friend, him and his friend Lou, he lives here now too. He likes Dana, they kiss." Tommy says causing everyone to laugh.

"No secrets around that kid is there." Louis chuckles as he throws his arm around Danaka's shoulders.

"Nope, live stream, gossip column is what we should call him." Danaka says good naturally.

Anne jumps up. "Well if the ladies here will help, we'll get the food started." She says. "Welcome home David, I'm Harry's mom, I love all your brothers so I'm sure I'll love you too." She says kissing his cheek.