"Lovely"

Part Thirteen (Diana)

Part Thirteen (Diana)

It had been a week since I had fired Harry, and he hadn’t even bothered to come pick up his last check. It wasn’t too much, as he had only worked one or two shifts this pay period, but the nerve of it. I knew that he needed the money. Maybe I just wanted to relish in how down he’d been. I wondered if he had come to his senses yet.

Ever since I've fired Harry, business has picked up which is both a good thing and a bad thing. Good because that means money is coming in; and if that keeps up, then I’ll be able to keep my shop. Bad because I'm the only one working so half the time, the line is out the door because I'm not as quick as Harry is...

But anyway business is back and I've been so busy, I've hardly realized how quickly the days were flying by.

September 1st.

Today is the day.

Today is the day I finally get to pick up my Liam from the Doncaster train station. I've missed him so much, and despite the circumstances; it’ll be nice to have him here for a while.

Thoughts and flashbacks come to my mind from where Harry and that boy Louis talked poorly of my Liam. I haven't thought much about it until now.

I know Liam doesn't have the best past but that certainly doesn't mean that what Harry and Louis were saying were true. That Louis boy looked completely out of it when he first spoke of my Liam so how can you believe anything the boy says?

Easy.

You can't.

Louis.

It perfectly clear that he cannot be trusted. He's corrupted Harry's thought to the point where I had to fire him. He talks harshly about my grandson when I know his past isn't nearly as perfect as he makes it seem. Louis is nothing but trouble and I'm determined to keep him away from Liam while he is staying here. Maybe I could even talk to Harry again too, try to knock some sense into him and maybe even give him his job back. Everyone knows he needs this job. I'll have to make note to give Harry a ring when I get the chance.

Before I knew it, I was pulling up at the Doncaster train station. I got out and tightened my scarf because the wind was nipping at my neck.

I walked to platform 24B and waited. 15 minutes later, train number 3015 pulled in.

Liam’s train.

With a smile I  reread the text message from Liam earlier that morning:

Liam Payne:

Nan, my train number is 3015 and it should be arriving around 2 today. Can't wait to see you so don't be late! Haha.xx

Liam

I looked at the time on my phone. 14:00. Liam's train was right on time.

Many people got off the train and scurried towards loved ones or to a cab. I searched and searched for my grandson until I finally can across a young man standing at about 5'10 with a batman beanie and an oversized black jumper. His wore acid washed black jeans with white Adidas trainers.

Liam.

"Liam! Liam, over here!" I hollered as I jumped and waved.

He turned his head and faced me. The biggest grin accompanied by his rosy red cheeks greeted me. He walked over, dropped his bag and embraced me.

Me being the emotional person that I am started to tear up.

"I haven't seen you in ages Liam!" I sobbed into my handkerchief. “You’ve gotten so tall!”

Liam laughed, "Nan, stop your crying! I'm here now, yeah?"

As I dried my eyes some more, I looked into his golden brown eyes that were shimming under this shabby light in the now abandoned train station.

Liam smiled at me and picked up his bag. He put his arm around my shoulder and we proceeded to walk out.

"How have you been, Nan? You've been well?"

Before I could even reply, I heard a laugh that I immediately recognized but for the life of me I could not remember where I had heard it. I looked around in search of the laugh and that's when I saw him.

Why was Louis here at the train station and who is the guy with him?

I couldn't even form a theory before Liam's voice caught me off guard.

"Nan?” he interjected, “Are you alright?”

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." I reassure, brushing him off.

We exit the station and I turn my head just in time to catch a glimpse of Louis. We made eye contact and held it until he was no longer in the sight.