Louis has always wanted kids. He's fancied himself the fairytale family ever since he can remember. But after his mom dies and the young, drama student moves back home, Louis find himself in the middle of a life he never expected. No matter what...
The phone call had crushed Louis. No one wants to hear the broken voice of their sobbing sister telling them to come home.
"Mum's really sick."
Three words that had echoed in Louis ears since the day they were spoken.
The plane ride had felt like an entirety, at the time. Compared to the days and sleepless nights spent at the hospital, it was felt like nothing. But Jay had smiled through it all, right until the end. Even when Louis had rushed in with red eyes and no words, she'd simply smiled, kissed his head and said, "My lovely, Lou."
The last words she ever said to him: "I love you, Lou, so much. I'm so proud of you."
The phone call had crushed him. Her death had destroyed him.
He'd flown back to America and packed his things. Bianca had broken up with him, he didn't even care.
He moved back into his old room. But the house was cold and quiet.
The funeral was the hardest. Louis can't remember most of it. It all seemed so surreal -so unfair.
It still seems unfair. Six months later. Louis and Lottie stand at their mother's grave. Lottie kneels on the cold grass and places the fresh lilies under their mother's name. She presses a kiss to her fingers and then touches them to the 'm' and 'o' of 'mother'. The siblings walk back to the car in silence.
They stop at the store on the way home. Lottie has a list of what they need for dinner. They walk up and down the aisles. Slowly the cloud above them drifts away. They become less stiff, less doleful.
Over time they start to resemble the versions of themselves from before. It takes six months.
After six months things begin to feel 'normal' again. The household is happy again, missing and remembering their Jay as the beauty she was.
Doris and Ernest are nearly three now. Louis laughs as they argue in the backseat. He drops his sisters at high school and the little twins cry when he drops them at day-care. They perk up when he promises to make Momma's Spaghetti for dinner.
After work he stops by the store. He grabs a basket and tries to remember what he needs. He should have made a list. He gets the pasta and mince and some pudding for dessert. He's almost at the checkout when he remembers the chutney. He finds the right aisle and rolls his eyes when he sees mostly empty shelves.
He has to think.
Can't get the peach chutney -it's too "lumpy".
Can't get the red bottle chutney -it's too "burny".
He realises just how picky his sisters are.
He'd better get the green bottle.
The boy scowls when he sees the only few green chutneys are on the top shelf. Of course. He knows he won't reach but he tries anyway. He huffs when, even on his toes, he still doesn't reach.
He's contemplating a jump when he hears his name.
"Louis?"
The boy turns around, a little red in the face.
"Harry?" A smile instantly spreads across his face.
A lanky boy walks right down the aisle and pulls Louis into a hug.
"Hi."
The two face each other.
"Wow, how long's it been?"
"Over ten years?" Louis answers.
The other boy nods. Louis watches his hair bounce.
Suddenly the boy's eyes widen.
"Oh Louis! I'm so sorry about your mum. Gemma told me what happened."
Louis' lips pull into a thin line, "Thanks, Harry."
The boy smiles sadly, "How are you guys doing?"
Louis nods slowly, "We're alright."
The other boy nods too.
They stand in silence for a moment.
"Harry! There you are!"
The boys turn to see a tall girl with big eyebrows at the end of the aisle.
"Well, I- uh, better go."
Louis nods, "It was nice to see you again."
Harry grins, "You too! We should catch up, properly sometime."
Louis nods again. And Harry turns to leave.
"Oh wait!" He says before he quickly grabs a green bottle of chutney from the top shelf and drops it into Louis' basket. He winks at Louis, who blushes.
--
There it is!
Chapter uno!
Quite a sad start but I hope you liked the ending :-)
Chapter two coming soon!
Thanks for reading, that is all.
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