All Your Little Things

Chapter 23- She Loved You

Harry

We were all back at Ali's house for one last dinner before everyone had to leave again. Ali and I were leaving back for London in the morning.

We were all sitting in the family room. Mark was playing the piano, and everyone was laughing, drinking. Little Ethan was watching a Pixar movie. Jacob, Mr. Evans and I were talking, and Taylor and Emmaline were planning the wedding. Ali had gone to get herself a drink.

I saw her return; Jacob and I looked at her at the same time. She stopped in the doorway and looked around at everything. A huge smile came over her face. How could she not smile? Almost everything was perfect. Almost. The smile faded quickly from her face.

She set her drink down and grabbed her coat, stepping outside. My mouth dropped open and I went to follow her, but felt a hand on my shoulder.

"I'll go talk to her." Jacob said, and I sat down. He got his coat and followed her outside.

Ali

The cold air hit my cheeks, and I shivered. I sat on the top step of our porch, and huddled my knees close to keep warm.

Everything was too perfect, just missing one very important piece.

"Hey! Why're you out here?" I heard Jacob behind me, and he sat next to me. I looked at him smiling, but when he saw my face, his smile faded.

"Princess, what's wrong? Why aren't you inside with Harry?"

"You know what it is, Jacob."

"Yea, I know." He said, and he put his arm around me. "She loved you, you know, more than anything in the world."

"I know she did, I do. It's just...it wasn't supposed to be like this, you know?"

"I know."

I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. "She was supposed to be here for your wedding, and the engagement, and my graduation. She's supposed to meet Harry! She'd love Harry! She's supposed-" I was crying. "She's supposed to be here!"

Jacob hugged me tight. "I know, Ali, and I feel terrible you didn't spend too much time with her. I really do."

"There's nothing you could do about it, Jake." I told him, and he kept his arm around me as we talked.

"She loved you so much. By the time you got here, she was so done with having three boys around all the time." I let out a laugh. "She was so ready to put you in pretty pink dresses and buy you dolls and everything. I swear, she didn't buy us another action figure for at least another year."

I laughed. "You two must have been a handful." I told him.

"Oh Mark and I were the worst. We had wrestling matches in the middle of everything, and were always fighting. You were just a little princess. You never wanted to get dirty, and you loved dancing and having tea parties. You always wore pink and mom would dress up your dolls with you. Looking back, it was the cutest thing."

"That sounds like me."

"You know, Mark and I were a handful, but so were you, Ms. Chatterbox! You'd never shut up, and you always got your way with your stubborn little face. You definitely ruled the house as a kid. You were just like mom in that way, and you definitely took over as the woman of the house after her."

Jake kept talking. "I remember once, when I came home from college, it must have been Christmas, but you were, like, ten or something. You stood on top of a ladder and you directed all of us with the decorations. You held a pointer and you told us all where to go. A little girl directing three practically grown men."

We both laughed. "That definitely sounds like something I would do."

"Oh you did something like that plenty of times." He said, and I laughed again. "You know she really would love Harry, I hope you know that." He looked at me.

"Really?"

"Oh yea!" He nodded with exaggeration. "He's funny, he's great with Ethan and with Dad and Mark and I. He's a good guy, and he makes you smile. Harry makes you really happy, and that's all Mom would have ever wanted. She wanted you to meet a really nice guy that would take care of you. Harry is exactly what she would have wanted for you."

"That makes me feel a little better."

"And may I say, I do approve of him."

"Do you know?" I laughed.

"Yes. There is no way in the world I'd be able to separate you two. Not after seeing the way you look at him, and the way he makes you laugh. That's special right there. Don't let anyone screw it up."

"I wasn't planning on it."

"So are we alright?" He looked at me, and I nodded.

"Jacob?"

"Yea, princess?"

"Thank you. I know I never really hung out with you much growing up, but you really are an amazing brother. There's no denying it. You really did take care of Mark and I growing up, keeping us out of trouble and in line for dad, and you really kept his stress down until you left for Afghanistan. And I want to thank you for that. You kept us all really sane, and that's a lot for a young kid. You didn't have to do that. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Ali, you're telling me how strong and wonderful I am, but I have never seen as strong and wonderful person as you, for getting through all these years without mom, and being with Harry and dealing with all that pressure. You're the wonderful sister. I couldn't have asked for better." Jacob smiled. He really was a great brother.

He kissed my forehead. "I love you, Ali."

"Love you, too, Jake."

"We better get back inside, Harry must be worried." I nodded and he helped me up an escorted me back inside.

I may not have my mom anymore, an I missed her like crazy, I really did, but my family was here with me now, and I could never deny that I was so completely happy with everything.