Harry's pov
Forty minutes of waiting, for her to finally appear in something modest. I was not used to waiting for someone. How long she was going to spend, to pick a dress and wear it.?
God, women.
The moment I saw her walking towards my car, mirroring my own nervousness. My reaction was not even close to my own anticipation. She opened the car door and sat silently. Without uttering a word. I started the car showing the same attitude to her. Maybe we both were confused, being clueless how to act. I was in an emerald-coloured sweat shirt with black sweatpants. Also I had a black jacket, because it usually gets cold in Ashwell. She looked impressive. If that's what you say, when someone warms your heart by just one look. A jade green coloured dress. A V-neckline. With puffed sleeves. It was touching her ankles. The pumps she wore, matched the colour of my T-shirt. Her hair was parted in the middle, with one side tucked behind her ear while the other was free.
"So,..how do I look?- I mean, is it okay?" She broke the silence. There was not a particular reason for me to look at the back mirror. But I did, and so did she. That's when I saw, an eyeliner was decorating her eyelids. It was making her hazel eyes look more prominent. I turned my head to her, it was an urge to have a full and close look at her. She was wearing light makeup. Peach shaded blush was decorating her cheeks. Her plum lips were tinted pink. Pearl tops and a single pearl necklace was completing the look. She was nervous for several reasons.
Should I tell her she looks ethereal?
"It's okay," were the words that I managed to say before turning my head back to the road. I never felt like this. Nervous like I was a teenager.
"Here.Your card," she was giving me the credit card.
"Keep it," I said without looking at her. But her eyes were on me.
"What? You are my sugar daddy, now?" she scoffed.
"That's your card. For the bills and groceries we promised to pay for you," I informed her, with a monotonous voice. The instant regret that appeared on her face felt victorious.
"Sugar daddy," This was my chance to scoff and I didn't miss it.
A whole journey filled with awkward silence finally ended. At least for sometime. The soothing breeze of Ashwell filled my soul with a nostalgic vibe. It felt good. I stopped my car in front of the house where I had passed my childhood and teenage years. It was the same. I had it renovated to maintain it. But I never changed it. As I loosened my seatbelt. I saw her eyes looking surprised. Her head was moving to have a proper look.
"Just act like we are together, she doesn't need to know our deal," she looked in my direction with a stunned reaction.
"Is that okay?" I tilted my head a little. My voice was soft, not rude. She nodded silently.
We both got out of the car and walked to the vast yard. Daffodils and sunflowers were outlining its boundaries. There was a small rose garden by the side. That caught her attention.
So she likes roses. It was just obvious from her gaze, I wasn't staring at her too attentively.
"Harry! My boy!" I heard the voice. There she was, stubborn as always. In her all time favourite blue gown. She was not in a condition to walk. Her caretaker was with her. Gripping her by her shoulder. She was far from us. So I walked towards her swiftly, so she doesn't have to walk that long. Spreading her arms she embraced me. I was grinning like a child.
"I missed you," I informed her in between the hug.
"Liar! You wouldn't have come. If I was not ill," she hit my back.
When we were done with the hug. I saw her eyes shifting to someone behind me.
"There she is!" she was smiling with excitement.
I turned back to see her smiling shyly. Tucking her already tucked hair behind her ear.
"This is -uhh- Sarah ," we were looking at each other. It was the first time I said her name.
"Hi, how are you? Mrs-," of course she didn't know her surname.
"Lancaster," I told her as if we were so close.
"Mrs.Lancaster," she greeted respectfully.
"You are- a - young- beautiful- lady. Come on, give me a hug," before she could say thank you. Grandma captured her in her arms. She embraced her back and heard her soft giggles. I saw servants peeking, to have a look at her. Their eyes were already admiring her. The way she looked today was not sexcy at all. That made me more enthusiastic. She looked modest. Delicate. Someone you don't want to mess up with. A woman who should be valued. A wife material. I had never been with such a girl. The girl that makes you feel the need to act like a gentlemen.
"Do you want to have a tour?" Grandma asked in a tone that's hard to refuse.
"I'd love to. But I don't think Mrs. Lancaster you should be walking." her voice was concerning. She was holding her by her shoulder.
"Why don't you take some rest first?" Her tone was friendly.
"You have such manners, how did you end up with Harry?"
Sarah laughed at her comments.
"Grandma!" I protested.
It was brunch time. There were tons of dishes decorating the dining table. Sarah seated himself beside me. We were looking like newlyweds. And she was acting too seriously in her role.
Grandma was talking to her and she was responding too well. She was more mature than her age. I noticed as I saw how serious her conversation was. I knew girls of her age. And It would be a nightmare to let them meet Grandma. But she was so respectful to her. It gave me a content feeling.
"Yes I'll be a doctor after a year," she answered. Such a serious profession.
"Oh? Really?" Grandma bulged her eyes at another shocking revelation.
"No wonder, you look too responsible," she praised her.
"Harry, my child. You didn't tell me how you two met?" she dropped the question too casually. We both looked at each other.
"It was just a coincidence," I tried to avoid it.
"How? That's very unlikely of you to be with some real women.This must have been special." I looked at her, her lips were pressed. She was trying to hide her smirk.
"Clarke. I met her through Clarke." I said before I dived back to eat my pancakes.
"So you know Clarke?" Now it was her turn to make up the story.
"Yeah he is an old friend," she smiled while lying on her face.
"Yes, very old. When did you both meet by the way?" I turned my head to her with an amused grin.
She looked at me as if I had two heads.
"In school." she answered.
"Really? I didn't know you attended school together. Isn't he older than you?" The way she looked at me this time, I was sure I had two heads. I felt her hit my feet.
"He was my senior," she said with clenched jaws.
"Mrs.Lancaster it's time for your therapy," her caretaker said.
I saw Grandma releasing an exhausted sigh. I knew she hated therapies.
"Enjoy yourself, Sarah . This old body has to get some maintenance to work properly," she joked as she stood up by getting support from her caretaker.
"Sure, Mrs.lancaster," her lips pressed in a smile.
Her head turned to me with a twisted expression, after Grandma had gone.
"What was this?" she almost barked.
"What?" I acted innocent. I was stuffing my mouth with pancakes, when she hit my hand.
"You are such a jerk," her tone was irritated.
"Grandma should have heard this dirty mouth of yours," I said, resting my elbow on the table. I tilted my body a bit closer to her.
"Oh really?" she said in a sassy tone. Her own body moved a bit closer to mine.
"This could be a problem for you. Don't you think so?" I swear I wasn't listening to her words. All my attention was focused on her plum lip. A stray strand of her hair flew in the little distance between us. It was making it difficult for me to have a proper look at her. My hand moved automatically, sliding the strand of hair behind her ear. My fingers brushed against her cheeks. Her skin was so soft. The nervousness started to prevail on her face. It felt victorious. And I smirked. I noticed her features getting annoyed at my smile. And she turned her head.
"Mr. Harry, Miss Sarah . Would you like something else?" I heard the maid's voice.
And we both said in unison, "No thanks."
"This is where Harry used to play guitar. He would make tones and rhythms all day." Grandma said, as she saw the old spot behind the chicken coop, the place where I dreamt of being a producer. Back then, I always felt as if it was impossible to be there. Well, it was still unbelievable how far I had come.
"He has a habit of getting to work as soon as the idea gets into his head." She was listening so attentively to whatever Grandma was saying.
"It must be difficult for you. He usually gets up at night and starts playing music out of nowhere," Grandma patted her shoulder.
"Uhh-no. Actually, I've become used to that. That's how he works, afterall," she said confidently. I was shocked. My head turned to her. But she didn't move her head.
Although she was weak, Grandma roamed the whole farm. Sarah did make sure to convince her to take some rest after sometime repeatedly. Which she did, thankfully.
The dinner was delicious. Sarah and Grandma talked a lot. While I was eating silently. As we were done eating. We decided to leave. That's when the problem started. Grandma started to act like a child. She wanted us to stay until the sunday. I tried to convince her. So did Sarah . She tried different excuses. In the end, all of them failed. When she started to use her blackmailing card.
"I won't take the medicines," she said as she folded her arms against her chest.
"Grandma! Please I did what you said. Don't act like this." I pleaded with her.
"Okay, go on," Grandma answered sternly.
"But I won't take the medicines." her face was turning red.
"Mrs.Lancaster! Please be calm," her caretaker requested.
"Is she hypertensive?" I heard Sarah asking the caretaker with a concerned feature.
"Yes," The caretaker answered immediately.
"Harry!" it felt different. My name, in her voice. The warm feeling in my heart had to be ignored as Grandma was not in a good condition.
"Hmm?" I turned to her.
"I think her blood pressure is shooting up. It's not good." she expressed her concern.
"I think we should just stay the night," she surrendered, finally.
I looked at Grandma. Sitting on my knees in front of her I said,
"Hey! Just take your medicine. We are not leaving."
"Really?" she almost jumped in excitement.
She glanced at Sarah standing behind me, to confirm.
"Yes," I heard her voice.
"But please take your medicine," she announced her deal.
Taking a pill from the maid's hand, I saw her giving it to Grandma. Which she took.
"Don't worry about clothes, Marylin will give you some freshly knitted gowns."
"The women of our town have such a good hand," she patted on her lap.
"I'd love to wear it," they both smiled at each other.
I sat on the couch. Sarah glanced at me, my lips pressed in a line. I could thank her if I wanted. She was not obliged to do that. But she did. She was listening to everything Grandma was saying like it was real. Me. Her. Us.
"Marylin!"
"Yes! Miss Lancaster," the maid answered respectfully.
"Did you prepare Harry's old bedroom?"
"Yes! I have."
She shifted her posture back to Sarah 's side.
"It would be lovely, wouldn't it?" Grandma asked out of nowhere.
"What?" she asked out of curiosity.
I was busy checking out my phone when I heard,
"You both will stay in Harry's old bedroom. It will make you feel more personal to him."
The way we both looked at each other. We were finally regretting the decision to stay the night.