Love Will Tell Us Where To Go

I ended up falling asleep in Harry’s arms. We slept (well, I did anyway) for about half an hour. After I woke up we discussed what we think we should do next as far as telling my dad goes. We agreed that it would be best if he talks to Chloe’s parents.

They agreed. I felt silly after telling them, but I know that I could never tell him what she said without crying again. Besides, I’m sure he’d like to hear from the people I’m staying with. Unlike her, he actually cares about things like that.

The rest of the night was spent doing anything that would keep us off the topic of anything that would make me upset again. No one said this out loud, but I knew. Heck, anyone would know. They’re nervousness whenever a silence lasted longer than five seconds alone was enough without the obvious glances of concern.

“I promise I’m fine.” I finally said after we finished playing a video game. “We know that.” Chloe said defensively. “I mean - “

“It’s. Alright.” I said with a smile. “Just stop treating me like I’m going to break any second.” I put down the controller and walked over to the fridge for a drink. Harry followed and told me quietly, “You don’t have to act tough. If you want to be alone, we would understand. Or if you want to talk to just Chloe or me, babe, don’t hesitate to say so.”

This shouldn’t make me angry. They are concerned about me, and if anything, I should be grateful, but I’m not. At all. I’m annoyed and I can not make myself feel any other way. “You know what, actually, yeah. I do want to be alone.” I hoped my annoyance showed as I turned and walked away, but the more I thought, I realized I just did the thing I was annoyed at him trying to get me to do. Whatever.

I made my way to the guest room before deciding that I didn’t want to be there. I went back downstairs and almost headed back down to them, but I can’t get myself to. Instead I went outside. Not to leave the neighborhood, just the house.

I walked along the path around her house but for some reason even though I am outside, I feel claustrophobic. I ended up walking around the neighborhood where I did what I always do when alone: think too much.

I imagined my mother at home or at work, not that either is much different, with her mind zoned in on so many things, but not a single one of them includes me. I’m sure she’s busy working on her next project in her new house. I bet she’s angry that she didn’t have me to decorate. I guess she has thought about me.

A little girl and her mom passed me as I made my way down the road. The girl looked about ten and was riding a bike. Her mom followed by close and glanced around a few times; I assume she was checking for cars. I hadn’t seen any since I had started my walk, so the likely hood of seeing one was low. I guess she just cares a lot.

I felt a pang of jealousy as I wondered what it would have been like to have had a mom like that. Maybe mine was capable of being that way but something went wrong. What if I had done things differently? Maybe put up more of a fight when she made us move. Surely it would have made a difference. Maybe…

I jumped back from being startled by a car horn. My hear began to beat fast when I came to the realization that I managed to almost get hit. I couldn’t shake my startled look as I made eye contact with the woman driving as she passed. I couldn’t tell if she was angry or just as scared as me. Even after she passed me and was gone I stood frozen in place, my hand over my heart. Once I did move I sat on the curb, all limbs away from the road as I faced someones back yard.

I sat there until it got dark, which wasn’t very long. Just as I was about to stand up and go back to the house, I see Harry walking up to me. I love him so much. I hate that I was such a jerk.

He sat down next to me and as soon as he did, I looped my arm through his and rested my head on his shoulder. He then wrapped him arm around me. “I’m sorry.” I told him softly. “No worries.” he said. “You should not worry about how you come off to us. You’re going through a lot and we don’t expect you to be - “

“I was a jerk.” I said interrupting. “Well, if you insist…” I playfully slapped his arm. We both smiled softly and laughed. “But being serious…I understand. Chloe does too. Never forget that.”

“You know I won’t.” I kissed his cheek before resting my face against his. His cheek grew warmer and it made me wonder if he was blushing. I wanted to look, but I didn’t get a chance too. He turned and caressed my face before kissing me.

“Everything is going to go fine.” I said.

“Love, everything is going to go perfectly.”
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The ride to my dad’s house was both long and short. It was both the best and the worst car ride ever. Good because I was with two of the most important people of my life. But when you’re on your way to see your dad for the second time in your entire life, even short car rides can feel long.

Harry sang along to songs on the radio as did Chloe. It took some coaxing, but I eventually joined in. “DON’T STOP! BELIEVING! HOLD ON TO THAT FEEEELIIINNG!” Harry wailed off key and practically right in my face. I was laughing so hard it was difficult to keep my eyes and attention on the road.

Not only was he able to show off his singing, but also his amazing comedic skills. And by that I mean really bad jokes and puns. I love them all.

Since Chloe hadn’t heard them before, he got to reuse the ones I’ve already heard. I laughed anyway, along with Chloe who had to force a laugh a time or two.

“You know you guys are absolutely perfect for each other, right?” she whispered in my ear by leaning forward in her seat; she is in the back and Harry is in the passenger side. With a smile I replied, “Oh believe me, I know.” We both started laughing, but not nearly as much when he asked, “Hey, are you guys making fun of my jokes?”
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I don’t know what I expected his house to look like, but if I had, it wouldn’t have been this. I have always lived in expensive, big, and beautiful houses, and this one looked no different. Maybe not quite as pricey as most, but still.

I don’t know if they were thinking the same thing I was, but if they were, they didn’t say it. We stayed silent as we walked to the door. I rang the door bell without hesitation, and within seconds, there he was. My dad.

He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, nothing fancy. I wonder if he has to work today. I can’t imagine him being the kind of person to work on the weekend. I don’t even know what kind of job he has. “Megan, Harry, Chloe, so glad you guys could make it. Come on in.” He stepped back and as I passed he patted me on the back. This caused me to smile. Harry noticed and smiled back.

We sat in the living room which was just as beautiful as you’d expect it to be based on the outside of the house. It’s very open concept with a whole view of the kitchen from where we sit. The dining room is neatly decorated and there is a hall that I imagine leads to at least one bedroom.

He shook Harry’s hand before we sat down, and it was in that moment that I felt more nervous than ever. I’m not use to this whole, my dad meeting my boyfriend thing. Him meeting my mother doesn’t count to me. This is a big deal. This is important.

“Nice to meet you, Harry.” he said. “You too Chloe.” I felt butterflies in my stomach as he replied, “It’s great to meet you too. I’m even happier that you finally got to meet Megan. You should know that you have an absolutely amazing daughter.”

“Hello.” a woman said as she walked up to my dad. “I’m Annabell.” For a moment I forgot she is pregnant. You seriously couldn’t tell by looking at her. I guess her shirt is kind of loose.

Her strawberry blonde hair goes well passed her shoulders and is so pretty. She has green eyes and looks a little shorter than me. She sat next to my dad as I said, “Hi. I’m Megan. Obviously.” I awkwardly laughed before adding, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” she replied. “I can’t wait for you guys to meet this little one too.” She glanced down at her seemingly tiny belly. “I’m almost four months, believe it or not.” I was about to say something, but she said, “Oh, sorry. I’m sure there are other more important things you need to talk about. I can go if you want me to.”

“No, please, stay.” I insisted. “So, umm…” I had trouble saying dad for some reason, so I went ahead and just asked, “you know everything, right? I assume you know too, Annabell.”

“Yes.” she replied softly. “Look, Megan, I know that this may seem odd after only meeting me two times, but… I just can’t imagine you trying to live by yourself. Not that you haven’t practically been doing that already, but…asking you to support yourself when you haven’t even graduated yet? Anyway…what I’m trying to say is, if you want to move in with us, we would be more than happy to allow that.”

“What?” I asked shocked. This is what I wanted, but I couldn’t believe how easily he offered. “I would love that. I just - oh, wow. I umm… I don’t even know what to say.” I was so caught up in my excitement I almost didn’t notice that Harry’s grip around my waist had loosened. When I did notice, he let me go completely.

I looked over at him he looked dazed as he stared into the distance. That’s when it hit me.

“Dad.” I said shocking even myself. I hadn’t meant to, but I said it with such urgency I think I scared everyone a little. “Harry. I mean, I know I’m only seventeen, but we - he’s already eighteen and - “

“Yes.” Annabell replied. I looked to my dad for his reaction, but he hadn’t even as much as blinked an eye at her response. “I had a feeling you might ask. So we’ve already discussed that and we both agree that if Harry wants to, he can live with us too.”

“Oh my gosh, you guys are awesome. But how did you know?” She smiled as she told me, “I just…knew, you know? I mean, any guy willing to go to another country for his girlfriend must really care about her.”

I looked back at Harry who was now back to his regular smiling self. But more than that, the way he looked at me, it was the most reassuring thing. I didn’t even know I needed that.

Chloe, who had remained quiet this entire time, spoke up. “Sorry, I need to answer my phone real quick. It’s my parents.” she stood up and walked to the kitchen. While she was gone we continued talking, but not completely about serious stuff. It almost felt like a normal parents-meeting-the-boyfriend type thing. Almost.

I found out that he is an advertising, promotions, and marketing manager. He has worked in the advertising business since he graduated college and has loved it ever since. He explained that the reason him and Annabell waited to have a child is because they knew that if they did, they wouldn’t have as much time to focus on their careers.

He and Annabell used to work more than they do now, enough they said to raise a child, but they still didn’t feel ready. Now that my dad is like, the head person at his company, he has the authority to not work as much. Never on the weekends, and always off on holidays.

Annabell is an assistant editor at a local magazine but will be taking a break later on in her pregnancy.

They also told us how they met in college and he even talked about my mother. I was amazed by how she acted around him when it was only the two of them. I couldn’t imagine her being the same woman he was talking about. But the way he talked about her in her group of friends, that I can imagine.

I could tell he tried to not talk bad about her as much as possible, but there are just some things you can’t make sound better. Eventually the topic changed (thank goodness) and focused more on Harry.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Harry insisted when talking about his parents not knowing the reason for him leaving. “I’ll call them as soon as things get completely settled here.”

“Speaking of that…” my dad said. “I know you probably don’t want to, but we will have to contact your mother. Not only will we need to deal with your school stuff, I imagine you want the rest of your stuff that you left behind.”

It had been a little over half an hour and Chloe still wasn’t back. She had somehow managed to stand in the small area of the kitchen you can’t see from here. When she did appear, she immediately said, “You mom called my parents.”

“Why?” I snapped. “I mean…”

“She wants you to get your stuff. In person.” I rolled my eyes at the thought of her wanting to see me now. “You have got to be freaking kidding me.”

“She won’t let you have your money from the bank if you don’t.” I shook my head, “I can just get it myself.”

“She has the account locked. You can’t.” I buried my face in Harry’s arm and let out a moan. He rubbed my arm and told me he would go with me.

“I’ll call her. Right now.” my dad said confidently. “No.” I replied. “I will.” He shouldn’t have to talk to her ever again. “Megan, I’m serious. I need to talk to her. I’ll let her know that I contacted you. Maybe then she won’t make you go to Australia.”

Oh yeah. She’s in Australia. That managed to slip my mind. “Are you sure you want to?”

“I need to talk to her, Megan. Besides, we have to discuss legal stuff like switching the custody over to me and all of that. I would also just like to speak to her.” It just hit me that he probably has some choice words for the woman who lied about having his child. I nodded before saying, “Let’s get this over with.”

Notes