ALWAYS

I sat quietly at the table. Enola, her mother and sisters in law were working on bringing out the dinner that Enola had worked so hard on all evening. I knew that the room was tense because of Kelly and Keifer. I felt it was my job to break the silence but I decided not to. It was my home and I woul be as silent as I wanted. Just as Enola brought out another dish, the doorbell rang. She sighed heavily.
I chuckled, "I'll get it, baby. Don't worry about it."
Enola shook her head, "No. I'll go with you." I shrugged and took her hand in mine as I went toward the living room from the dining room. Enola ran a hand through her hair before I opened the door. I laughed quietly and shook my head as I opened the door.
"Hey Mum." I smiled seeing my mother's bright eyes and Robin's amused face.
"Hello darling. Enola, you look wonderful today." My mother said kissing my cheek then Enola's. Enola thanked my mother in a sweet tone.
"What brings you kids out here?" Enola inquired of my mother.
"Well, we're supposed to pick Nick and Gemma up from the airport but their flight was delayed so we've got some time to kill and we didn't know what your plans were for tomorrow morning so we thought we'd stop by." My mother answered.
"Hey Enola! Where do you want me to put the..." Karina began as she walked into the hall. "Oh never mind, I'm sorry." Karina slinked back a bit.
"No, no it's alright." I motioned her closer.
"I just wanted to know where on the table you wanted the gnocchi." Karina blushed as she spoke quietly.
Enola chuckled, "Anywhere you want. Harry and I are not formal people. I just made all of the things that Mama and Daddy like." Karina nodded then rushed away. I tried not to laugh at Karina as I turned my attention back to my mother.
"Oh, your parents are here. I forgot about that. We'll go." My mother seemed a bit embarrassed.
Enola grabbed my mother's hand quickly, "Nonsense. You and Robin come in and stay for dinner. I've made more than enough and we've got more than enough room. Come on." She pulled my mother and Robin toward the dinning room. I watched her walk away with all of the love in my heart. She was a graceful and caring woman. Always felt the need to make everyone feel at home and special. Always going out of her way to comfort others and make others happy. I frowned a bit. I wished that she would do things for herself. She spent all of her time doting on me or Darcy. She hadn't been to her studio since I'd been home. I knew that we'd been busy but she usually made time for it. "Harry, come on. We're going to eat soon." Enola called out, sticking her hed back into the hall from the dinning room.
I smiled, "Alright baby. I'll be there in a minute."

The dinner table was even more tense than before. Gianna, Kelly and Keifer were all the root cause. Kelly and Keifer still held their grudge against me. Gianna disliked the way that Darcy had greeted my mother. Enola told me that Darcy wasn't nearly as excited to see her Nana as she was to see her Grammy. It made me feel a bit better. It was a horrible thing but I had been annoyed with the way Gianna was treating Enola. My mother noticed the treatment as well and it made her tense. She wanted to speak up, but she was a proper lady and wouldn't get involved.
"Enola, this is just lovely. You are quite the cook." My mother praised Enola as she finished a bite of her lasagna. Gianna made a noise deep in her throat after my mother finished speaking.
Lochlan smiled at his daughter, "Yes, Princess, this is delicious."
Gianna grunted and spoke Italian, "Your grandfather would roll over in his grave."
"Mama!" Kelly scolded Gianna. I was shocked by his reaction to her.
Enola frowned, "I know it's not as good as when we lived in Italy or anything but they just don't have the same kinds of things here in London."
I shrugged, "I think it's just as good. And we all know when I don't like something." My Enola, my mother and Robin all laughed. "Just saying." I smiled. "Anyway, Lochlan, you were telling me earlier about the work that you do in Ireland." I knew that Robin was interested in the line of work Lochlan had.
Lochlan nodded, "Yes. We've expanded quite a lot in the last few months. It's nice. I get to spend more time here with Enola and with my boys. I think that within the next few months we could finally make it out of Ireland."
"What is it that you do?" Robin inquired. I smiled as Enola nudged me. She gazed at me with thankful eyes as Robin and Lochlan started to discuss his craft beer business.
My mother looked at Lynne, "Enola was telling me the other day that you are an interior designer. Do you work for a firm?"
Lynne shook her head, "Well, yes and no. I own a firm. Lochlan and I actually work out of the same building. We bought it together. I am on the top two floors and he has the bottom three for the brewery."
"Loosen the clients wallets with a fine craft beer?" My mother joked.
Lynne laughed loudly, "Mostly the male clients who hire us for their businesses." Enola took my hand in her own as Karina jumped into the conversation as well.
She gazed up at me again, "I love you so very much."
I smirked and kissed her softly, "You can prove it later."
Enola lifted her eyebrow at me, "It's my birthday weekend."
"I am well aware of that." I kept the mischievous smirk on my face. Enola blushed a bit but kept her eyes on mine. I leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I am going to devour you like you're as sweet as candy. Touch every last millimeter of your flesh with my tongue. Worship every curve of your body, breast to bum, as though you're Venus in all of her glory." She held my hand tighter as her face turned the brightest shade of red.
"Secrets don't make friends, Harry." Lynne teased from across the table. I pulled away from Enola's ear and smiled politely at Lynne. "What are you two talking about?" Lynne smirked knowingly.
"I can't tell my woman I love her?" I inquired playfully. Keifer grunted as Gianna had.
"Love?" Gianna scoffed quietly. I didn't like her attitude toward me. In the last few months, I'd never been anything but kind and respectful to her. I felt like she should've been just as kind and respectful to me. I noticed that my mother looked even more upset.
"Are you doubting their affections for each other?" My mother asked Gianna.
Gianna sighed heavily, "If he really loved her, he would've let her go on living her life with a man that would support her more." My parents and Enola's father appeared angry. "You can't honestly tell me that you approved of that dreadful show they put on all those years ago."
"I never agreed with the circumstances but I know that my son loves your daughter, always has, always will. He supports her in ways that money never could." My mother defended our relationship. Gianna looked even more displeased. "Regardless of how much you dislike the fact that these kids had an affair, it is what happened and we cannot change it. As of right now, they are living a normal life, the way it should've been when they met. And you know maybe it is a good thing that their relationship did not work out the first time around. All of the boys had their relationships fall apart. It is better that they took their time to find their way back to each other." My mother continued defending us. I smiled. I'd never thought of it that way. We were going to make it because we knew we couldn't without each other.
"Bollocks." Gianna grunted. Enola held my hand tighter still. I looked at her face carefully. She was angry, nearing tears from the rage building inside her.
"What are you so upset about, her losing a man with money? Guess what, you may not like the career my son has but he's got the money as well. Even though it makes no difference to your daughter. To your granddaughter." My mother snapped. "At least my son never hits her or makes her feel like less that a human being. At least my son is not an abuser." My mother grumbled after a moment. Enola's jaw dropped and she stopped the circulation in my hand with her tight grip.
Lochlan turned to Enola, "WHAT?" Gianna's face dropped and her brother's looked even more angry than they had started out as. My heart sank. She never told them. All this time, she'd only ever told me and my mother. She'd been holding it in all this time. She'd been living in fear all by herself. Never having anyone to turn to to take the fear away. To make her feel safe. I frowned and put my arm around Enola when I saw a tear slip down her face. She quickly wiped it away.
"I can't do this." Enola murmured gazing into my worried eyes.
"Enola Grace, you speak to me right now. You let that man hurt you?" Lochlan's voice boomed.
I glared at him, "Don't you dare raise your voice at her in my house. She's had enough." My angered voice caught my daughters attention. I sighed heavily when she got up from the small table Enola had set up for the kids. Darcy climbed into Enola's lap and wrapped her arms around her mother.
"It's okay, Mummy. It's okay. Daddy will fix it." Darcy murmured to Enola as she held on tightly. Enola hugged Darcy just as tightly. "It's okay, Mummy. Daddy will fix it." I looked around the table to see sad, sullen faces. My mother mouthed an apology. I shook my head. None of it was her fault. She was a good mother and stuck by me.
"Darcy, why don't you take Mummy in the kitchen? I'll be there in a minute." I suggested. Darcy nodded and jumped down from Enola's lap.
"Come on, Mummy." Darcy took her mother's hand, pulling her out of the chair. I ran my hand through my hair to ease my tension as I watched Darcy lead Enola away. I gazed at Enola's family with hate filled eyes.
"Harry, we didn't...she never..." Lynne began.
"I know she didn't." I sighed.
"So you were just a way out then." Gianna seemed smug.
I glared at her, staring into her cold eyes, "You can hate me all you want. I would gladly do it all again. I am glad that I was her way out. But I know that everything between us is real because of the child we created. Had Enola been pregnant by Charles, she never would've had the baby. That child is mine and that is how I know whatever happened between us was real." Gianna's face dropped when she realized I was right. I smirked and leaned back into my chair.
Lochlan's eyes met mine, "You know what he did to her?" I nodded slowly. "Please, tell me. I am her father. I need to know."
I shook my head, "It's better that you don't. Plus, it's not my story to tell. You want details, you ask her." Lochlan frowned and let his eyes fall to the table. "Now, if you will excuse me. I have to go console my girls." I got up from the table and made my way to the kitchen. I focused on breathing evenly as I walked slowly. I didn't want to be angry when I entered the kitchen. Enola needed to feel safe.


I reentered the dinning room. My mother and Enola's sisters in law were beginning to clear the table. Enola had a small breakdown in the kitchen after I told Darcy it was okay to leave us alone. It took many kisses and soothing whispers to get her calm again. My mother looked up at me with worried eyes.
"Where's Enola?" Robin inquired softly.
"She went up to bed." I replied letting my anger show again.
My mother walked over to me and placed her hand on my arm, "Is she okay? Does she need anything? I can do anything you need."
I smiled weakly and kissed my mother's forehead, "No, Mum, she'll be fine. She just needs to calm down a minute and get some rest."
"Harry, we're so sorry." Lynne murmured approaching me slowly.
"You didn't do anything, Lynne, it's alright." I said trying to ease her worried face. "But I think it would be best if everyone left. I've got to get Darcy ready for bed and all. Clean up." I said trying to be as polite as possible. Lochlan stood from the table and came to my side.
"I would like to say goodnight to her. Apologize for what was said." Lochlan spoke quietly, pleading.
I shook my head, "She's already asleep. I'd like for her to stay that way." Lochlan nodded then held his hand out to me. I shook his hand firmly.
"You are a good man to her. As much as I may not agree with how you met or anything that came after, you are the man that she needs. A blind fool could see that you two are perfect together. And although my sons are stubborn Irishmen, they know that you love their sister with all of your heart. I look forward to spending more time with you tomorrow." Lochlan stated with a genuine smile.
"Thank you. Party starts at one. Darcy and I have some special things to do with Enola in the morning." I informed him with a small grin. After that it didn't take long to clear out the house. Soon, I was alone to clean up and ready my child for bed.

Notes

Kind of filler, kind of not.

Peace&Love