BEAUTIFULLY UNFINISHED novel Chapter 47

FORTY-SIX

H A R R Y

I parked my car and walked with Audrey inside the restaurant. The waiter leads us to the table where I reserved for us to be having dinner tonight. I feel my hands clammy already but I try to hide it away.

I nervously pulled a chair for Audrey as she takes the seat next to me. I was nervously pushing my hair off my face while I patiently wait on my seat for Louis, Miranda and Ben to arrive. I really don't know what exactly the reason is that I'm being nervous right now. Maybe because I'm seeing Rose again. I'm nervous that I might turn on the wrong road and cancel my wedding just to be with Rose.

How pathetic would that be?

That's pathetic Harold. You can't hurt three people at once just for your own good, just cos you want to be with Rose.

If you do that, you'll hurt Audrey and Louis and then the baby inside Audrey.

"You look..." Audrey gazes at me.

"What?" I asked her.

"Nervously attractive." She smiles.

I smirked. "I just don't know how to say things to Ben."

"He's just six." I added.

Audrey rolled her eyes at me. "Ugh! Why can't that waitress just tell her own son herself? It's not like it's some thing hard to do."

"We didn't come here for that issue, Audrey." I warn her.

She glanced at me as she takes a drink from her glass of water. Audrey didn't really wanted to come here tonight after what Ben did to her but I forced her to because she's going to be my wife and I want her to do this with me.

"I want you to open yourself to Ben. Give the kid a chance. He's really smart and I'm sure you'll love him." I tell her.

"Right, I'll surely love him." She says sarcastically.

I sigh.

"And don't make me regret on coming here tonight Harold. If your son pours something on me again like the last time, I swear to god." She says to me while rubbing her littlest bump.

I move my head to her, "Will you just, even for once, not think about things like that?"

She rolled her eyes at me again, "What do you want me to do? Jump out of excitement cos I'm going to see Ben again? Whoopee." She says dryly.

"You tell yourself you hate him cos of what he has done and that's what your brain is telling you all the time. It's dug deep in your head that's why you feel that way towards Ben." I say as I fix my blazer.

"Because that boy is a--"

"A what?" I cut her off.

We stared at each other eagerly but she didn't seem to continue what she was going to say to me. We have been fighting over this matter these past few days and I had to force her to be nice to Ben and Miranda. But I know Audrey is the kind of woman who's very stubborn, hardheaded and she's too spoiled to accept defeat.

"Don't forget he's my son." I warn her.

Audrey looks at me eagerly and she doesn't like it when I say that to her.

"If ever you say things like what you said in front of Ben when you went to their house, I swear you'll look funny on our wedding day." I spit.

She gaped.

"You can't do that." She threatened.

"Watch me." I mocked her.

I take a long drink from my water and gazed at my watch. They're a bit late for tonight's dinner and my heart is beating faster every time the clock tick-tocks.

"You're being very ridiculous right now." She spat. "You let me do things I don't want to do but you still fight me about it."

"Because you're hard as hell." I said under my breath.

"Oh, so I'm the one you're blaming again. If you must know, this dinner that we're having is something that totally degrades my professionalism. You're making my ego into a tiny peck of dust." She answers me.

I sigh. "Can we just.... Stop fighting?"

She arched an eyebrow at me. "Don't tell me that, Harry. Tell yourself that sentence cos you're always the one who's putting a fight with me when Im doing nothing but support you."

I shake my head sideways. "I don't know what's going on with us."

"Me too. It's like you seem to enjoy fighting me lately." She crossed her arms and laughs softly. "Is that a new sport you're practicing?"

I glance at her, "You're really getting good at it." She mocks.

I just kept my mouth quiet and ignored her cos if I answer her further, this night will turn out into a great tragedy and we'll fight even more after this dinner. I just wish Audrey would love Ben, that's all I ask for from her. And it's not making her ego into a peck of dust just cos she needs to love and accept my son. No, she doesn't need to show or fake it that she loves Ben, I just want her to accept Ben that he's already a part of my life. Always has been.

A part that's been missing from me, seven years ago.

•••••

M I R A N D A

Louis' car slowly drives into the parking lot and the second the engine stopped, I know that this was it. I glare at Ben from the backseat and he sits there with a smile on his face. Looking pretty good on that white polo shirt, black jeans, a pair of sneakers that Louis bought for him and his gelled hair that fitted him.

"Are we here already?" He asked me.

I nod.

The three of us headed out of the car and walked together towards the restaurant. I was nervously walking towards the front door of this fancy restaurant, with my heels that's making me look even more awkward. Louis was holding me and Ben was in between us when the door opened for us.

I began to scan through the crowd and quickly saw Harry on the farthest corner of the restaurant. He quickly caught me standing by the doorway and since that second we locked eyes, he didn't look away anymore as we walk towards the table. I feel sick to my stomach as we walk closer to them. I feel dragons inside my stomach. I feel nervous as hell because Audrey is here. I'm nervous for Ben.

"Finally." Audrey says first.

Harry glared at her but Audrey didn't seem to be bothered about it.

"We're a bit late. Sorry." Louis apologized.

Louis pulled a chair for me, "Thank you." I say softly.

Ben sits next to me and Louis sits next to Ben.

"Hey Benny, how are you?" Harry says with so much anticipation behind his eyes.

Ben smiles, "I'm really great uncle Harry."

We were across the two of them while Audrey looks at me with her death stare. The entire table was quiet for a few seconds and I honestly don't know what to say.

"Have you ordered Harold?" Louis asked.

"Not yet. I waited..." Harry glances at me. "For you.... To arrive."

I bent my head down as soon as the waiter was handing us menus. I let Louis order for us while Audrey ordered a salad for herself. Harry ordered a few for us to eat tonight and Ben ordered some fried chicken for himself. As soon as the foods were served, we began to ate peacefully.