It had been years since they'd parted ways. Losing contact had been a mutual decision, each emailed response taking longer and longer until eventually one of them stopped answering. She racked her brain now to remember who had sent the last letter, but she couldn't remember. Now standing in the rain almost a decade later, she shivered.
"Come on Sarah, we're getting wet." The gentleman coaxed beside her. Andrew Coleman was the picture of a perfect gentleman in a black suit, navy shirt, and matching tie. He reached down and grasped her damp fingers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He knew she was struggling with their decision to come to London, they'd talked in circles before buying the plane ticket. She'd ultimately decided on not going, but Andrew had insisted.
"I don't know what to say to
him," she murmured looking up from under her dark lashes. Water drops settling on her cheeks, as she pleaded with her husband for advice.
"It will come to you," he provided, giving her an encouraging smile. Andrew led her into the funeral home, politely opening the door for her, and taking her coat once inside. A swarm of people buzzed around the bare room. The neutral colors adding little comfort to the sudden feeling of loss she felt. Andrew ran his thumb over her cheek to dry the rain before leading the way into the next room. She was grateful for his presence, and grateful for his understanding as she scanned the crowded room for her friend.
Seated in the corner of the room just to the left right of the casket she saw his long frame seated in a chair. In his arms were two small girls, both with curly hair resting down their backs. Each buried their face in his shoulder. Harm kissed one's forehead and then the other before tilting his head back closing his eyes. Sarah looked up at her husband and gently let go of his hand, knowing he would understand. Slowly she made her way to him, willing him to open his eyes before she got to his side. As if on cue he lifted his head and made instant eye contact with her. Slowly he slid the girls off his lap and closed the distance between him. The hurt in his eyes was almost too much for her to bear, as she too moved toward him. If they were attracting attention, he didn't seem to notice. Without a word he wrapped her in his arms and held her to him. They embraced for a long while until he stepped back and looked at her.
"I've missed you," he breathed, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"I had to come," she told him, reaching up instinctively to brush away his tear.
"I feel like I should call out for Sandra…" he dropped off, looking down.
"Harm, I'm so..." Sarah began before he cut in.
"I want you to meet my girls," he told her, a small smile crossing his lips. He quickly turned and held his hand out to the small girls watching him. They scurried toward their father, glad to be close to him. "Isabelle, Emmaline, I want you to meet an old friend of Daddy's from America," he told him while kneeling to their level. "Mac these are my twins. Elle and Emma." The girls were shy and clung to their father without much of a sound. "I know they really shouldn't be here but Sandra doesn't have any family left and I didn't know what else to do," Harm shrugged, despair showing in his eyes once more. Mac eyed him closely before kneeling before the girls.
"Hi girls," She smiled at them, putting them at ease. "Want to know something really cool?" She asked them, her voice sounding more excited than she really was. The girls nodded quickly hanging on her every word. "I'm staying in a big hotel just down the road, they have the biggest pool I've ever seen, and hot tubs, and big beds to jump on. How would you like to come check it out while your daddy finishes up here?" The girls smiled up at their dad who looked at Mac with appreciation.