A couple of days before he was due to fly home, on a night when Ruth had gone to bed early and they'd shared another bottle of wine and far too many memories, Malcolm confessed to Harry that he was lonely.
'Sorry,' he stuttered, 'I know that it's against the rules, but Colin, my dear old Mum and our colleagues have been the sum total of my friends, and now with you and Ruth living so far away from London I have no one.
'Come on Malcolm, this isn't like you,' and Harry realised to his horror that it was, as Malcolm's eyes glazed over.
Above Harry's head and sleeping peacefully, was the one person that would have known what to say and he desperately tried to imagine what that was.
'Brian?' he suggested.
'A passing acquaintance nothing more, we all have those don't we,' Malcolm said sadly.
Needing time to think, before coming up with an answer that as yet he didn't have, Harry told him to sit tight, he was going to make coffee and that he wouldn't be a moment. He remembered as though it were yesterday, the knock on his door the evening after Ruth had sailed away on that dam awful tugboat, and Malcolm with a bottle of whisky in his hand had asked if he could come in. How before he'd drunk himself into a stupor, the only words that he'd managed during the course of the next hour were that was he was lost without her and didn't know how he was going to go on, and how Malcolm had supported him. His appointed guardian he had subsequently found out. Adam had sent him with explicit instructions to stay with him. Was that how Malcolm was feeling now, he had no idea, but he had to think of something and quickly? He made the coffee and walked back in, with the only thing he had.
'Come up early before the wedding, for a month if you'd like to Malcolm,' he pushed him, hoping that this was enough for now. 'The weather will be lovely by then, we can do some proper walking and the work on the house will be finished and as they say another pair of hands, come on Malcolm, Ruth will be thrilled if you say yes.'
'Thank you Harry, you're a good friend, I'd like that,' was said with no more than a nod.
It had been a private and in many ways a very intimate conversation between two friends, but as with everything now, when Ruth woke up the next morning Harry told her.
'But he's been so cheerful whilst he's been here, how could we not have noticed?' was her only question, both of them now equally worried about Malcolm.
'We've all acted a part Ruth as you well know and Malcolm was doing just that.'
'You're welcome sir and I hope that you and the future Mrs. Pearce will be very happy,' the planning officer told Harry, handing over the approved plans and making him wonder if there was anyone on the island that didn't know about what Rose had announced would be the first wedding in a decade. There were children in Ruth's class, several of whom were the same age as the rapidly growing Thomas, but then perhaps people didn't get married any more, Harry had no idea.
'Thanks,' he said, wanting to make a hasty retreat, shaking the small and bespectacled man's hand, 'we will be.'
Gary the son of the long since retired and Harry's firm friend Ron, had, tempted by the promise of a cash bonus if he could get the work finished before the end of April started work immediately and was working all hours god was offering to him, which now came with the promise that he'd be finished and out of their hair three weeks in advance.
Moving into what was left of the house that could only be described as marginally warm they were surviving, although for the previous two weeks when at night the temperature had dropped below zero, Thomas had been allowed on a temporary basis they'd explained, to move in with them. With Whisky in the bedroom as well, again on a temporary basis it hadn't been easy, although without the added bodily warmth, even Harry would have had to admit that they'd have had to beg beds elsewhere, and neither of them wanted that.
'There were three in a bed and the little one said, roll over, roll over. So they all rolled over and one fell out,' sang Ruth and Thomas giggling, as Harry muttered 'Not on your life,' and pretended to look grumpy, rather than admit, that had he been able to sing he'd have joined in.
The bed was wondrously large, something Harry that had remedied when he'd first arrived and not only because he was recovering from his injuries. The current sleeping arrangements did at least have fringe benefits, in that with Ruth sleeping in the middle and pressed up tight against him, he had the option should he so desire, to let his mind and his hands wander. Another advantage was that Thomas on the other side of Ruth was a heavy sleeper, so they were able to talk uninterrupted and unheard before they went to sleep.
'I have absolutely no idea sweetheart,' his latest endearment when it came to Ruth, was his response to her asking him if Malcolm had sounded any better when he'd called him earlier that evening, 'although with the list of jobs that Rose has apparently sent him, he certainly won't be bored.'
They were at a loss as to what to do, other than to offer him support as best they could and hope to god that he found a way to raise his spirits. No doubt if he asked Callum, then there would be a way for him to go back to work on a part time basis, but that was a decision for Malcolm, not him.
All things considered and despite the upheaval, they were happy. Harry was keeping himself busy by keeping an eye on proceedings, going with Gary to various suppliers to order and pay for the new kitchen that he and Ruth had chosen and to ensure that the bi fold doors that were going to be fitted across the back of the house and would overlook the garden, were as good if not better than they'd seen on line. Ruth, working her usual three mornings, still came home at mid-day so that they could share their lunch together and did the re run mid- afternoon, to collect the increasingly excited Thomas, eager to get home each day and cast an eagle eye over what had changed.
Much sooner than anticipated the main structural work was completed, the additional staircase, another of Brian's good ideas, that would take them up to their new bedroom and en-suite had been erected, and the new windows were being fitted.
Away from the chaos and in between offering occasional meals on wheels to what she presumed to be her freezing friends, Rose had been busy planning. The village had been mobilised and were ready to help in any way they could, to ensure that for anyone who attended the evening on the beach after the wedding, it would be a night to remember. The more the merrier, Harry and Rose had finally convinced Ruth. It would be dark and with more people, it would take the focus away from them.
As they headed into April and the temperature warmed up, weekends at least reverted to normal, as they left Gary and his fellow workers to their own devices and headed off for a family day. Sometimes it was as simple as a walk around the headland and sometimes just a drive in the car or a visit to Stornoway for a pizza, Thomas's meal of choice. But more often than not it was to the beach, just to be Harry called it, and today was one of those days.
'Are you sure you can you manage that?' Ruth fussed over a struggling Thomas, who insisted that he was practising for the wedding, by carrying a larger than was good for him haversack down the steps.
'I've been mobilised,' he told them in a voice that belied his young age, referring to a conversation that he'd had with Rory and Liam, causing Ruth to put her hands in front of her face and turn away for fear of laughing, after Harry had mouthed mobilised?
'That's nice darling,' she told him.
'Do you know what mobilised means?' Harry asked him, once they reached the beach and Ruth was pouring the coffee and searching for the biscuits.
'Of course I do,' he said in a confident voice, 'I'm going to be one of the helpers on the day before the wedding, so that you and Mummy can have some time on your own, Rose said so.'
With that one single word, the earth turned on its axis and Ruth's head with it.
'Ruth,' Harry screamed, racing across to grab the cup of scalding hot coffee that was splashing onto Ruth's feet as Thomas started to cry.
'Of course it's not your fault,' she said cuddling him, 'it was me being silly by not concentrating.'
It was April the 15th, only two and a half months until the appointed day, and another huge transition had been made.
Before that though, there were the not so small matters of getting the house straight before Malcolm arrived, waiting to hear from Graham that their flights had been booked and that the small terraced house in Stornoway that he and Lucy had rented for a month, to hopefully give them both enough time to attend job interviews, had been secured.
Erin according to several chats that they'd had with Catherine and Callum had been generous and given him a week's leave, drafting in Alec White as cover.
'Christ now we're in trouble,' had been Harry's response, when Callum told him.
And last but not least a trip to Stornoway, to collect the rings, to search for the new dress which Ruth had finally agreed she would wear, providing that it wasn't too figure hugging or eye catching. Whatever Ruth considered eye catching, Harry didn't know and he didn't care, he was finally going to marry Ruth. A new suit for him and clothes for Thomas and Alice, both of whom had essential roles to play on the day.
'Goodness me, you've grown,' Ruth told Alice, when Lucy had her standing on a chair and was relaying her measurements for the dress, during one of the calls that had continued from the moment that they'd got home.
'Look, I've grown my hair as well,' said Alice, attempting to do a twirl without toppling off the chair.
'It's beautiful,' Ruth told her.
Never a child that had lacked in confidence, a carbon copy of Catherine, if ever there was one Ruth thought, Alice asked her if she could speak to grandad.
'He's here darling, he's just coming,' was said to appease Harry as much as Alice. Harry had kept his distance during the measuring and hair discussion sessions, but had been hopping from one foot to the other, impatient to be involved.
These conversations always involved Ruth taking Thomas away from the computer and into the kitchen, for no other reason than for her to have stayed and watched would have felt like an intrusion. Since they'd come home, for all his bravado, Harry missed Alice more than he had ever admitted. Always bleary eyed, but with his still stubborn tendency keeping it under control, he sought her out almost as soon as he'd said his goodbyes. Ruth prayed, she really did, that Graham and Lucy would find a way to move back home, so that Harry would at least see one of his family on a regular basis, grow beyond infancy.
'Fine,' he told her as he always did, walking back into the new kitchen and squeezing her hand.
Of course you are, she thought. At least now though, they could go shopping.
'That one's lovely you look beautiful,' Harry suggested, when Ruth had tried on and rejected umpteenth dresses.
He'd chosen two suits, both grey, with blue shirts and silver grey ties and it had got to the stage where whichever he bought, had to match or at least compliment what Ruth was wearing.
Thomas had sat patiently watching, a large bag on the floor beside him, containing his first smart pair of long trousers and jacket and a blue waistcoat that matched Alice's dress. He was tired, he was hungry and he wanted the pizza that he'd been promised.
'I like that one as well,' he piped up as if to hurry up proceedings as the shop assistant smiled, falling short of saying well done, what a lovely little boy, as Harry handed over his debit card for the third time in the space of an afternoon, before they exited the shop with their parcels.
It was still early and the pizza parlour was reasonably quiet, so finding a table away from the other diners who were all in one corner proved easy.
'Why is it,' a now calmer Ruth commented, 'that people always feel the need to huddle together? It was the same when my mother and father took me camping when I was a small child. In a huge field where there was room for everyone to spread out, people used to pitch their tents next to complete strangers.'
'Can we go camping one day?' Thomas piped up.
As Harry contemplated an answer that didn't involve admitting that he was far too old to go camping, besides which he had a dodgy knee, he remembered what he'd told Malcolm. Thomas has to come first.
'If you'd really like to,' he heard himself saying, to Ruth's amazement and Thomas's joy.
'When's Alice arriving?' Thomas asked changing tack, having eaten his pizza far more quickly than was good for him, as their very observant waitress who had been hovering, arrived back at the table and asked them if Thomas wanted a pudding, only to be told by Ruth to give them a few moments.
'Uncle Malcolm's arriving first in just under two weeks,' Harry told him, 'and then Graham and Lucy with Alice and then Catherine, you do remember her don't you?' was a wake up call as to how much they still needed to do before the wedding, which included an important meeting with Michael to discuss the form of the service. Still at least they was home and dry as far as what they were going to wear, which included their rings that were tucked safely in the pocket of his jacket.
It was May 15th.
All Ruth's preconceived ideas about the wedding being a family only and quiet one, were blown like feather on the wind as they sat in front of Michael.
'It can still be very private,' Michael assured her, 'but the children love you,' he told her, looking earnestly into her eyes, 'they want to sing for you, they've been practising for ages.'
'But when?' referred to when had they practised, not at what point in the wedding did they intend singing?
'You only work three mornings,' explained it.
Harry was on pins, waiting for some sort of rejection to Michael's statement, rubbing his thumb in circles on the back of Ruth's hand in an attempt to relax her.
'So what you're saying,' she finally said, 'is that the family and our close friends can still sit at the front, but behind them will be the children with their parents. Nobody else, you promise?'
'I promise,' Michael told her, 'and no nasty surprises.'
Ruth turned as if expecting Harry to comment, and when he didn't she nodded.
'That's good,' Michael said, echoing Harry's thoughts, as they went on to discuss the music.
'I need you to choose two hymns and the music for when you walk down and back up the aisle, when it's all over,' Michael suggested grinning.
'Done and dusted,' Harry told him, producing a sheet of paper from his pocket with the music that they'd jointly chosen.
'Different, but relevant to you I presume and that's what's most important,' was Michael's reaction to what he read, going on to ask them about their last choice.
'Ode to Joy, Love Divine, Thine Forever God of Love and Stanley's Trumpet tune, in that order,' Harry told him, as Ruth went on to explain that having been in the choir for two years, she doubted that the ageing Mr Roberts the organist would be able to cope with the Mendleson Wedding March, without the congregation dissolving into laughter. 'Sorry,' she added.
'Don't be, it can be frightful at times can't it,' Michael said to her grinning broadly, as Harry said the he assumed that what the children were planning on singing wasn't any of those.
'Absolutely not, it's a song but that's all I'm going to say,' Michael told them continuing to smile, 'and now I'm afraid I have to give you the marriage is forever chat, it's compulsory, I'm sorry.'
Harry of course had heard it once before in the lead up to the day that he'd married Jane, after which when they were signing the register, he'd confessed what he did for a living. The start of the downhill spiral and his subsequent rejection, he was still sure about that.
But this was different and as contrasts went for Harry, was an ocean apart. Forget the past it couldn't be changed, the future was all that they had, he reminded himself of what he'd said to Malcolm. As he sat there in that quiet church listening to Michael's words, where in just over four weeks time he would commit himself to Ruth for the rest of his life, he smiled.
In the distance, the sound of children's laughter from the playground was the only thing that broke the silence. Everything that he had for so long dreamed of having were within touching distance, as he took a deep breath and squeezed Ruth's no longer trembling hand.