After what seemed a lifetime of trying to get Amber into her clothes for the day (she had kicked off her shoes, screamed when I'd put on her little coat, and pulled off her bobble hat every time I put it on), we were finally ready to go.
Amber was warm and secure in her buggy, happily chewing on her dummy while I checked I had everything. I had a bottle of formula, nappies and extra clothes, an extra dummy, three hats and a bib. I was set.
After putting my phone, keys and wallet in my pocket, I put on my jacket and pulled a beanie over my curls and opened the door, pushing Amber in her buggy outside. I locked the door behind me quickly and then we set off down the road towards the shopping center that was situated only five minutes from the house.
As I walked, I preyed to get everything done and quickly as possible and then get back home. Where I felt safe and where Amber was safe. I only needed a few groceries and Amber's essentials, I gathered that we could be done in an hour. But nothing ever went smoothly for me.
When we arrived at the indoor shopping center, the first thing I noticed was how busy it was. I know it was a saturday leading up to Christmas, but this was insane. I came around the side of the buggy and knelt down, lifting the bobble hat up onto Amber's head, from where it had slid down onto her eyes.
"There you are!" I laughed. I watched her for a moment and after making sure she was okay, I slowly stood and made my way through the hoards of people, making my way to the first of the shops on my list. If I had my way, I'd walk everywhere backwards just to know that Amber was always alright.
It's strange when you become a parent. You forget everything about yourself and the only thing that matters in the entire world the the little person you have in your arms. She was my everything and I proudly wore her name tattooed on my arm. Everything about her was fascinating, from the way she slept to the way she laughed and the way she always tried to eat my hair. She was perfect. Amber Lily Styles and she was mine.
I roamed the aisles in the trusty baby shop that I always came to for Amber's things. I had everything I needed but I still looked at everything. I loved all the little things they had for babies and I'm pretty sure Amber did too. She was in the process of grabbing a large box of dummies off the shelf when I leaped in front of her and caught them before they all fell onto her.
"No, sweetheart! You have yours, see-" I picked up hers from her lap and popped it into her mouth. She looked up at me oh-so-innocently through those green orbs, I couldn't resist. "Okay, just one!" I smiled at her, picking out a pink one with baby blue elephants on it, and adding it to my basket.
I wandered the shop for a little longer, buying things for Amber that she really didn't need before checking the time. It was getting late, I still needed groceries and the groaning and tiny little hiccups of crying from the buggy in front of me told me that Amber was getting tired and hungry.
I made my way to the checkout, paid for my things and left, heading for the second and last shop on my list before we could head home.
As we strolled towards it, I was hoping it was going to be fast and that I wouldn't have to queue for hours, but I was wrong. When we entered the shop, it seemed like the entire population of the town were in here, and buying ieverything./i I groaned and leant down again to Amber.
She was grumpy and now had two dummies sticking out her her little mouth. I brushed her cheek with my finger. "I know you're tired. We won't be long, baby." She made a little half cry noise and I knew that mean't 'Hurry up dad!' in Amber talk, so I listened.
I hurriedly made my way down the first aisle, throwing anything and everything into my basket. I couldn't remember what it was that we needed, but I just wanted to get out of here. Amber was definitely getting annoyed now and as I zoomed up the aisle packed out with people, I didn't see him as I rammed the buggy into his jean-clad, lower legs.
"Ow!" He yelped, bring up his ankle to smooth it with his hand.
Wide eyed, I gasped. "I'm sorry, man! I didn't see you and I was rushing and-"
He held a hand up in my direction and then turned to look at me finally. His blue eyes stared back at me and for a moment, I was taken back by their vibrance.
"Don't worry, happens all the time." He chuckled, his accent not that of the London area. Irish maybe? He put a hand through his short blonde hair and stepped to the side for me to pass.
"Thanks." I smiled shyly up at him through my fringe of curls. But as soon as I went to walk forward- away from the embarrassing moment before me-Amber let out an almighty scream. She was crying and it was louder then ever. I leapt to the front of the buggy and held her small face in between my fingers.
"Oh baby, I know you're tired and hungry. Daddy's being as quick as he can." I soothed her, brushing her tear-stained cheek with my thumb.
"Uh, is she… okay?"
I twisted my neck up to look and he was pecking around the buggy, a look of worry etched on his pale features. I nodded, standing and adjusting Amber's tiny little hat on her head. "She's just tired. It's been a long day." I told him.
He nodded for a second, looking down at my daughter in the buggy. He smiled and poked out his tongue at her, stopping her crying in an instant. I glanced back at him as he looked at me and shrugged with a smirk. "Must be good with kids, huh?" He laughed.
I grinned. "Yeah. Tell me your secret."
He smiled, looked to the floor and then back up again to stare into my eyes. I didn't feel uncomfortable, but I did feel slightly uneasy. Maybe it was way his eyes seemed to see right through me, into my head and see what I was thinking. I blinked at him a few times, expectantly and he blushed, suddenly.
"Sorry." He blurted, holding out his hand. "I'm Niall."
Sheepishly, I took his hand and gave it one, firm shake. "Harry-" I told him. I twisted around to look at my daughter, who was now happily staring at the blonde in front of me. "-And this is Amber."
"Hi, Amber!" Niall said, poking his tongue out again. She screeched a laugh, and clapped her hands together. She liked him.
I felt the back of my ankles being shoved with a trolley for the third time now and I realized that we were stood in the middle of a busy aisle. I cleared my throat and pulled the buggy towards me, straightening the wheels out, ready for our exit.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, man." I smiled at him, as he nodded enthusiastically.
"You too. Bye Amber!" He chuckled, bending down to wave at her. He stood up straight again and gave me one last smile before, I mumbled a 'Goodbye' and left the aisle.
I smiled as we made our way to the checkouts. It was nice meeting someone who didn't judge me from a first glance and for once that day, I actually felt more relaxed then I had in a while. I really was envious of him for making Amber calm down so quickly. I wish I had that power.
After I had loaded all our shopping onto the till, I kneeled down to Amber, her bright green eyes looking back at me happily. I laughed, touching the tip of her nose with my finger gently. "Make friends where ever you go, don't you baby?"
After I'd payed for our things-with a smile permanently on my face- I left the store, struggling with around 5 bags of shopping, whilst pushing Amber through the crowds of the shopping center. I finally breathed out a sigh of relief when we stepped out into the car park, away from the hustle and bustle of inside. Amber was still as calm as a summer's night and I was thankful. Thankful to him. To Niall.
The air was bitter as we walked through the now emptying parking spaces, so I pulled Amber's coat up around her chin and secured her hat in place. I would make the walk home as quick as possible so that'd we'd be home and warm.
As I walked through the car park, a voice called out for me. "Harry!"
I turned around quickly to see and there he was. Running towards me waving his arm above his head. I stopped walked and waited for him to catch up with me.
"Damn, you walk fast! I've been calling you for ages!" He gasped, doubled over with his hands on his knees, gasping for air.
I blushed. "Sorry. Are you alright?" I asked, watching him still try to regain his breathing.
He nodded, standing to his full height slowly and running a hand through his hair, the same way he had earlier in the store.
"I'm fine-" He waved me off. "Are you walking?"
I was taken a-back. Why would he want to know that? Either way, I nodded, turning to point to the route I would be taking to get back home. "I don't live far, about 5 minutes away." I told him.
He shook his head a little. "Come on. I'll give you a lift."
"No, you really don't have to-"
"Please? It's way too cold out here for you and Amber and by the looks of things-" He nodded down to my bags that were almost as breaking point. "-you're bags ain't going to last much longer." He gave me a gentle smile.
I nodded slowly, a grin creeping its way onto my features. "Okay, sure. Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He beamed, dipping down to the Buggy and pulling the tongue face at Amber again. "Come on, my cars over here." Before he began to walk towards his car, he unhooked the bags from the buggy and looped them over his arms, looking back at me.
"Lead the way." I said, as the now happier, Irish boy in front of me turned on his heel and led us through the park to his small, silver car.
It was a struggle getting the buggy down to put into the boot of the car, and even more of a struggle trying to fit my shopping into the back seat, but we'd done it and we were now on our way home. Amber was curled up on my chest, dozing slightly as the low hum of the car soothed her to sleep.
"Thanks again." I said, when Niall had stopped at some traffic lights.
"Don't mention it." He told me, not taking his eyes off the road.
I snuck a look at him as he concentrated. His brow furrowed slightly and as he squinted, crinkles of skin formed by his eyes. His blonde hair was styled perfectly, he was dressed even better.
When the traffic lights changed, and Niall pulled off, I turned away, realizing I was staring and looked down to Amber in my arms. She was now fully asleep and I knew that when we got home, I could put her down for a nap and steal some time for myself.
"It's up here, right?" He said suddenly, pointing towards the little street on his left.
I nodded. "Yep, just up here. The one with the red door. " I told him as he turned into the street and stopped directly outside my house.
"Thank y-"
"Stop saying thank you!" He laughed. "Jeez, it's as if no-ones ever done anything nice for you before."
My smile faltered slightly, and he noticed. "Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
I brushed it off, fixing a smile onto my face. "You didn't, don't worry. It's just-" I couldn't stop the words falling out of my mouth. "It's been a rough few weeks."
Niall nodded, glancing down to Amber. "Out for the count!" He chuckled, tilting his head the side, watching her as she slept.
"Yeah and that means an hour of peace for me." I laughed back. "I should really get her to bed."
"Sure." Niall nodded, opening his door. "I'll help you with your stuff." I watched him as he clambered out of the car and closed the door behind him. He was a nice guy. A really nice guy.
I got out too, with Amber still sleeping fast in my arms and made my way to the door. I managed to pull my keys from my pocket and unlock the door as quietly as I could, before stepping in. I turned to see Niall standing behind me with my shopping bags hanging from his hands.
"Come in. Just put everything in the kitchen and I'll be back in a second." I told him, giving him a quick smile before I went to the stairs.
I took Amber upstairs swiftly and put her gently into her cot. Like I did every time I put her down to sleep, I kissed both her cheeks and then her forehead before whispering that I love her. After making sure she was alright and sleeping soundly, I turned on her night-light, and her baby monitor and left the room.
When I reached the kitchen, Niall was humming to himself, taking my shopping from the bags and placing everything onto the counter.
If this was any one else, I would have been mad. I would have been livid to see someone going through my things and messing around in my kitchen. But I wasn't. I was thankful.
He suddenly turned to me and stepped back from the counter, his hands behind his back. He resembled a little boy who'd just got caught doing something he shouldn't and it made me giggle.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have- It's just habit. It's what I do in my house so- I'm sorry."
"Don't be-" I smiled at him, and stepped towards the counter. "-You've just saved me a job." I told him.
He gave me a relieved smile and then walked towards the kitchen door. "So, you're okay here?" He motioned towards the shopping that took up the whole of my counter.
I watched him as he spoke. Soft words leaving his mouth and the little red patches on his pale cheeks from his blush. He stood awkwardly in the doorway, and before I knew it I was speaking.
"I could do with some help, if you-"
"Sure." He answered quickly, stepping back into the kitchen and picking up a huge tub of baby formula. He looked at it puzzled and then looked back up at me, twirling it around in his hands. "So, where does this go?"
I wasn't sure why I asked him to stay. Nor was I sure why he made me smile so easily, when it seemed like my entire life was worthless only a few hours ago. All I knew was that I liked Niall already.
Now, my next question was, do I ask him to stay for a coffee?