Theirs: a short story [harry styles] ✓ - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

26th December 2016 - The Big Day
"Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce to you the bride and groom - Mr and Mrs Horan."
I watched through a blurred pool of tears as my beautiful best friend bounded into the room, her fingers interlocked with the man of her dreams at her side. They both beamed, oozing with a happiness and satisfaction I don't think either of us could have ever imagined. Harry's arm tightened around my waist as Nola sat on his hip, fiddling with her tiny basket of flowers.
The ceremony had gone without a hitch. There were no cold feet or objections. No-one was late. Louis and Zayn hugged on arrival. Even I had managed not to trip over my dress, despite Harry's very distracting hungry gaze the whole way down the aisle. Niall had burst into tears the moment Elenore had appeared, hand tightly clutching mine, and I'd never felt more emotional as I'd stepped to the side and observed them begin the new chapter of their life together.
Guests swarmed in on them like vultures but Elenore's high pitched laugh still managed to ring through the frantic buzzing. Harry's lips pressed gently against the side of my head before doing the same to Nola's.
"If I can please ask everyone to take a seat." Niall's father announced and the crowd that had formed around them quickly dispersed to their assigned tables.
Nola was passed off to Anne and Robin who sat with Gemma, her boyfriend and the rest of the One Direction family members, whilst Harry and I made our way to the top table. It felt strange, sat in front of all these familiar and unfamiliar faces, especially as I was the only one representing Elenore's family. She sat beside me, practically bouncing with excitement in her seat, whilst Harry sat further down sandwiched between Louis and Greg.
Niall stood up, kissed Elenore's hand, and turned his attention of the guests seated in front of us. "Hello everyone!" He announced nervously and few chuckles sounded in the room. "Firstly, on behalf of myself and my wife," A cheer erupted and Niall blushed. "Let me just say a huge thank you to each and every one of you who made the effort to celebrate this special day with us. Especially to those of you who do not live locally." There was another cheer and few raised pints of Guinness from a table of Irish family members before he continued. "It's been a whirlwind of a year, what with getting engaged only eleven months ago. But when I knew I wanted Elenore to be my wife, I wanted her to be my wife as soon as possible."
A few droplets of water spattered onto the cream tablecloth in front of me and I swiped frantically at my eyes, careful not to ruin the intricate makeup on my eyelids. Elenore curled a hand around one of my own, not taking her eyes off of her husband. She watched him in awe and my heart swelled. If anyone deserved this, it was Elenore. I felt angry that her parents had never given her a chance. Angry that they'd never see her on this day, positively glowing. I'd never felt prouder to call myself her best friend.
"I first met Elenore when another little lady stumbled into my life." Niall's eyes drifted over to where Nola sat perched on her grandmother's lap. She looked ridiculously adorable in the dress that Elenore had chosen. Anne whispered something in her ear and pointed up at Niall. "So I've got to say, Harry," he turned to my boyfriend on his right hand side. "Thank you so much for knocking Marnie up."
The entire room exploded into laughter. My cheeks flushed furiously and I tried to bury my face in my free hand but Elenore forced it away, grinning at me proudly as if I'd just won an award. Niall nodded at me, his expression just as amused, before turning back to everyone else.
"Anyway!" he chuckled. "Elenore will agree with me when I say our relationship has been an experience, but baby," he turned to her, extending his hand. I released mine from her grasp and she accepted his eagerly. "This is an experience I never want to come to an end."
Elenore's eyes filled with tears and I watched through my own as she bit down on her lower lip.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, if I can ask you all to raise a glass to my beautiful, beautiful wife - Elenore Horan."
Everyone grappled for their champagne flutes and raised them into the air before repeating Elenore's name. She blushed profusely from beside me before downing the entirety of her own glass.
"And now, I'll hand you over to Elenore herself." He kissed his wife on the cheek as he took his seat and she replaced him, standing at the head of the table looking more vibrant and confident than I'd ever seen her.
"Thank you, everyone." She smiled, eyes still watery. "I think Niall nailed it with his speech but I'd really like to say a few words of my own." She licked her lips and clutched her hands in front of her. "Some of you may know that I wasn't raised by my parents. In fact, I don't even know who they are. My mother decided not to be a part of my life when I was only a few hours old and I'm not sure my father ever had a part in it anyway." The room blanketed in silence and I sat with baited breath as she shared the story that only a select few of us knew the full details of. "I met Marnie Owens at school. She was a bit of dork to be honest," she winked at me and I heard Harry's deep laugh. "But she was my dork. And Marnie showed me that family are not always the people related to you by blood. So, when Marnie found herself in a bit of a predicament, we ended up as best friends, flatmates and parents to little miss Nola over there." I smiled up at her, willing myself to hold it together. "And let me assure you, I didn't even need to spare a thought on my mother and father when I could have a family like that. And thanks to Marnie, my family has gotten even bigger." She gestured to the entire room and was met by a wave of applause. "But Marnie," she turned towards me sounding as though her words had gotten caught in her throat. "I don't think I will ever be able to show how grateful I am to you or how much I love you and Nola. I could never have wanted anyone else to walk me down the aisle today, or anyone else sat beside me up here. I love you to the moon and back and you deserve the absolute world."
It was only when a handful of tissues were thrust under my nose by Niall's mother that I realised I was sobbing. I accepted them gratefully and dabbed at my eyes again. My makeup was one hundred percent screwed.
"So if everyone can please raise a glass to my best friend, my family - Marnie."
I cringed as my name rang through the room, grateful when Elenore suddenly enveloped my a hug. "I love you too." I mumbled against her. "I'm so happy for you."
We pulled back and laughed at the state of one another, red and blotchy with tear streaks running through our makeup. No one in the room would ever truly understand our achievement. We made it. We defied all the odds stacked against us, and we made it.
The reception kicked into full swing. Nola was passed from table to table; curls ruffled repeatedly and spoon fed at least one mouthful of every single guest's dessert. Even Zayn and Gigi spent time with her on their lap.
The room was a sea of cream and gold and glitter; the tables scattered with gold-leaf confetti and the chairs adorned with gold stain ribbons. Each guest had been gifted a souvenir bottle of bubbles, imprinted with the date and the names of the bride and groom and a vase of gold spray-painted roses sat in the middle of every table. Elenore had certainly achieved her fairy tale wedding.
I waltzed around the dance floor with Niall while Elenore had her obligatory dance with every male member of his family. "We really are grateful to you, Marnie." He smiled as he span me around in a circle to their very own Best Song Ever.
"I know, Niall." I told him and squeezed his arm reassuringly. "I love you both."
Harry appeared at his side and Niall span me into his arms instead before disappearing off to retrieve his wife. "Hi." I breathed and drank in the appearance of Harry in a fitted three-piece suit.
"Hi." He smiled and curled his arms around me. "Fancy taking a walk with me?"
I scanned the room for our daughter who seemed to have finally come down from her sugar high and had passed out against Gemma's chest. I slipped my hand into Harry's and nodded. "Sure."
He led me out of the reception, across the marbled floor of the entryway and out into the courtyard. My ivory heels crunched against the gravel as Harry pulled me along beside him. Elenore and Niall had chosen the most breathtaking country house, complete with acres of beautifully kept grounds. At night, with the paths decorated with tealights, if at all possible it looked even more stunning.
We walked hand in hand, burning with the adrenaline of the day, despite the winter chill in the air. Neither of us spoke, too wrapped up in our surroundings and each other. I turned to Harry but he stared straight ahead, eyes focused on something I couldn't make out myself.
"Didn't they do well?" I said eventually, breaking the silence. Harry's lips twitched and he squeezed my hand a little tighter.
"Walk up there a little further, I want to take a photo of you with the grounds behind you." He released my hand and my cheeks flushed.
"Why?" I giggled, suddenly feeling incredibly self-conscious.
"Because I don't think you realise how beautiful you look right now." Harry said quietly, reaching for his phone in the pocket of his suit jacket. My cheeks burned scarlet but I obliged and hurried forward as he'd instructed.
When I turned back to face him, I gasped.
Harry was no longer standing before me, in fact he was no longer standing at all. Instead, he was knelt down in the gravel, one knee beneath him and the other bent forward. His hands shook; outstretched in front of him and firmly enclosed around a small item. I stepped forward, heart pounding furiously under my rib cage and mouth dry.
"Harry." I breathed but it was barely a whisper, barely audible.
"I love you." He said suddenly, his voice cracking. "Marnie, we've come a long way since that day in the alley." He licked his lips. "Back then, I told you I wanted you to date me, to live with me, to sleep with me. I told you I wanted the three of us to live together, as a family."
My blood pounded in my ears and I clutched my hands firmly in front of me, wide eyed and trying desperately not to focus too much on the shimmer seated in the centre of the velvet box in his hands.
"Today, Marnie Owens, I'm telling you that I want you to marry me."
It felt like the world had stopped. Harry blurred in front of me and it was only when the tears hit the gravel at my feet, did I realise that I was crying again. And nodding. Frantically, like one of those ridiculous dashboard dogs.
"You're the strongest women I have ever met. You gave me the most precious thing in my life - our daughter. And I don't want to spend a single day of the rest of my life without you in it, by my side. As my wife."
I didn't need to hear any more. It was a yes the moment he'd dropped on one knee. It was always going to have been a yes.
I threw myself forward and launched my arms around his neck. "Yes." I sobbed. "Yes, of course."
Harry clutched me to him before pulling us both upright and spinning me around in a dizzying circle. I cried with delight as he settled me back on my feet, and watched in awe as he slid the simple diamond band over my finger. It felt like the final piece of the jigsaw.
"Forever." He breathed, gazing at me with a fierce determination.
I bit my lip and nodded. "Forever."