Epilogue 1
Harry
It had been almost three months since Dom and I had actually started our relationship.
Having sex was just the first step; opening up to each other was the harder part, but I felt like we were making progress.
I still hurt, things were shaky at times, but I believed he loved me in the way that he smiled when he saw me, and how he took care of me - even more than before.
He was there for every party, every dinner, every part of my life. I wished I could return the favour as he dealt with his family, but he kept assuring me it was fine.
And we had a mission now. It wasn’t just about us. We had something bigger that was taking up all our attention.
Twin giggles burst from the table across from us as Dom's sisters chattered away with Jazz. Dom wouldn't tell me how he had managed to get custody of them after being repeatedly rejected by the official channels for years, but I suspected Grace and his coworkers were involved.
The whole family had gathered for an evening meal, and Mum had allowed Tammy and Janie to attend. Both of them exploded into squeals when we told them Jazz was filming in London and would be able to come.
Cat had left Keiran and Bella, the newest addition to the family, with Max for the night, and she sat next to Grace on our left. She should still be resting, but she insisted on coming because Dom had told her there would be drama.
Dad and Mum took up the other end of the table. Dom clutched my hand beneath the white tablecloth, the starter course forgotten as he looked down at me.
“Hey, listen, we’ve got something to tell you all,” he said out of nowhere.
I jumped in my seat, nerves bolting through me. I thought we were going to wait until after dinner when we were in the lounge and everyone, including myself, had had a few more drinks.
He wound his fingers through mine, lifting it up above the table, kissing the back of my hand, and laughing at my concerned expression. “Do you want to tell them, handsome?”
My eyes widened and he beamed, keeping that gorgeous smile fixed on me. But I'd lost my voice.
There had been mixed reactions when I told them I'd broken up with Molly, but I obviously never recounted the full story.
“So, Harry and I had some time to figure things out.” Dom’s gaze softened as he leaned back in his chair. “And I love him, and I suspect that he loves me too.”
I thought he was looking at me to confirm, but I was frozen. I kept trying to summon the me that could challenge anyone I needed to, my ‘business’ face, but Dom unhinged me.
Jazz let out a shout and shot out of her seat, her silver hair flying everywhere.
“Oh, my God! Are you serious!? Like, actually serious? Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Harry! This is amazing!” she squealed as she ran around the table and hugged us both from behind, shouting in our ears.
“This is literally the best thing I have ever heard. You guys are so amazing, holy shit. I was waiting for this to happen, you know? Like, I was sure… oh, my God.”
Jazz came out very publicly when she was younger, so we knew for sure we'd have her support.
Jazz pulled us closer, rubbing her cheeks against us both before releasing us and jumping up and down.
Cat was grinning at us, and Grace had a small smirk, and the twins went silent.
I was confident all my sisters would support us, but telling Mum and Dad was the main hurdle.
The only people who really knew were Dom's sisters.
I looked to Dad, who gave me a firm nod, which was a surprise, considering how old-fashioned he was. He was the main reason I said to Dom that I didn't suddenly want to tell everyone we were together. That, and I wanted some breathing room after breaking up with Molly.
Dad was the one I was most worried about, and the second was…
Jazz flung herself back into her seat. She was still bouncing around, asking the twins if they had known, so excited and full of happiness for both of us.
The eight of us looked at her, looming over the candelabra in the centre of the table. Her eyes had glazed over, lost in her own thoughts.
She steepled her fingers on the white tablecloth, her back straight, her gaze snapping to us.
“Well, this… this is just marvellous,” she said.
I had hoped she said that because she was happy or proud to hear our confession, but she ruined it.
“Not even Lydia Deveroux has two gay children, and she has five.”
Silence blanketed the room, all excitement and joy drained in an instant from that simple statement.
I could see the cogs whirring in her mind.
“We’ll have to have an announcement party, of course.
We can bring in the press and arrange for photographers.
Obviously, we’ll have to have a theme. Pride flags will be the best, naturally, but we can invite members of the board, the trustees, advocates…
This is just fantastic.” She shook her head, breathing out a sigh.
“Jasmine is right, this really is the best news I have heard all year. Of course, the venue is still booked. I didn’t cancel it after your little breakup with Molly, and clearly that was the right thing.
We can easily change the names on the invites and—”
Her planning was cut short by Jazz slamming her glass down on the table, the thunk echoing off the walls. “Mum,” she snapped. “Stop.”
“What?” Mum said coldly, tilting her chin.
We knew what was coming. Grace had already pulled herself back from the table.
Cat was glaring at Mum, Dad’s face was disapproving, and Dom had that light in his eyes that came about every time there was a major argument brewing.
I wanted him to be as annoyed as I was, but we had discussed how my family might act.
“This isn’t about you.” Jazz said to Mum.
“What are you talking about, Jasmine?" Mum had the good grace to actually look startled. "Of course not. It’s about Harry and Dom.” But she was gleaming. We could all see she was already plotting how she could milk our relationship for all it was worth. I knew she would find some way to benefit from it, but I didn’t think she would be so blatant about her plans.
“No," Jazz growled. "You are making it about yourself. Again.”
Mum’s face twisted into a scowl as she looked at Jazz from across the table. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to have Jazz sitting so close to Mum. I’d hoped the candelabra would have been a good buffer, but now there was a chance it could be ammunition.
“Jasmine, I believe you are making it about yourself by raising your voice and using that tone.”
Jazz lifted her hand, rubbing the bridge of her nose before sighing. “Jesus Christ.”
The girl’s eyes flicked between Jazz and Mum with the exact same look as Dom as they enjoyed the show. I was more worried Jazz and Mum would devolve into shouting for shouting's sake and scare them.
Dom grinned down at me and I returned it, both annoyed and happy he had gone for it so quickly.
“I hate you.” I pursed my lips.
“No, you don’t,” he said, his gaze growing hot again.
“I will not have that kind of language at the table either.” Mum scowled. “This is an important announcement, and we will present it as we always do with matters such as this: as a family. As proud Fischers who support their son and brother.”
Dad gently leaned forward, sliding the gin glass away from Mum. Mum loved how shattering things got her a lot more attention than simply kicking up a fuss, and had made a habit of it every time there was an argument with Jazz or Cat.
“For fuck’s sake!” Jazz shouted. “That’s not how this works!
” She lowered her voice as Dom's sisters flinched. “Sorry, guys,” she murmured. “But, Mum, come on, this is a super huge thing for Harry, and for Dom. After everything he’s been through, you just want to go ahead and throw a party and announce his sexuality as, what? A marketing campaign?”
Dom kept clutching my hand, slipping down to rest on my thigh. We knew best to ride these things out. But I loved that Jazz was defending us. I was expecting to be the one to shoot Mum down, but I should have guessed. Any excuse for an argument, and Mum and Jazz were there.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Mum lifted her nose up at Jazz, but it was so obvious that was exactly what she was thinking.
Dom was shaking, barely able to hold back his laughter. It was a lot easier for him; he didn’t have to carry the family name around like a brand on his skin. But something else we discussed was how to keep his sisters safe from the media.
“It’s Harry’s choice! He doesn’t have to come out with an image campaign just because you want to get one up on Lydia fucking Deveroux!”
Though Dom had slightly uprooted my choice by bringing it up while we were still hungry. Yet again the cooks had to awkwardly hold back the food until the argument ended.
“Jasmine, you are being incredibly rude,” Mum said, as if Jazz was at fault.
“I’m being rude!? I’m being fucking rude, Mum?
You never even gave me a chance to figure out who I was before you were parading me around like some golden child.
My first girlfriend dumped me because you were so fucking up yourself you didn’t see that maybe - just maybe - I wanted to be left alone! ”
At least the attention was being deflected from us. But Tammie and Janie were already looking uncomfortable, and we needed to stop Jazz before she rattled them too much.
“I thought you weren't going to make it about yourself.” Mum raised a sculpted eyebrow, looking down at her.
I was about to step in and say something, possibly move Jazz away from the twins, but she jumped up from the table.