The following day, Mallory stood in front of the mirror, examining her reflection as she buttoned up her blouse. She was filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety about meeting Harris. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing him again, but she couldn't shake the fear that he would somehow discover the truth about Harriet.
"Okay, Mallory, pull yourself together," she muttered to her reflection. "Remember, this is just a casual catch-up that will lead to closure between you and Harris."
"Mommy?" Harriet's voice floated into the room, accompanied by the patter of her tiny footsteps. "What are you doing?"
"Just getting ready for the day, sweetheart," Mallory replied, forcing a smile. She turned to see Harriet clutching her favorite stuffed bunny, her wide blue eyes filled with curiosity.
"Are you going to meet your friend today?" Harriet asked innocently.
"Yes, I am," Mallory confirmed, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's just a friendly meeting, nothing more."
"Can I come too?" Harriet inquired hopefully.
"Maybe next time, okay?" Mallory suggested, crouching down to meet Harriet's gaze. "I promise we'll do something fun together later."
"Okay," Harriet agreed, her disappointment evident in her furrowed brow.
Mallory hugged her daughter tightly, her heart aching with her child's longing for a father figure. She knew that meeting Harris could potentially bring even more complications into their lives, but she also couldn't deny the possibility that they needed closure.
But more than the fear of Harris finding out about Harriet, she was unsure if she could trust herself about her own feelings. Hearing Harris's voice still affected her when they talked on the phone.
For the past 5 years, she hasn't taken any man seriously despite multiple men trying to win her heart while in St. David. Was it because she still loves Harris? Or was the fear of making another mistake? The void Harris left in her heart is yet to be filled. Probably Harris couldn't fill it any longer, but there was a place in her heart excited to meet and see him again.
Her anticipation grew on her way to the coffee shop until, finally, it was time to face the man who had been her whole world for a short period and now threatened to upend it all over again.
Meanwhile, Harris nervously drummed his fingers on the chipped wooden table while waiting for Mallory to arrive. The familiar aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and sweet pastries did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. He didn't know how Jane convinced Mallory to meet him, but that didn't matter to him now. He only wants to see her.
He saw Mallory approaching from the street, her long dark chestnut hair swaying in the breeze. She looked like a goddess or an angel came to life, and his heart ached with longing. She looked as beautiful as ever — to him, Mallory was still more beautiful than anyone else.
"Hi," Mallory said, pulling a chair across from him. She folded her hands on the table, her expression guarded.
Harris took a deep breath, his palms sweating. "Thank you for coming. Is there something you want? I have a cappuccino."
"I'll have espresso, please," Mallory said to the waiter who came to get her order. She felt she needed the espresso to wake her up.
"What do you want, Harris?" Mallory asked, her eyes searching his face.
"I want to talk to you properly. Know how you are after 5 years of not seeing each other. I badly want to see you close like this," Harris had the urge to touch Nally's hand, but he stopped himself. He doesn't want to appear disrespectful and wants to gain Mallory's trust again.
"Harris, isn't it strange that you want that? We are from different worlds, and I think we should refrain from having any connection," Mallory said, but she didn't believe her own words.
"Baby, everything I said to you 5 years ago was true. I love you, and I still do," Harris said. His eyes pleading as he looked at Mallory, which twitched Mallory's heart.
"Why, Mally? Why did you leave without a word?"
"Harris, you lied to me. You hide your identity and made me look like a fool. Remember?"
"Mally, it's not what you think it is. It's complicated, but I wanted to tell you everything. Believe me, I was trying to find the right timing," Harris' voice cracked with the weight of years' worth of bottled emotions.
Mallory held her tears, her hands shaking as she clutched her cup. "I found out about your engagement to Nicole Harris. I couldn't bear the thought of being dumped by you. I'd rather save my dignity than have you reject me the next morning you see me."
"Is that what you thought?" Harris asked incredulously. "Did you ever think to ask me about it? To hear my side of the story?"
"Would it have mattered?" Mallory countered, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're still engaged to her, aren't you?"
"Things aren't always what they seem, Mally," Harris replied, frustration seeping into his words. His mind raced, searching for a way to express the complexity of his situation with Nicole. "You have no idea how trapped I've felt and how much I missed you."
"Then why are you still with her after all these years?" Mallory challenged, her voice gaining strength.
"It's an arranged engagement, and I'm working on ending it as soon as possible. If I truly loved Nicole, our engagement wouldn't last 5 years. I can marry her in a heartbeat but no. My heart still beats for you, Baby."
"Don't call me baby, Harris," Mallory said, her voice brittle. "Nicole, she is suited for you. She came from a wealthy family, raised well, beautiful and attractive, well-educated, and mostly a good businesswoman like you." It tasted bitter to say those words to Harris, but Mallory knew it was right to say them. She knew 5 years ago there was no future for them.
"I don't care. Those things don't matter to me. Please, Mallory," Harris pleaded, reaching across the table to take her trembling hand. "Tell me. That night, did you mean everything you said? I remember everything I heard from you that night and know what I saw."
"What?"
"A woman who was indeed in love. What we had was real, and it is still real. I still love you, Mallory. The memories we had that night are what keeps me going. Mallory, let's start again," Harris said, pleading.
She looked down, unable to meet Harris's gaze any longer. "I can't, Harris... not after everything that's happened."
"We can make it work. You and me," he said with conviction.
"Will you trade everything you have for me?" She asked, meeting Harris's gaze.
Harris was silent, realizing Mallory was right. She had a point, and it's one thing keeping him awake at night besides dreaming of having Mallory by his side. If only he was not Harris Thompson, it would be easier to be with Mallory.
Mallory snorted after a short pause. "It doesn't matter anyway. I am here to have closure with you, Harris. I wish you and Nicole a prosperous married life in the future," she said calmly, even if it hurt her so badly.
"No. I only see my future with you, Mally. Give me a chance to prove myself. To show you I'm not the man you think I am. Even now that you have a daughter, I still want to be with you."
Mallory's eyes widened. "How did you –" she stammered. "No."