16. Henry
“That’s one hell of a lunch break, my friend! Thought I was going to have to get Adam involved in a search,” Juan joked after Henry returned to the shop. “Got scared maybe you left town. Decided to have lunch in Sioux Falls.”
“Don’t you have work to do? Didn’t John Lefferts bring his ancient Tahoe in for an oil change?” Deflection was the wisest course of action, Henry figured, not ready to share the latest development in his life.
“Don’t worry about the Tahoe. Already taken care of, and John is on his way to pick it up.
” Juan poured a cup of coffee he must have brewed while Henry was having lunch with Charlotte, then rooted around in the refrigerator for cream.
After pouring an amount large enough to cause concern from any medical professional, Juan shot him a sly grin.
“It’s amazing what we can accomplish in two hours.
” Juan brought his cup to his mouth. “Same could be said for you, I suppose.” Henry remained silent, turning his back to his friend to pour his own cup of coffee.
“Damn, this new blend is outstanding…is that coconut I’m getting… and maybe cherry?”
“I’m going for a Twin Bing kind of flavor, without the peanuts.”
“Mmm, good work, my friend, good work.” Juan sank into a chair before putting his feet on the edge of Henry’s desk. “So tell me about the lovely Charlotte.”
Blanching, Henry chose ignorance. “I don’t know what you mean. And get your filthy feet off my desk!”
His friend ignored him. “Don’t play dumb with me.
Aside from that son of yours, you’re the smartest man I know.
You could learn a few things from him about starting a relationship.
I mean, Josh was dating Effie before the ink was dry on her divorce papers, if memory serves.
Meanwhile, you’ve taken almost two damn years to ask that woman out on a date.
” Henry flushed, and Juan’s boots hit the ground.
“What the hell? Henry, did you finally ask her out?”
A knock drew the attention of both men. Liam smiled from the office doorway, but Henry could tell the smile didn’t reach his nephew’s eyes. “Am I interrupting a meeting of the minds in here?”
“Just trying to get some details out of your uncle about the long lunch he just had with a certain high school English teacher.”
“Uncle Henry, what?”
“And whether he asked her out for a date. He won’t say, but-”
“Are you going on a date with Charlotte?” Liam took a seat on the edge of Henry’s desk. “Spill.”
With a sigh, he admitted, “Yes, I have plans with Charlotte tonight.” Maybe the two of them would leave him in peace now.
“I must admit, I’m impressed. You finally took a chance!” Juan patted him on the shoulder.
Henry rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I’m still a coward. She asked me out.”
Liam whistled. “Wow, good for her! The Livingston charm remains alive in some of us, I guess.” Nobody responded, and an awkward pause cloaked the office.
Juan looked at his watch. “Well, John should be here for his truck soon, so I’ll leave you two to talk.”
“What’s going on, Liam?” Only six months older than Josh, the cousins had grown up more like brothers, in each other’s shadows their entire lives.
Head in his hands, Liam groaned. “It’s Lana.
” Liam’s mystery woman, the one he’d met by chance at a bar in New York City.
Not so much by chance after all, it turned out, since they’d both been there to meet Josh, a fact unknown to either of them until last year, when their connection had been revealed.
After discovering that Liam was the cousin of her former co-worker, Josh, Lana severed ties between them.
His nephew, the former king of casual relationships, hadn’t let her go so easily, though, and had sent her multiple texts daily.
His relentless pursuit had almost worked.
Until a fateful night last summer, on a beach in the Hamptons, when she had crushed his spirit, finally.
Henry didn’t know any details, but his nephew’s easy-going attitude had darkened severely since then.
“Have you heard from her?” Liam looked up at him, his blood-shot eyes filled with what could only be despair, and Henry was concerned with his appearance. Normally he was immaculate, from shaving to clothing to the amount of gel he used in his chestnut-colored hair, but today he was a mess.
“No. It’s over. She can’t forgive that I’m Josh’s cousin. Can’t look past the fact that she’s a surgeon, and I’m a two-bit car salesman. Why would she? And why should she?” Voice wavering, eyes glistening, Liam whispered, “She’s incredible, Henry, and I’m—”
“Hey, stop that!” He put an arm around his shaking shoulders.
“You have the biggest heart in the family, but you’ve always sold yourself short in everything that matters.
” His nephew had relied on his looks and charm to get him through life, and it had worked.
Until now, when the one thing he wanted, the love of Lana, was beyond his reach.
“Just look at how you’ve grown the dealership here in Beverley since you started managing it.
While teaching business classes at the community college, I might add.
And you’re assisting Effie with coaching the track team.
You’re loyal, with integrity and empathy. ”
“But I’ll never measure up to Josh, not in Lana’s eyes.” Liam looked at him through watery lashes. “You know she had feelings for him when they worked together?”
Henry hesitated, carefully choosing the words he wanted his nephew to hear.
“That wasn’t love, Liam. Sometimes our hearts mistakenly see love, when what we truly feel is friendship, duty…
companionship. Especially when the other person doesn’t feel the same.
Trust me, I should know. Only now am I—” He stopped himself from putting too much weight on his date with Charlotte.
“I’m sorry, Henry, I came in here wrapped up in my problems when you should be thinking about Charlotte. She’s phenomenal with her students, you know.”
“You know her?”
“Oh, yeah. Effie roped me into helping move sets around after track practice one day, so every once in a while I pop into one of her play practices to see if she needs anything.” Liam stretched and rose from his chair.
“Thanks for the pep talk. I can’t always talk to Mom and Dad about stuff like this, ya know?
Not when they’ve been married forever and still act like newlyweds. ”
Henry nodded, understanding all too well. “You’re okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll get over Lana someday. It helps that she’s not coming to Josh’s wedding, though. Couldn’t bear to see her again.” Liam poured himself a cup of coffee. “For the road,” he told Henry before sauntering out of the office.
“Make sure you bring the cup back this time!” Henry called after Liam.
Henry emptied the remains of the coffee pot into his own mug, glass clattering against ceramic. “All good in here?” Juan poked his head in. “Careful there, you’re getting coffee on the desk.”
“Why am I jittery? I was feeling fine until a minute ago; now I’m afraid I’m going to pass out.”
“Those are just signs that you’re invested in the outcome tonight.” Juan hung his freshly washed cup on the mug tree. “I’m sure you’re nervous.”
“I am,” he paused briefly. “I haven’t mentioned it, but Melanie has been calling again.”
“That woman cannot take a hint! She’s acting like you’re the one who left her! She was silent for twenty-five years, but now she can’t get enough of you? What is her damage?”
Henry shrugged. “I can’t help but have a sense of foreboding. You know, the first time Charlotte and I really connected, at the fair, I had spoken with Melanie that day. And there’ve been a couple of other times when it’s like she knows about Charlotte, she calls.”
“Well, don’t blame only Melanie. There’s been all that bullshit with DD, too, keeping you from pursuing Charlotte.”
“I know, I know. But I swear, everything with DD is tied up.”
“So no other incidents like her showing up here after hours with a bottle of wine?” Henry shook his head.
“Good. Just keep in mind that Charlotte is nothing like DD or Melanie. I don’t know DD that well, only talked to her probably once in the almost twenty years I’ve worked here.
But from the day I met Melanie, something told me that girl was going to be nothing but trouble.
She couldn’t tell the truth to save her life.
I didn’t say anything back then because we were kids.
Hell, my own family warned me not to marry Angie, but did I listen?
No. Our saving grace is that no kids came from that disaster. ”
“Josh is the only good thing—”
Juan raised his hands. “Not saying anything about your son. Josh is phenomenal. But leave your ex in the past. Leave DD in the past. Both women twist you up in knots, and not in a good way. Getting a second chance with Ashley was something I wasn’t sure I deserved, and I get down on my knees every day to show my gratitude to her.
You, without a doubt, deserve happiness.
Love. Peace.” Juan clamped his hand on Henry’s shoulder.
“Now, get the hell out of here. I’ll lock up. Go home and get ready for Charlotte.”
At home, Henry collapsed onto his bed. Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte, he groaned, her face drifting into his mind.
She’d been gorgeous this afternoon, her dark hair glinting with snow, the charming dimple in her cheek flashing when she smiled, her deep brown eyes sparkling behind her glasses.
Their pasts were so similar: each of them married right out of high school, each young parents, each divorced.
Juan was right: Charlotte was nothing like Melanie, no double talk or manipulation, wearing her expressions openly on her beautiful face.
At lunch with her, he lost track of time as they discussed books, TV shows, jigsaw puzzles, until Phil texted, threatening to send the sheriff out for him.