47. Henry and Charlotte
Vanilla and jasmine hit Henry the moment Charlotte opened her door, every fantasy he’d ever had, but more than that, her wit, tender heart, and creative mind made her a beautiful reality.
She wore the dress from their first date, the one that made her eyes shine like melted chocolate, exposing smooth shoulders blushing pink, and he wanted to crawl across the threshold and beg her forgiveness—forgiveness he wasn’t sure he deserved.
“Henry…” With what could only be his heart in his eyes, Charlotte’s knees threatened to buckle beneath her. Uneasiness overtook her resolve to make things better with him, because what if he had decided against a future for them, despite his appearance at her house?
Not sure where or how to begin, he relaxed slightly as she smiled, but not completely, because there was no sign of the dimples he loved so much.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, but he crushed her to him before she could finish.
Trembling fingers twisted into her hair, and bobby pins fell at her feet.
His mouth ravaged hers, and they drank from each other, swallowing their mutual heartache.
Breaking away, she held him at arm’s length to ensure he understood her sorrow, her regret for causing him pain. “I never meant to hurt you. I shouldn’t—”
“You never hurt me, Charlotte…I’m the only one who should be sorry. I’m the one who is sorry. I should never have left you. I have no excuses—” his voice broke from need, from relief, from love.
Tears slanting down her cheeks, relief flooded her core. “No, please, I shouldn’t have said anything. I was jealous and petty.”
“Never.” His thumbs whisked her tears away, and he hated to have been the one to cause them. “You were right, about everything. I just didn’t want to face my part in why Melanie left.”
“You didn’t deserve any of the pain I caused you—”
“You? Cause me pain?” Shaking his head, he was at a loss as to how she believed she had been the one to cause him any pain.
“Never. All you have done, from the moment I met you, is support me. You bring beauty and joy into my world, and last night, when it felt like my world was falling apart, only thinking of you helped me hold it together.” They were standing just inside the doorway to the house, and the front door closed softly behind him.
“I was on my way to you. I was on my way to the brunch to tell you…” Taking a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage she had in the world, she paused for a moment, and then watched uncertainty cloud his summer-sky eyes, something she never wanted to see again, so she rushed on, “I love you, Henry.” Smiling into his stunned face, she repeated, “I love you. I was coming to tell you that from the very first time I saw you, some part of you has been calling to me.” Kissing his fingertips, she wanted to assure him.
“It’s okay if you’re not there yet, if you need time.
I’ll give you time, space, whatever. I’ll wait for you, Henry Livingston.
” Finally, she could be the first woman, the only woman, to prove to this man that he was worth taking a chance on.
That he was worth the first declaration of love.
Trembling as his wits finally caught up with him, he lifted her off her feet, swirling her in a wide circle in her living room, while “Bell Bottom Blues” played in her living room, and it spoke to Henry’s yearning for one more chance.
Years since he had experienced such abundant bliss, he longed to carry her around town, informing everyone they came into contact with that he was in love.
He supposed, however, that he should tell Charlotte first. He slid her down his body, and as he clasped her hands in his, he looked deep into her eyes.
“I love you, Charlotte Berg. I was an idiot to make us wait so long, and I will strive, every single day, to make up for lost time until forever.” Their kiss this time was unhurried, gentle, shared by two people aware of the life they would build together.
When their eager mouths eventually broke apart, he said, “I want you to understand that we are on the same page about everything. First: Diadema.” Pausing as Charlotte’s eyes widened, he nodded, “It may take me a while to adjust, but I am going to do my best to only call her Diadema from now on—no more DD. I don’t want any misunderstandings, mostly from her, concerning any familiarity.
I heard from multiple people today, including her, that she is going to get herself together, and I hope she does, but she is not my worry.
” Henry pressed his forehead to Charlotte’s, her scent making him dizzy, so he closed his eyes to collect himself.
“Second: Melanie. I wasn’t completely open with you about her.
She’s been texting and calling me sporadically for the past two years.
I never said anything because I didn’t want to deal with her.
Then, after I met you, I didn’t want to make her an issue for us.
I just…I thought if I pretended with you that I hadn’t heard from her, it would make it a reality.
Stupid, I know, and maybe if I had acted more…
maturely, been more understanding, she’d have told me about Sophie sooner.
Maybe not, but I want to believe that she wanted to…
even tried to. All that matters is that I know now.
” Henry cupped the precious face of the woman he loved.
“I never expected her to show up last night, but she’s gone now.
Maybe she’ll be back at some point, if Josh wants a relationship with her.
But that will have nothing to do with me, and the same goes for the one I’m going to have with my daughter, here, in Beverley, because she’s staying.
” Henry had to stop to breathe, having spoken more words at one time than ever before in his life, but Charlotte was worth all of them.
“Thank you for being open with me, but I’ve realized that I’m not bothered or threatened by anyone.
If you want a relationship, a friendship, with Melanie, or DD, or anyone else, I’m secure in us.
” She leaned up to kiss his delectable mouth.
“And by the way, you don’t have to call her Diadema; she can always be DD.
” She kissed him again. “Most importantly, I’m thrilled about Sophie staying.
Henry, that’s wonderful.” Charlotte warmed at the thought of watching him create a bond with his new daughter.
“She’s so incredible. I can’t wait to get to really know her, try to make up for lost time.
” He drew her over to the sofa, and after he sat, he pulled her down onto his lap and laced the fingers of one hand with hers.
“When I left you this morning,” Henry softly kissed her, “which was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, I went to the hotel to talk to Melanie.
We went to the diner, and I listened to her…
talked some, too, but mostly listened. And that is thanks to you, because if you hadn’t said what you did, that might never have happened.
And it needed to.” His thumb traced her lips, which opened, and he slipped it inside, seeking her moist heat.
Damn, he thought, it was impossible for him to keep his hands to himself.
“I needed to close that chapter—both chapters, finally and fully, before moving on. With you.”
Charlotte grasped his hand and kissed his palm, all while her eyes never left his. Her body aching, her tongue flicked out, lightly licking the center of his hand as his pupils dilated, making his sky-blue eyes almost black. She said tenderly, “So let me get this straight—you love me.”
God, did he—more than his brain could wrap itself around. His brain, however, was not the body part responding so…exuberantly…right now. “I love you.”
Charlotte dragged her nails through his hair, fusing her mouth to his; the temperature of their kiss hot enough to burn their shadows into the fabric. “I love you so much, and I missed you terribly last night.” Her fingers worked on the snaps of his shirt.
“Did you?” His mouth tasted the delicate skin of her neck. “We’ll have to make sure that never happens again.”
“Mmm, I’m really thinking we need to make up for lost time,” she dropped back to the sofa, stretching and tugging on the waistband of his jeans. With his mouth pulling down the bodice of her dress, she burned with her need. “I want you, Henry.”
His hands gripped her hips, clasping them firmly against him. “Far be it from me not to give you exactly what you want.”
In the circle of his arms, when their shared heartbeat had calmed, Charlotte stroked Henry’s chest. “When I was coming to you, I wanted to be the one to fight for you…fight for us.”
“Well, I got to you first,” he grinned at her before growing serious. “I couldn’t just wait anymore, not like I did so many times before. I needed to be a man of action, to make my own future happen…our future.” He curled a lock of her hair around his finger.
She raised herself on her elbow. “Oh, I have no complaints about your action,” she laughed. “And I suppose now that we’ve resolved everything, we should make our way to the brunch.”
Henry kissed her forehead. “I’m surprised they haven’t sent out a search party yet.
” Reluctantly, he redressed, then held up Charlotte’s dress to her.
She stood, raised her arms, and he slid it gently over her head, and with the greatest care, zipped it up in the back.
With one last caress of her velvety shoulders, he informed her, “You realize we’ll be the talk of the brunch, right? ”
“I’m counting on it.” Her dimples flashed at him.
When they arrived at the restaurant, raucous applause greeted them. “I take it you’re feeling better, Charlotte?” Effie winked, with Josh wrapped around her from behind.
“Much.” More from her need to be close to him than embarrassment, Charlotte pressed her face into Henry’s chest.