Chapter 35 #2
Pasty nodded her head. “She was the first-chair violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from age twelve to seventeen, but I think she’s right where she should be.”
Eventually, we took our turns congratulating Mei and giving her our bouquets.
“You did good, young lady,” Gilbert said with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” Mei grinned. “I had fun.”
“As you should.” He squeezed her close before stepping away so Chris Evans could give her a hug.
When I got my turn, I chose to tease her a bit while pulling her in for a hug. “I’m surprised he didn’t bring you butter pecan ice cream.”
“He brought me a gallon last week.” Mei giggled and I knew right then and there she was a goner.
After celebrating with everyone, I floated home on the high of Mei’s success.
I had almost reached the porch when I heard Henry call my name.
Grin vanishing, I glanced over my shoulder and saw him returning from his mailbox.
He still looked like absent-minded Henry with rumpled clothes and glasses sitting askew, but he seemed a little stunned.
“Wow. You look so lovely.”
I glanced down at the dress. “Uh, thanks.”
Henry moved closer and I scolded myself for pausing. Clearly, he took that as an invite. “Please let me apologize.”
“Henry, not today.” I backed away.
“I’ve given you time to cool off. Please.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. “Fine.”
“You want to go inside or next door? I actually made sweet tea earlier.”
My eyes popped open as I regarded him. I was impressed, and a glass of iced tea sounded refreshing after all that cheering at Mei’s concert, but . . .
“Just one glass, then I’ll leave you alone, okay?” Henry ticked his head toward his house.
Saying nothing, I walked beside him, noticing he kept stealing glances at my outfit and hair. “I went to a violin recital to support a friend.”
“That’s nice. How’d it go?” Henry opened the door and held it for me and I did my best to not let any part of us touch as I passed him.
“Fine.” I continued to the kitchen and was surprised no dishes or empty cereal boxes were littering the counters. “Your house is clean.”
“Yeah. I finished my book so now I can focus on domestic things, like cleaning and making tea.” He busied himself with pulling out two glasses from the cabinet and filling them with ice, then tea. “Lemon?”
I settled on a stool at the kitchen island, marveling over the sparkling clean granite. “You actually have lemons?”
He made a show of opening his fridge, waving a hand in game show fashion at the fully stocked shelves.
“Lemon would be great.”
Henry retrieved one from the produce drawer and brought it to a small cutting board.
“What’d you do with all that bread you bought from Chris Evans?”
“Most of it is in the freezer. He gave me instructions on how to thaw it and all that.”
“I can’t believe you bought him out that day.”
“It’s good bread.” Henry placed a wedge of lemon in my glass and handed it over. We both took a long drink. He set his glass down and took in a deep inhale. “I didn’t mean to lie to you.”
I studied him for a moment. “How so?”
“Cy asked me to keep an eye out for you in case you needed anything. The day I introduced myself I planned on telling you that, but then I met you and I just wanted to get to know you as my neighbor, not my colleague’s sister.”
“Why?”
He ran his hand through his messy dark hair. “Honestly, I was drawn to you immediately.” He dropped his hand. “You realize you lied to me first, right?”
I scoffed, setting the glass down in preparation for a fight. “How do you figure?”
“You told me Gilbert was your personal trainer instead of your probation officer.”
“How did you know that?”
“Cy gave me his number too, just in case.”
“I don’t think you can compare my lie to yours.” I smoothed my thumb over my fingernails. “I confided in you about things and you just sat there like you didn’t know any of it. That’s just wrong, Henry.”
“It wasn’t like that. Cy only told me you’d gotten into some trouble and were on probation.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. Your brother didn’t tell me the important parts.
I didn’t know about Fern or that you’d lost your husband.
” Henry came around the island, hunching down until we were eye level.
“Cy didn’t tell me how incredibly talented you are or how caring you are or how beautiful .
. .” He paused, shaking his head. “I started to tell you so many times, but I knew once that was between us, you’d stop opening up to me. ”
I scoffed. “Scared you wouldn’t have anything to report back to my brother?” I slid off the stool, hearing all I needed to.
“The only thing I reported back to him was that you were working your butt off, attending support groups regularly, and that he had no right keeping your daughter from you.” Henry stopped me at his door.
“I’m on your side, Junie. Please believe that, if nothing else.
” Henry placed his hand on my shoulder. “I miss you.”
I met his gaze and held it for a long moment.
I was sad that his lies were now wedged between us, because I missed him too.
“Thank you for your daily prayers and whatever you’ve said to Cy on my behalf, but I think it’s best we keep to ourselves from here on out.
” I scooted around him and out the door, leaving a lot unsaid for the sake of moving forward.