Henry

Henry splashed through the wet streets, running despite his boot cast. He sprinted the four blocks to The Mad Hash and barreled through the doors. Pearl was there, her painted-on eyebrows lifting at his breathless entry.

“Hey, Henry. You okay?”

No, no he was most certainly not okay. His heart might explode; his brain might stage a full-blown rebellion. He had never felt better. “Yeah, yeah. Fine,” he answered. “Just the rain.”

Pearl nodded slowly. “You wanna sit?”

“No. Take out, please. And can they hurry?”

Henry placed the order for two burgers, two sodas, and a side of rosemary fries. Five minutes had never felt so long. He was both excited and panicked to get back to Matilda.

He wasn’t sure exactly what had given him the courage to say what he’d said, to take that forbidden step. He hadn’t been able to do it as they walked. Maybe it was Abby’s words of encouragement or the security of the bookshop. Maybe it was simply the unbelievably wonderful feeling of Matilda’s hand in his.

Whatever it was, now Henry had to make sure it stuck. He had to prove that it was the right thing to do, prove it to both of them.

Pearl returned with the white plastic bag of food and he snatched it from her like a hungry lion. “Thanks,” he said hurriedly, and then left the diner as spastically as he’d arrived.

As he hurried back, awkward with the food and drinks, a fear gripped him that Matilda wouldn’t be there when he returned. That his leaving had somehow broken the spell of the moment. The energy between them was nothing if not tumultuous, fragile. What if she changed her mind?

The rain had stopped, but thunder growled in the distance.

Hurry. Hurry.

Outside the bookshop, he paused, though his panic urged him on. What would he do if she weren’t there? Go after her? Let her go? Give up? He didn’t think he’d have the strength to do anything but collapse into a wasted heap.

Quietly, he snuck back in the bookshop, stopping to listen.

Henry heard nothing. The smell of the greasy food turned his stomach.

He forced himself to climb the stairs, to prepare for an empty room.

At the top step, his legs nearly refused to finish the progression into the room. He peered around the edge of the wall. The couch was empty.

The couch is empty.

Henry’s eyes flashed around the room, his body tightening with despair, with disappointment. He set the food down with extreme care near the couch, next to the pile of books. He stared at the place where Matilda had sat next to him, their bodies touching along the seams. She left. She left me. Henry’s hands went numb.

More thunder.

“Henry? Is that you?”

Henry’s head snapped up so fast a shot of pain moved down his neck. Did I imagine her voice? He looked at the stairs. Soon Matilda appeared. Good grief, she’s beautiful. He fought the urge to leap across the room and sweep her into his arms just to confirm she was real.

She lifted her hands. “There’s an office downstairs. I poked around and found some buried treasure.” There were two pillar candles in her hands, a box of matches. The feeling returned to Henry’s fingers.

“Good,” he breathed.

She stepped closer, emerging from the gathering shadows. “You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course. I got burgers and sodas.” He gestured to the bag of food. He let out one shaky exhale before she came close.

Matilda smiled up at him. “Smells good. Rosemary fries too?”

He nodded, his heart still beating with the fear he’d felt at the sight of that empty couch. He brought his eyes to her face. The only light in the room came from her eyes. She shifted the candles to put a hand on his arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look …”

Henry put his hand over hers. “I’m great.” He held her eyes, wanting to kiss her. “Let’s eat.”

Her face lit up with a smile. She sat in her spot. Henry sighed away his remaining fear and settled next to her.

“So I thought we’d take turns reading, a little here, a little there,” she suggested. “Wake up these lost books after such a long sleep.”

“My thoughts exactly,” he said. He reached out to smooth her hair down her back. When she leaned into the touch he finally allowed himself to smile.