chapter 56

HENRY

Henry still wanted to take Zavion and Ben to Vermont. He wanted to take Zavion up Mount Mansfield. He had told Mom when she called.

“Why?” Mom had asked.

Henry was silent. He didn’t know how to answer her. He was surprised by his desire, actually. He had wondered if it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, an idea he would feel was the worst one he had baked up in his whole entire life, after he had slept on it. But that hadn’t happened. He didn’t understand why, but he felt even more sure about it than before.

“Well, I can’t wait to see you—” Mom interrupted his thoughts. “And I would love to meet your new friend.” She didn’t ask again why he wanted to bring Zavion, which, weirdly, made Henry miss her. “Brae’s not the only one who misses you,” she said, as if she could read his mind.

“It’s only been two days.”

If he said he missed her too, he might cry.

“Well, I still can’t wait to see you,” said Mom. “With or without Zavion.”

With Zavion.

Henry was determined.

At this moment, although he couldn’t explain it or understand it and—Jeezum Crow, he would never say it to anyone else—he might tell Cora that taking Zavion to Vermont was his heart’s desire.