AN: So this is it, and you get it a day early because someone asked very nicely. I hope you've enjoyed this take on early Henry and Elizabeth. Let me know what you think. I love to read your reviews.
Chapter 6
Elizabeth paced her apartment. She stood at the front door, gazing out the small semi-circle window. Then she moved through the living room and into the kitchen-to the sink where she looked out the other window, and made the trek back again.
Cassie went home at Elizabeth's insistence. Cassie was seven months pregnant, she didn't need to be sleeping on Elizabeth's lumpy couch, and she wasn't prepared to sleep in the bed-at least not yet. Elizabeth assured her friend that she would be okay. And she thought she would be. Henry was at his parents. Glenda said she would talk to him. Cassie said to give him space. At the time, it all made sense. But standing alone in their bedroom doorway, looking at the bed they had shared-the one he had crawled out of, carefully, quietly packing his things, Elizabeth fell apart. She couldn't contain the hurt and general devastation she felt. Her knees buckled under her weight and she collapsed into a puddle of sobs.
At some point during the night, she moved to the couch. Huddled there, under a blanket, she thought about her life before Henry and after. Before she met Henry, she considered herself reasonably happy. Granted, her parents had died and that was its own tragedy, but she made it through. She had friends and was social-at least she was when she wanted to be. Life was fine. Good even. She thought she was happy.
Then she shoved an unsuspecting pool boy into the pool and her life went into a tailspin. She discovered that she hadn't really known happiness until Henry. She connected with him in a way she never had with anyone before. Even when they were at odds, she still felt drawn to him, and she never wanted to be anywhere else. Elizabeth thought Henry was on the same page. They had been through all of the friend drama, the visits between trainings, the stolen moments, the whispered "I love yous." Now, Elizabeth had to wonder how much was true and how much was an act.
Elizabeth blinked into the dark and tugged the blanket beneath her chin. She wanted to believe Henry loved her. His mother seemed to think so, as did Cassie, but she couldn't understand why. Why didn't Henry talk to her? Why did he just leave? The questions continued to swirl in her head until exhaustion settled in and Elizabeth fell into a deep sleep just as the sun made its way over the horizon.
The ring of the phone pulled Elizabeth from sleep. She groaned and tried to sit up. Her neck was stiff and her limbs felt like lead. Her eyes stung and her nose was stuffed up. Just as she rolled off the couch onto the floor, the phone stopped ringing. She sighed, slumping back against the couch. Almost immediately, the phone started ringing again.
Elizabeth, more awake now, pushed up and stumbled toward the phone. "Hello." Her voice was hoarse and scratchy.
'He's here," Cassie whispered into the receiver. "Wait? Are you okay?"
"Who? What?" Elizabeth furrowed her brow and leaned against the wall.
"Henry! He's here," Cassie hissed. "Are you okay?"
"Never mind me. What does he want?"
"I don't know. He just said he needed to talk." She paused. "Lizzie. He looks awful."
Elizabeth pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled slowly. "Awful like he just broke up with his girlfriend and he realizes he made a mistake? Or awful like he just broke up with his girlfriend and now he's trying to put his life back together?"
"I don't know for sure, but it better be the former because I don't think he'd have the balls to show up here if it's the latter."
Elizabeth chuckled, and her reaction surprised her. "I hope not."
"Listen. I'll keep you updated. I gotta go. Love you! And, I told you so." Cassie hung up and Elizabeth smiled and it was genuine.
MSMSMSMSMSMS
"Here you go Henry," Cassie said as she walked around the end of the couch, handing him of water.
"Thank you," he said. He balanced the glass on one knee and leaned forward. "Have you talked to Elizabeth today?"
"Of course I have. The real question is, why haven't you?"
Henry reached out and set the water on the coffee table before placing his elbows on his knees, burying his face in his hands. Feeling Cassie's stare boring into the top of his head, he looked up. "I always tried to tell myself that it really didn't matter-that if two people loved each other, it would be enough."
Cassie's face wrinkled in confusion. "What wouldn't matter?"
"I can't even begin to see my life without her, but if being with me hurts her, then how can I say I love her and then do that to her?"
Cassie tried to give him some space to talk it out, but after several minutes of talking in circles, she held up her hand. "Henry McCord, so help me. If you don't stop beating around the bush and tell me what the hell you are talking about, I swear, I'm going to come unglued."
Henry gave her a hard look. "I left because I was scared that once we were actually able to be with each other, that we wouldn't even know who the other was anymore. But, my parents made me see that I was wrong and I needed to prove to Elizabeth that I was in this forever, so I came back today to ask her to marry me."
"Whoa! That's a change in direction," Cassie said as she collapsed back into the chair, rubbing her belly.
Henry's face fell further. "Now I see how ridiculous and idealistic I was being." His thoughts went back to Brad.
"What do you mean? I mean your timing sucks, but I don't think that's what you're referring to."
"She's giving up a way of life to be with me. I will probably never be able to provide for her like her parents did, or like one of the country club guys would." Cassie could see the pain and doubt in his expression and that fueled her annoyance.
Cassie forcefully shoved herself to the edge of her seat. "Are we even talking about the same person? Because if we are, it's like you don't even know Elizabeth Adams." Henry looked offended, but Cassie kept on. "She still carries the same ratty backpack she did in high school because it still works. She wears the same handful of clothes because they fit and she hates shopping. She is still friends with this girl from the wrong side of town because when we were in fourth grade, she fell down and I stopped to make sure she was okay when all of the other girls ran off and left her." Henry's eyes went wide having never heard that story.
Cassie stopped and took a deep breath. She caught Henry's gaze and held it. "Elizabeth Adams doesn't care where you come from or how much money you make or if you're the smartest person in the class. She cares about what kind of person you are and how you treat others, so you need to get you head on straight and drop whatever kind of hang up you have before you really screw this up."
"She deserves better than me," he said. Cassie chuckled and Henry narrowed his eyes.
"Well, she deserves better than me too, but I guess we're just blessed." Cassie reached out and patted his knee. "You need to get yourself home and talk this out."
Henry sat unmoving for a long while. When he finally looked up, she saw a glint in his eye. "I'm definitely blessed and I need to show her. When you talk to her tonight, tell her I'm sorry and that I love her and I'll see her tomorrow." He stood and moved toward the door.
"Wait. You aren't going now? What the hell, Henry? It's like you're trying to blow this," Cassie huffed, with her hands on her hips.
He grinned. "Nope. I'm going to save this. You're right. She does deserve better." Henry stopped when he put his hand on the doorknob. "Thanks Cassie. I'm glad she's had you since I've been away."
"I'll tell her you'll see her in the morning. But Henry," she stopped, making sure she had his full attention. "You really screwed up. And it's only because she's such a good person that she'll even entertain the thought of letting you back in after you hurt her."
"I know. It won't happen again. I swear."
MSMSMSMSMSMS
Once Cassie called, Elizabeth stopped pacing. Now she sat on the floor surrounded by boxes of pictures. When her parents died, she spent hours going through pictures. Many were of them as a young couple with friends-at various homes, at the country club pool, on campus, in their first home. She always tried to invent stories to go along with the photos. What was so funny that the photographer captured her mother's open mouthed laugh with her father's arms around her waist grinning? Did her father make her mother feel the way Henry made her feel? She hoped so. She thought so, at least their young love. Elizabeth could see how love changed. Her grandparents' love for each other wasn't the same romantic, young love, but more like a comfortable sweater you always want to pull around you at the end of a hard day kind of love.
Elizabeth sighed. That's the kind of love she thought she and Henry were building, but now she was left unsure. Cassie said it would be okay. Henry would come. He just had something to take care of, but doubt still edged in. If he just up and left when something was going on, how could they build the kind of trust needed for that kind of long lasting love? She pushed those thoughts away and pulled another box of photos into her lap. Until she figured it out, she decided that she would just relive the memories they had made. Hopefully they would provide her some comfort in case Henry didn't come back.
It was mid morning the next day when she woke up on the floor, still surrounded by piles of pictures. Pushing herself to sitting, she pulled the ponytail holder from her hair and ran her fingers through it, separating the tangles. Elizabeth winced. Her scalp hurt from having her hair pulled back for such a long time. She stood and massaged her head, in an attempt to get the pain to lessen.
Looking around, her lip furled. The place was a mess. Empty take out containers and wine bottles still littered the coffee table. Piles and boxes of pictures were scattered amidst half full coffee cups and popcorn bags,and tissues-there were so many tissues. Inhaling deeply, she held it for a moment before blowing it out forcefully. That could all be dealt with later. She needed a shower. After cleaning herself up, she'd think about picking up the apartment.
Elizabeth had no more than stepped under the steaming water than there was a light knock at the door. Henry knocked again before sliding his key into the lock, letting himself in.
Hearing the shower, Henry was taken back to that first trip he'd made from Pensacola-how he'd caught her unaware and they'd made love against the bathroom door because they were so frantic, they couldn't make it into the bedroom. They went out to breakfast at the diner close to campus, where they sat so close their bodies melded together and they ate omelets talking about his training and her classes. Then his hour was up and Henry was back on the road to Florida, wishing they had more time.
Snapping out of his reverie, he looked around the room at the remnants of the past few days and his heart broke all over again. Wanting to be rid of it, he quickly gathered the trash, and stacked the pictures carefully, placing them back in their boxes. He put the dishes in a sink full of soapy water and straightened the pillows.
Elizabeth stepped out of the shower, feeling more human. She spent some time drying her hair and applying makeup to mask the dark circles under her eyes. If Henry decided to show up, she at least didn't want to look as distraught as she felt.
With her robe tied around her, Elizabeth stepped from the bathroom into the bedroom and she stopped. The energy in the air had changed. Breathing deeply, her breath hung in her lungs, unable to be exhaled. He was here. Forcing herself to move, Elizabeth moved around the corner and looked into a straightened living room and heard the sound of glasses clinking together in the kitchen.
Slowly she made her way across the space, wanting so much to just see him, but also scared for what that might bring and angry at what he'd done. Henry was bent over the sink, washing the dishes. She leaned in the doorway and watched him, letting the rush of emotions roll over her.
When the last cup was washed and placed in the drying rack, he dried his hands and turned, startled to see her leaning in the doorway, the once blue bathrobe, now faded to gray, clinging to her frame. Somehow she looked smaller, or maybe thinner. It had only been a few days, he didn't know if that was possible, but the physical change made him feel worse than he already did.
"You came back," she murmured.
"I should never have left," he replied.
He watched her release the breath she'd been holding and moved to take a step closer, but she turned on her heel and nearly ran to the bedroom. He followed and was just about to put his hand on the knob when he heard the lock flip over. "Oh," the word fell from his mouth, almost silently, but with it went his hopes.
He slid down the wall, his knees pressed to his chest and he laid his head there. Elizabeth opened the door a few minutes later, fully dressed. She stared down at him. "Why?" The single word came out more forcefully than she intended, but it carried the heartbreak that she felt.
He looked up at her, and suddenly, everything he'd been planning to say. All of the words he had hoped would win her over went out the window and all he was left with was the truth. "I thought it was for the best," he whispered.
Her icy stare made his insides knot up and the contents of his stomach churned, aching to be expelled. Henry pushed himself to his feet and stood toe to toe with Elizabeth. "I was wrong. I should've talked to you. I should've trusted that you would have been receptive to working through that with me. Please forgive me." He reached out to take her hand. Her gaze drifted down and she studied his open hand, wanting to take hers.
Shaking her head slightly, Elizabeth stepped around him and sat on the couch. Turning, she tucked one leg under the other and leaned into the corner. When Henry didn't move, she patted the cushion next to her. "So, come and talk."
Sitting down to face her, Henry reached out and grasped her hand and held it tightly, then he started in. He told her of his fears and how her words played into them, confirming what he had not wanted to believe.
"I came back yesterday to come straight here, but something came up and shook me all over again. I ended up at Cassie's, which I'm sure she already told you, but I think I finally have everything worked out in my head." He scooted closer. "I promise I will never willingly leave again." Henry leaned forward and placed his head on Elizabeth's shoulder. "I promise."
She pushed him off. "I woke up and you were gone, Henry. I didn't get to know why. I didn't get to say goodbye." She hadn't meant to say that, but as the words fell from her lips, the tears welled up in her eyes. "It was like losing them, but they had no choice-and you did."
That struck Henry in a way he couldn't have imagined. He had never made the connection between him leaving and her parents dying. "I never meant to hurt you. I didn't mean it like that. I didn't know. It was stupid of me."
Catching Elizabeth off guard, he reached out and hauled her into his lap, burying his head in her shoulder, holding her so tight, she could barely breathe. She was going to squirm away, but she felt his tears on her neck and she gave into her own pain. She clung to him, as he did to her, and they cried.
After several minutes, she relaxed her grip and kissed the top of his head. "I forgive you," she murmured. Henry didn't release her, but tipped his head up. "Do you think you could come with me? I want to do something with you."
Half an hour later, they sat on a blanket by the lake, just like they did when they were first dating. "Nothing says apology like peanut butter and jelly," he said. He shrugged and gave her a slight smile.
"Are you alright? You look a little pale." Elizabeth's brows knitted together as she studied him. He nodded and scooted behind her, holding her close. He lay his forehead on her shoulder and she relaxed back into his chest, forcing him to move and put his chin on her shoulder.
"What's that?" she asked, tilting her head to the sky catching the biplane flying above them. "Oh fun! It's a skywriter."
Henry's breath stuck in his lungs. This was the moment. Elizabeth deserved everything. He couldn't compete with the Brads of the world, but he could let her know that she was loved so much, he would always go above and beyond for her.
She was fixated on the plane as it swooped, releasing the smoke and she murmured the letters under her breath, "M-A-R." Henry had his eyes closed, trying to keep his breathing steady. This was the moment. His body coiled with tension. "M-E," she said, and he could hear slight lilt in her voice, questioning that which didn't quite make sense.
Henry's eyes shot open and and scoured the sky looking for the rest of the letters. "Oh God," he mumbled. This was not the way it was supposed to be.
"E-L-I,* she continued. Henry's stomach rolled and he thought he might throw up. He should've gone with the more expensive guy, but this guy said he was new and needed practice. He thought Elizabeth would appreciate him giving the guy a chance. "B-E-T," she whispered.
Elizabeth murmured the letters to herself as the skywriter swooshed through the sky, cutting the smoke, only to start it again. Henry's breath grew shallow as tiny puffs hit her neck and she felt the perspiration of his palms against her waist. She was still processing what she was sure was a proposal, but seemed to be the most out of character thing he'd ever done, when he suddenly scooted away from her.
Henry felt her tense and he squirmed back, putting space between them. Suddenly, she turned to look at him. "Does that say what I think it says?" Her look was unreadable. He wasn't sure if she may hug him or slug him.
Looking over her shoulder, she'd asked the question and when his eyes widened in fear, she knew the answer. His shoulders sagged and he shrugged. "Well, that depends on what you think it says." When she didn't scowl or hit him or run away, he took that to be a good thing. Shifting around to sit on his knees, he leaned forward, pulling her so she did the same.
"I know I may have had a little freak out moment over the past couple days, but I cannot imagine living even one day of my life without you. I love you so much, and even though you deserve so much more than I could ever give you, I will spend every day of my life trying." Henry dug in his pocket and pulled the ring box out. Opening it, he showed it to her. "Elizabeth Adams, would you marry me?"
He immediately changed and poured his heart out and was now holding a ring out for her inspection. It was gorgeous. She had never thought about what an engagement ring may look like, but it seemed that this one was made specifically for her. She heard Henry say something about the color of her eyes and a skywriter who was learning, but honestly, she couldn't comprehend anything but her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Then his hand ran the length of her forearm, coaxing her from her thoughts. His expression was one of fear and heartbreak. He thought she would say no. His over the top proposal had flopped, he'd just broken up with her and she could see the doubt that occasionally flared about whether their social circles could successfully intersect and how they would weather being apart so much in their first years.
In all of that, Elizabeth thought about how Henry made her feel. She felt loved, valued, safe, treasured, and so many other adjectives that a few years ago, she never thought she would apply to her own life. Henry did that. Henry made her feel that way. Henry loved her and she loved him.
Emotion overtook her, a joy bubbled up from deep within her and a wide smile bloomed across her face. "Yes," she said, reaching out to cup his jaw. "I would love nothing more than to become Mrs. Henry McCord."
Elizabeth watched Henry process her words and as the wave of relief, then joy, and finally elation washed over him, as tears came to his eyes. She leaned in close. "Now kiss me," she whispered.
Without missing a beat, Henry banded his arm around her and laid her on the picnic blanket. Towering over her, he whispered, "I love you," and then his lips crashed against hers and she lost all coherent thought. When he released her, he sat back and pulled her up to join him.
Slipping the ring on her finger, he asked, "Do you like it? We can exchange it for something bigger if you want?"
Elizabeth shook her head vehemently. "I want this one, and I want you just as you are."
Later, they were driving home and Elizabeth stared at her hand laying in her lap, the sapphire and diamonds sparkling in the sunlight. A mischievous glint crossed her eyes and she reached over and grabbed Henry's hand. "Can we stop at the Country Club? I need to do something."
Henry signaled and turned the car in the direction of the Charlottesville Country Club. "You can pull up in front. It won't take but a minute. Come on." She bailed out of the car and had already walked inside by the time Henry caught up with her.
"What are we doing? I didn't even think you were a member anymore."
"I'm not, but it will take them a few minutes to figure that out." She gave him a wide smile and linked her fingers with his, jerking her head in the direction she was walking.
They walked out onto the pool deck. "Hard to believe it all started here," she said. Henry nodded. Nothing was said, but Elizabeth squeezed Henry's hand and shot him a devilish grin. Henry's eyes went wide with shock in the split second before he was engulfed by the water. He came sputtering to the surface and focused on Elizabeth, who wore the widest smile he'd ever seen.
As he climbed out of the water, she was crouched down by the ladder. "Don't ever think about leaving me again Henry McCord. I won't stand for it." Her words were said lightly, but there was a seriousness in her eyes that he took to heart.
"I guess I deserved that. But, do you think I could get out now?" he asked. She nodded and stepped back. As soon as he was out of the water, he wrapped her in a bear hug. "I will never again leave you-mostly because I love you, but I won't deny that there's a part of me that's scared of you." She threw her head back and laughed loudly, and she knew Henry was giving her that grin he always did when he'd said something funny. She wished someone could take a picture and capture that moment of joy. Elizabeth looked into his eyes. She decided that she didn't need a picture. It would live in her heart forever.