by Holly Hood
Henri’s gaze fell back on Dr. Wilder. She nodded, eager to explain.
“That’s not the only thing wrong with me.” He looked at Aunt Janet. “You told her the rest? About the Von-what’s it called disease?” He could see by his aunt’s face he was pushing her patience.
“Of course she knows about this, Henri. She is a doctor, and she also has your files right in front of her face.”
Dr. Wilder stood up. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, reminding him of Maven and taking him away from the futile chat bouncing around the room. He barely heard the details that his disease had been dormant lately, dormant enough to make him a ideal candidate for the new fangled procedure where with her doctor friend’s brilliant hands and a team of surgeon, they were sure they could manipulate his heart and body to do amazing things, restoring him to outstanding physical condition.
He blinked, coming back to reality, Aunt Janet’s fingernail digging into the skin of his hand.
“Isn’t that great, Henri?”
The two women stared at him, their smiles turning them into beaming idiots. But he couldn’t wrap his brain around it.
“Henri, Dr. Wilder believes this will fix you, that you will be able to go on living a normal life just like everyone else.” She touched his face, drawing his gaze to hers. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But be happy please, this is truly the answer to all of our prayers.”
Henri forced a smile, igniting a sob from Aunt Janet. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. Dr. Wilder smiled warmly rubbing her back. “This is great news, Henri.”
Henri nodded.
“This weekend we are going to admit you into the hospital. It’s very important you have several days of medications and all the right care before the procedure. This will guarantee your body can handle the surgery.”
He hated the word surgery. But he couldn’t deny the idea he might have a chance at living was an amazing thing. Better than what he expected when he first walked in the doctor’s office that morning.
“The weekend?” he asked, suddenly remembering the hop. “This weekend?”
Dr. Wilder nodded. “Yes, this weekend, Henri. And it couldn’t happen soon enough. I have looked over your results from a few weeks ago and it’s the best thing that could happen, the sooner the better.”
Aunt Janet looked up. “What do you mean?”
Dr. Wilder’s eyebrows dropped. She didn’t want to ruin the good news by throwing bad news on top of it. “We will discuss the details about the procedure this weekend.” She dropped her gaze back to the paper. “It seems the pacemaker is working a lot harder than before, Henri. And this indicates—”
“That things are worse.” Henri finished the sentence for her. The reason for all the dizziness was revealed and his lack of energy most days.
Aunt Janet kissed Henri on the cheek. “This weekend things will be better.”
“Yes. This weekend we will be one step closer to fixing Henri.” Dr. Wilder smiled along with Aunt Janet.
Henri smiled, staring off. He promised Maven he would take her to the hop. He wasn’t about to disappoint her. It meant a lot to her. It was something she was looking forward to. He would go to the ball and be back before morning. And then the doctor’s could have at it.
“You won’t say anything to Maven right?” He asked Dr. Wilder.
Dr. Wilder shook her head very quickly. “Of course not. Anything that happens in here is between you and I. Doctor’s oath, Henri.”
Henri hopped down from the table. As soon as he hit the hallway he was bum rushed by his father, his arms crushing him as he squeezed the life out of him.
“I got on the first flight out here, dude!” His dad exclaimed, he let him go, but grabbed him by the shoulders nearly shaking the life out of him.
Aunt Janet slapped his father in the arm. “Stop shaking Henri he is still unwell, Doug.” They embraced. Henri stood back watching. It had been some time since he saw his father—if that was what you would call a guy who left his mother to “explore” the world (and nearly every twenty something waitress he ran into) as he put it. There was no rhyme or reason behind his departure. He just took off six months after Henri did.
Henri crossed his arms, his gaze falling on his mother now. She gave a wave from behind the chaos, a purse in one hand, a gift in the other. She let both fall on the floor as soon as she could get to him.
“I missed you, Henri,” she said, squeezing him lightly. Henri rolled his eyes, lifting her off the ground in attempts to give her the best hug he could muster.
“I missed you too, ma.”
She smiled, tears in her eyes, unlike Henri she wasn’t afraid to share her emotions for the entire world to see. Crying was better left for closed doors, that was his father’s motto. Henri wiped her eyes with the back of his hand. “Stop crying. You’re supposed to be happy.”
Unsure
Burst of sunrays spilled through the sheer curtains of Maven’s bedroom making a large spotlight of warmth at the end of her bed.
She was perched in that exact spot. Her phone beside her, filing down her nails trying to prepare for the day.
Summer wasn’t exactly how she would have wanted it to go. It had been a couple days since she saw Henri in person and a couple since she kissed Jake Summit for the last time.
Today was the hop. The big dance the entire town of Portwood looked forward to attending. She glanced at her dress hanging on the hook by her dresser. She wasn’t that excited anymore.
Before she could ponder it any further her phone chirped.
Hey beautiful. Henri said via text message.
Maven rested her file on the bed delicately lifting the phone.
Hi, Henri. How are you? She missed him.
It only took a couple seconds before he replied back.
Good. My family came for a visit. My dad is even here. How weird is that?
Maven stood up, walking across her bedroom floor, staring at his response. She was afraid to ask why the sudden surge of relatives. She also knew how Henri felt about his father. They weren’t close after he left his mother.
Pretty weird. She texted back, opening her closet. She plucked a white dress from its hanger and slipped it on, sitting down on the stool of her vanity to slip her sandals on her feet.
I could use an escape. You want to take a walk or something?
Maven smiled. She couldn’t see how a walk could get them into any trouble with Jake. It would be pleasant and give her a moment to see Henri and explain herself to him. She knew she owed it to Henri to explain why she had been acting so strange lately.
I will be ready in five minutes. See you soon.
Henri pocketed his phone as another round of laughter shook the kitchen. His parents and family all gathered around the table eating an enormous assortment of breakfast. Everyone on cloud nine after the news of Henri’s upcoming surgery, but even with good news Henri didn’t have an appetite. He poked at the pancakes and hash browns on his plate making sure to keep a grin plastered to his face at all times.
Henri stood up. Everyone’s eyes fell on him, their conversations ending quickly. Every move he made seemed to invoke some sort of hushed silence in the house.
“Where you heading off to?” Flynn asked. “Are you meeting up with Blondie?”
Henri sighed. His mother perked up even more at the utterance of a female in Henri’s life.
“Blondie?” She looked between Flynn and Henri.
Henri’s father leaned back in his seat a pleased grin on his face. “That a boy.”
“Why would you say that?” His mom asked. She glued her callous stare on his father. Henri knew what was coming next. “Have a little decency, Doug.”
“He’s a grown man, what would you rather me be doing scolding him and sending him to his room for liking a girl?” They both stared at one another, daring each other to say anything else. His parents were like those knights back in the old days that jousted each other from horses at a high
rate of speed.
“Her name is Maven. And that’s all I care to discuss with anyone. I’m sure Aunt Janet would be willing to fill you in.” He pulled his chirping phone from his pocket. “That’s her now and I’m late.”
His father stood. “Invite her over. We want to meet her.”
His mother sat back in her chair. She lifted her orange juice, refusing to agree with her ex husband although she felt the same way.
Henri shook his head, looking down at his phone.
I’m outside your house, and you’re in trouble.
He winced at the sound of the doorbell. His father was already heading to the door to see what girl was willing to pay him attention.
Henri groaned.
Maven was a bit surprised to see an unfamiliar man answering the door to Henri’s house. But she knew the minute she looked at him he was Henri’s father. It was the smile. The same big smile that was a tad crooked and reached his eyes and made them turn into little slits—in a attractive way of course.
He waved a hand, and then accepted hers. His skin warm and his nails perfectly manicured.
“I’m Doug Levitt.” He opened the door wider letting her in. “Henri was just telling us about you.”
Maven pushed some hair behind her ear. “Really?”
He nodded dramatically. “Oh yeah, but he left out the part about just how beautiful you were.”
Henri rounded the corner in time to see his father’s pathetic flattery pan out. He wasn’t one of those creepy older men, he just was too complimenting.
“Hey,” he said to Maven, running a hand through his hair. “I would have got out of here sooner, but as you can see.” He nodded toward his dad.
“Are you hungry, Maven?” His father asked, ignoring Henri’s attempt at taking off.
“No, I already ate, but thank you for asking.” She smiled warmly.
“Darn.” His dad looked between the two of them. “So what are the plans for the day?”
Henri grabbed Maven by the arm before she could answer and practically shoved her up the stairs. She looked back at Henri’s father and gave an apologetic wave. He waved back, shaking his head as he went back into the kitchen with the rest of the family.
“Henri what was that?” Maven asked as soon as he closed his bedroom door.
He tried to hide behind a smile. Coming close and wrapping his arms around her waist.
“I missed you. And I wanted to see you. Not here with my family, just the two of us.” He pushed her bangs from her eyes. “My dad likes to talk. It would have taken forever to have a moment alone.”
Maven scanned his eyes. She wasn’t sure what was happening. But she felt a bit awkward.
“I missed you too.” She moved away, her feet clicking soundly across Henri’s floor. She took a seat. “I wanted to apologize for the way that I’ve been acting.”
Henri waved his hand dismissing the attempt. “No need.”
“I feel like there is, Henri.”
He sat down across from her in the window seat. Drawing up his legs, the only reason he swept Maven away so fast was because he didn’t want his father or anyone hearing about the hop later on that night. Not to hear any kind of explanation for her feelings towards another guy. Good or bad, he didn’t want to talk about it.
“I could think of better things to talk about than Jake Summit.” He told her. “Like the hop.”
Maven looked away. “About the hop. I was thinking since you were never to keen on the idea that we just do something else.”
Henri squeezed the bridge of his nose in frustration. “You’re bailing. Why are you bailing?”
“I feel so bad for the other day. I acted like an idiot. You don’t deserve to be treated that way. You deserve answers and to not feel like I like someone else.” She moved closer, taking Henri’s hand. He thought for certain she was about to break the news, that she and Jake found their way back to each other.
“Maven—” he said, trying to object.
“Henri. I don’t have feelings for Jake Summit. It was never about Jake. I have feelings for someone else.” She smiled artfully. Henri was relieved.
“I knew it.” He dropped his head dramatically. “John at the Barber shop. You have a thing for old men with knee high socks don’t you?”
Maven laughed. “Absolutely, the older the better, I really dig false teeth.”
They both stopped laughing and grew serious. Henri’s expression remained frozen as he waited for Maven to hand over a real answer.
“He’s charming. And sweet. Thoughtful. Caring. Cute as a button. He makes me laugh, a lot.” She moved closer. “He has brown hair and matching brown eyes. The best smile I have ever seen. And when he kisses me…my heart beats so fast I think it’s going to come right out of my chest.” She looked at Henri. He was smiling.
“Does this guy have a name because I am starting to get the feeling I know him.” His fingers traced the length of her face. Her eyes softening at his touch, as he looked at her.
“Don’t be foolish. It’s you.” She leaned in, placing a kiss on his cheek. “I was afraid to tell you this.”
“Why?”
Maven rested her head on his shoulder so she wouldn’t have to look at him. She touched his chest with her hand. “Because you have to deal with something that I can’t even begin to imagine and I didn’t want to burden you with my feelings.”
“Because I’m going to die.” His word hit her like a ton of bricks, but Henri didn’t allow her to pull away. “I would rather deal with a beautiful girl having feelings for me than just sitting around waiting on death, Maven.”
“I didn’t know that. I didn’t know what was right or wrong. I was starting to feel bad all the time because I like you and the more I like you the worse I feel. And I hate to admit that.”
Henri pursed his lips. Maven sat up, looking into his eyes. He hadn’t said anything back.
“You think I’m awful.” She stood up. “I am so sorry.”
“Maven.” Henri jumped up. “I don’t. Calm down. I think you’re normal. You’re not the first person in my life to freak out about the thought of me dying. Why do you think I keep to myself? My family treats me like a fragile piece of china everyday because of it. I can handle it.”
“Ok.” Was all she could push out.
Henri could see the alarm on her face. “You’re the only person who treats me normal.”
She shook her head, tears nipping at her eyes. “But I don’t. I just go around acting like it’s not there.”
“I like that.” He smiled. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’m still Henri, I’m just…dying.” Henri walked across the room, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s okay to admit that, because even after I say it, I realize I’m still me.”
Maven held tight, her fingers squeezing his t-shirt, holding on for dear life. It was relieving to hear him say something about it.
“I don’t want to go to the hop because it wasn’t something you wanted to do.”
Henri shook his head. “I want to go.”
“No, you’re going because I want to go.” She argued.
“Just forget about everything that has you upset and let’s have a good night.” He pulled away waiting for her to agree. “I have a lot planned for us. So don’t ditch me on my night.”
Maven laughed. “Oh, so now it’s your night.”
“It’s got to be someone’s.” He smirked. He knew tonight was going to be something special. It was going to be the night he told her that there was hope for him. That he was about to have a second chance at life, and that he wanted her in it.
“Okay. So we will go.” She kissed his cheek. “I feel better.”
“I’m glad.” They both were still, finally their mouths met up for a soft kiss. Henri pulled her closer. She could feel the heat from his skin through the light material of her dress. She kissed his neck, not worrying anymore that things were happening to fast. Henri squeezed her arm, enjoying her lips. He pulled away, and
took a seat on his bed. Maven followed. They both fell backward. Maven kissed him again, pressing herself against him, running her hands up his arms, down his chest. He slid a hand through her hair, down the back of her legs, his kisses growing stronger. She trailed her fingers down his chest. Henri pressed his forehead against hers ending their connection.
“Don’t you have to be getting ready for tonight?” He smiled as she pressed her lips into his once more, giggling at the realization that if they didn’t pull it together they probably would miss the hop.
“I.” She kissed him. “Do.” She kissed him again. “But…I’d rather lay here with you.”
“I promise tonight we can do whatever you want.” He kissed her cheek, staring into her eyes.
“Even lay down by the water under the willow?” It was her favorite place to be with Henri.
“Even there.” He sat up. “I’ll bring a blanket.”
“Fine. I will go home and get ready.”
Henri felt a twinge of panic setting into his system. “Didn’t you say your parents go to this thing too?”
Maven fixed her hair, smoothing her dress. “Yeah. But my mother said something came up with work so she won’t be going. She said she has to be up early. She will probably be in bed before this evening if I know her.”
“What about your dad?”
Maven gave Henri a strange look. “He’s working a long shift at the hospital for Mr. Summit. He rarely goes to the hop. And Maggie refuses ever since my mother told her she couldn’t wear converse with a dress.”
Henri felt a little relieved.
As soon as Maven was safely on her way home Henri searched for Flynn. He found him outside about to mow the lawn.
“Flynn. Hey can I talk to you for a second?” He looked around for any sign of his parents.
Flynn slung his shirt over his shoulder, beads of sweat already collecting along his brow. “What can I do for ya’?”
