by B Latif
“Exactly,” the shopkeeper looked at Rose, “she stole it.”
Henry looked sideways at Rose, who had the teddy cuddled in her arms. Licking his lips, he took out his wallet and paid the man more than it cost. He walked off after casting a look of disapproval at Rose.
Henry glared at her, but the innocence on her face told him that she knew nothing about the concept of payment.
“Just,” Henry fought hard to control his laughter, “don’t take anything, absolutely nothing without my permission.”
Rose nodded tentatively. She kept looking at him, unable to understand what had just happened. Henry’s eyes seemed thoughtful, he leaned forward, held her hand, and kissed her on her forehead.
“You are looking beautiful,” he said, his lips brushing her hair, “it took me a long time to say that.”
He winked, put his arm around her shoulder and walked to the car. He loved her. he really did.
***
It was 2 am and Rose was still awake, staring wide-eyed in the dark, lying on a huge bed. The teddy was in her arms, the crown of roses beside her on the table.
There was a moment of indecision, but she sat up and put on her shoes. Walking timidly, she reached Henry’s room in the illuminated passageway.
Poor girl, she didn’t know she had to knock.
“Henry?” she called slowly in a scared voice, her heart thumping in her chest. No reply, the sound of crickets her only company.
She turned the handle and walked inside the room, creeping in like a thief. Her eyes searched him in the darkness as she stood by his bed.
“Henry.” Rose whispered.
With his torso against the bed, his cheek pressed on the pillow, one arm hanging down from the bed, he didn’t response.
“Henry!” Rose whispered eagerly.
He stayed still. The third time, she didn’t refrain from touching him.
“Henry…” she shook his upper arm. After a moment, he opened his eyes and blinked., unable to recognize who was there.
“Wake up, Henry.”
She let go of his arm as his hand went to the lamp and turned it on.
“Rose?” There was utter surprise on his face as he saw her in his room with the teddy in her arms, “What are you doing here?”
He propped himself up on his elbows when she didn’t reply and stared at her.
“What happened?” He asked with a frown.
“I’m scared.”
Henry frowned at her, “You weren’t scared in a dark and dangerous forest, and now you’re scared among other humans?”
Rose’s lips trembled, and in the next moment, tears filled her eyes, “I want to go home.”
At first, he was so astonished that he didn’t reply. Then he got up and held her shoulders gently.
“Why do you want to go home?” he asked politely.
The streaks of tears flowed down her cheeks and wet her lips. She couldn’t even speak, and her condition was becoming worse. Henry realized it, he made her sit on the bed and she screwed her eyes shut.
“I slept with Mama on grass, my head in her lap and she sang me a lullaby…” she sniffed, “and stroked my hair… I can’t sleep, I can’t sleep without Mama!”
There was silence. He sat on the bed beside her and snaked his arm around her.
“So, you miss your mother?”
Rose nodded slowly.
Henry bit the inside of his cheek, “Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
She shook her head again, not willing to open her eyes. Curiosity was etched on his face, puzzled by her attitude.
“Hey, at least tell me why you aren’t looking at me,” he gently prompted, leaning toward her.
“You’ll distract me.”
His frown deepened, “How?”
She swallowed hard, her grip on the bear tightening, “You’re shirtless.”
First, Henry stared at her, then he began to chuckle, then held her and kissed her temple. After smiling at her, he left her with her eyes still closed. Wearing his shirt now, he stood in front of her and spoke gently. “Get up, Rose.”
“Are we going home?” she looked at him happily and forgot she had shut her eyes earlier.
“No,” he told her, “but some place like home.”
When she got up, Henry locked his fingers with hers and they left the room. Soundlessly but confidently, they descended the stairs and reached the garden. Henry sat on the grass in the darkness, but Rose stared at him.
“What are you doing?” she asked, as if Henry was mad.
“Well,” Henry gestured around, “Plants, trees, grass, and my lap. This is the best I can offer.”
He was being serious. Smiling broadly, Rose lay down on the bed of grass and put her head in his lap. Henry was wide awake now.
He sighed. The night would be long for him.
“Henry?” Rose asked in a sleepy voice.
“Hmm?” he was stroking her hair.
“What about a lullaby?”
He frowned, “I don’t sing, and the mosquitoes are already buzzing in my ear.”
“Henry?” Rose asked again after a moment’s silence.
“Hmm?”
“Why don’t you sing?”
His hands stopped moving and he replied darkly, “I just don’t. Now, will you please close your eyes?”
“Okay.”
***
Henry was awakened by a warm hand on his shoulder. He had fallen asleep with Rose in his arms, his head on the wet grass, and his arm under Rose’s head. How his posture had changed during the night he couldn’t recall.
Blinking in the dawning light, he propped himself up on his elbow, blocking the light with his arm, shielding his eyes.
“Wha’? Who is this?”
“Henry,” said a reserved voice.
He sat up immediately, “Dad!”
There were three men at his side. Now fully awake, Henry stared at the men.
“This is my son,” Fernando Cavills, being the president, looked embarrassed, “Henry, meet Mr. Howard, our new interior minister.”
“Oh,” Henry held up his hand, shaking it with Mr. Howard’s.
“What are you doing here?” His father’s tone still tinged with embarrassment, “With a girl?”
Henry looked at Rose lying next to him with the teddy still in her arms.
“Oh…” he too seemed embarrassed now, “This is Rose… err… we just came here… and… we were talking…umm…. I don’t know when we fell asleep.”
Henry was pathetic at lying. There was awkward silence.
“Well,” Fernando said before leaving, “You had better go to your room now.”
Henry kept sitting there for some seconds, perhaps thinking how badly he had embarrassed his father.
“Shit!” he muttered through gritted teeth.
He shook Rose’s arm, but she was slumbering, so he carried her back into her room.
***
Hearing the argument, Henry stepped toward Rose’s bedroom and went in with a knock. He halted when he found Rose standing on the bed with the teddy in her arms and the maid by the bed, standing akimbo.
“What’s going on?” he asked, puzzled.
“She isn’t wearing her dress, sir,” the maid answered in an annoyed voice. Henry glanced at the royal blue gown placed there for the ball.
He looked at Rose, hands in pockets, walking in, wearing a tuxedo, a white dress shirt, and his hair neatly combed. He wasn’t looking himself. Rose stared at him, she was used to the Henry who had disheveled hair, knee-high boots, dirty clothes, and a bow.
“Come down, Rose,” he asked politely.
Rose shook her head like a truculent child.
“See?” the maid added scathingly.
Henry turned up his face by the bed, and held up his hands, “Come on.”
His encouragement was enough. Tentatively, she moved forward. Henry put his hands under her arms and lifted her down, not taking
his eyes off her.
“Why won’t you wear it?”
“Because it’s blue,” she sounded upset. The maid remained quiet now. Both stared at each other.
“Why are you staring at me?” he asked gently.
“Because you’re distracting me.
Controlling his smile, he gestured the maid to leave. His eyes trailed on the maid and fixed on Rose again when she closed the door.
“But I’m wearing my shirt.”
“No… you look different.”
“You mean,” he stepped closer, “handsome.”
Rose nodded. He slowly smiled his reserved smile.
“So, I guess you want a red dress?”
“Mmm.” She kept staring at him.
“Well, we can manage that. I’m sure we’ll find one.”
“But Henry,” Rose asked abruptly, “why are we getting ready?”
“For the dance of course. You’ll meet my parents there.”
“But why should I meet them?”
He gave an elusive answer, “Because… I’ll tell you later.”
He finally let go of her hands and gestured to the bear she had dropped, “Don’t bring him to the ball.”
He was about to leave when Rose called him back abruptly, “Henry! I… don’t know how to dance.”
“What?” he was surprised, turning back, he walked to her again. Rose shrugged innocently.
“I should have known.” He admonished himself, “Okay, okay…”
It wasn’t a problem. Henry swiftly arranged a tutor for her and left them together. He seemed worried. Rose was going to meet his parents and he wanted the meeting to be flawless. Being astute, he appointed the task of sorting out her dress to a designer.
It was a busy day, and Henry didn’t have time to meet with her. What if she couldn’t learn to dance in time? What if she refused to wear the new dress too? He would coax her, she had to, she must wear it.
At night, the villa was bright like the sun, looking magnificent. There were mayors, dukes, and ladies arriving to celebrate Henry’s parents’ thirtieth-wedding anniversary.
Henry was busy greeting the guests. During the conversations with the guests, his eyes were always searching for Rose in the crowd. It was getting late and she wasn’t there yet, whereas his doubts were changing to panic now.
The orchestra began to play a waltz and Henry excused himself from the ministers. There were couples around and as he looked toward the stairs, he came face to face with his father.
“Henry, son, it looks as if you’re waiting for someone,” Mr. Cavills said, placing his hand on his back.
“Yes,” he tried not to look anxious.
Fernando stood, his hands down in front of himself with curiosity in his eyes, “And who might that be?”
Henry was reluctant but he had to tell him, he had to take the plunge and face the results.
“Dad,” he paused, his jaw clenching, “I want you to meet someone.”
“Who?” and then he laughed, “Oh…” he must have got an idea from Henry’s nervousness.
“I got it, son. Is she the one you want to marry?”
Henry nodded, seriously, “Yes.”
Fernando became reserved again, “Then make sure she’s eligible to become the daughter-in-law of Mr. President.”
With a smile, he moved away. Henry kept looking at the gilded curtains, parted. When he turned to leave, he was stunned as his eyes fell on Rose.
He was overwhelmed by the beautiful sight. Rose walked down the stairs like a lady, wearing a red gown blooming like a flower, her golden hair pinned up, and a few curls hanging loose, red lips and rosy cheeks, it seemed as if a rose had been incarnated in human form.
Her eyes met his, and when she smiled, he held his breath.
“Henry?” she whispered, and he realized she was standing in front of him.
“Hmm?” he could hardly speak as his heartbeat accelerated.
“I’m scared.”
He stayed silent and then he assured her, “I swear, you have no reason to be frightened of me… ”
“No, I’m scared of them,” she spoke over him, and for the first time, he realized he wasn’t alone with her. There were people around, all staring at Rose.
She was so beautiful that nobody could possibly be jealous of her. Has anyone been jealous of nature? And she was nature. She was Rose. To divert their attention, Henry gestured to the orchestra and waltz music filled the hall once again like an aroma.
The couples started dancing, but Henry lost his courage. The silence lasted a long time, and Rose stood looking around as if waiting for someone.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“My tutor.”
Henry frowned, “For what?”
She stared at him and told him in a direct manner, “To dance of course! I danced with him all the time, and you said I had to dance at the ball. I can’t find him… why are you laughing?”
He couldn’t stop laughing, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He looked at her, licked his lips, and informed her, “He just taught you to dance, he isn’t going to be here.”
Rose looked really worried now, “Oh, no… now who will dance with me?”
“Oh, no,” Henry was still controlling his laugh, his chest heaving, “You’ve got a real problem.”
Rose sighed, hastily looking at the other couples, “Yes. I think so…”
“But I can help you,” he raised his eyebrow.
“How?”
Taking his hands out of his pockets, he slipped one on her waist and took her hand in the other, “I’ll dance with you.”
The moment he touched her, Rose held her breath. He waited, finally, she placed her hand on his shoulder and he took the lead.
It took them a while before began to dance.
Rose didn’t look at him, her eyes were fixed on her feet. Whereas, Henry couldn’t take his eyes off her. The silence between them wasn’t comfortable, but they lost themselves in the music. Rose was a good dancer.
“Why are you panting?” he finally asked her.
She didn’t avert her gaze at his question and answered slowly, “I don’t know… I’m feeling… something… something I’ve never felt before.”
Henry smiled. He knew what feeling that was, the same one he had for her. It seemed she was uncomfortable with it, so, he tried to calm her.
“You are a quick learner, Rose.”
She smiled, Henry felt safe and held her waist in both hands, lifting her. When her feet touched the floor again, she was grinning.
“And you are a good dancer,” she complimented him.
Henry was right, Rose was a fast learner and she danced very well.
“Henry?”
“Yes?”
“Umm… can we go out to the garden again?”
He could sense that she was uncomfortable, letting go of her waist, and locking hands with her. Quietly, he led her outside into the garden, glad nobody was there. The music played on in the distance as Henry looked at her under the star-gilded sky.
They stood silently for a long time, Rose staring at the stars and Henry looking at her.
“I miss Mama,” she told him, her eyes still fixed on nature’s marvel.
Henry didn’t reply as if he didn’t know how to make conversation. But then, without wasting time, he said, “You owe me a dance, Rose.”
A slight crease appeared between her eyebrows, which was clear in the moonlight.
She looked at him, “How so?”
It seemed he excelled in trickery, “Your tutor didn’t come, and I helped you out.”
“Oh,” she was easily caught in his trap, “Okay!”
His face lit up and he took her waist once again, dancing to the waltz music in the distance. He could clearly see she was breathing heavily again. Her cheeks were claret, and she didn’t look at him while dancing.
After a while, he started a conversation again, “Rose?”
“Yes?”
/> There was a pause, “I want you to meet my parents.”
“Okay,” she replied, and then after a minute, as if she had thought about it just now, she asked, “But why?”
A smile appeared on his face. His feet stopped moving and he stared at the cherry girl in front of him, “Because,” he paused, “I’m going to marry you.”
Rose’s face remained stoic. No smile, no frown, just a murmur, “Okay.”
Henry took her face in his hands, forgetting he had to dance. He seemed anxious now as it appeared Rose wasn’t happy with this. Leaning close, he asked her gently, “You don’t want to marry me?”
Fixing his inscrutable eyes on hers, his heart started pounding. He couldn’t afford a negative answer. She was the only one he would marry.
As he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, Rose replied innocently, “Henry, I don’t know what marry means.”
First, he stared at her, then laughed with his closed mouth and embraced her in his arms, kissing her on her cheek.
Rose was puzzled, he could sense it as soon as they broke apart. Holding her hands in his, he explained, “To marry someone means… to live with that person forever, to love and take care of each other.”
“You’ll come and live with me?”
“No,” he silently laughed again, “it means you’ll come and live with me in my home. So, I’ll ask you again, would you please marry me, Rose?”
There was silence. It seemed as if her words were stuck in her throat, choking her.
“Huh?’ Henry encouraged. He felt his hands being squeezed, turning pale, but he didn’t cringe.
Finally, she looked down on her hands and replied apologetically, “I can’t live without Mama.”
“Of course,” Henry swallowed, “Okay your mama can live with us too, now?”
Rose smiled, “Okay I’ll ask my mama for permission.”
“So that means a yes from you?” he said impatiently.
Rose had barely nodded when he lifter her up and twirled her around as she laughed. As soon as she touched her feet on the grass, he embraced her again, her head against his warm chest, listening to every beat.
“I love you. God knows I love you,” he whispered.
This time, Rose didn’t ask him love’s meaning. Holding her hand, he led her inside once again. the light music was still there, some fancy looking couples on the dance floor. Eyes turned towards the cherry red girl, but Henry ignored them. His eyes were searching for his parents and he easily found them drinking champagne with friends and some important foreign diplomats.
