These Sheltering Walls: A Cane River Romance (25 page)

            Her
stomach growled and Henry remembered the toast she’d left in the kitchen along
with the mug of coffee. She watched herself come to a decision, eyes narrowing
and lips going tight, and then she was out of the bathroom, headed for the
living room. She slipped on her sneakers and grabbed her purse.

            “I’ll
be right back,” she yelled, already halfway out the door. “I’m just running to
get some breakfast.”

            She
was nearly at the bottom of the stairs and out the back door before she
realized that she’d told the truth, for once. Crossing the parking lot, she
tried not to imagine Kimberly’s expression. Her phone rang in her purse and she
flinched. She didn’t need to check it to know who was calling.

            The
river walk seemed empty after the late summer crowds and Henry felt herself
start to relax. She would just get some biscuits and hash browns to go, then
head back. Once she got some food in her stomach, Kimberly and her ‘add two cup
sizes’ lingerie would be a lot easier to take.

            Henry
stretched her neck from side to side and felt her muscles slowly relaxing. Her
ponytail was slipping and instead of tightening it up, she impulsively took out
the hairband and let her hair swing free. It was still damp from her shower and
she felt a little hedonistic walking around in public without it being styled. It
might have been rude to run out of the apartment like that but she was doing
Kimberly a favor, really. Ten minutes, or twenty, and she’d be back. Henry
looked toward the river, loving the familiar glint of sun on the water. She
needed to get out and walk around more. It was good for her emotional state. So
was eating breakfast, now that she thought about it. The promise of a hot
breakfast made her walk even faster.

            She
turned the corner, still gazing at the river and dreaming of biscuits, and
slammed directly into another person. There was an impression of a blue plaid
shirt and some buttons, and she let out a grunt as her head connected with something
hard. Hands reached out and gripped her arms as she bounced backwards.

            “I’m
so sorry―” she started to say, reaching up to feel her aching nose.

            “Are
you―” he said.

            “―about
that.”

            “―okay?”

            Henry
blinked up, still massaging the bridge of her nose. Gideon stared back, looking
more than a little worried. She’d seen him not more than twelve hours ago, but
she’d missed him. She wanted to reach out and hug him, but they weren’t on
hugging terms. Not even handshake terms, actually.   

            “I’m
fine. I wasn’t paying attention at all,” she said, letting out a breath.
“Obviously.”

             His
eyes wrinkled at the corners and he let go of her arms. “I was looking at the blue
jay in that magnolia tree,” he said, pointing out the bird perched high above
them. “Seems like we were both distracted.”

             Henry
considered pretending that she’d been in a hurry to do something important, but
she glanced down at her faded jeans and couldn’t think of a single story that
would fit. “I was on my way to get some biscuits and gravy. Or country ham. I
hadn’t decided yet.”

            “Ah,”
he said. “I don’t want to make you late.” She saw his gaze roam over her face
and she realized she’d forgotten her glasses in the apartment. Along with the
wet hair, old clothes and tennis shoes, she wondered what he could be thinking.

            “See,
my aunt came over. Early. Too early. We’re going to a wedding and she showed up
before breakfast with lots of dresses. And they’re really not dresses I’d want
to wear. They’re all too tight or too short or too low cut,” she said. “And she
brought lingerie, but it’s not lingerie I would want to put on. Everything is
too tiny or too padded or shouldn’t even be considered underwear, it’s really
more like―” She held up her hands, trying to convey how everything was
lacking in sufficient material in all the important places.

            “Oh,”
he said.

            “There
was a corset,” she blurted. He could possibly blame her for trying to avoid a
corset.

            “Ah.”
His face was turning pink.

            Henry
sighed. “I know. It’s stupid to run away from my own apartment because of that
but I just thought if I got some breakfast, then I would be able to come back
and go through with all the dressing and make-up and hair fixing with a much
better mood.”

            “You
were headed to The Red Hen?”

            “I
hadn’t really thought that far ahead. I was trying to put some distance between
me and―”

            “―
the corset,” he said, his dimples appearing.

            She
nodded, wishing that he would invite himself along. She’d never been someone
who craved company, but she waited, hoping.

            “I
won’t keep you,” he said.

            That
was that. Nothing to do but walk away. But Henry still stood there.

            “You
should…” She started to say.
Come with me.
She wished she’d worn
something nicer and put on a little make up. Maybe he didn’t want to be seen
wandering all over the river walk with her.

            He
waited for her to finish.

            “Maybe
you’d like to…?” she tried again. Her face was getting warm. “Have you already…?”

            His
eyebrows were back up. She was suddenly aware of people passing by and the blue
of the sky. Just an hour before she’d told herself to take it slow, to be
careful with her heart. She didn’t want to get burned. They were colleagues and
she’d waited years to be part of a project like his. She shouldn’t do anything
to put it in jeopardy.

            Those
were all true statements, but she couldn’t think of a single good reason to
follow through on her own advice now.

            “Would
you like to go to breakfast with me?” she asked.

            “Yes,
ma’am,” he said, and smiled for real.

Sometimes it takes a good fall to
really know where you stand.

― Hayley Williams

            Henry
paused, a biscuit in one hand. “But they didn’t get in?”

            Gideon
shook his head. “I don’t think so. The door is cracked and they took a few good
whacks at the frame, but apparently, your fear of being trapped down there had
some merit. It looked like whoever tried to get in gave it their best shot, but
the door held.”

            He
poked at his mushroom eggs benedict for a moment. He shouldn’t say anything
unless he was sure. Speculation was how rumors got started. But he felt
comfortable with Henry. She knew when to keep a secret. “It’s probably just a
coincidence but I wonder if Barney Sandoz had anything to do with it.”

            “I
wondered the same thing,” she said quietly. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”

            “I’m
glad he didn’t get in but maybe he’ll be back with something heavier, or a
crowbar. I’ve got to move everything out of there as soon as possible.”

            Her
mouth went tight. “Good idea. And whoever it was, they would have waited for a
key from the realtor if they had good intentions. No, it was definitely a
thief. It makes me sick to think on it. All your work, all that time and effort―
gone.”

            “All
our
work,” he reminded her.

            She
looked up with a shy smile and he was ready to declare everything about Henry
was plain wonderful. Everything she said was charming. And he loved the way she
looked right now, with her hair loose around her shoulders, her eyes so green
because there weren’t any glasses to hide them. Her mouth was perfect, but he’d
never really known what her lips looked like without the bright lipstick.  The
bottom lip was plump and the top matched it perfectly, both tapering to perfect
points on either side. When she talked, one side was a little higher than the
other, giving the impression she was keeping some amusing thought to herself.  She
lifted her coffee cup to take a sip, blowing on the surface, and her lips were
pursed as if she were kissing―

            “Gideon?”

            “Hm?”
He snapped back to the conversation.

            “Were
you listening?”

            “Yes,”
he said, nodding. Her eyes widened a little and he wanted to sink through the
floor. She was kind enough not to point out his lie. “I’ll be right back,” he
said and stood up.

            He
walked to the counter and waited for Nita to take notice of him. Leaving her at
the table like that wasn’t very smooth but he didn’t know what else to say. Henry
had spent her life in the shadow of one of the most beautiful women in the
world, who felt no one ever really saw her, no one really listened. Gideon
wanted to kick himself. She’d trusted him, opened her heart, told him secrets
that no one else knew and he responded by tuning her out while she was talking,
and then lying about it.

            “Hey,
there.” Nita scooted around the counter and grabbed the pad from near the
register. “I didn’t ring up your ticket yet. Give me a sec, hon.”

            “No
hurry,” he said.

            “How
you like those mushroom eggs benedict? My friend Bernice makes ‘em with a
different kind of mushroom. Criminey, I think she said.”

            “It
was great, as always,” Gideon said, suddenly knowing where the conversation was
going to go.

            “That’s
right, you know Bernice. She’s your secretary, right?” Nita didn’t wait for an
answer. She pushed a few buttons on the register and peered at the slip again. “She
sure loves her family, especially that nephew Blue.”

            He
shifted his feet, wondering how fast Bernice would know that Gideon had been
out with Blue’s girlfriend. He could say it was just breakfast, but this was
Natchitoches and there was no such thing when two single people were involved.

            “She
said he’s takin’ the break up real well,” Nita said.

            “Break
up?”

            “He’s
a gentleman so he wouldn’t say what went wrong but I guess we can all see it
now.” She gave him a look that said he wasn’t on her list of favorite customers
any more.

            “Went
wrong?”

            “Don’t
tell me you don’t know Blue and Henry are no longer datin’ because I didn’t
fall off the turnip truck yesterday.” She entered a final item and hit the
tally button. The register whirred and a total appeared on the tiny screen.

            Gideon
stared at the little green numbers, his mind struggling to catch up with Nita’s
words.

            “You
want to split the check? I just assumed you were paying for breakfast.” She
planted a hand on her hip. “I’m not tellin’ you what to do, but no woman wants
to go Dutch for everything, no matter how educated she is.”

            He
shook his head. “No, that total is right. I was just thinking.” He handed over
his card and then signed the little receipt. He took a twenty out of his wallet
and handed it back over with the restaurant’s copy. “And thank you for the
really excellent service, Nita. As always.”

            “You
need change for this?” She was already rummaging around in her apron pockets,
pulling out single dollars and counting them.

            “No,
that’s for you.” Gideon would have reached over and given her a big kiss on the
forehead if he could have gotten away with it.

            “Huh?
Well, if you say so.” Nita gave him a sidelong look. “And don’t try to impress
her too much. I don’t think she likes a show off.”

            “Yes,
ma’am,” he said. He could stay here all day and listen to Nita tell him how to
win over Henry.

            “Get
away with you,” she said, flapping one hand in his direction. “You’re smiling
so big you’re worryin’ me.”

            Gideon
nodded and turned back to the table. The whole restaurant seemed lighter, full
of wonderful smells and happy people. And there she was, sitting at their
table, waiting for him to return. There was a question in her eyes, those
beautiful green eyes, and as he came close, he wanted to pull her up from her
chair and―

            “Did
you just pay for my breakfast? You shouldn’t have done that. I invited you.”
Her brows were drawn together.

            “Already
done,” he said. “And
we should probably get you back to that
torture session now that you’ve been fortified by some good creole scramble,
biscuits, and strong coffee.”

             “I
suppose you’re right. And thank you. I may just survive the next few hours of
primping.”

            They
chatted on the way back to her apartment, talking as easily as if they’d been
friends for years. The sunlight sparkled on the river, families strolled along
the river walk, and Robert Browning’s line ‘God’s in His heaven and all’s right
in the world’ ran through his mind.  Gideon was starting to think this was the
best morning of his entire life.

            The
only ripple in the perfect moment was that soon she’d be back to her packed
weekend and he already missed her.

            “Are
you going to St. Augustine’s tomorrow?” he asked.

            “I’m
not sure. Kimberly usually likes to attend the basilica. Bigger crowd.” She
didn’t need to clarify that the crowd was for Kimberly, and not the Mass.

            They
walked in silence for a few moments. The path to the back door of By the Book appeared
and Henry stopped. “Thank you again. For breakfast. And the company.”

            “My
pleasure. Thank you for inviting me.” Gideon wanted to reach out and tuck a
stray curl behind her ear. Instead, he put his hands in his pockets. “Maybe
when Kimberly is gone…”

            His
mouth went dry and he realized why Henry had stuttered out his breakfast
invitation. Asking her on a date was terrifying. He should have rehearsed
something for this moment, but he hadn’t known there was any kind of chance for
him, not today. What if she said no? What if she said yes?

            She
was looking up at him, amusement and curiosity in her eyes.

            “I
mean, when you have time, maybe…” Gideon wished he’d never started this. He
should have left the perfect morning just as it was. He’d been greedy.
Pigs
get fed and hogs get eaten.
He was about to experience what happened when
you were ungrateful.

            “Yes,”
she said.

            For
a moment he thought he’d finished his sentence and hadn’t noticed.

            “Whatever
it is, yes.” Her eyes were crinkled at the corners but she kept a straight
face.

            She
was laughing at him and he didn’t mind a bit. Gideon let out a slow breath.
“You’re making this easy on me.”

            She
stepped forward, put a hand on his arm, and stood on tiptoe before he
registered that she was going to kiss him. He leaned down a bit as she pressed
her lips to his cheek. Her mouth was warm and soft, and he wanted to keep her
there forever.

            “Call
me,” she said, already turning away.

            He
tried to respond but ended up just lifting a hand in a half-wave, seconds after
she’d disappeared from sight. Maybe that old saying was wrong. Maybe there was
something to being bold and asking for more than you deserved.  

            He
started back down the sidewalk, in awe of how easy it was to be around her. She
made everything seem possible, even the one scenario that filled him with fear.
To willingly create a child and be responsible for their innocence was
unthinkable. He’d failed Katie Rose, failed Austin, failed Mark Daniels’ son
when he’d taken revenge.

            But
for a moment, he imagined a life with a Henry. In his vision, it was a life
full of easy mornings, tender touches, a partner in his work and life, perhaps
even a child. He wondered how it would be to plan the years ahead with
anticipation, rather than resignation.

            A
tiny flare of hope sparked inside him, burning bright and hot. He hardly dared
to believe it. As dark as his past was and as cold-hearted as he’d been, there might
be a chance for him to have a family after all.

                                                                        ***

            Henry
couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Being that close to Gideon was like
taking a drug that erased her logical self. She’d never been the impulsive
type. Her college years were marked by single-minded dedication to achieving
her degrees. Moving home and taking the position at the Cane River historical
park was part of a long-term, carefully thought-out plan. Working with Gideon
Becket was a goal she’d envisioned and was thrilled to achieve. But everything else
she’d done since she arrived had run the gamut from spontaneous to utterly rash.

            Henry
grinned remembering the way he’d slumped in relief when she said yes. She
couldn’t imagine what had been going through his mind. It was true, he’d done
something terrible a long time ago, but that wasn’t who he was now. Any woman
for miles around would have accepted him. Maybe he was used to women playing it
cool. If Kimberly had been there, she would give a little speech on how to reel
in a man by playing coy, not letting him know how much she really cared. Henry
had never been the coy kind of girl.

            She
put a hand to her lips, remembering the way he had frozen in place when she
stepped toward him. She’d kissed Blue’s cheek a few times, and he always
greeted her with a kiss, but somehow it had seemed about as exciting as a
handshake.

            Henry
reached her apartment door and sighed. Her stomach was in knots. Even though sitting
through a wedding at the basilica for someone she’d never even met wasn’t going
to be too awful, she still dreaded it.

            Kimberly
stood up from the couch and crossed her arms over her chest. She said nothing,
just fixed her with a cold stare.

            “I’m
back,” Henry said brightly. “I’ve had coffee and breakfast. So, we can go ahead
and get started.”

            “Lorelei,”
Kimberly said. She seemed as if she might follow up with a lecture but instead,
she shook her head and tears started to stream down her cheeks.

            “Okay.
Let’s not get dramatic. We still have four hours left to get ready.” She
started to walk toward the bedroom “You can choose two dresses, and I’ll choose
from one of those.” She turned, lifting a finger. “But I choose the underwear.”

            Kimberly
hadn’t moved. She stood still, letting out tiny sobs.

            “This
doesn’t make me sorry,” Henry said, starting to lose her temper. “It makes me
not want to go at all.”

            “Isn’t
that the way it always is? You do whatever you want. You have all the power.”