Page 121 of Resilience on Canvas
“Really?” his father said, surprisingly sounding more amused than upset. Henry managed a nod in response. “Alright, then, Henry Davis it is.” He shook Henry’s shoulder a bit. “Go on in there and impress them, Mr. HenryDavis.”
Henry pursed his lips to try to contain his burgeoning smile. “I will.”
He turned on his heel and began walking toward City Hall, the pulsating fear he had been feeling earlier—the one that had been roaring in his ears—now tempered to a soft murmur. Henry held his head high as he headed inside what had to be one of the most magnificent buildings in the entire country, and even as he found himself taken aback by the lustrous lobby with its intricate moldings and beautifully carved ceiling, his confidence stayed strong within him.
When Henry spotted the sign for the office he needed, he took a pause, bracing himself for the inevitable earthquake of worry to shatter his self-worth, but instead, he felt a sort of certainty in himself that he hadn’t never felt before in his whole life.
Only moments before, he had stood tall in front of the man whose love and respect had, for so many years, seemedjustbeyond his reach, and he had found the strength within himself to be honest—honest about who he was and what he wanted and whom he loved. Even though the possibility of rejectionor reprehension had terrified him, Henry had still mustered the courage to say his truth.
Finally, Henry felt like he had truly earned his nickname.
Little wolf.
Chapter Thirty-One
Henry
Hourslater,Henrywassitting beside his father in the Model A truck, every inch of him humming with barely contained excitement. He’d done it. He’d secured a position with the Federal Art Project! Every week from now on, he would be expected to produce a piece of artwork, sometimes by himself, like a painting that could be hung in a federal building, or sometimes with other folks, like a combined effort to paint a mural somewhere in the city. He had gotten the job!
When Henry’s father turned onto Henry and Robert’s street, Henry began shifting in his seat, and the moment his house came into view, he sucked in a long breath. Every second of the ride had been torture. Because there was nothing more that Henry wanted than to be home so he could wait for Robert, even though Robert probably wouldn’t even be home for several hours yet.
Henry’s father pulled up in front of the house, and before the car could even roll to a stop, Henry reached for the handle. His father let out a chuckle.
“Looking forward to telling Robert the news?” he said. “Don’t you even want to say bye?”
Henry let his hand fall from the handle.
“Sorry,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I can’t wait to see Robert’s face when I tell him. Goodness, he’ll be so proud.”
Henry’s father smiled warmly. “He would have been proud of you either way.”
“I know,” Henry said, his cheeks warming.
“Do you know what made me come see you this morning?” Henry’s father asked. Henry shook his head. “Last week, I overheard you and Robert in the kitchen after the two of us had that fight. I heard him say how proud he was of you.” He let out a breath. “It sort of made me realize thatIought to have been supporting you like that. You’re my son, Henry. And I hope the funding for this program lasts a long time. Because this city needs that talent of yours.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. I do.”
Henry took a moment to sit with those wonderful words. His father was proud of him. His father supported him. Most importantly, his fatherlovedhim. Henry was sure of it now.
“Thanks,” Henry said, his entire body now not only buzzing from excitement but also tingling from the most wonderful warmth, too. His eyes flitted over to the door handle. “So... can I...?”
“Go on,” his father said with a teasing shake of his head.
Henry flung open the door. Without even waving, he bounded toward the house, tripping once on the way. Once he was inside, he kicked off his shoes, not even bothering to untie them first, and then headed toward his and Robert’s bedroom, figuring that maybe he could start painting something before Robert came home. Something that he could use to surprise Robert with the news. Maybe he could set to work on a new version of the sapling painting, only in this one, the sapling wouldn’t be no flimsy thing, but a whole thriving tree.
Because the future that him and Robert wanted, it was finally theirs.
When Henry reached the third floor, Robert poked his head out of their bedroom. Henry staggered back a step as his heart practically flew out of his chest. Robert’s face broke into the biggest smile Henry had ever seen.
“I-I thought you went to the fields to work,” Henry spluttered.
“Nah, I hopped in the truck with Joe, but then I had him turn back when we reached the edge of the city. I realized that I ought to be home when you got back instead.” Henry’s stomach fluttered. What a perfect husband Robert was! Robert tilted his head. “So, what’d they say? Did they like yer work?” Henry nodded eagerly. Robert’s eyes lit up. “Yeah? Did they hire you?”
Henry nodded against the lump in his throat a few more times as excitement, pride, shock, and unbridled, over-the-moon happiness came rushing to the surface, bringing tears to his eyes. Good Lord, he was so stinking overwhelmed that he couldn’t even speak.
“Really?!” Robert said, his eyes filling with tears, too, as he met Henry in the middle of the hall. “Goddamn son of a bitch, that’s incredible! How much will they be payin’ you?”
