Page 41 of Meet Me at Christmas
“Not if it’s a fake.” She lifted the stone to inspect it again.
“You think it is?”
“Yeah,” she said, tucking it back under her collar. “Why else would it be on the airport floor and not a soul seems to be looking for it?”
“I’ve never believed in all that hocus pocus anyway.”
“You never do.” She caught herself as she spoke. She realized his comfortable demeanor made it easy to slide back into how she’d once felt about him.
She worried he’d tense back up if she offered any banter. Instead, to her relief, he seemed to relax into the drive, his shoulders loose and a neutral softness upon his lips. Mary Jo’s assessment came to mind:“He has seemed more relaxed since you arrived.”She couldn’t deny the feeling of affection that swelled at the thought.
When they reached the hospital, Henry hung back, his pace matching her short strides. He held the door open for her, and he seemed genuinely pleasant. He even greeted Ms. Weixel when he walked in, which caused her to send a surprised and delighted look over to Stella behind his back.
“So, Henry, do you have any positives for me today?” she asked, clicking her pen and sliding it into her pocket.
Stella sat in her chair across the room and opened her laptop.
“I had a nice drive into the city this morning,” he replied.
Stella’s hands stilled, and she peered over at him. Had he actually offered a decent answer today?
“That’s great news,” Ms. Weixel said, as she took her seat across from him. “What about the drive was nice?”
“I was in good company.” Henry’s gaze flitted to Stella.
Her pulse rose as she typed his answer, keeping her eyes on her screen.
“Who was with you?” the therapist asked.
“Stella and I rode together this morning.”
“Oh, that’s really great.”
“And I had eggs with coffee.”
He eyed Stella, sending her stomach into a somersault. What was in those eggs this morning? He’d let Mary Jo tie a holiday wreath to the grill of his truck, and now he was answering the therapist’s questions. Who was this new Henry?
“Well, I’m delighted to hear that. And I’m glad to see you actively participating in your therapy.”
The session went on without a hitch and Stella documented it all, the whole time wondering what had gotten into Henry. His behavior was different today, very familiar.
“I’m going to give you a little homework to complete before tomorrow,” the therapist said at the end of their meeting. “I’d like you to do one new thing. Something you haven’t done before—your choice—and report back in our next session.”
* * *
“Could we call the trip to the jewelry store something I haven’t done?” Henry asked while maneuvering the truck out of the parking lot.
Stella shivered on the cold bench seat, rubbing her arms through her coat, trying to get warm. “I’m not sure that counts.”
Henry turned up the heat. “That’s what I get for complying with her ridiculous therapy. Now I have homework.”
“It doesn’t have to be stressful.”
“What would I possibly be able to do right now that I haven’t done before?”
He had a point. She and Henry had spent their entire lives in the area. There wasn’t a whole lot they hadn’t done. “Maybe we can search for something here in Nashville. I’m guessing there’s at least one new tourist attraction we haven’t gone to.”
Henry shook his head. “I’m not really up for all that.” He turned out of the hospital parking lot and came to a stop at the stoplight. “I was hoping to just go home.”
