Page 64 of A Play For The Heart
“My dad said I need to thank you and Mister Henry Parker.” Micah stands back, still humming with energy. My eyebrows raise at the mention of Henry’s name. I’m utterly befuddled about what’s going on.
“Micah,” I say, bending down to his level, “I’m confused, why exactly do you need to thank us?”
“For the tickets and the jersey! My dad told me that you thank someone when they give you a gift. It was the bestest gift.”
What?
Micah turns around, showing me his new jersey. I expect to see Henry or Deon’s last name, but what’s sewn into the top stuns me. It’s personalized to Micah. His last name is written at the top of the jersey with Henry's number sewn below. The gift is thoughtful and exactly something that Henry would do.
“And the game was sooo fun,” Micah continues. “We had the best seats and my dad bought me nachos.” His eyes go all dreamy at the mention of nachos.
Same, kid.
Micah hugs me one more time, throwing a few more ‘thank you’s’ at me, then runs off to meet his friends before the dodgeball game starts. I watch as the volunteers begin to split the children up into two different teams. As the kids throw the foam balls at each other, my brain keeps going back to the tickets and jersey.
What I can’t wrap my head around is why he didn’t say anything to me. Or how he even got it to Micah. The excitement in Micah’s eyes keeps replaying in my mind, and I can only imagine how much fun he had at the game yesterday. I had a blast, and I’m not a seven-year-old who is obsessed with the Seattle Mavericks.
Between last night, the clothing this morning, and now learning what Henry did for Micah, several emotions flow through me, one stronger than the rest. The strength of the emotion I’m feeling terrifies me.
No.
We are not thinking about that. Not now. Maybe when I’m at home by myself I’ll root through some of the emotions, but I’m not doing it in a room full of children. Especially since I’m prone to tears today.
Time flies after my interaction with Micah. Since the kids have more energy today than usual for a Monday, it’s been all hands on deck. By seven o’clock, I’m exhausted and ready to go home and lay on the couch. I head towards my office to grab my purse and keys, when I hear my name being called from the lobby. I turn around, recognizing Micah’s dad immediately.
“Hi, Mr. Campbell.”
“Oh, Call me Rob. Just wanted to thank you.” He smiles, looking over at Micah, who’s talking to his friend. “It meant the world to Micah.” He places his hand over his heart in gratitude.
“It was all Henry.” I don't want to take the credit away from him and his kind act. “He loves Micah. We both do.” The statement couldn’t be truer. Both Henry and I love Micah. He’s hilarious and fun and an all-around good kid.
Micah comes bounding back over to his dad. And in true Micah fashion, he says something to embarrass me. It may very well be his superpower, and if I hadn’t just gushed about how much I love him, I would seriously consider giving him a look.
“Henry and Miss Sawyer kiss in a tree.”
I can feel my face go red with heat. I look at Rob, pleading for help with my eyes. What am I supposed to say to this man? That it’s not true? Because that would be a big fat lie and I refuse to lie.
Rob just chuckles and politely admonishes his son. “Let’s not embarrass Miss Sawyer, Micah.”
Micah mumbles an apology and runs off to talk to another friend, leaving me and his father in an uncomfortable silence. Rob breaks the tension first. Thank God, because I probably would have stood here in silence until I passed away from embarrassment.
“It’s not my business, but for what it’s worth, any man who goes out of his way to make a child’s day is a good one.”
Rob and Micah say farewell, leaving me dazed in the lobby, replaying what he said in my head over and over.
Again and again, I go through the day’s events in my mind. I lay wide awake in my bed, having thought through every waking moment of my day. Waking up next to Henry in the morning. The feeling of comfort and domesticity about laying beside him in bed. How well I slept, too. It could partly be due to the multiple orgasms he gave me, but I think the other part was feeling safe. I haven’t slept that well since I got to Seattle.
There’s the fact he had gone out and bought clothing for me just in case I ever needed it. And then kept it at his apartment. After the minor miscommunication about where the clothing originated from, my heart had doubled in size. I could feel something fluttering deep inside me, insistent for acknowledgment. I pushed it down, hoping it was just the emotional whiplash from what happened the night before and the crying.
Learning about what Henry did for Micah permanently lodged the feeling in my chest. It's there to stay. The kindness and thoughtfulness behind the gesture speaks volumes about who Henry is. The fact he didn’t say anything to me about it. Everything he did was of his own volition. Out of kind-heartedness, only wanting to make a seven-year-old happy. Every time I see him, I find something else to love about him.
Love.
The emotion bouncing around my chest.
I’m in love with Henry.
Not a friendly love, but a soul-consuming one. A love so strong it lights me up inside and I get all warm at the mention of his name.
