Page 18 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
Her friend? Edith followed her gaze. Oh. Apparently they were done talking about the man from the diner. Fine by her. “That’s Henry,” Edith said, pointing to his house.
“Henry. Okay. I’ll have to remember that. Like I said, we’ve been here a few months, but I’ve been working a lot and haven’t had a chance to meet many people outside of the nursing home. But it’s nice to put a few names to some of the faces at least. Edith and Henry. Edith and Henry,” Cheryl mumbled, giving Gabby a quick hug. “Have a good day,” she said to her daughter. “What time do you think you’ll be home?”
Edith backed away, letting the mother and daughter converse in private.Edith and Henry.Now Cheryl was talking about them as if they were anus. How funny.
She crossed the street and let herself into Henry’s house.She’d have to tell him about it in the next letter. He’d get a kick out of it. “We better watch ourselves, Henry,” Edith said with a laugh as she closed the front door. “We’re going to set the neighbor’s tongues wagging if we’re not careful.”
Hi Edith,
Just checking in and making sure my uncle Henry is treating you right. My house should be ready soon. Although, I don’t know, if you keep spoiling my uncle with banana bread and butter pecan ice cream, he might try to keep you!
Kat
Hi Kat,
Ha-ha, yes. I’ve noticed your uncle has a bit of a sweet tooth. He’s not diabetic, is he? I didn’t think to ask ahead of time. You want to hear something funny? I’m pretty sure the new neighbors across the street think your uncle Henry and I are a couple. Isn’t that a hoot! Maybe we should stage a big breakup in the front yard once your house is ready.
Edith
That’s hilarious! Have you told Henry? You should. I’ve always told him he needs a strong woman in his life. And yes, I definitely think you should put on a show for the neighbors. I give you full permission to smack my uncle across the face whenever it’s time to move out. Can’t you just see it? “You took the best years of my life, Henry.” Then smack!
More like, “You took the last of the butter pecan ice cream, Henry.” Then smack!
Oh, Edith. I love you. If there weren’t such an age difference, I’d say you and my uncle were perfect for each other.
I know. I always used to say I was born in the wrong generation. Oh, well. Take care, Kat. It’s been fun talking to you. I’ll let you know how the “big breakup” turns out.
Can’t wait!
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I want something clean. But not too clean. White, just not overly white. A gentle sort of white. Like... like... Maria von Trapp. When she marries the captain. Pure but still spunky. That’s all I’m asking. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Henry stared at the strip of paint color samples he held in one hand while massaging his knee beneath the office desk with his other. The rainy weather was wreaking havoc on his joints today. “You want your kitchen walls to look like Maria von Trapp on her wedding day.”
“No, I want them tofeellike Maria von Trapp on her wedding day.” Mrs. Newberry leaned across the desk to tap her finger on the bottom color named lily of the valley. “Right now, it feels like the baroness. Cold. Impersonal. Unaffectionate toward children.”
Okay. Henry dropped the sample strip on his desk and leaned back, his wooden roller chair creaking beneath his weight. Was he due for more Tylenol yet? His knee ached. And now thanks to Mrs. Newberry, his head ached.
Where on earth was Peg? She usually dealt with Mrs. Newberry for him. “I’m a little tied up the next few days—” he ignored her huff of displeasure—“but how about I come out later in the week? We’ll see what we can do about making your walls come alive with the sound of music.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
Sure. Until next week when she decided her walls needed to feel more like the opening number toHello, Dolly!Henry held back his thoughts with a tight smile as he shifted forward in his seat, more than ready to stand and escort Mrs. Newberry out the front door.
“There was one other thing I wanted to mention as well.”
Henry sank back in his chair.
“The knobs on the kitchen cabinets.”
“The ones I switched out last Tuesday?” he asked, palming his forehead to massage his temples.
“Yes. They’re just soround.” She wrapped a plastic hair wrap over her gray bob and tied it beneath her chin. “Do you have anything less, I don’t know... circular? Maybe something a little more oval? I don’t want squares. I know that.”
“Right.” He’d already switched those out two weeks ago. “I’ll take a look at it along with the paint color.”
“That’s all I’m asking.” As she started to rise, the door to the office opened and a hooded figure stepped inside. The moment he tossed back the hood of his rain jacket, Henryfroze and Mrs. Newberry popped the rest of the way out of her seat with a squeal.
