Page 38 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
“Oh. Well. Tell him I’ll try again this evening.”
“No. I mean, he’s not here at all. He left town. I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”
“Really? Did he say where he was going? I just talked to my parents yesterday and they didn’t say anything about Henry coming to see them. I’m the only other family he has, and I’m out of the country.”
“Oh” was all Edith could think to say. She rubbed a hand across her stomach, nauseated that she had caused this sweet old man to abandon his own home. A sweet old man whoshould be at his physical therapy sessions, not wandering lost and alone somewhere. “Kat, I think it may be my fault—”
“This is amazing,” Kat’s voice interrupted on the other end of the line.
“Amazing?” Edith asked, not sure she understood correctly.
“Henry hasn’t done something spontaneous since... I couldn’t even tell you when.”
“You’re not worried about him then?”
“Well, it’s a bit strange he didn’t say where he was going, especially when he’s got a business to run. But he’s a grown man after all. And even with a bad knee, it’s not like he can’t take care of himself.”
“A bad knee?” Edith asked.
“Yeah. Bozo thought it would be fun to play tackle football with the high school team during the alumni game. Took five surgeries to get him back on his feet again. That’s why he’s been getting physical therapy.”
“Right,” Edith said, having trouble picturing her version of Kat’s uncle Henry playing tackle football. Or running a business. “I didn’t realize Henry was still working. Isn’t he close to being retired?”
Kat snorted into the phone. “In his dreams, I suppose. He’s only thirty-two.”
Edith moved the fist clenched against her stomach up to her chest and splayed her fingers across her lungs, willing them to expand against the sudden vise. “What sort of business is it that he runs?”
“Painting and construction. You probably walked past it and didn’t even realize it. He needs a better sign. It’s a fewblocks off Main Street. Hobbes Painting and Construction. Not exactly the most creative title.” Kat laughed into the phone. “I told him he should change it, but that’s Henry for you.”
Edith let out a strangled laugh. “Yep. That’s Henry for you.”
“Hey,” Kat said in a sudden conspiratorial manner, “you don’t suppose he has some secret girlfriend he’s running off to see, do you?”
Edith was grateful she didn’t have that water now. She would have sprayed it across the kitchen island.
“You’ve been staying with him. Have you seen any signs of a new love interest? Other than you, I mean.” Kat laughed.
“Ha-ha, yeah. Other than me.”
“Man, I hope so. That Angela floozy strung him along for way too long. I kept telling him to cut the string and save himself, but you can imagine how well he takes love advice from his niece. Though really, with only being two years apart, we’ve always been more like brother and sister.”
“I see,” Edith said.
“Here I called to say you were about free to move into my house. Now I’m half tempted to tell you to stay put and find out what Henry’s hiding.” Kat giggled. “I’m kidding. Mostly.” She giggled again. “Well, I better get going. If you hear from Henry before I do, tell him to give me a call. Otherwise, like I said, the house should be ready soon.Mi casa, su casa.It was nice talking to you, Edith.”
“Likewise.”
“And can I just say before I go how wonderful I think it is that you’re staying so active. And not just being active in oneof those Red Hat Societies, but really getting out there and doing something worthwhile. Not that the Red Hat ladies aren’t worthwhile. Oh, man, I didn’t mean that. You’re not a Red Hat lady, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Oh, phew. Okay. I’m gonna go now before I put my foot in my mouth. Bye, Edith.”
Edith set the phone back in the cradle and stared out the open kitchen window.
A wind chime plunked a hollow wooden tune. A cardinal picked at seeds from a hanging bird feeder in the backyard. The smell of freshly mowed grass lingered from the neighbor’s yard. Edith hardly noticed.
She could only see Henry—the Henry she knew on paper and the Henry she knew in person—transforming in her mind to become one man. Henry was...Henry.
