Page 69 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
“It’s okay, Mr. Walton. Her face just looks that way whenever she’s gathering wool. Or having an allergic reaction. You’re not having another allergic reaction, are you?”
Edith turned around to see Gabby walking toward them. “No. I’m fine. Must have been the wool again.”
“Good thing. I’m running low on EpiPens. See ya. Bye, Mr. Walton.”
He waved to Gabby, then took a step closer to Edith. “I had a great-uncle who was allergic to wool.” He hitched his bag higher and clicked his tongue. “Real shame. He had to sell the entire sheep farm. Never was the same after that. At least that’s what I’m told. He died a long time ago.” He made a drinking motion with his hand, then shook his head with pity.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Edith said, not sure what else to say. Edith blew her bangs from her eyes, wondering if he ever had to blow his eyebrows out of his.
“Yep.” Mr. Walton sighed, then clicked his tongue. “Real shame.” He looked Edith over from the toes of her sandals to the bangs on her forehead. “Say, you new here or something? You seem familiar but I don’t recall ever meeting you before.”
“Oh, well—”
Before she could say anything else, his eyes widened and he snapped his fingers. “I know! You’re Henry’s girl, aren’t you?Yes sir.I heard he had himself a real beaut. And that she was volunteering at that baby house.” He belted out a laugh. “Well, good for him. It’s about time he settled down with the right woman. Welcome!”
He nearly pumped her hand out of her shoulder socket, then laughed again. “Oh, man, his mom and dad would be so happy if they were still alive.” He lowered his voice to astage whisper. “Well, they wouldn’t be thrilled about you two living together, but—” he shrugged—“I know Henry will make it right. He’s a good man, that boy.”
“He is. Yes.” Edith tugged her hand from his. “I think there’s been a little misunderstanding though.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. We were never really living together. I mean, we were. But we’re not anymore. Especially since, well, since... things have changed between us, you see.”
“I think I know what you’re saying.”
“You do?” Because that would certainly make this exchange a whole lot easier.
“Yep.” His bushy eyebrows waved up and down. “And I think it’s about time. Julie! Look who I’ve got here.” Mr. Walton waved over Edith’s head. “Henry’s girl. And guess what! They’re tying the knot!”
Edith gasped and would have corrected him if she thought there was any chance to be heard over the sudden screaming behind her. The plump bakery owner was running a crazed fifty-yard dash down the sidewalk. And apparently Edith was the finish line. She lifted her arms as Julie barreled into her for an out-of-breath hug. “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!”
“You shouldn’t,” Edith said, her voice spinning in circles, along with the rest of her body, as Julie swung her around like a rag doll, all while Mr. Walton shouted to anyone within hearing distance.
“Please say you’ll let me make the cake,” Julie said, dropping Edith to her feet so she could grab hold of her shoulders. “Oh, please,please. I’ve been dreaming of this day for ages.It’ll be the most gorgeous cake you’ve ever seen. I promise. Oh, this is wonderful news.”
She let go of Edith and fanned her teary eyes. “Just wonderful. I’ve gotta go tell May. She’ll want to do the flowers of course.” She blew a kiss to Edith and took off across the street. A car squealed its brakes to avoid hitting her.
“Henry and Edith are getting married!” Julie pumped both fists into the air.
When the car tooted its horn and a voice yelled, “Congratulations!” Edith wanted to crawl down the manhole.
“Well, I better get started on my route,” Mr. Walton said. “I imagine I’ll be delivering invitations soon.” He shot her a wink and began to whistle a jaunty tune as he walked away. Edith half expected him to jump in the air and click his heels.
By the time Mr. Walton disappeared, retrieving the letter was the least of her worries. She grabbed the red bike she’d found in Kat’s garage and climbed onto it. Before she made it down the street, two more people shouted their congratulations, and at the corner, a woman she could only assume was May knocked on the window from inside her flower shop to give her a thumbs-up.
Edith gave a half wave back. She didn’t know what to think anymore—other than she was going to need a lot more butter pecan ice cream before this day was over.
Later that night a knock sounded against Kat’s back door. Edith pulled the plug from the sink. Sudsy water drained as she rinsed off the last dish. She was still toweling her hands off when she opened the door.
And groaned.
“Wow, that’s some greeting,” Henry said. “I sort of expected a little more warmth from the woman I’m engaged to marry.”
Edith opened the door wider and stepped back, giving Henry space to enter Kat’s small kitchen. She raised her shoulders, lifting her palms in surrender. “I don’t know what happened. Honest. I just went to the post office to check on something, and next thing I knew, we were engaged.”
“I see.”
“You do?”
