Page 78 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
“Would it? I’m pretty sure a pretend boyfriend and a fake engagement is going to end up in a sham of a marriage. So I don’t really see how it would stand a chance of not turning out like the last time. I’m sorry, Henry.” Her shoulders slumped. “I am. But I can’t. Please understand. I just... I can’t. This isn’t my story, remember?”
Henry released her hands and turned away from her. “I’m sorry. You’re right. You deserve better than this. I don’t knowwhat I was thinking.” He stood up and moved to the kitchen sink, his back facing her.
“Henry.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll figure it out. I shouldn’t have even... I’m sorry.” He scrubbed a cloth along the kitchen counter. “This is my town. My problem.”
Except it wasn’t his problem. Not all of it. If it weren’t for her, Henry would never have needed to loan his bedroom out to a complete stranger. Never pretended to be someone’s boyfriend. Never been mixed up in this whole engagement misunderstanding. Never gotten a black eye.
The list seemed endless.
The ringtone to her phone began playing somewhere nearby. She must have left her cell phone in the living room last night after she’d fallen asleep. “Excuse me,” she mumbled.
She found her phone buried in the couch cushions. “Hello?”
“Great! I’m so glad you answered. I thought I was going to have to leave a message, and this is definitely not something I wanted to tell you in a message.”
“Sharon?”
“Yes, sorry. This is Sharon. Ha! I’m so excited, I forgot to even tell you who I was. Are you sitting down?”
Edith lowered herself to the couch. “Yes.”
“Good. So get this. Your article in the paper today—I’m assuming you’ve seen it?”
“Oh, I’ve seen it.”
“Well, guess what. It’s gone viral.”
“Excuse me?”
Sharon laughed. “I know! I felt the same way when Iheard. Apparently that picture of you and Henry gained a lot of attention through social media and now national papers are adding it to their online websites. But here’s the real kicker, Edith. Are you ready for this?”
“Probably not.”
“People are sending in donations. Can you believe it? People all over the country were so inspired by how you and Henry rescued that little baby they’re pouring in money left and right. At this rate, we’re going to have enough funds to cover the next fiscal year and then some. Oh! And I didn’t even tell you the best part. One of those early morning shows has offered to cover the expense of your wedding if you and Henry agree to an interview. They want to know all about how you two met and fell in love. Can you believe it?”
“No.”
“Oh, Edith, isn’t this wonderful? Not only are you going to have an unbelievable wedding, but just think of the extra publicity for our crisis nursery center. We may be able to finally hire all the full-time staff we need. Not to mention what this sort of publicity could do for the entire town. All because of you and Henry. I’m so excited I could burst!”
Edith felt ready to burst too. “That’s... wow.”
“I know. I’ll let you go, honey. I just couldn’t wait another minute to tell you.” Sharon squealed into the phone. “God is good, Edith. God is good.” The line disconnected.
Edith dropped the phone back onto the couch. Well, God might be good, butthiscertainly wasn’t good.
How was she supposed to walk away from this town when everyone believed she was engaged to one of its citizens? How was she supposed to walk away from this town when thefunding for the crisis nursery center was depending on that engagement? How was she supposed to walk away from this town when it was the first place that had ever truly felt like home?
Maybe she wasn’t supposed to.
“Who was that?” Henry leaned against the doorframe separating the living room from the kitchen.
“What? Oh. Uh, Sharon. Apparently we’re celebrities.” Edith fiddled with her bangs, trying to decide if she could really go through with the idea that had seemed so outlandish out of Henry’s lips but now, rolling around in her own mind, seemed somehow less outlandish. Appropriate even. Certainly possible. And perhaps—dare she admit—enticing?
She stood up from the couch and faced Henry, her decision made in the span of a breath. “You were right. We should make this engagement real.”
Henry straightened. “What? You just said you could never do that.”
