Page 162 of Love ad Lib
‘She’s such a lovely girl. Your mom is tickled pink that she’s really an actress. I do hope you can win her back.’
He shrugged. ‘I doubt it. And what are we going to tell Gram-Gram?’
His father raised his arms as if to summon divine intervention. ‘I spoke to Marie this morning to give her the heads up and told her not to tell Mater. She rang back half an hour ago and said that you should go around there as soon as you’re up.’
‘How is Gram-Gram doing?’
‘Must be a little better, or we’d all have been summoned. You can give us a full report when you’re back.’
He took a gulp of tea to fortify himself.
‘Dad?’
‘Yes, Henry?’
‘Have you ever spoken to Estelle to explain why you didn’t let her go to private school when you let me?’
His father’s eyes widened, then he hung his head, the toes of his carpet slippers scuffing the floor.
‘No,’ he eventually replied.
‘You should.’
He shrugged. ‘Seems such a long time ago now.’
‘It doesn’t seem that way to her.’
Arthur nodded then stood, heading for the door.
‘Come find us the moment you’re back from the Dower House,’ he said before shuffling out of the room.
The perfect weathertaunted Henry mercilessly as he crossed the park to his grandmother’s house. Little white fluffy clouds hung high in the brilliant blue sky and the July sun bathed the countryside in a golden glow. Birds sang their joy at being alive and leaves rustled in agreement. Every sight, sound, smell and feeling reminded him of Libby, and his heart ached for her. The depths of his misery were equal to the depths of his love.
He rang the bell and knocked even though he knew the door to the Dower House would be open.
Marie answered it with a smile. ‘Thank you for coming, Henry.’
‘How is she?’
She hesitated, her cheeks colouring. ‘Er, she is much improved.’
He started towards the stairs.
‘She’s in the drawing room,’ Marie said, indicating one of the doors off the hall.
Henry paused, confused, then followed her through the house.
Outside the room, she stopped.
‘Be gentle with her,’ she whispered, before walking quickly away.
Worry spiked his heart. How badwasshe? He knocked tentatively on the door.
‘Come in,’ came his grandmother’s voice from inside.
He opened the door and froze.
‘Gram-Gram?’ he croaked.
