A/N: I must admit I toyed with the idea of not posting this, because I don't really like or rate it as a chapter. Apologies. But, I need to post it to move forward with the story. Thank you for reading, if indeed you still are. Reviews and constructive comments are always appreciated 3
This chapter is dedicated to Gigi and Ranger.
Elizabeth twirled the cord of the phone around her finger, the tip blanching red then white as it squeezed. She fidgeted nervously as she punched in the memorised digits on the keypad and waited for the dial tone to start up, still unsure if this was a good idea or not.
'Hello?'
'Hey Henry.'
'Hey babe. How are you?'
'I'm ok. I... uh... Will wants me to ask you something.'
'Do you want to ask it too?'
She paused. It was the anniversary of their parents' death, and every year she and Will met to visit their graves, clean them up and place fresh flowers. It was the one day of the year she got Will all to herself and the one day she got to find out what was actually going on in his life with school, college choices. Girls. They actually talked. Inevitably, after they visited their parents resting place they both ended up feeling rather drained and they last year the day ended in their favourite family diner with stories of their childhood and the good memories of their parents.
This year Will had surprised her by asking her if she wanted to invite Henry to join them. A myriad of emotions had run through her, in some ways she was glad Will was including Henry but in other ways she was annoyed she'd not have Will to herself. Did Will not want them to spend their day together? He was flighty at the best of times, difficult to pin down with an active social life. His schedule was busy with school work and all his volunteering and extra-curricular activities he did in the hope of eventually enhancing his college then medical school application.
She was also a little worried. This was the third year they'd had their Adams 'sibling day' and from experience she knew it was emotionally exhausting. She wasn't sure she was ready to let Henry see that side of her yet. Will had told her to let him in a little, but if her and Henry didn't last the distance she didn't want to have to go through the same turmoil again with somebody else. The thought of both scenarios left her feeling vulnerable.
Eventually she and Will had reached a compromise, they'd have the day together and she'd ask Henry if he wanted to join them in the evening. It wasn't a particularly long drive from UVA to home and if she wasn't feeling up to it, she was sure he wouldn't mind driving back to his place so she could stay at the farm with Will.
'Elizabeth?'
'Sorry. Would you like to come out to Richmond with Will and I this weekend?'
Henry was a little taken aback by the request, but said he'd love to. Elizabeth wasn't sure in her own mind yet whether his acceptance was a good or a bad thing.
Elizabeth felt a drop of water fall onto her head and looked up at the sky. It was strange, the air was still and there wasn't a cloud in sight. She felt it again on her cheek this time and the unmistakable giggle from the other side of the grave stone.
'Will!' she hissed.
She grabbed her sponge and blindly flicked it over the top of the polished, now clean granite surface and waited whilst their battle commenced. The two fought with wet, soapy sponges until their sides ached from laughing and their buckets were empty. Will kicked his over and looked down at his soaked t-shirt.
'You remember our water fights with Dad, cleaning his car?'
She nodded. Those were the best, but only initiated once the work was all done. Their mom often got wind of the action from the excited screams outside and came to help Elizabeth with practised flicking and squeezing of the car sponge. It was harmless fun, and reminded her of their snowball fights in the winter.
She stood back and admired the clean lettering of the engraving on her parents' shared headstone, one that her aunt and uncle had picked out. They hadn't known what material or lettering to pick on a headstone, simply being too numb and lost to have any idea and too angry at the injustice of it all to care.
'Do you feel closer to them, coming up here?'
Will shrugged. 'Not especially. I think it's nice to remember the good stuff, though. Do you?'
She shrugged back at him. 'I miss them. I miss the fact I have no one to bounce ideas off that would know the answers to stuff... I just miss them.'
She wiped her sleeve across her eyes as her tears began to fall and Will put an arm around her waist. They brought over a small potted white rose to plant in the centre of the plot, and placed fresh red carnations on either side. Elizabeth was pleased they'd done a good job together as they stood back and admired their handiwork.
'You hungry?'
'A little.'
'That's a yes. You ready to meet Henry?'
He looked over at her, her tears still flowing freely but silently from her eyes as she dabbed at them ineffectively. She sniffed loudly a couple of times, protectively folding her arms across her body.
'What's the matter? Don't you want him here?'
She faltered a little, not sure what to say. She did really want to see him, she just wasn't sure she wanted him to see her like this, all sullen and blotchy-eyed. Not only that, she was starting to have strong feelings towards him, and reaching the point where she knew she would really be hurt if anything were to go wrong between them. She knew he could break her heart if she let him, and realising he had that power over her did scare her. She had never felt like this about anyone ever before. Maybe her parents to an extent, but it felt different. Maybe this was allowing yourself to fall in love.
'I do... but...'
She raised her hands in the air and clasped either side of her forehead, rubbing her temples. Will placed his hands over hers to still her and looked her squarely in the eye.
'He seems like a genuinely lovely guy Lizzie. From what I can see he's besotted with you. He's not going anywhere.'
She smiled to herself. Besotted with her. She could only hope that was true, because she was certainly starting to feel that way about him.
'I like him a lot. I'm just scared I guess.'
'I think you have to give him a chance. Let him in a bit. If you push him away too much, there's a risk...'
He let the sentence hang in the air, not needing to finish it. She knew there was a risk she'd push him away and that was the last thing she wanted.
Henry sat in the corner booth at the back of an old diner, nursing the dregs of a bottle of a beer and drumming the fingers of his other hand on the table. Elizabeth had been sketchy on details but had asked that he meet her and Will at the Richmond restaurant at six thirty. The drive had taken him little over an hour and naturally he'd arrived early, with time to wander around the quiet, pretty, tree-lined streets. He'd meandered aimlessly for as long as he possibly could before he decided to wait for them at the restaurant. He was debating cracking into another beer and nodded at the waiter for another as he came by. He wasn't sure why, but he felt nervous. Maybe because he was on unfamiliar territory, maybe it's because Elizabeth hadn't seemed herself on the phone, he wasn't sure.
The bell of the door dinged and Henry's head snapped up in a way that would have made Pavlov proud. A family with two children walked in, and deflated, Henry's eyes drifted back to staring at the table. This was starting to feel a little bit odd. A glance at his watch told him it was only 6:40, and he tried to tell himself not to worry. He grabbed a newspaper from a rack and began to glance over the local news articles to pass the time, soon aware of two pairs of eyes on him.
He looked up to see Elizabeth and Will and quickly folded the paper away. He got up out of his seat, shaking Will's hand again, clasping both his hands around Will's. Elizabeth's eyes were a little puffy, her cheeks a little red where he knew she'd been crying. Her hair was in a low-slung ponytail and she wore a long, navy blue skirt with tiny polka dots with a black tank and denim jacket. As always, she looked beautiful but perhaps a little more vulnerable than he'd seen her before. To him it only made him want her more.
'Hi,' he whispered at her a little shyly.
'Hey.'
He ran his hand down her arm, not quite sure how to greet her. It seemed like the right thing to do as she smiled up at him. He jostled his way to the corner of the booth, with Will sitting next to him and Elizabeth opposite.
An awkward silence descended over the three of them and Henry became fascinated with the menu, not quite knowing what to say.
'What's good to eat here?'
'Chicken and biscuits.'
Their reply was simultaneous and Will and Elizabeth began to laugh, putting Henry at ease a little. Elizabeth looked over the table imploringly at Will, not sure what to say to Henry about why he was there.
'So Lizzie and I started a tradition a couple years back. We try and meet near the anniversary of our parents' death. Just... spend the day or weekend together. This year though, I thought you might want to join us.'
Will had shrugged like it was no big deal but Henry knew it was the exact opposite of that. He and Elizabeth were developing a relationship of honesty but he always sensed she found it harder to talk about things than he did. Not only that, they were developing something that was very much for the long haul. Henry wasn't sure when it had happened and had tried to deny it to himself, but he had fallen in love with Elizabeth and there was nothing about her life that he didn't want to be a part of.
'Thank you.'
Henry felt her hand close around his knee under the table as her eyes searched for his.
'I'm glad you're here, Henry.'
The portions had been huge and they'd somehow squeezed in masses of fried chicken, biscuits, fries and then a sundae. Henry was so full he felt like rolling back to his car. Will had wanted to walk back to their family farm from the restaurant leaving Elizabeth and Henry on their own for the first time since he'd arrived in Richmond.
'You want to go for a drive?'
She nodded. 'Sure.'
Henry maneuvered the car and Elizabeth settled into the passenger seat. She pulled on her seatbelt and looked over to him, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek. He sucked in a breath at the tenderness of her gesture and caught her hand as she took it away, twining their fingers together briefly. As much as he wanted to, he hadn't yet mastered driving one handed.
It was a clear night and the stars were out, tiny white sparkly pinpricks in the sky. Henry drove them around Richmond, Elizabeth pointing out her kindergarten, high school, the park where she spent her teenage years.
He had loved learning more about her and her family this evening. Will had told stories of his memories growing up and she'd interjected, a glassy look over her eyes. It had seemed easier for him to talk than her but she hadn't minded. Henry was just glad to be a part of the memory-sharing and found himself hoping that Elizabeth was the one who he made similar family memories with in the future.
'The farm's down here at the end of this track.'
Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he indicated to turn left down a one-track road. It was a little bumpy and she watched as he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
'Yeah. Try learning to drive down here in a truck with no suspension.'
'Bumpy.'
He pulled up just outside the barn and threw the car into park, undoing his belt to angle closer to her. He reached over and their hands clasped, her fingers playing with his.
'Come say goodnight to the horses with me?'
'Sure.'
Four horses were in individual stalls inside the barn, tucked in for he night. They were each covered with a light jacket and he saw most of them still awake, moonlight glinting over their dark eyes.
'Dandelion, Daisy, Poppy and Ranger.'
'Well... I was going to say I sensed a theme.'
'Ranger's a little rogue at times. But they're all good girls. Aren't you?'
Ranger sniffed at this and did a small step backwards in her stable. Henry stood a distance away on the opposite side of the barn and flinched a little. Elizabeth sensed his nervousness and beckoned him over towards her, holding out her hand. He took hold of it as Ranger whinnied loudly and jumped, squeezing Elizabeth's hand in shock.
'It's ok. They don't hurt, you know. They know you're nervous so it makes them nervous.'
Elizabeth stroked her thumb over Henry's and guided his other hand to Ranger's nose. He stroked it gently, watching as the horse calmed and he let out a shaky breath. Elizabeth watched as they both relaxed a little, Henry's strokes growing more confident. Ranger's eyes drifted closed as Elizabeth gave her a kiss between the ears.
She stood opposite him, her arms wrapping around his waist. He tucked her hair behind her ears before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him. Her hands drifted down over his ass to rest in the back pockets of his jeans. He placed kisses on top of her hair, moving over to her forehead then eventually pressing his lips to hers. She opened her mouth eagerly, her tongue finding his as her hands squeezed his ass and pulled him against her. He hummed against her, his tongue slow and languid against hers. His hands rubbed up and down her arms sending shivers down her spine as they kissed each other thoroughly. He pulled away reluctantly, wrapping his arms through hers and holding her around her waist.
'I used to spend a lot of time here when Mom and Dad first…' she swallowed thickly. 'They all helped me, just by listening.'
'I think animals can understand things in a way that people can't.'
'I hope you don't mind horses.'
'Me? No, I'm just not used to them. Suburban small-town living, we had a pet cat for a few years.'
Elizabeth smiled. 'A cat? What was his name?'
'She. And she was called Fat Pat Cat. Erin named her when she was about four years old and starting to read.'
'Was she fat?'
'Oh yeah. One of those cats who'd get six dinners a night round the neighbourhood.'
'A woman after my own heart.'
Henry chuckled and tightened his hold on her. 'I'm glad you felt you could share this with me.'
'So am I. It wasn't easy for me.'
'I know.'
He kissed the tip of her nose and touched his lips to hers. 'This is the story of your family. I hope that soon you'll meet mine too.'
'I'd like that.'
'I told Mom about you.'
Elizabeth didn't think she'd seen such a shy smile grace Henry's lips the entire time she'd known him. He had a blush on his cheeks as he looked away from her and he simply looked adorable.
'You're cute McCord. Really?'
'Yeah. She asked if you'd come stay 4th July weekend. You can think about it, there's no pressure.'
She moved her hands to hug him tightly to her and he held her there, nuzzling his nose into her hair and listening to the quiet breathing noises of the horses.
'It's a tough time of year. And it never gets easier. But thank you for coming.'
He rained kisses on top of her head before his hands tangled in her hair and his lips found hers once again. The push and pull of their tongues into each other's mouths left them both gasping for air and dizzy with want.
'Stay?'
'I want to. But not tonight. Be with Will, see your family. I'll be there when you get back.'
'You promise?'
'I will always show up for you, Elizabeth. Always.'
She stifled a gasp and inhaled sharply at the honesty of his words, squeezing his hands as she gave him one last, brief kiss. A promise from Henry was a solemn promise.
He walked backwards away from her towards his car and she gave him a little wave, just like the time when they met at the campus coffee shop and he asked her out for burgers and bowling. He didn't want to leave her, he wanted to stay. But he knew this was important family time for her and it was enough to be a part of it with her, even briefly. She was letting him in and opening up to him and he couldn't wait to find out more.
As he opened the drivers' door and got in, he exhaled a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He watched her, the harsh, bright white light of the moon guiding her as she slowly walked back to the farmhouse.
'I'm in love with you, Elizabeth,' he whispered, his words falling onto the steering wheel, heard only by the stars.
