AN: Thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a review or commented to me personally. I appreciate it very much. Please share your thoughts on this chapter.

Chapter 2

April 1983

Henry stepped off the city bus just a block down from Virginia Prep. He was closing in on the end of his freshman year at the University of Virginia. Begrudgingly, Patrick McCord had given his blessing to allow Henry stay at the school and work off his own debt. Henry wasn't sure what exactly Headmaster Norton did to make that happen, but he was eternally grateful. Then, when Henry's classes were difficult during his senior year, he was allowed to cut back on his hours a bit. Now, he worked roughly ten hours per week at his old high school and still had probably another few months to go before his debt was paid in full. He didn't mind coming back. The work was enjoyable, he got to work outside, and the grounds were beautiful. It was satisfying to know that he was part of making that happen.

He was on his knees, planting annuals around the fountain that served as the centerpiece of the main drive. It was a Monday afternoon, sunny and warmer than it had been for days. The last frost seemed to be behind them. Spring was in the air.

It struck him as odd when a silver Mercedes pulled in and parked at the top of the drive, near where Henry was working. A distinguished lady, likely in her early fifties, climbed from the driver's seat and rounded the back of the car, lifting the trunk. She was joined by a young boy. The kid was tall and slender, with almost white-blond hair and wore an impish grin.

"Are you all set Will?" the woman asked. He nodded and leaned in, giving her the perfunctory hug.

"I've got everything I need. I can take care of things myself." And with that, he turned and disappeared into the administration building.

Henry heard the woman audibly sigh and pull a second suitcase from the trunk and set it next to the back of the car. She approached the passenger side and opened the door. Henry wondered what was going on when a girl finally emerged, a dark jacket wrapped tightly around her small frame. "I don't want to be here," she stated flatly.

"We've talked about this," the woman started.

"No, you talked about it and I said I didn't want to do this." The girl's voice cracked and Henry could tell she was about to cry.

"Lizzie," the woman moved to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I know you don't want to go to boarding school, but really there aren't any other options. You're only 15. You know you and your brother can't just be left on your own while I'm away for work." She looked down at the girl. "It won't be so bad if you give it a chance."

"So you keep telling me. Do you think you could come in with me? I mean I know everything is set up and taken care of…" she trailed off.

"I suppose I could," the woman sighed and it was obvious that she didn't want to. "But, I have to drive all the way back."

The girl shrugged. "Nevermind. It's fine. I can do it myself."

The woman brightened up. "Chin up Lizzie. It will be okay. Love you." She pulled the girl in for a quick hug. "I'll be back to get you at the end of term." The older woman rounded the car, got in, and quickly pulled away, leaving the girl standing on the step, looking forlorn.

Henry felt like he'd witnessed something very private, although he didn't know where he could've gone to escape it. The whole scene had played out in just a matter of minutes. Now, the girl stood silently and watched as the car drove down the lane and turned out into the street. Unaware of Henry's presence, she picked up her suitcase and walked into the building.

The following week, Henry was headed to the side garden with hedge clippers in hand. His intention was to trim back some of the more mature hedges. He rounded the corner and stopped short. The girl from the previous week sat with her legs criss-crossed on the bench at the end of the garden softly crying. Henry wasn't sure what to do. Should he approach her? Should he tell someone? Should he just walk away? He took a step backward in retreat, but then he just couldn't leave her.

He approached quietly. When he got close, he spoke softly. "Are you okay?"

She didn't look up, but replied, "Yeah, I'm swell."

Henry let out a hoarse bark. "Glad to see your sarcasm is in tact." That made her look up, and the vacant look in her eyes made his heart hurt, but he forged on. "It's only been a week. Things will get better."

"How did you know I've only been here a week?" she asked.

"I was here when you arrived. It's hard at first, but it gets better," he said softly, sitting down on the opposite end of the bench.

"Do you do this?" she asked, gesturing to the garden.

"Yeah, a lot of it, at least for a little while longer. I plant my mom's favorite flowers. It's my little way of saying thank you to her for all she did for me." Henry plucked a yellow and purple pansy from a small clump of flowers near the bench. "These were her favorites." He ran his fingers over the delicate petals.

"Were?" she asked.

"My mom passed away about two and a half years ago." Henry looked at the ground. He'd hoped to make her feel better, not bring her down.

"Does it ever hurt less? I mean-losing your mom?"

"Somehow yes. It still hurts and sometimes it's all I can focus on. It was terrible at first, but then those times got fewer and fewer, then one day I looked back and realized it had been a whole day or even a couple days, and then a week." Henry remained quiet for a few minutes, hoping she would share. When she didn't, he asked. "Did your mom die? Is that why you had to come here?"

"They both died." Suddenly, she jumped up from the bench. "I should go. I've wasted enough of your time." He could tell she was hurting,

"Hey," he called out. She stopped, but didn't turn around. "Did your mom like flowers?"

"She liked violets," the girl murmured as she walked around the corner.

It was nearly the end of the term before he saw her again, this time sitting on the front steps looking down the drive. "Waiting for someone or plotting your escape?" Henry asked as he approached.

"More like wishing someone would come so I could escape." Her voice turned hard. "She said she'd come to get me, but now she says I have to stay for the summer term. I should've known she would just dump us here. Of course Will already has plans. He's headed somewhere in Florida with a friend and then doing a stint with someone else in Chicago. No one asked what I was doing." She took a breath and for the first time she looked up. "I'm sorry for spilling my guts. It's not like you care."

"I care, but admittedly, there isn't much I can do about it." Henry took a chance on starting something. "Can I ask what your name is?"

"People call me Lizzie." She spoke with a terseness that he knew was some sort of defense mechanism. He knew her anger wasn't really directed at him.

"What do you want to be called?" he asked. Her head popped up, and she grimaced.

"Nobody asks me what I want anymore." She returned her gaze to the road leading up to the school.

"I just did," Henry said. "I will call you whatever you wish. Lizzie? Is that short for Elizabeth?"

She nodded. "Lizzie just carries a lot of hurt with it." For the first time, Elizabeth really looked at the young man who'd been the only person to really try to talk to her since she arrived. "I think Elizabeth would be okay. What should I call you?"

He extended his hand. "It's nice to meet you Elizabeth. My name's Henry."

"Likewise." She smiled and it almost made its way to her eyes. Elizabeth was certainly a pretty girl, and suddenly his desire to make her happy became apparent. He was almost embarrassed at his need to bring her happiness.

Henry let go of her hand and weighed his options. What he'd done was either a really good thing or a really bad thing and he didn't know which side of the coin it would end up on, but while he had her in a somewhat willing mood, he decided to take the chance.

"Would you come with me? I'd like to show you something." He could tell she was hesitant. "I did something. I think this might be a good place for you to go and get away." Although she looked a little apprehensive, Elizabeth stood and followed him.

Henry led her across the lawn to a group of tall hedges that seemed to block an area off. An opening had neatly been cut back between two and he walked through. When Elizabeth stepped through, she gasped.

There was a quaint looking stone bench at the far end. Paving stones created an Alice in Wonderland type walkway from the entrance to the bench. The whole space was only about six feet wide and maybe eight feet long. Besides the grass that grew immediately around the pavers, the entire spanse was covered in violets in various shades of blues, purples, and pinks.

Elizabeth wandered down the path and bent down gently touching a few of the soft, velvety petals. "Henry, this is gorgeous." Her voice shuddered and her hand covered her mouth, stifling a sob. "You did this for me?" she choked out.

"I thought you might enjoy some place that was peaceful. No one comes out here much. It's quiet and you can think." Henry shrugged.

Elizabeth stood and turned toward Henry, tears still streaming down her face. "It's beautiful and it is peaceful here. Thank you." Henry stepped away, thinking she might want to be left alone, but before he made it far, she was at his side. They walked back together in silence.

Stopping in front of her dormitory, she spoke. "No one's done anything so thoughtful since that day. They offered to take me for ice cream, because it was my favorite treat." Her eyes clouded again, and she blinked back the tears. "Anyway, thank you." Elizabeth quickly walked inside, letting the door fall heavily behind her.