NEXT CHAPTER - I hope you ENJOY.


The gravel began crunching under the tires of the armored vehicles, and Henry knew they were here. The sun had just begun to come up over the horizon – but the kids all stayed asleep in the back seat of the SUV.

The whole way, Henry had questioned his decision. Questioned whether this really was the way to go about all the things. Because Elizbeth had come to the farm to get away from it all. To have some quiet. To grieve in her own way. Yes, that had been in and of itself a struggle for Henry – because while he knew that she needed some time to grieve, he still felt a sting tht he wasn't able to help her with that.

Would him bringing the kids there cause some problems for Elizabeth's healing? And to be in the middle of deep grief and then to have to sit down with her kids and tell them a deep dark secret that the entire would would be finding out about at the same time?

He was glad that the kids stayed asleep, only moving a bit to adjust to the stopped vehicle. He needed to speak with Elizabeth alone before she had to deal with the kids.

As he exited the vehicle, he noticed the barn door open – never the person to sleep in, Elizabeth would've been up for an hour doing chores. He walked over the gravel pathway, through the morning fog that dusted over the hills and fields – a few of the horses were out already, and he made his way to the barn just in time to find Elizabeth letting the last one out of the stall into the pasture.

Without turning to look at him, she said, "You're up early."

Watching her stand there, her figure silhouetted in the morning sun, he wondered if he could see the pain that she had. Normally her shoulders were higher. Her head held higher. Instead it was like Henry could see the deep pain weighing her down.

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I know…"

She turned toward him, and he saw how even just a few days away had changed her. Dark circles under her eyes, he wondered whether or not she had slept at all in while. Her hair, pulled back up into a messy ponytail, looked like it had been a while since she'd washed it. Her coat was pulled over her overalls – caked with mud, but what was new.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, like a drowning person who was watching the next wave begin to crash over her. As if she knew that the next thing would pull her so far under water that she'd never survive it.

He didn't know whether to approach her or give her space. But he wanted to give her the option to have someone there to hold onto. To find for strength.

"I brought the kids with me…" He said, trying to encourage her before things would change. "They're asleep in the car, just like when they were little."

A smile that refused to meet her eyes came to her lips. "Oh, I've missed them." She walked toward him, and, with an all-knowing look, said, "But, Henry, what's wrong?"

He touched her shoulder, lightly playing with a few of the strands of wispy hair, twirling it between his fingers. Trying to feel her.

"Russell came by this morning. Told me that a story would be breaking today." He just kept going, knowing that if he stopped, he'd never be able to get it all out without hesitating. "They're going to break a story about you and Conrad. And Emma."

She doubled over, her hands holding onto her knees. Henry could hear the air leave her body – like news had kicked all life right out of her. "Oh.. oh… oh…" Then she started pulling breath in, fast, like she was about to hyperventilate.

Henry touched her back, rubbing back and forth, "Shhh… Elizabeth, it'll be ok…" He didn't know whether it would or not – but he had to say something.

She stood up, her face now completely pale – she couldn't make eye contact with him – instead she looked around the barn like she was desperately trying to find a safe place. Her hands went to the top of her head, and she started to pace, deep breaths coming like they were the only thing keeping her alive.

"Oh, Henry…" She moaned over and over, "Henry… what… what are we going to…" Her blue eyes made contact with him finally, and he saw the desperation clawing to find something to hold onto – reality seemed to shift and she reached out and grabbed his arm. "The kids…"

He nodded, and pulled her close to him, and he could feel her heart beating incessantly – and he just rubbed her back, making her feel every part of his strength as he held her, quietly whispering, "Shhhh… We'll be ok… Shhh…."

The gasping for air began to slow, her body calming down and not shaking as much. Henry just held her.

She then pulled away, so she could look him directly in the eyes, and she said, "You have to let me tell them." And he nodded as she continued, "They can't find out from the news. Or from you. I have to…"

Henry nodded, pulling her back to himself. "Elizabeth, I brought them here because we don't get good cell service up here." He was thankful she saw things the way that he had at two in the morning. "I brought them this morning because I knew that you would want to tell them. That it wasn't fair for them to find out from some news app." He could feel her nodding in agreement. And then he leaned over and whispered, "But you're not going to tell them alone. I'm going to be right there."

She looked up, "But Henry, it was my fault. I have to tell them." Guilt consumed her eyes.

And he shook his head, placing a kiss on her dirty forehead, and whispered, "You're not alone in this, Elizabeth. I'm right here. And we're going to tell our children together."