Chapter Four
Calm among the Chaos
Henry was sat in the kitchen of his new flat unpacking house hold items. He had moved into his new flat three days ago, and what a busy three days they had been. He hadn't long got back to the flat after a meeting down at the marine base. Henry received all confirmation and dates today, he was due to head to base in three weeks, and remain there for a period of six months before being allowed his first ten days back at home. Henry hadn't planned on unpacking, as he thought he would be heading straight to base, obviously now was a different story.
'Where the heck is the coffee' he gritted through his teeth becoming more and more irritated that a jar of instant coffee had somewhat vanished. He ran his hand through his hair and scratched his head. He looked around the room and decided to just head to the supermarket and get some more, grabbing his keys and coat him slammed the door shut behind him and took a walk. As he locked the door behind him he noticed the key-ring dangling from his keys; the one Elizabeth had gotten him. The very first thing he done when he received his front door key was hoop the key-ring on. He ran it through his finger and thumb before placing it in his coat pocket, his hand never letting it go as he walked, his destination for coffee now changed.
He stepped through the doors of the coffee shop and stood in line waiting to make an order. He glanced around looking for a particular someone; but it appeared he was out of luck. Henry pressed his lips together in slight disappointment as he stepped up to the counter.
'Alright there, what can I get you?' he gentleman asked
'Just a Latte to go please, I urm, I don't suppose you know if a young woman, early twenties I believe, slim, long blonde hair, goes by the name of Elizabeth? Do you know who I mean, have you seen her today?' He asked and the man turned to the woman stood behind the counter
'Hey Babe, Has Lizzie Adams been in today?' He asked his wife and she shook her head
'No not today love'
'Sorry bud, she hasn't been in yet, she will be in at some point, and she comes in every day. It use to be once every few weeks but since her parents death she comes in everyday, either earlier morning or mid to late afternoon, avoids the busy lunch hour she does, too much noise for her I think' He explained and Henry's face dropped.
'Sorry did you say her parent's death?' he raised a confused eyebrow, but it went unnoticed by the chatting waiter.
'Yeah, poor kid. It was a few months now, maybe even a year. Some drunken idiot drove into them. Killed them instantly, Mom, Dad and brother. Such a tragedy' he mumbled as he placed the lid down on Henry's coffee.
'Here you go' he smiled
'Listen if you see her could you tell her Henry McCord was looking for her?' He asked hopefully
'Why don't you just tell her yourself' He nodded towards the door, as the woman in question stepped through and smiled instantly at the sight of Henry.
'Henry Hi' she beamed.
'Ohhh I know that look' the woman behind the counter mumbled out of ear shot to her husband and he winked at her.
'Oh yes' he laughed.
'Elizabeth Hi' He smiled stepping towards her
'How are you? How was the move?' She stood to the side from the door way, she enjoyed the close proximity between her and Henry.
'Yeah urm... stressful' he chuckled and she nodded
'Ohh yes, I bet you haven't even unpacked yet' she teased and his facial expression gave him away. Elizabeth shook her head and giggled as she turned to order a drink to go.
'I was hoping to bump into you actually' Henry admitted nervously as she turned back to face him; gesturing for him to carry on
'I just wanted to see you, I was wondering if we could, could I take you out one evening, like...on a date perhaps'
Elizabeth's stomach flooded with butterflies whilst her brain told her no. The conflict within her like nothing she had ever known. Her mouth suddenly dry and her voice escaped her. Her mouth hung open while silence poured out. Henry sniggered a little at her expression, finding it adorable.
'I'm not that bad surely' he teased and she shook her head snapping herself out of her thoughts.
'Yes' she shocked herself; she was supposed to say no. Her insides fluttered in anticipation, she was actually pleased her heart took over in that moment.
'Great, what are you doing tonight?' he bit his lip. Her eyes fell upon his lips, memories of the last time she touched them invaded her personal space.
'Nothing' she replied honestly before thinking as she reached to grab her coffee from the counter.
'Great, it's a date' he winked and handed the man money for both his and her drinks, winking softly at her as she smirked in appreciation and thanks.
'I urm...I have an appointment this evening, I won't be free until maybe six o'clock' she had already began to find reasons not to go. It was true she had an appointment but there was no reason it would stop her enjoying a date with Henry.
'Well I tell you what, why don't I meet you just outside here for seven-thirty?' He caught her off guard, he wasn't supposed to be accommodating, she wanted him to say 'let's rearrange'. She looked over to him and bit the inside of her cheek not knowing how to answer.
'Ok, don't be late' she winked suddenly confidence oozing from her as she walked away from him. She turned briefly to lift her coffee cup
'Thanks Henry' her smile glistening as the door swung open and she made her exit, her mind running faster than ever as she began to contemplate what to wear on her date this evening. Her date with Henry McCord...
Later that evening Elizabeth stood outside the coffee shop waiting for Henry. She had her red coat wrapped around her body tightly as her hands slipped inside her pocket; shielding herself from the cold, from the outside world. Her body flooded with a warm feeling as a car pulled up in front of her and Henry stepped out.
'Wow, you look lovely' He gushed as he stepped out to walk towards her. He leant in and kissed her softly on the cheek
'Thank you' she grinned and dipped her head slightly at the compliment
'Come on, dinner awaits' Henry pulled open the passenger door and stood aside allowing her step into the car.
'You smell so good' she inhaled, not realising she had spoken out loud until Henry laughed
'Why thank you, I did shower' he teased and she blushed, something that didn't go unnoticed by Henry, he outstretched his hand and placed it on her knee as he drove, instinctively Elizabeth covered his hand with hers, softly stroking it with her fingertips. Neither of them spoke for a moment, both enjoying the warmth radiating through their bodies from the simple touch of another.
It wasn't too much later when Henry pulled into a car park in front of an old cottage that had been turned into a restaurant.
'Wow Henry, I didn't even know this place existed' she gasped as she stepped out of the car looking at the beautiful scene before her.
'Well I stumbled across it when I first move up to Virginia, I got lost one night driving and well; I've always wanted to come here but there never seemed to be an occasion important enough' he smiled, walking close to her and slipping his hand into hers. Elizabeth looked up at him, once again the warm feeling inside coming back, but the more she thought about it, she wondered if it ever really left.
'So I reserved this table for us, just in front of the log fire, I hope that is ok?'
'It's perfect Henry' she whispered taking a seat and looking across the table to him. Her heart content in that moment, her eyes gazed over him and she noticed his keys under his hand on the table.
'I see you made use of the aeroplane' she smirked
'Well yes, of course. It helps me remember that there is this stunningly precious woman in my life' his sincerity hitting the right tone
'Stop it, I cannot do all that sentimental stuff' she tried to dismiss the comment as she looked through the menu for distraction.
'Well that is tough because I do, and I will never stop telling you what I think and feel' he tilted his head and his eyes lay upon her; everything about her perfect, but Henry's heart broke as the realisation this woman had no family washed back over him.
'What?' she cocked an eyebrow at him and he sheepishly shook his head. Elizabeth shut her menu and placed it down softly resting her hand on top.
'You're a terrible liar Henry McCord' she teased him, her humour was light and her giggled filled his heart; but nothing could prepare Elizabeth for the following words that fell from Henry's mouth.
'I know about your parents' his words were hardly audible, but Elizabeth heard them; nothing was ever clearer too her. She would always hear those words. She swallowed hard and retracted her hand from the table to her lap. She gripped her legs and looked up at him
'H...how?' was all she could muster
'The waiter at the coffee shop; he didn't mean any harm Elizabeth, I asked if you had been there today and he started telling me the story of how you went there every day and why...I didn't want to bring it up, not tonight on our first date but I just feel like I am lying to you, but keeping something that secretive from you' he tried to explain and her eyes narrowed her coyness turning to irritability
'So do you think I am lying to you because I haven't told you?' her voice was stern but fair
'No, no that is not what I am saying; I just...oh god. Elizabeth I like you and I don't think you realise how much I would like to keep dating you and potentially be in a relationship with you one day; and for me to sit here and give you the space to tell me about your parents in your own time is what I want and will do more than anything, but I don't think it's right that when that time comes I lie and pretend I didn't know when I do; that is what I mean. I am so sorry I ruined this evening, but I needed to be honest. I am also so very sorry for your loss' his voice straining as he tried to get his point across.
Elizabeth's insides screamed, this moment was out of her control and it wasn't something she felt comfortable with. She could sense how genuine he was being, it was written across henrys face and she knew he meant what he said; she didn't know how she knew, but she knew. She smiled sadly and nodded
'A whole relationship huh?' she cleared her throat moving away from the topic; determined to have good evening with Henry; he always made her feel better, so why should now be any different she told herself.
'Well maybe' his voice full of coyness
'If you play your cards right you might just score' she winked and he laughed, the comfortably with one another returned gracefully as the evening progressed something both of them were thankful for.
'I was thinking maybe we could pay, and I could show you my new flat?' Henry smiled and Elizabeth nodded as she placed their empty desert plates on top of one another for the waiter to collect.
'Yeah, is that the new 'do you want coffee?' she teased him
'Oh god no, that is not what I meant. Oh no' he stumbled on his words realising how his previous sentence must have sounded. Elizabeth laughed at him
'You're such a dork, its fine. How about we switch it up, and I'll show you mine' she pressed her lips together nervously; hoping it would show Henry a new level of trust and acceptance of him; a new line for the two cross.
'That will be wonderful' he chirped as they left the restaurant.
When walking to the car Elizabeth took the lead this time; slipping her arm into his and huddling her body next to him.
'It was a car crash; Ten months ago. Some drunken driver on the wrong side of the road. My mother, Father and brother all killed instantly' she opened up to him, she was constantly surprising herself; Henry brought out a different version of her, and she was growing to love that version of herself.
'I am so-'
'Please don't, I don't need sympathies. I just need time and space to heal' Henry pulled his arm from hers and wrapped it across the top of her shoulders as they walked the final steps to the car
'Whatever you need, I'm here' he kissed to side of her hair softly, the subtle kiss made Elizabeth close her eyes.
'Thank you' she whispered looking up at him; her eyes drawn to his lips. She pushed up to her tip toes and caressed his lips lovingly with hers. His hands wrapped around her and pulled her body close to his, the kiss grew in passion and tiny moans began to escape her mouth into his; his trousers beginning to tighten and her core began to coil with desirable pleasure.
'I can't, if I don't stop I will want to go all the way' Elizabeth breathed setting back down onto her flat feet; her arms still wrapped around his neck.
'I'm in this for the long haul; not just a quickie' he nodded, respecting her wishes
'No, I don't mean that. I am happy to do so, but there are things I want you to know first; things I need you to hear before you make any decision to be in the long haul with me, but I still need time, I haven't even known you two weeks yet' the panic in her voice begun to rise
'Hey it's ok, I will be waiting right here; whenever you're comfortable and ready. I am here Elizabeth' and there he was; stood right in front of her, the only person who had a soothing effect on her, that she didn't push away or loath for knowing about her most personal aspects of her life. He was her calm among the chaos.