Chapter Sixteen
One never knows when the person they are meant to be with will come walking in on their life. One is never prepared and is usually caught off guard but one should never complain.
When that one special person takes your breath away, enjoy every second of it and never let them go for heart break is not something we as humans wish to go through.
So when the love of your life comes and finds you, hold on for your happy ever after starts then and there.
-From the New York Imperial February 4th, 1902
The wind outside Henry's room cried as the morning light began to creep above the horizon. The storm that had hit Manhattan the night before was now slowly fading away, almost like it was never there. But the damage it had left behind was more than anyone had ever seen. The snow was so thick and heavy that the streets could not be seen through the white blanket. Hundreds of people were stuck in their homes because of the frozen curtains that covered their doors, not allowing anyone in or out.
But Henry was clueless when it came to the outside world. He wasn't worried or concerned about how he was going to get home for if he could, he would stay locked inside forever as long as he was allowed to share it with the one woman he cared about. It was seven in the morning and he had not had one minute of sleep and his lack of rest was beginning to take its toll. But his eyes had more important things to do then sleep for they were looking at the most beautiful woman in the world.
He was only lying there, watching Diana as she slept soundly next to him. He couldn't believe it; he still thought this was all just a wonderful dream. But as he reached out and grazed Diana's cheek, he knew that he was no dream. Her skin was soft underneath his fingers and just by her presence he was safe place again. Somehow, the love of his life had walked back into his life and he had no intension of watching her walk away again. This time, he was going to fight for her and he wouldn't stop till the day he died because her love was what he needed. Without it, he was no one and he hoped that he could make her see that.
Diana began to shift positions, making Henry quickly lean against the headboard. He moved his gaze to the window where all he could see was a rising sun against the new batch of crystal white snow.
"Henry?" Diana whispered. He turned his head and saw a sleepy eyed girl looking up at him. He couldn't help but smile at her.
"Morning Di," he whispered back. He leaned down and brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of her face before kissing her forehead.
"How long have you been up?" she asked tiredly. He shook his head at her.
"Not long," he lied. How could he sleep when he knew she was lying next to him? He watched her smile as she grabbed his arm and pulled him down next to her. He then wrapped his arms around her as she rested her head against his bare chest.
"Relax Henry," she said as she closed her eyes, "I'm not going anywhere." He looked down at her as she slowly fell back asleep in his arms. He took a deep breath and rested his head against hers.
"You better not," he said quietly to himself and he prayed to God that she was telling the truth. He couldn't face heartbreak a second time when it nearly split his heart in two the first. But he was living the in the moment and now his arms were wrapped around the most beautiful girl in the world and he was the lucky man that got to fall asleep at her side.
"Henry," called out a voice waking him up from his slumber. Although he was awake, he dare not open his eyes for he knew he would be temporally blinded.
"Henry, wake up," Diana said again this time shaking his shoulders.
"You wake up," he said back batting away her hand.
"Ha ha funny," she said placing her hands beside either side of his head, "come on now wake up it's almost noon." He could feel Diana hovering over him but he would not open his eyes.
"But I don't want to wake up, I was having the best dream that I have ever had," he said to her.
"Oh really, and what makes that dream better than all the rest you have had?" she asked him.
"I don't think you want to hear it."
"Yes I do, now please tell me," she pleaded.
"Alright, I'll try to remember. Well there was this woman with the most incredible eyes I have ever seen. Her hair was a dark brown and was so soft when touched.
"I can't believe this woman let you touch her," Diana cut in making Henry laugh.
"Shhh, this is my dream now listen." He waited a few moments before he continued.
"Anyway, this woman just returned from a long stay in London and she was staying at her sister's home in the states. I happened to walk in on her while she was sitting in the fireside room examining a painting. So she turned to me and said, "'Do you prefer in here or the bedroom?"' Diana giggled at his outrageous story.
"She did not say that," she could hardly say.
"Yes she did! I remember it very clearly."
"I don't believe so," she said waiting for him to continue.
"Well that's what happened. I was very surprised by her forward question that I didn't know what to say so I walked towards her and put a hand in hair and the other on the small of her back. Then I brought her lips to mine and I kissed her."
"And how was the kiss?" Diana asked quietly.
"The kiss was the best kiss I had ever had and when I pulled away she began to lead me towards the bedroom. Before we got there I said to her, "'Beautiful, '" cause that was her name and I said, "' Beautiful, I don't want to rush into anything we aren't ready for,"" and she said to me, "' we are ready for everything."' And then you woke me up so I don't know what happens next," Henry completed his story and listened to soft sigh that escaped between Diana's lips.
"You know that dream of yours sounds quite familiar," she said.
"Really?" he asked with his eyes still closed.
"Yes, I think I had the same dream except I remember it slightly differently."
"So how did yours differ from my own?"
"The events in mine were worded a different way and I also know what happens next," she said slowly.
"Really?" he replied, "tell me, what happens next?"
"It goes a little something like this," she whispered then pressed her lips onto his. It stunned him at first but he soon kissed her back, leading her lips with his into a steady rhythm that played over and over again. They finally had to pull away to take a breath of air, giving Henry enough time to open his eyes and let them examine the girl that he saw before him.
"Hello Beautiful," he whispered into her red lips.
"Hello Mr. Schoonmaker," she whispered back. "Do you prefer here or in the fireside room," she asked, changing the quote that he stated before.
"I don't have a preference," he came back making them both smile. Then, Henry flipped Diana over onto her back, making him now hover over her. He watched her giggle loudly then she pressed a hand over her mouth.
"Remember," he informed her calmly, "there are other people in the house." She nodded as he removed her hand from her face. His arms were on by either side of her head, supporting him as he looked down upon her with his passionate eyes. He brought his face down close to hers before placing his lips on top of hers. The kiss was different from the first. He kissed her slowly, taking in the taste of her lips as she wrapped her arms around her neck. The kiss was filled with passion and desire, both of them had waited so long to be in each other's arms again and neither of them ever wanted to ever let go. Henry pulled away from her and moved down to her neck where he kissed it softly over and over again. His heart was beating as quickly as it did the night before.
"Di-," he began to say against her neck but a loud sound interrupted him. Both Henry and Diana snapped their heads towards the noise that turned out to come from behind the door.
"Henry?" a male voice came from behind it along with another knock.
"Oh!" Diana exclaimed quietly as she looked either way for a place to hide. Henry moved to the side of her then began to look with her.
"Ah, just a minute!" he called out in a panic.
"Henry, what is going on? I am coming in," the voice said.
"No! No, wait one second!" Henry said failing to find a spot for Diana to hide. Then he met her gaze and gave her an apologetic look just as he threw the sheets over her head. Diana got the picture and helped him out as another knock came from the door.
"I am coming in!" the voice called and then the door knob began to turn. But Henry was already in a fixed in an awkward position as Teddy came through the door.
"What is going on in here?" his friend asked looking at Henry with his grey eyes. He threw his hands in the air,
"Oh not a lot," he replied, "So when did you arrive?"
"Just a short while ago, I didn't think you had gotten out of here by the time the storm hit so I just came to see if you were still here."
"Well everything is fine and thank you for letting me stay," Henry said privately hoping his friend would leave soon.
"You are welcome at anytime," he said nodding his head. But Henry could see there was something else on Teddy's mind.
"Is something wrong Teddy?" he asked with concern.
"Oh not at all, but say, have you by chance left your room at all this morning?" he asked. Henry shook his head.
"No, I have been in here why?"
"It is nothing really, I was just curious. Anyway, you should get dressed and join us downstairs; we are about to have lunch."
"I will be down soon," Henry told his friend and waved Teddy goodbye. Teddy nodded and shut the door as he left the room. After a few moments, Diana flung the sheets off of her head and looked up at Henry.
"Do you think he knew I was here?" she asked him but Henry shook his head.
"He had no idea." Diana smiled up at him and rubbed her hand against his arm.
"I just don't want anyone knowing about this quite yet," Diana told him.
"I know," he said and gave her a quick kiss. "We should probably go down there."
"I suppose so," she sighed. She wrapped the sheet around her then swung her legs to the side of the bed before standing up and pulled the sheets along with her.
"See you soon," Henry said to her as she made her way to the door. She looked back over her shoulder, her eyes locking with his.
"See you soon," she said back to him. She turned the door knob and opened the door before sneaking out the room and shutting it behind her. Once she was gone, Henry laid flat on the bed; his face buried in his hands. He had never expected to see Diana Holland again and if he did, he never would have guessed he would get to speak to her. He imagined the next time they saw each other that there would be a casual smile and that was all. He never thought he would be stuck with her in a house because of a winter storm that was long overdue. But he was not one bit complaining for he was still deeply in love with this girl. He just hoped that this time, the two of them would have a happy ending and that she would wear his ring for the rest of their lives.