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“Because his father doesn’t even know who he is.”
Chapter 10
My heart sinks. “How long has he got?”
“Not sure.”
Henley says something and whips his father with his T-shirt. The old man laughs out loud as they play.
I feel my heart constrict as I watch on. “The son comes every day?”
“Never misses one.”
“How long does he stay?”
“He gets here just before seven a.m. and leaves around nine. Feeds him breakfast, helps him shave, and then keeps him calm as the nurses help him shower. Reads him the morning paper too.”
“There are no other siblings?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
I get a lump in my throat as I watch on.
Henley stands, and I duck behind the wall. I don’t want him to see me. “Thanks for showing me the ropes.” I smile. “See you next time, eh?”
“Sure thing.” She saunters off, and I peer back in through the window in the door. Henley is now flicking through the television channels to put the morning news on.
As my heart constricts, another piece of the Henley James puzzle clicks into place.
He’s a good man.
You know that feeling when you’re about to do something stupid, but you don’t care and want to do it anyway?
That’s me right at this very moment. I knock hard on the door. Something about seeing Henley at the nursing home this week has opened a huge gaping hole of enchantment in my heart for him. I know I don’t know him, but I do have more of an understanding as to why he is the way he is.
I need to know more.
Knock, knock, knock. This is undoubtedly the most stupid thing I have ever done, yet it’s all I can think about. Henley opens his front door. “Juliet.”
“Hi, Henley.” I force a smile. “I’ve reconsidered your offer.”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “For?”
“The date.”
“Oh.”
“Yes.” I shrug as I try to act casual. “Turns out I can be your date this weekend after all.”
“Why is that?” he asks flatly. “You were repelled by the idea when I asked you.”
“Yes, well . . . I don’t like you barging over every time I have a man come to the house when you can’t be bothered to even acknowledge me if you see me anywhere else.”
“Like where?”
“Like at Carol’s party.”
“You were talking to Rebecca all night.”
