“Are you mad?” he asks, sheepishly.
“No.”
He exhales. “Whew. Good. You weren’t very happy with me the other night when I bared my soul.”
“I mean, I was mad—but it was more about me, and I had to figure myself out.”
“Did you?”
“I think so. As much as I can. It’s been quite a journey... in a lot of ways.”
“What happened?” He nods at my bandaged palm as he sits down next to me.
“I had a run-in with Yorkshire’s largest ram.”
“Huh?”
“Long story.”
We sit in silence for a few moments. Spoons and dessert plates clatter from the kitchen as Ms. Fernsby dishes out the pie. I hear Dad’s measured voice and Heathcliff’s insistent demands for soy ice cream. Neither Henry nor I is brave enough to say what we both want to say.
“That Ms. Fernsby,” Henry says, chuckling. “She looks like she stepped out of one of those PBS shows you like to watch. I’m never sure whether she’s going to bring me a ‘biscuit’ as they call them over here or accuse me of murdering the rector.”
“She’s kind of magical. I think she’s charmed even Dad.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Silence again.
“So... someone needs to talk to Miss Mirabel,” he says, still evading.
“Ugh.”
“If you’d like, I can go.”
“No. She’s going to be a real pill, but I need to talk to her myself. Or at least I need to talk to her first.”
More awkward silence.
Henry clears his throat. “You look good now. Really good. But I was kind of worried about you when we hung up the other night.”
“So you flew all the way here to check on me?”
“I guess so, and for another reason...” He reddens, rubs his beard.
“What?”
“There was this new exhibit at the Tate Modern I wanted to see.”
“Which one?”
“Ummm...” He squirms on the cushion beside me. “You know, that newly discovered Shakespeare play. Supposedly, it’s even signed by him.”
“What? That would be incredible! But it would also be allover the news.” I’m smirking and kind of enjoying this. “Besides, something like that wouldn’t be on display at the Tate Modern.”
He grins. “Okay, fine. I’m clearly the world’s worst damn liar.”
He takes a deep breath, exhales. “I came here to tell you I love you.”
