My nerves shatter when I see he’s staring at me.
“Outside with grandpa.” She eyes me suspiciously. “And why are you here, Henry?”
His hip leans into my island, muscular arms crossing one over the other, and he asks while cocking his head to the side. “Yes, Faith, why am I here?”
Immediately defensive, my shoulders come up in a shrug as I turn the burner on to make scrambled eggs. “My sink was spewing water. Henry was nice enough to come over and fix my pipes.”
Lida giggles. She can take anything anyone says and turn it into something inappropriate. Jeremy was like that. But Henry, he isn’t laughing. I watch him glide over to Lida, kiss her on the cheek, and say, “That’s it. Just here to fix the issue in the bathroom. Nothing more. Right, Faith?”
When I don’t respond, Henry marches out of the kitchen and out of the house. The slam of the door is loud, and the loss of his presence instantly makes the house feel so cold that I shiver.
I ignore Lida’s curious gaze. I don’t want to give anything away. I fear she can see the flush of my cheeks or the morning afterglow. I can’t even fathom the response I would get if she knew I slept with her son’s best friend. The one who stood up at our wedding and gave a speech. The one who carried Jeremy’s casket alongside five other friends. The one who gets my children should something happen to the only remaining parent left for them.
My God! What the hell was I thinking?
“Stop that, Faith Jensen, right this minute!” Lida scolds, taking the spatula from my hands. It’s only then that I notice I’m starting to burn the eggs.
I fall back against the counter and watch her split them up into five equal plates she pulled out.
“Stop what?” I ask, my voice tight.
Placing some bread into the toaster, she gives me the “don’t be stupid” expression.
“Did something happen between you two?”
I immediately go on the defense. “Why would you think that?”
With a wave of a hand, Lida pulls the top off the butter dish. “Please, I can tell I walked into something more serious than him cleaning your pipes.”
“He fixed them,” I correct.
She laughs. “Same thing, Faith.”
“I’m serious. I had water gushing into my bathroom last night!”
A knowing smile crosses her face. “So, he was here all night?”
I give up and take a seat at the table. She follows, not caring that the toast has popped up. “Why do you seem so calm with the idea that Henry may have been here all night, Lida? That’s Jeremy’s best friend!”
Her soft hand covers mine. “Faith, let me tell you something. When Jeremy was diagnosed and subsequently succumbed to that horrible disease, I was devastated. I lost my son. My only son. My only child. He was smart, loving, and took great pride in the family he created.”
I grin. “He was such a great man.”
“He was,” she agrees. “But do you think that a great man wouldn’t choose another great man to be his best man? To be the godfather of his beautiful daughters? No.”
I say nothing as I take in each and every word she is saying. “You’re not mad?” I finally hedge.
I jump when her hand slaps down on the table. “I knew it! Something did happen!”
The heat creeps up through my cheeks, taking over my entire face. “It did, but I think I ruined it. God, it’s weird discussing this with you.”
“Well, sweetie, you don’t have to. But understand that I am behind you one hundred percent. I consider Henry a son, even if he has yet to call me mom,” she snickers. “I will say that I know Jeremy would want you to be happy and for his girls to have such a great male figure in their life. I also believe he wouldn’t have wanted anyone else for his girls.”
Tears begin to form, and my fingers sweep them away just as the girls come running in, making a beeline for me. “I just hate that he’s gone.”
“He’s not gone. He’s here, and he wants you to be happy.”
“Mama!” Chelsea and Chloe scream in unison, rushing through the kitchen. I hug them tightly before kissing them both on their heads.
