Chapter 29: Always Forever

“His sister Kelvin died on his birthday.” Henry’s father walked inside and took a seat next to the bed. “I’d like to have a few words with her alone.” He nodded to Sarah and Vivian, and they both walked out of the room. He turned back to me, concern gracing his face. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I-I didn’t know that his sis—” I swallowed and couldn’t form the word.

He squeezed my hand gently. “You don’t need to apologize. It wasn’t your fault. You don’t even know that he had a sister.”

“B-but he looked really mad at me. I had no intention of hurting him. I hurt him.” I sobbed and couldn’t hold back my tears any longer.

He caressed my hair lovingly. “My son is lucky that he has you. He should respect you.” He handed me tissues. “You know what Henry hates the most.”

I shook my head, wiping my tears away.

“The person who cries in front of him. He hates tears, he doesn’t even allow me to cry.” He let out a soft laugh, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He looked extremely sad.

“Is he okay?” I asked, whispering.

He sighed heavily. “I don’t know.”

“Where is he?”

He smiled weakly. “Maybe at his sister’s grave.”

I lowered my gaze and stared at my palm, refusing to look into his eyes.

“His sister was the only person he loved the most after his mother. What he had been through, I can’t express to you. It devastated him. He completely broke down when he lost her.” His voice was low and gloomy. “It was his eighth birthday when he lost Kel—” I swallowed. He was only eight. My heart broke for the girl I never knew, for the girl who was the most valuable and lovable person for him.

“We were living a happy life until him, KT,” he said. “My biggest rival, Kian Taylor. He was the man who killed my wife and my little girl. He snatched my innocent Henry. He took away all of our happiness.” His lips were trembling and his voice was shaky.

“You know what I regret most in my life.” He paused for a moment as regaining his energy. “When I could not save my daughter. I was not there for her when she fought for her life.” A single tear escaped his eyes. No matter how hard he tried to hold back his tears, he couldn’t. They were tears of pain and regret. They were the tears of a father who had lost his daughter.

“Henry still struggles to forget his sister’s dead face. On that day he was in the cage between four walls for thirty-nine hours with his sister’s dead body and it has been haunting him for twenty years…” He breathed hard. He lost his voice due to the pain that was swirling inside him.

I quickly placed my hand on his. “It’s okay,” I whispered. I didn’t want to hear the entire story. It was causing him immense pain. I drew a deep breath. My heart was hurting for that eight-year-old Henry who had suffered so much at a young age. I couldn’t imagine how it had been.

We kept quiet for a minute, but he broke the silence. “Alice, you are different. You know, whenever Henry is with you, he looks different. I noticed something changes in his soul, something deep I don’t know exactly what it is but he seems happy. You are the first woman who has caught his attention so much and you are the one who makes him happy. You remember that day in the conference hall he was smiling, which was rare. So many times I’d tried to bring a smile to his face, but I always failed. And you…” He held my hands. “You bring his smile back. You are the perfect wife for him. Probably you are thinking why I am talking about all these things.”

A small smile tugged at his lips, and it was genuine. “Because I know you are the only woman who will bring light to my son’s dark world. Only you can make him believe that there are also beautiful people in the world. I know I'm sounding selfish for my son, but I have no other way, dear. I just want you to be with him always forever.”

He stood up and caressed my hair gently. “I must go now. Take care of yourself.” He headed to the door but paused for a moment. “Please, don’t tell him about KT,” he said and left me alone, overwhelmed.

*****

Two hours had passed, but Henry didn’t come home. I was worried about him. I frequently glanced at the window in the hope he would come and see me, but he hadn’t shown up. Why didn’t he come yet? Where was he? Was he okay? Why didn’t he come to see me? So many questions were running through my head, but I didn’t have a single answer.

Someone knocked on the door and I rushed towards it. When I found Jessica and Joseph standing at the door, my eyes fell into sadness. Not Henry? “Alice.” Jessica quickly pulled me into a tight hug. “I am sorry.” She sobbed.

“I am fine, Jessica. You don’t need to worry about me.” I smiled.

“No, you aren’t ok, Alice.” She argued. “It was all my fault.”

“Jessica, stop crying like a baby! You are giving me headaches.”

She quickly pulled herself back. “S-sorry.” She wiped her tears away and dragged me into the room. “You need some rest, right now.”

“No,” I said, and turned back to Joseph. “Joseph, do you know where Henry is?”

He refused to look at me. He didn’t want to tell me about him. “I am sorry, Alice, but I can’t tell you.”

“You’ll tell me,” I retorted. “You can’t refuse me.” His eyes were fixed on the floor. “Could you please take me to his sister’s grave?” I pleaded. I was not sure, but I hoped he would be at his sister’s grave.

“He doesn’t like anyone to be there,” he said with a hint of hesitation. And I confirmed he was there.

I quickly grabbed his hand. “Joseph, please.”

He lifted his eyes and stared at me and said nothing for a few seconds. But when he found something in my eyes, he gave me a nod in agreement and was ready to take me there.

*****

Joseph parked the car in the parking lot of the cemetery. “I'll be waiting for you here,” he said, and I nodded and grabbed the flower before climbing off the car.

My heartbeat sped up as I walked toward his sister's grave. I didn’t know how Henry would react when he found me there, but I didn’t care if he got mad at me again. I just cared about him and I was going to meet him. I took a deep breath to calm my mind and looked around for him.

KELVIN ROBINSON

October 24, 1988, to May 3, 2000

Don’t weep. I’m simply resting in God’s arms.

Henry’s eyes were fixed on the marble headstone and his hand was gripping the flowers, which he had bought for his sister. His expression was stoic and his body was tense. I took a heavy step closer to him and he quickly recognized my presence like he had a third eye on his back.

“Stay away,” he growled without glancing my way. I closed my eyes, stopping the pain inside me.

Without a single word, I turned around, leaving him alone. He wanted his space right now, and it would be wrong if I interrupted him and his sister. How crazy I thought he would allow me to his sister’s grave. I was the only reason that he was in immense pain.

Suddenly, I froze in my place and was unable to step further when his arms wrapped around my waist and his chest pressed against my back. “I thought you wanted me to stay away.” My voice was barely audible.

His hot breath caressed my shoulder. “Yeah, I want to, but somewhere I don’t.” I could feel the pain in his voice. I could feel his heartbeat against my back. I was expecting him to pull himself away, but he didn’t, he didn’t move a bit, he just stood there hugging me even tighter.

“I'm sorry Alice,” he whispered, and I quickly turned around to face him, examining his expression. There was grief in his eyes, but not any sign of tear or drop of moisture. He was heartbroken, but his expression was hardened. His whole body was trembling due to bad memories stirring inside him, but he still stood like a statue, as if nothing had happened in his life. My heart was aching for that person who had given me nothing but hatred.

His hand moved to my head and touched my wounds lightly. “I'm sorry.”

“It wasn’t your mistake, Henry. I-it was just an accident.” The tears welled up in my eyes.

He cupped my face and wiped away my tears. “It was always my mistake, Alice. I am fucked-up. I’m an asshole!” he growled in frustration. “I hate myself to accept that I care about you so much. I hate that it scared me to lose you. I just hate that I like you so fucking much…” And then my heart melted. “I don’t want to hurt you anymore, Alice. I just…”

Before he could finish himself. I moved my hands to the back of his head, bending him down, and gave him a soft kiss right on his lips. He put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him, kissed me back with the same passion. With every touch of his lips, I felt warmth and tenderness. It didn’t feel like he hates me; it feels like he loves me.

But suddenly, something snapped inside him, and he quickly pulled himself back. “You can go now,” he said firmly and walked away as if we had not kissed a second ago.

“Henry,” I called him out, but he didn’t turn back to me, and left me alone again.