Maven stared at her glass of juice, realizing the juice was trembling in her hand. She put the glass of juice back down. “There’s not a lot to say. Henri is sick. And if he is okay with that then I am willing to stick by him and be okay with it too.”
Her dad dropped his paper down on the table. He studied Maven’s expression. She looked like she was ready to burst into tears any second. “Maven, sweetheart. If there is anything you want to talk to us about we are here to listen.”
Maven closed her eyes. “What’s there to talk about?”
Maggie tugged her ear buds free. She sighed, “How about the fact that your boyfriend is going to die.”
“Maggie!”
Maggie jumped up from the table knowing she was wrong for saying it. But nobody else was willing to. “I’m sorry. But I think it’s the stupidest thing you guys have ever let her do. She’s going to fall for this guy and then he’s going to die and she is going to be even worse than when Jake dumped her for Tatiana.”
Nobody had to tell Maggie to go to her room, she was halfway there.
Maven stared at her parents, blown away by her sister’s explosion. “Is that what you think too?”
“No, Maven.” Her mother sighed, looking away from her, hiding the truth. “I just worry about you.”
“Henri’s health is something you have to come to terms with. And I’m sure something you are very aware of by now.” Her dad touched her hand. “Henri seems like an amazing young man. We all hate to see you fall for…for someone that has to go away.”
Maven closed her eyes in defeat, tears spilling down her cheeks and dropping on the tabletop.
“He’s going to die,” she said out loud for the first time. “And I’ll miss him. I already know that I will. But I can’t help wanting to be a part of his life. Even if he is going to die, he is still affecting me in a really wonderful way. He deserves to be happy. And if I make him happy how can I run away from that just because he’s sick?”
Neither of her parents spoke.
“Would you guys choose to walk away from possibly the most incredible encounter of your lifetime, just because you had to let it go sooner than you wanted? Just because you knew that it would never be?”
Her mother was speechless, searching for an answer.
But her dad squeezed her hand. “Your mother means the world to me. And when I met her at eighteen I would have done anything to be near her. That wouldn’t have changed if she was sick.”
***
Nick headed down the porch steps, a little pep in his step at the idea he was about to see April again. He thought she was a fun girl. And he liked having fun. Just as he was about to hurry down the walking path to April’s house, he saw Henri approaching. He could tell by the way he was adjusting his shirt collar he was edgy about seeing his sister. This was a good thing. It meant he genuinely liked her. Nick was a guy, he knew these things. He too, had made sure to throw on a fresh shirt that morning for April, because guys went that extra length when the girl meant something.
He threw up a hand in the form of a hello. Henri dropped his hands looking embarrassed to be caught primping on the sidewalk. “Hey there.”
Henri nodded his head. “Hey, Nick.”
Nick wasn’t sure what to say next. He never took the time to get to know Jake what made Henri any different?
“Yeah, hey. Maven is inside waiting on you. Have a good time.” He twisted on his heels and started down the sidewalk. Henri turned, watching him head toward his house.
“April’s excited. It’s not often she gets her way when it comes to shopping.” He called out over his shoulder. He knew Nick wasn’t looking to know him, but he was still willing to give it a shot.
Nick stopped. “Well, I figured seeing as I asked her to the dance it’s the least I could do.”
Henri smiled. “She’s pretty much exploding with glee all day long now because of you.” He raked his fingers through his hair smiling at the thought of April and her glee. Ever since Nick first asked her to hang out, she was the happiest girl he had ever seen.
Nick narrowed his eyes on Henri. Was he trying to make conversation?
“What about you, Henri?” Nick shoved his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts, rocking on his heels. “Do you plan on asking my sister to the Hop?”
Henri’s eyes widened. He swallowed down the anxiety that was bubbling to the surface. He hadn’t even considered going. “I hear the Hop is a big deal. I’ve never been too good at dancing or dressing for them.”
Nick noticed the instant gloominess that took over the situation. Hadn’t this guy had a father that taught him all about tying ties and what jackets to wear, like he did?
“Look here, Henri. If by some crazy miracle you decide to take my sister to the dance I promise I won’t let you show up looking like a complete idiot.” Nick patted him on the shoulder.
Henri shook his head. “Thanks for that. I think I see Maven.” He waved, heading up the sidewalk. It was a kind gesture, but he had Flynn to guide him through the tough obstacles of manhood. Besides, he wasn’t a complete idiot. He knew if all else failed he could ask April or Sandra if he looked like an idiot. They were very fashionable and always devouring fashion magazines in their spare time at the yogurt hut.
There she stood.
“Henri Levitt,” Maven said jokingly. She was wearing a flannel dress that stopped above the knee, white sandals with the cutest pink toenails, and her hair was spilling all around her shoulders in soft waves, her cheeks were dusted with a light pink blush and her lips were kissed with a fresh shimmery lip-gloss. “I thought we agreed on eleven.”
He dropped his head in defeat. “You got me.”
She brought her hands to her hips, poking one leg forward. Her smile as bright as the sunshine pounding down on him, he ran a hand down the back of his neck, amused she was teasing him about being three minutes late.
“I always thought you were such the gentleman.” She smiled sweetly, coming down the steps. And instead of their usual greeting, she moved in, wrapping her arms around his torso. The sweet smell of her hair and perfume tickling his nose, he immediately did the same, squeezing her tightly.
“I never said I was gentle. And most days I don’t feel too manly.” He grinned as they broke apart.
Maven’s father opened the screen door. He stepped onto the porch. He was a lot sterner than Henri anticipated. A tall muscular frame, arms as big as tree trunks, he wasn’t a man to mess with, Henri could see that. His eyes narrowed and he jutted his chin forward staring at the two of them. Maven quickly put a space between them.
“Hey, Dad.” She waved.
“You two heading on down to help with the painting?” He settled into the rocking chair, his tall frame dwarfing the chair. The sunlight made his wavy brown hair glisten, and also showed the hints of silver sprinkled through it. He had a fair complexion and deep blue eyes that were always analyzing his surroundings.
Henri looked at Maven before he opened his mouth to reply. “Yes, sir.”
His dark eyebrows knitted together sizing him up further. A boy with manners, this was new. Jake hardly called him his own name. He was used to bro or dude. He leaned back in his chair, a small grin creeping up his face as he shook out the newspaper that only seconds before was lying at his feet.
Maven shook her head. “You can call him Grant. He’s not as mean as he looks I swear.”
Henri refused to believe this. Grant looked meaner than he looked. And the way he watched his daughter told him he cared a great deal about her and her happiness. He could tell he didn’t trust just anyone with his family.