The Friend I Needed

Seventeen.

Seventeen.

“Hello, Henry. How was your Sunday night?” Oddie asked the old General as he sat in his comfy chair in his room, giving her the odd look.

“You look so weird today, did something happened this past few days that I’m not aware of?” The only answer he got was a simple giggle and a cute blushing face. “Not even gonna try asking more. Either way, you’re a little early today and by little I mean, incredibly early.”

“I got the whole week planned for us.”

“Whole week? The hell are you talking about now, sweetie?”

“We are taking you out of here for the entire week! Isn’t that great?” She did her best to hide the laughter trying to escape her lips, his expression right now was priceless.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. You thought I wouldn’t find out about it?” She inched herself closer to him, having Henry cuddle further back into his seat still frowning at her. “When were you plotting to tell me about the full permit to take you away for more than a few hours, uh?”

“Never. Why would you want me to spend a night away from here? Where the hell am I supposed to stay either way?”

“My house obviously, hurry up now.” She stood straight and head towards the door. “I’ll go sign the permits now, you have ten minutes.”

“Hurry up on what exactly?”

“Packing, silly General! Pack enough clothes for a whole week away, I’ll bring you back next Monday.” Right before she closed the door behind her, she turned to give him a wink and a wide smile. “I can’t wait to bring you home with me.”

And then she was gone. Henry didn’t know if he should feel angry, aggravated, annoyed or, happy. A feeling he hadn’t truly felt in a long while, yeah he did felt comfortable going out with Oddie and the others and even more when Nathan joined in the picture and brought a smile to his face.

He liked that the young man cared for him enough to give him a call every day at least once a day, just to ask how he was doing or if he had eaten well during the day. Little details like those were the ones that brought a warm feeling back to his heart and he… liked it.

Henry turned to stare at the pictures on his nightstand and dresser, one picture stood the most with its beautiful golden frame that brought life to the black and white picture of his wife standing with him when they married.

It didn’t matter to him that they were divorced, nothing could ever change the fact that she was his only true love and he could never regret marrying her and having those wonderful children.

A tear rolled down his cheek when he felt the void of loneliness deep in his heart, sadness clouding his sight and pain filling his mind. He missed having a family who cared, who loved him.

“What exactly is home?” He took a deep breath cleaning his tears with a handkerchief, he stopped to stare at the pretty silky piece of navy blue cloth with a small smile.

He used that one to clean his wives tears whenever she cried with him, sometimes out of anger and other times sad cries filled their home, no matter the reason he would always take his handkerchief to clean his loving wife’s tears.

“Henry! Are you done packing? Do you need any help?” Oddie entered the room once more still wearing a bright smile, same smile that dropped when she saw the expression on Henry’s face, she frowned herself feeling panic reach her soul. “Oh dear, did I do wrong on asking you to come the whole week? I’m so sorry, Henry. If it really bothers, I can still cancel the permit.”

“That’s not the problem, darling. I don’t mind going with you.” His tone was different to the one she was used to hear from him, tilting her head to the side she gave him a curious yet worried glance. “But I need to ask you something. It’s important.”

“Sure. Whatever you need as long as I can provide, Henry.” She came closer to him crouching down before him, letting her warm hands embrace his cold ones.

“Could you perhaps remind me, what’s home?” She didn’t know what hurt her the most: the painful look in his eyes or the way that question was asked.

“Of course, Henry. Please, come home with me.” She tried to hold back her own tears just as he did, still holding his hands in hers, she smiled softly at him. “We’re waiting for you.”

“Would you like to help me pack?”

“Let’s do it, before the boys start to panic and come looking for us.” She laughed lightly succeeding on making him chuckle a little as well.

…

The drive home was silent but peaceful, Oddie wasn’t completely sure why Henry was suddenly feeling so down but she was willing to do whatever she could to help him back on his feet. Even if it meant to hear him ramble about how things annoyed him again.

When she parked her car on the driveway, she helped him with his suitcase much to his dismay, but she agreed that he could carry the small duffle bag, not that it was much difference but he didn’t try to fight her over.

Opening the front door, Oddie announced that she was back and like always, Luca was the very first to greet them both barking and waggling his tail overjoyed, earning a small grin and a pet on the head on the head by the grumpy man.

“Oddie, you took too long.” Tommy started to complain until he realized that Henry was there, his face lit up and a huge smile decorated his lips. “Oh my god! Gabe, look who’s here!”

“Who?” The little boy came out of the living room confused, but just like the older man, his face showed pure joy at the sight of the old general. “Grandpa Henry!”

Gabriel ran all the way towards him hugging him tightly to himself, Tommy walked over joining in the hug trying to give as much love as possible. Both boys not letting go waiting for him to hug back, which he did after he came back to his senses.

He couldn’t believe he was being welcomed this way, even he had returned the hug he turned to the lovely woman who now stood in front of the staircase giving the suitcase to Nathan.

Both of them stared at the trio sharing a hug with smiles on their faces, Henry couldn’t help but cry silent tears, he was overwhelmed and speechless. Why were they so sweet and kind with him? What made them think he deserved it?

“Hey, old man.” Nathan called out for his attention taking a firm hold on the suitcase. “Welcome home.”

Tommy and Gabriel let go of him taking the duffle bag from his hands and pulling him towards the kitchen excitedly trying to persuade him into baking another cake for them as the last one he had done before was out in a second. Way too delicious to ignore.

When night came over, Nathan decided that it was time for him to leave only with the promise to come back again the next day and pretty much every day, Gabriel’s condition to let him go. So after hugs to everyone and a secret kiss on Oddie’s lips he went away.

Henry sat on the window booth in the living room, clad in pajamas and a robe over him, one knee over the other just gazing at the street and dark blanket of stars that covered the sky.

“I thought you were asleep already.” Oddie spoke from the door frame, wearing her pajama pants and a long sleeved dark blue t-shirt, she raised an eyebrow at his clothing. “Nice robe by the way, looks comfy.”

“I’m not like those kids upstairs, I can handle a couple of hours more than they can.” He grumbled sighing softly before finally looking at her, he frowned when he noticed the lack of robes over her. “It is comfy indeed, you should get one so you don’t get cold.”

“They had a rough night last night so it’s understandable for them to be so tired.” She walked closer to the fireplace adding another two logs, a sweet smile on her lips as she turned towards him, nudging with her head to the sofa, a silent plead to be joined near the fire. “I might as well get a robe too; it also gives a classy look.”

“Don’t mock me, it’s too late to tolerate you.” Even with the clear annoyance in his expression, he did walk over to the sofa taking a seat beside her. “Now tell me, why are you awake? I bet you’re tired too.”

“I guess there’s too much going through my head, sometimes I get a little insomnia and I stay awake all night.” She pulled her knees close to her chest watching the flames eat the logs, Henry turned a little to see her better, not fully understanding her.

“You’re not even thirty and you’re already suffering from lack of sleep. I’m fully aware that Gabriel does not give you enough problems to cause that.”

“He doesn’t give me enough problems to actually consider them as problems at all. He’s a good kid.”

“Because of you.”

“I wasn’t the only one who raised him.”

“But you’re his mother figure.” She froze at that; this was the second time an old man told her the same thing, so she smiled resting her face on her knees turning to look at him. “I gotta say, I’m proud of that fact. Not everyone your age could manage to do that.”

“Thank you.”

They stayed in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the company in the chilly night, at some point Oddie stood up to grab a blanket for each of them which Henry was thankful for.

Before she sat down again, she turned to look at the corner of the room where she had a table with some bottles of liquor and glasses specified for each. Without braking her stare contest with the crystals, she spoke to the general.

“Would you allow me to tell you a story?”

“Is it about some giants living above clouds? Your kid doesn’t shut up about that.” He joked a little, but a small saddened smile was everything he had in return when she looked over her shoulder to see him. “Sure, tell me a story.”

“Alright.”

She grabbed a glass for both and filled them with rum before walking back and handing him his own, she went back to grab the bottle and sit it at the wooden table in front of them.

Taking a seat on the other side of the sofa she pulled the blanket over her lap, holding the cup in between both hands not really knowing where to begin, but she needed to talk about it with someone who wasn’t involved at all.

“What kind of story is it, if you need rum to tell it and I to hear it?” He gently asked turning to face her fully.

“A story of a stupid girl who forced herself to believe a lie.”

“Heck. Cheers to that, darling.” Both extended their arms to clank their cups, taking a long sip they stared at each other smiling. “Drop the though act, even a soldier has to break down in battle so he can survive the war.”

She nodded trying to form the right words to say at the moment, it had been a long while since she spoke about it. But when November and December arrived each year she would feel the same pain she felt back then, the memories deciding it was a good time to break the barrier she had formed.

“Remember the day we sat in the courtyard of the nursery under that big old oak tree?”

“Yeah I do, it was the day you drew me and invited me to the boy’s birthday party.” He took another sip of rum chuckling at the memory. “You’re good sketching, I framed the portrait.”

“That’s sweet of you.” She smiled feeling warmth fill her heart, even though she was about to break down. “I told you that I was going to get married, but I lied.”

“Now I see why we need the rum.”

He wasn’t expecting that at all, she nodded and both drank the rest of the liquor in their glasses so Oddie filled them back up, setting the bottle on the table again when she was done.

“Keep on going.” She lifted her confused face to glance at him, earning a low chuckle from him. “You might wonder why I’m not trying to stop you like last time, but I figured you really need to let it out the moment you offered a drink. I’m all ears, darling.”

She took a deep breath closing her eyes and taking another drink from her glass, she really needed it at the moment to be able to speak.

“I did marry him; Eddy is his name.” She started turning to stare at the burning fire. “We wanted to do things right since we decided to tie the knot. I wanted a civil marriage first, with a nice dinner with family and close friends before the great wedding with a beautiful church, an amazing party and with me dressed in the most beautiful white puffy dress any girl could dream of.”

“Puffy, uh?” He smirked making her laugh a little, turning to look at him with glassy eyes.

“It was puffy indeed, I looked like a marshmallow.” Sighing she brushed with her fingers a loose hair to the back of her ear before continuing with her story. “Eddy was my high school sweetheart, we met in our sophomore year when we were turning sixteen. He was in the hockey team with Nick and Ollie, while I was in the track team with Tommy and Sally.”

“I thought you mentioned ice skating.”

“I never did that professionally though; we did skate a lot in the lake but nothing more.” Both drank some more rum before going for their third full glass. “Sally was more into ballet, but we didn’t really have a dance team so she ran with us in tracks and after school she went to her ballet classes.”

Henry listened carefully how her school days were with the rest of the kids, they were still children in his eyes, and he would laugh and joke about certain things he could find amusing. Oddie told him how she fell in love with Eddy and how Oliver and Nick had taken the news badly.

He found out that this so called Eddy, was the typical handsome lean ashy blonde boy with pretty hazel eyes and a smile to die for, a term he couldn’t quite figure out completely. Every time she spoke his name her eyes showed him pure sadness and heartbreak and so many more emotions that he knew she needed to let go.

“What a story, darling.”

“That was pretty much how the rest of high school went; Ollie and Nick made his life a living hell while Sally and Tommy teased him a lot about how he could die if he ever breaks my heart.”  

She laughed wholeheartedly, the memory still fresh on her mind. She loved her school days and her friends and family had made it way more enjoyable, there was never a sour moment in their lives and had all the fun possible.

“When did Gabriel came in the picture?”

“When we were seventeen, but that’s a story for another day.”

“Fair enough, go on.”

“Then we went to college. Sally, Nick, Oliver, Eddy and I being the eldest ones went first, Tommy had to stay another year as he was younger.”

She nodded her head towards the pictures hanging on the wall beside the fire place, Henry looked over and smirked at the silly young faces of them all as he recognized them. Even though he hadn’t had the pleasure to meet this woman’s twin brother, he could see all the other familiar faces but frowned when he noticed a missing face.

“I don’t see the ashy blondie.”

“Eddy never wanted to take group pictures, he said they were too cliché for his liking so he was the one taking them all the time.”

“What happened when you started college?” He returned his gaze to her wanting to hear more.

“I went for designing, Sally for education, Nick for culinary arts, Oliver for medicine and Eddy choose education too.”

At this point they were at their fourth or fifth glass of rum, not that Oddie was actually paying attention on the amount.

“That’s where we met Zach, a guy my age who trains with us at the Lament’s Cave; he was in the same class as Nick so he of course joined the gang. And then Tommy finally caught up with us and went for culinary arts as well, we were more than complete having the time of our lives, enjoying our youth and everything.”

“Good times, uh?”

“Excellent times, Henry.” The smile she wore was one of pure bliss, he felt so happy for her. He was glad she didn’t have bullies or terrible situations that could break the joy of her school days. “After graduation, Eddy suddenly popped the big question, much to my friends’ dismay and my brother’s frustration, and I said yes without a second thought.”

Oddie explained the whole wedding planning went, from choosing the wedding rings to making reservations. Everything was just perfect, way too perfect to be true and she was right about that thought.

“You know that sometimes things are just so good and there’s nothing bad about it, that you start to believe that maybe there is indeed something wrong? Like you can’t believe how perfect it is?” She asked him feeling the pain start to consume her heart and her emotions ready to blow up any second, this was the part of the story that killed her slowly and excruciatingly.

“Yeah, happens to everyone at some point in life.”

“Well, it did happen to me.” Oddie took a long sip of rum, her cheeks rosy and her mind a little cloudy but the memory of her pain still fresh as if it had happened days ago. “I already knew there was something off with him, there was a time in our last year of high school that we broke it off for a few months and when we started collage we gave it a second chance.”

“Why did you broke it off, if I may ask?”

“More like why he broke it off.” She bit her lip trying to hold back her frustration. “He told me that he wanted to have some time for himself before we went further into the relationship, that it wasn’t healthy that we stayed together for so long without trying new things. The poor fool thought I had no idea about his little affair.”

“So he cheated.”

“Many times with the same girl, I never really knew her name but I was aware of her presence in his life. A few times I noticed bright neon pink lipsticks on his shirts and neck, a sickening sweet perfume being the first thing you could smell when you opened his car, the text messages from ‘J’ with a heart beside the name. It was obvious.”

“Why did you allowed him back into your life?”

“I told you this was a story of a stupid girl, didn’t I?” She cleaned a tear that escaped her eye, trying not to let any more of them out yet.

“Did your brother and the rest knew about it?”

“Are you kidding? They would’ve killed him in the spot.” Taking a deep sigh, she closed her eyes remembering the ridiculous words he said back then. “In our first year at college when we met again he said that he still loved me and that it had been a mistake to try and be separated from one another.”

“What did you do?”

“I forced myself to believe his lie.”