His Memories of Her

38th

Henry’s POV

While driving earlier, only then I got the chance to realize just how ridiculous this idea of having dinner in my house and to top it all, I will be cooking for her and would let her sleep for tonight in the next room of where I am right now as I am currently going through my things just to see if I have something that I could lend her for tonight that could make her sleep comfortable at least.

“Oh right! Mom have that!” I said as I am almost half way to finish when I realized that this used to my mother’s house when she was young.

This mansion was from my mom’s parents, it was her childhood house so for sure she does have something in her old closet so I quickly exited my room and run towards the room at very end of this floor which where would be my mother’s room.

I quickly entered and walk straight to her closet where a lot of things that are conserved with plastics, those tight sealed one which are transparent and made me feel lucky as it would make my search quick and easy. It did not take me so long when I caught a glimpse of something I have seen before, I have seen it in some of her pictures, that long sleeping dress.

“It would look good on her.” I said pulling it out from the plastic bag the same things, lifting it up and looking at it. It still looks so new, I guess mom have taken good care of it since she once said that it is one of her favorites.

 I quickly walk out of the room after putt8ing it back where I got it and run out towards Irene’s room which I knocked four times as soon as I arrived.

“I guess she went in already.” I said to myself when she did not answer my knock so I twisted the door knob and slowly open the door and look around first before I entered when I see no trace of her.

Or so I thought until I fully got in and hear her say “As expected of forest” followed by her giggles. I stare at her for a moment with a smile on my face.

“I do not know, if I am sure enough to let you know everything, or I could just leave something behind so we could start of something new, although I did not mean to be oblivious about what is happening to night, it is just that I did not think of this carefully, I was so excited right after I heard what Dr. Bailey said this morning. Realizing that what he said is true, that instead of being indecisive and dwell on the fact that you want something from me, a big thing for you. I should be just be happy and be thankful that I was given this chance where I could make something good for you that I could not with all those years.” I said to myself before I said “It would be a lot better at day.” Which I guess surprised her to the point to jump which is enough to make my heart leap with fright of her falling from the balcony which is just few centimeters away from her.

“Sorry, I knocked but you did not answer so I thought you already went it.” I said as apologetic as I could because I was really scared to death. Which makes my eyes keeps shifting from her and the glass behind her.

“Sorry, I was just too engrossed by the night view which is also a great thing.”  She said as she takes steps in which made me breath out relief.

As soon as she got in, I shifted my eyes to her finally and could just see the enjoyment she is having even though we are not doing anything. And I want to see some more so I said “Great to know. You can go in and just come down when you are done.” So, we could start really, this time of the reason why she came here tonight. Putting down the clothes I brought for her on the bed.

“Thank you. I will now.” She said finally closing the balcony.

“Great, I will be just downstairs and you could take your time.”  I said back with a smile on my face and turn my back to walk out of her room so she could start her private time after seeing her nods.

I walk towards the stair when my phone suddenly rings with an unknown number as caller. I frown but still I answered the call and said “Hello, who is this?”

“Henboy, sorry if I am interrupting you from something.” The caller from the other end said.

“Oh, it is you, Richard.” I said finally knowing the other person on the line.

“How do you know?” he said back.

“By the way you just called me, there is no one else who does that aside from you.” I said chuckling to the fact that I miss it, him calling me like that since the last time I saw him, we saw each other which was when the accident happened and him decided to leave without me knowing that he will be bringing her with him.

Richard chuckles as well on the other side before he said “Is that so? Well, I am thankful that I am a significant person enough to make you know it is me with just a way of calling you.” With full of sincerity in his tone and a little sadness.

“And to what do I owe you this call?” I said in joking tone.

“Oh! Right! Sorry, it is just that, when I called in her house, no one answers and so her phone is dead. So, just like what I used to do when I am out of town, I would have Kevin to pick her up once a week, so I called him and he said that he met her at her work together with someone from her work and said she will be staying with him tonight, and so I am hoping that it is you.” He said with a little worry in his tone.

I look back towards where her room is before I said “You did not know? She did not tell you? I am so sorry, I thought she called you, if only I knew I would have been the one to call you right away.” Apologetically but surprisingly without any trace of fright or anything along the line in fact I feel comfortable saying things like it is only natural.

“No! do not be sorry, I am nod mad or anything of sort. In fact, I am so happy to know that you two are together. And I am even more at ease, full of tranquility knowing that where she is where she will be protected.” Richard said that surprised me as I feel a sudden touch in my heart and a thought in my mind.

“That is a sure thing.” I said shrugging whatever is a thought I feel like I will be having anytime soon and added “But seriously, why it seems like she does not know anything about your fortune?”

“Why and how you could say that?” Richard with obvious wondering tone.

“Well, she came her like it is the first time she has seen these kinds of fortunes and the truth is she have just as much as I have.” I said finally starting to walk downstairs and straight to the kitchen sink where I left the dishes undone as I accompany Irene upstairs.

I keep my phone on my ear while washing the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher before walking towards the closed balcony where I sat down on one of the sofas looking outside, gazing the stars.

“Oh, well that did not surprise me. Do you remember when she gone missing for a whole month?” Richard said making me try to do some flashbacks of my memories with Irene which seems like a wasted part of a disc as it keeps playing and playing in my mind whenever it got its chance.

“Oh, that time when we thought she run away from home until you came with her and told us, me and Michael that you guys went to travel so you needed us to tell her teachers, and the principal that she needed sometime more to rest at home.” I said finally remembering one certain time where I got crazy searching for her whom we thought that run away from home.

“Yeah, that was the time when we went almost all over the world. I have showed her everything we have since I need her to decide if she would take over everything or wanted a normal life like what she is currently having right now.” He said.

“She seemed to be impressed at that time and asked me to give her sometime to think everything over since she have not thought about of what she wanted to do in the future. And because of that, I let her be what she wanted until the accident happened which also the night, she would tell me her decision after meeting up with you. And I know from everything I just told you, you know now the reason why she has not seen everything yet. I do not want to trigger anything from her past, as her doctor said that letting it come by itself is much better.” He added.

I found myself nodding in both agreement and understanding of everything he just said which really does make sense now and so I said “Then are you planning to keep everything from her as long as her memories are still missing?” thinking that something still does not ok to be.

“Henry, we both know that we both understand the weight of this responsibility, I wanted to quit as well because I am missing my son more than I should do, I have missed too many happening in my family’s life and I am in the brink of being a divorcee as my wife’s patients and understanding is slowly reaching its limit. I am scared every minute, every time but I do not have any courage to pass this kind of stressful responsibility to her so I do not see any reason why she should know anything out it, well said that I still need to show her all the things she could have since I do not feel like my family needs any of it because my in laws have the same things already and given my wife being an only child just like you, she will have everything one day.”  Richard said that I found myself having difficult time to say something because everything that I just heard are all true.

“If that is your thoughts, I could not argue anymore. It is true, she is having a great time of her life and stopping that would be something you would feel guilty and will surely regret one day.” I said after thinking hard of the best words I could come up with and stood up as I find myself uneasy with emotions I have not figure out.

Meanwhile

“That felt great!” Catherine said as soon as she stood up from soaking for a good amount of time in jacuzzi and wrap herself with the bathrobe hanging within her reach from standing in jacuzzi.

She walks out of the bathroom towards the bed where her bag is sitting on the couch near it where she puts in her undergarments she will be wearing for the night. She took them out and put them on before she finally reaches for white clothes folded on the edge of the bed which Henry brought just a while ago. Once she got it in her hands, she is surprised. It is a white long sleeping gown that as hard as she looks, she started to admire the detailed embroidery on it which is almost unseeable because of the color which did not really change even the embroidery.

“I thought it would be a t-shirt and shorts.” She said with a big smile on her face despite saying it in a disappointed tone.

She looks so surprise seeing it for the first time, and even more when she put it on and it hugged her slim petite body while giving her a comfortable feeling on how soft it is on her skin while covering everything from her neck and downward and could not help keep looking at her won reflection in the mirror until she said “ok, that is enough I am making him wait too much.”

So, she decided to go out of her room in her slippers and the sleeping gown Henry gave him and decided that she should just ask him later. She walks along the hall way she walked earlier with Henry until the grand stair came into her view which she climbs down while earing a happy smile until she came down and walk towards the kitchen but was scared when she found it dark, there is no lights enough to lighten up the whole place.

She carefully looks around while whispering “Dr. Altman?” over and over again until it changed into his whole name for a couple of times but still no response, so she continued to walk around where she arrived into where she could not earlier and still call him but only by his name this time.

Until she hears a murmur on her left ear making her turn her head and see a light on the other side of where she is. She walks towards the light carefully and as closer as she gets, the murmur became clearer and clearer, clear enough to know that it is Henry talking to someone.

“God, you scared me.” She exclaimed as she gets closer to the balcony with is wrap in glass and took her breath away as it came into full view as she stood behind Henry who is looking outside with his phone on his ear.

Her gaze towards him made her know that he did not hear him and still did not notice her beside him. And knowing he is on the phone, she sat on the couch inside of the house, behind him and pull out some medical magazine and decided to read in dim light as she does not want to ear drops. So going through pages that stopped when she heard Henry said “If that is your thoughts, I could not argue anymore. It is true, she is having a great time of her life and stopping that would be something you would feel guilty and will surely regret one day.” With sadness on his face as he stood up from his seat.