My Home From Home - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Henry had a distinct spring in his step as he tiptoed through towards the kitchen; he could hear the sound of sizzling bacon and eggs on the stove paired with the heavenly smell of coffee permeating through the air. He was utterly beside himself with excitement, in stark juxtaposition from the day before when poor Henry was quite deep in the doldrums of his past.
He stopped just short of entering the threshold of the kitchen, peering in to see Alfie playing happily in his pram whilst Danny played happily at the kitchen with one of the toy trains Henry had gifted him on Christmas morning. Thomas, on the other hand, was busy cooking breakfast as Henry stared at the back of his head hoping to stealthily get his attention.
Thomas back tensed up out of instinct as he felt the indelible sensation of someone's gaze on him; turning his head towards the doorway he saw none other than Henry staring at him with a wide grin and a noticeably excited glow about his porcelain-like skin. Henry cocked an eyebrow questioningly, using his eyes to gesture between Danny and back at the fair haired young Constable, earning him a soft chuckle from Thomas who simply shook his head; he knew exactly what Henry wanted to do.
"Danny, love." Sang Henry cheerily whilst sauntering into the kitchen, having successfully gained the little blond toddler's full attention.
"Henwy!" Danny's face brightened visibly at the sight of whom Thomas joked was Danny's favourite person; Henry. Sliding out of his chair, the fair haired little toddler bolted straight for the Henry; wrapping his little arms around his legs and hugging him as though he hadn't seen in in ages. Which was how Danny always hugged Henry and it never failed to bring a smile to Thomas' face; he was glad Danny and Alfie were so attached to the person he himself cared for so dearly. He hadn't a clue what that meant for the future, but he reckoned he'd cross that bridge when he got there.
"Aww, good morning, love." Henry chuckled, he patted the toddler's silky soft blond hair before he knelt down to the little boy's eye level. "Come on, you. I've got a surprise for you in the drawing room." He scooped Danny up and carried him on his hip towards the drawing room; though he stopped just short of the doorjamb. "Alright, love, close your eyes for me and and don't open them until I tell you to, okay?." Henry bounced Danny in his arms, watching as the little boy nodded and covered his eyes with his precious tiny hands; Henry walked them over towards the sofa where little Leo was sleeping soundly in the picnic hamper and he sat Danny down right next him so that the wee grey kitten was the first thing he'd see when he opened his eyes.
"You can open your eyes now." Henry whispered with a smile, observing the adorable little blond boy with anticipation bubbling within him as he removed his hands off from over his eyes; his deep brown eyes that looked just like Thomas' brightened visibly as he caught his first glimpse of the sleeping grey tabby kitten nestled cosily within the confines of the picnic hamper and surrounded by warm blankets.
"KITTY!" Danny clapped excitedly.
"Yes, love. Kitty!' Henry cooed at the adorable little toddler, mirroring his excitement. "His name is Leo and he'll be staying with us from now on, or until we can find his family."
"Can I play with him?" Danny blinked his innocent brown eyes up at Henry, prompting the raven haired lad to glance over his shoulder to see Thomas silently observing them with a content gleam as he leant nonchalantly against the doorjamb with his arms folded over his chest.
"He's sleeping now, kiddo." Thomas explained gently, making his way towards Henry and Danny on the sofa. "But I'll tell you what." He whispered, kneeling down onto his hunches and giving Danny's full cheeks a loving pinch. "How about you have your breakfast first, and you can play with him when he wakes up?"
"Okie!" Danny bounced enthusiastically on the sofa cushion, sliding off of it and taking off running back towards the kitchen before Thomas could get another word in.
"How's the little fella doing?" Asked Thomas, peering down at the sleeping ball of grey striped fur as the wee kitten seemed peacefully asleep.
"He seems alright, but I'll have Mary send for  Mr Davis to have a proper look." Henry replied with a huff as he rose to standing. Mr Davis owned an expansive livestock ranch and wheat farm just outside of Fir Creek. Though not a veterinarian by training, his years of dealing with and understanding animals on his farm made him knowledgeable on the subject; not to mention Henry supposed that having many barn cats living on his farm would give Mr Davis some insight on Leo as well.
"That's a good idea, I have a feeling the little guy is going to fit right in into our little family." Nodded Thomas casually as he began to stroll leisurely towards the door to take his leave, though Henry's mind momentarily lingered on the words 'our little family'. "Are we still on to meet for lunch?"
"Oh erm... Yes!" Henry blinked himself out of deep thought, recovering with a forced smile. He didn't know when he became Thomas' family, but at the same time he didn't feel Thomas was wrong in saying it. In a way they were like a family, even though they had no legal right on paper to call one another so. "Of course, I'm looking forward to it."
"Perfect, I'll see you then." Thomas leant out into the corridor to make sure the coast was clear, a confident smirk plastered across his face as he turned back around, marched confidently up to the pretty dark haired lad and gave him a quick peck on the lips before going off on his way.
Henry blushed wildly as he stood alone in the drawing for a second; he didn't know why, but though he loved any and every kiss he shared with Thomas, there was something about these short, quick, stolen pecks that he shared before they'd part ways that seemed to pull at his heartstrings.
He shook off these thoughts, clearing his mind as he made his way towards he infirmary; he had a busy day ahead of him with a chalked full schedule, and on top of it all he needed to take inventory of the dispensary cabinet, send orders for medical supplies and medications from the Ministry of Health in Calgary, and also ring Calgary General to process an orthopaedic referral for one of the mine workers who suffered from a torn rotator cuff.
"Good morning, Mary." Henry said singsongily as he leant up against the front reception desk and flashed Mary one of his charming smiles.
"Morning Dr Dunmurry." Mary mirrored his beaming smile, briefly glancing up from the paperwork she was doing before cracking on with her paperwork. "Oh, Doctor! I nearly forgot. Mr Graeme phoned from the mines. " Mary Called out as the handsome young physician was just about to leave for his office. "He's sending a few new employees to have their physical examinations done."
"Ah! Brilliant, thank you Mary. Have him send them over." Henry nodded in acknowledgement before turning on his heels to make his way straight to his office to prepare for the long day he had ahead. The coal mine was expanding and with that came new men to work, new families alongside them, and in turn, the growth and expansion of the town. Henry loved it; in the few short months he'd been here in Fir Creek he'd seen it augment from a little hamlet to somewhat of a functioning town.
As the new prospective miners began to file in one by one, Henry went through the checklists to ensure they were fit for work in the mine; signing off on their physical examinations and sending them on their way. By the time he'd reached the final worker Henry was quite relieved to have the lull in his day; a lull that'd be short lived.
"Is that the last of them?" Henry tugged at his dark brown hair as he glanced up towards Mary in the doorway; the auburn haired girl smiling knowingly at Henry, giving him an affirmative nod. The young doctor sighed with relief, his spine relaxing as he rested his elbows onto the desk. "Ten physical examinations in five hours. I haven't been this knackered since my shifts back home. I'm beginning to wonder how I coped back then."
"What's it like?" Mary asked curiously, walking up and pulling out the chair across form Henry's desk to take a seat. "London, I mean. It must be worlds away from here."
"Yes, well I suppose it is." Sighed Henry, his eyes glazing over as his mind travelled back to the life he'd left behind when he ventured off England's foggy shores; travelling to the streets of Knightsbridge and South Kensington. To the pubs in Mayfair he'd frequent with his mates to lunches at the Ritz with his family, to extravagant coming out balls and parties galore during the London season. The deep hazy memories of long shifts at the Kensington Infirmary and weekends and holidays at his family's sprawling country estate in Hertfordshire.
"I've always wanted to visit London, I've only ever seen it at the pictures and in photographs." Mary admitted with a hopeful look in her clear blue eyes.
"It has its upsides as well as its down." Henry stared off into the distance clearly miles away in his mind. "There's an anonymity in the big city, you can disappear into the crowds in which nobody knows who you are. It's a cosmopolitan city where you meet fascinating people from all over the Empire, all over the world, even; hearing their stories, learning about their culture, eating their foods. Whilst I lived there I wondered how I ever coped growing up in a small town in Hertfordshire, but now that I've lived here in Fir Creek, I realise just how much more charm there is in small villages; the camaraderie, the sense of community, the sense of belonging."
"I suppose so." Mary shot Henry a teasing glance with the slightest hint of scepticism; she'd spent her entire life in Fir Creek and barring the few times she'd travelled to Calgary with her family. "When I was younger I dreamt of going to the big city; the anonymity you mentioned, the new beginnings, a fresh start. I was practically itching to leave Fir Creek  to study nursing."
"I didn't know that." Henry blinked perplexedly at her. "What changed your mind?"
"Money." Sighed Mary as Henry noted the tears begin to well in her eyes. "I had top marks on my provincial secondary school examinations, I even got accepted to university in Vancouver to study Nursing, but my father told me I had to stay and help at home. We couldn't afford much back then, let alone tuition. I guess some dreams simply don't come true."
"Don't say that." Henry reached over to place his hand chastely over Mary's as they rested over his mahogany desk. "It's never too late to make your dream come true. It would be my honour to make inquiries into-"
"Thank you, Dr Dunmurry." Mary cut Henry off mid-thought. "I appreciate that but, that's really not necessary. I'm content where I am in life."
Henry parted his lips to speak once again; hesitating only at the thought of prying further into her life. Mary was kind, attentive, intelligent, and caring; the makings of an exceptional healthcare professional, but ultimately the decision to pursue what Henry saw as a clear calling was ultimately Mary's.
But just as he made the internal executive decision to make haste in changing the subject, he heard a familiar sound coming from the waiting area by the reception. The little dinging of the bell above the door that they were used to; usually signalling a patient coming into the clinic or a delivery of supplies or medicines for the dispensary. Henry's sapphire blue gaze shot towards Mary's who looked as confused as he was; they weren't really expecting anyone to come in during their lunch hour. And that's when Henry heard something that made his blood run cold in his veins...
"Bloody cold bloody country how the bloody hell do any of you people live here." Henry heard a familiar voice; a very familiar voice.
"Oh no." Henry muttered under his breath, pushing himself up to standing and rushing out towards the front reception area to confirm his biggest fears. "No no no no." Henry's felt a deep sense of panic descend over his body as he saw a familiar ash-brown haired young man and piercing Irish green eyes, smartly dressed and looking dapper as usual. It was his cousin Callum.
"Hello there, little cousin!" Callum smiled brightly, dropping his cases into the floor and making a bee line straight for Henry. Lord Callum Dunmurry, Viscount Donegal, was the son of Henry's Papa's sister and his Mama's brother; his parents met at Henry's parents wedding and fell in love. They later married and had Callum who was their prodigal son, an RAF pilot during the Great War, and sole future heir to the title of Henry's Grandpapa, the Duke of Ulster. Though Callum was Matthew's age, he always was closer to Henry growing up; and despite Callum being aware of Henry's attraction to other men, at his Papa's direction, he was instructed not to tell Callum the true legal reasons he had fled England.
"Cal what the devil are you doing here!?" Henry whisper yelled at his cousin, glancing anxiously to ensure nobody was near. Henry was living in a facade of his own creation and here he couldn't help but fear that his dear Cousin Callum coming to town was going to throw a massive spanner in the works.
"Why it's lovely to see you too, Harry. My journey was enjoyable, thanks so much for asking. I am absolutely knackered. And of course I'd love a cuppa, cheers mate." The dapper and ever charismatic young Lord Callum teased as he bridged the gap with his raven haired cousin and pulled him in for a tight warm hug. "Sorry, that wasn't very English of me, but I couldn't resist! I haven't seen you in months! Aren't you happy to see me?!"
"O-of c-course I am, I'm erm... just a bit surprised and erm... confused is all." Henry stammered, wondering what in Gods name was going on. "Erm, how exactly did you find me?"
"Magical thing about letters, Harry. There's a return address on them that most of the times can tell you exactly where to find the person who sent them." Winked Callum, flashing Henry a cheeky grin; ruffling his little cousins dark brown hair as he glanced around the waiting area with a forced grin that looked more like a grimace than anything. A general look of judgement in his emerald green eyes. "This is nice. It's not Harley Street, but it's quaint. Rustic. I rather like it." He let out an approving hum before turning back towards his younger cousin.
"For God's sake, Harry. Stop staring at me like I'm the bloody Ghost of Christmas Past. Staring is terribly common." Scolded Callum, prompting Henry to immediately shake the look of confusion off his face.
"Sorry, I'm still a bit shocked, I just- Why didn't you write me telling me you were coming? I could've come to the station to pick you up." Henry smiled, though the dazed look in his perplexed eyes was fooling nobody; he loved his cousin dearly but, understandably so, a part of him was a bit taken aback by his worlds clashing together. His past and his present.
"Figured it'd be a nice surprise. So, Surprise!" Said Callum with a wide grin. "I do hope I haven't intruded..."
"No, no! You haven't done, I'm just being silly." Insisted Henry with a welcoming grin. "Come, let's get you a cuppa, you'll have had a long journey, no doubt and I should think we've loads to catch up on." He beckoned Callum to follow him as he led him through the house and into the back kitchen; making haste past his office where he knew Mary was. He needed to talk to Callum before Callum could talk to anyone; Lord only knew the last thing he needed was for his cover to be blown. "Please, do sit down" he gestured towards the dining table for Callum to rest after his journey. "I'll just pop the kettle on."
"You... What?! Why?! Have you given your servants the day off?" Callum's eyes widened in shock as he watched his cousin manoeuvre about the kitchen, filling a kettle with water and popping it on the stovetop. Henry chuckled at him without saying anything as he scrounged together a plate of digestives and tea biscuits for his guest; all the while Callum stared at him as though he'd grown a second head.
"Here you are, just like you like it." Henry handed the small porcelain cup filled nearly to the brim with piping hot tea with milk and sugar; watching as a very confused Callum took the cup into his own hands and stared at the contents wearily. "Is... something the matter?" Questioned Henry as he observed his cousin's rather peculiar reaction.
"You've just made a cup of tea. From scratch." Callum stated, his eyes wide and staring at Henry like he was a creature of the Lost World. "How do you even know how to make a cup of tea?! Last I saw you, you hadn't a clue how to work a stove and now suddenly you're 'popping the kettle on'. Who are you and what've you done with Harry!?" He wearily stared into the cup at the deep milky brown tea, then back at Henry, leaning in to get a whiff of the steam rising from the liquid. "What've you done to this? Is it safe to drink?"
"Don't you start. I've simply grown accustomed to my new surroundings, that's all." Henry shrugged as he sat down in the chair across from Callum as he poured himself a cup of brew to join his dear cousin; whose emerald green eyes scanned around with a . "Right so, what brings you all the way here?" He asked curiously, staring the milk and sugar into his cup and elegantly tapping the spoon against the rim of the bone-china teacup.
"Oh you know." Callum said nonchalantly between sips. "I just happened to be passing by neighbourhood as one does, and I simply figured I'd pop round to see how my favourite little Cousin Harry was holding up in this charming icebox of a country."
"Oh I do hate when that happens." Henry sassed Callum with a knowing look. "Take one wrong turn off Oxford Street and suddenly you're in Canada." He rolled his eyes in jest, earning him a playful glare from Callum. "Besides it's not always this cold. Thomas says it gets warmer in the summer."
"Who the devil is Thomas?" Callum narrowed his eyes at his dark haired cousin, but just as young Henry parted his lips to answer, his thought process was thoroughly derailed by the sound of a baby crying from elsewhere in the house.
"Oh! That'll be Alfie, it's time for his bottle and I should think he's due a nappy change. Terribly sorry, I'll only be a minute." Henry sprung up to standing giving his cousin a curt nod as the ash-brown haired man stared at him like he'd lost the plot.
"Who the devil is Alfie!?" Asked Callum incredulously, though Henry was already clear out of the room by that time. "That's fine, don't answer any of my questions." He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he took another sip of his tea. "It's like of crossed through the bloody looking glass." He glanced about judgementally at the kitchen around him as he waited for his cousin to return.
"Alright I'm back!" Henry announced himself only minutes later, walking into the room with a beaming glow over his grinning face and a wee baby in his arms. "Terribly sorry, where were we?" He said nonchalantly, sitting himself back down across from Callum as the green-eyed man's very confused gaze shifted between Henry and the precious blue eyed baby in his arms.
"To hell with what we were talking about! That's a baby!" Callum gestured towards little Alfie who made adorable little baby noises as he reached out towards him with his tiny grabby baby hands. "A very cute baby, but a baby nonetheless. Why've you got a baby?! Whose baby is it?! Why've they trusted you, of all people, with a baby!?"
"Oh this is Alfie." Henry gave little Alfie a chaste kiss on his  cheek and atop his angel-soft dark brown hair. "He's an absolute sweetheart." Henry beamed proudly, gazing down at the little boy he was bouncing on his knee. "Do you want to hold him?!" Henry held up the happy wee infant towards Callum with an excited grin plastered across his face.
"I'm fine, thank you." Callum mustered a forced smile, he wasn't terribly fond of children even though even he couldn't deny Alfie was absolutely precious. "I'll just admire him from afar, you know I'm not terribly fond of babies. They're grabby and smell of milk."
"Your loss." Shrugged Henry, bringing little Alfie back close to his chest and gently rocking him in his arms. "Now are you going to explain exactly what brings you here? And don't say it's because you've missed me"
"Right. That." Callum raised his brows, setting his teacup down onto the table before letting out a frustrated huff. "How about this, you tell me why you are here, 'Henry Dunmurry', and I'll tell you why I'm here."
"I should've seen this coming." Henry chuckled humourlessly, getting up to put little Alfie in the pram by the table before settling back into his seat. "Right, well. I suppose there's no harm in you knowing. Unless you plan on turning on me in to the police."
"Blimey, Harry. What've you done!?" Callum cocked an eyebrow at him in a mix of shock and intrigue.
"Remember the night we had dinner at the Ritz and I left to meet Charles and James at that pub on Regent Street? It was a send off for James before he set off for his posting in India?" Henry grimaced as he recalled the night; glancing up from his lap to see Callum nod to his query. "Well the police raided the pub, I wasn't arrested but long story, short; Papa found out and essentially exiled me until the trial has concluded for those apprehended."
"God in Heaven, Harry." Callum's peridot green eyes washed over with a look Henry could only distribue as pity. "I'm... I'm so terribly sorry. I had no idea... Why didn't you tell me, I could've helped?!"
"Papa thought it'd be best if it stayed within the immediate family." Henry sighed melancholically, though it was short lived as a smile began to perk up the corners of his lips. "But It's alright. Really. I'm happy here." A smile crept over Henry's content face. "I feel like I belong here. I finally feel at home."
"If it makes you feel any better," Callum began with an awkward chuckle as he rubbed his arm over his black suit sleeve. "My Papa exiled me too."
"Uncle William!? Heavens, Why?!" Inquired a rather intrigued Henry.
"It's not really important." Chuckled Callum awkwardly, though by Henry's very intrigued expression he could tell he wasn't to be let off that easy.
"Oh come now, ol' chap. Surely it can't be anything bad." Henry waved it off casually, dunking a tea biscuit in his tea.
"Alright fine, I'll tell you but don't to absolutely mental like papa." Huffed Callum, though a part of him felt like his cousin of all people wouldn't judge him for what he was about to say. "I met a girl back in Ireland... And we fell in love..."
"Oh?!" Henry's sapphire blue eyes brightened visibly. "That sounds lovely, I don't see the problem..."
"Oh, I'm getting to that bit..." Callum chuckled to obscure his clear unease; Henry could either take this brilliantly or react like Callum's father. "Papa forbade us from marrying outright so... we... tried to elope..."