HENRY & ZOE
K. E. Morgan
Zoe Carroll was not quite beautiful but there was just something about her that made people take notice. Her platinum hair and buxom build was part of it but there was more. She had a “presence” and you either loved her or hated her. There didn’t seem to be a middle ground.
Henry was just twelve when he met her and it was definitely love at first sight for him. He was instantly enthralled by her, and he never looked at another girl.
Zoe’s life at home was, to say the least, a horror show. Her mother was known as the town tramp. She worked at the factory but spent most of her time and money at the Dew Drop Inn. She’d bring home different men all the time. Zoe learned to hide in her room with the door locked after one man tried to rape her while her mother “slept it off”. Zoe beat the man with a frying pan, chasing him down the road as he screamed for help. The sheriff came because the neighbors called him. Zoe told him what happened. The man was long gone and so nothing came of it. Zoe stayed in her room with the door locked and a baseball bat under her bed whenever her mother “entertained’.
Zoe could have been a wild teenager, she had no boundaries, nobody paid attention to where she went or what she did. But Zoe had a dream. She was going to be a rock star. She had an unusual voice and went to church just to be in the choir. She sang in shows at school, and she learned choreography by watching YouTube. By the time she was seventeen, she had her act together. She was ready to start sending out audition tapes. She mailed them to all the record companies but there was no response. Zoe realized she had to go to either New York or LA in order to make it. She would need money and she knew Henry had it. All she had to do was get him to give it to her. She had no doubt she could do it. He’d do anything for her. So, when she told him she was going to New York, Henry knew he’d go with her. He had quite a bit of money saved up and had planned to buy a car but instead he took it out of the bank and bought the two of them bus tickets to New York. Zoe just accepted that as her due. She never even thanked him.
Henry only wanted the best for Zoe but now he had to face the fact that it wasn’t him. He’d loved her since they were kids. They dated and were inseparable in High School. He dropped out of college to follow her to New York when she decided that Idaho wasn’t the place to make her mark. His entire life centered around Zoe and her career. He’d been her manager from the first time she’d stood in front of a microphone. She depended on him for everything and that was what he gave her. Everything he had, everything he was. Now he stood there in the wings, watching as she gave her first major performance and the crowds loved her.
An hour ago, he was told that he was holding her back. There was a real manager who wanted to represent her, someone with decades of experience. Someone who could take her all the way to the top. Henry believed that Zoe would never let him go, not even for such a big chance. It was up to him to leave.
A tear slid down his cheek which he swiped away, then quietly he moved away. He had no idea where he’d go or what he’d do to survive. His life had been so completely tangled up with Zoe that he had nothing of his own. No plans, dreams or goals. He had some money but he didn’t have a degree, he didn’t have a trade, he was nothing without her. Still, he kept walking, out the stage door, down the street and out of Zoe’s life.
At midnight he was on a bus headed to Nashville. He knew a little about the music industry, maybe he could find work in the county music capital. He closed his eyes but knew there wouldn’t be any sleep tonight. His heart was broken, his spirit was broken. If he’d been a drinking man, this would be the time to get blasted. But he wasn’t. Henry wondered what Zoe was doing. Was she crying? Was she mad? Oh yeah, she’d be mad. She’d be furious but Henry knew he’d done the right thing. In all these years Zoe never once said she loved him. She was only focused on her career. Zoe would be fine. Henry not so much.
Zoe finished her concert and came offstage to find Henry gone. Nobody knew where he was and she stormed to her dressing room. She’d give him hell when she found him. He knew she needed him to be there when she finished. In the dressing room she found the note.
Zoe, you know I love you. I love you enough to get out of your way and let you become the rock star we both know you are destined to be. Malcolm Harris will take you there. He’ll take you to places I have no hope of ever seeing. Sign with him. I love you, Baby. I’ll miss you and think of you every minute of every day.
Give them hell! Love Henry.
“Love Henry…what bullshit!” she fumed. How could he leave her without a word? Zoe shook her head. Henry was like a faithful dog. He’d never leave her. He couldn’t survive without her. She’d been supporting him for years. She was sure he’d be back soon enough.
Malcolm Harris had told her that Henry was dragging her down. Keeping her from realizing her full potential. Zoe knew he was right. Henry saved her the trouble of having that conversation. Not that she would have any problem doing it, this was just easier. Since the conversation with Malcolm, Zoe had been thinking about what “job” she could offer Henry when she fired him as manager. She had already told Malcolm she would sign with him. She just had to talk to Henry first. Henry saved her from that and when he came back, as she knew he would, he would take whatever job she gave him. Zoe picked up her phone and punched in Malcolm’s number.
The next day Zoe had a new manager with big plans and Henry was working in a Nashville restaurant helping in the kitchen. He’d found a room in a dumpy motel nearby and began trying to put Zoe behind him.
Malcolm Harris was pleased with himself. It had been so much easier than he expected. Zoe was ambitious and greedy enough that she signed the contract with him first thing that morning. She never even read it. No mention of having her lawyer look it over. Nothing, just signed on the dotted line.
Malcolm knew she was the real thing. She’d be going places and he was going with her. He’d had successful clients before but none of them had the talent or presence that Zoe had. She was the real thing. She was going to make him a very rich man.
Ten years later, Zoe’s career had come crashing to halt. She enjoyed her wealth. There were always parties to go to and plenty of drugs and booze available. She began messing up her songs on stage. She missed scheduled interviews and they had to cancel a concert because she was passed out backstage. Malcolm had made bank off her and had no trouble dropping her after that.
Zoe had been to rehab more than once but she’d start right up again. She lost everything and eventually ending up homeless.
Henry worked hard, learning the ins and outs of the restaurant business. He lived in a small, cheap apartment for years, saving everything he could. Finally he bought his own restaurant that became a very popular Nashville hotspot frequented by many music icons and show business people.
Henry had followed Zoe’s career and was aware of her fall from grace. He often wondered if things would have been better for her if he’d stayed with her all those years before. He fell in love with Julie Sanderson after meeting her in the restaurant where she was dining with her family. Julie was working as a back up singer then but had since found her own path to stardom. They married two years later. Despite her growing popularity, Julie refused to do a big tour, preferring to do a few concerts then returning home to Henry.
Henry told Julie all about Zoe. He told her that he wished there was something he could do to help her. Julie found Zoe and arranged for her to go to rehab one more time. She paid all the bills and when she was released, Julie got her an apartment. She made sure Zoe had food and clothing. Zoe had no idea who her benefactor was. She believed it was Malcolm. She couldn’t imagine anyone else caring enough but when she called Malcolm, he refused to speak to her.
This time Zoe stayed clean. She got a job in a road company of a popular Broadway show. Eventually she came to Nashville. The birthday party for the lead happened to be in Henry’s restaurant.
Julie knew Zoe would be there. She wanted Henry to see his first love again. She wanted him to see that not only was she okay, she was thriving. She needed to know that given a choice he would choose her and not Zoe. Julie was all too aware that she could lose him, and that would break her heart. But she wanted to know before she told him her news. She needed to know he truly belonged to her.
Julie stood by the bar while Henry greeted the guests. When he saw Zoe, his heart jumped to his throat. He was momentarily speechless. Julie waited for Zoe to fling herself into his arms, she knew that was what she would do. Zoe did no such thing. She looked as if she wanted to slap him.
“Zoe, Oh my God, you look amazing.” Henry said softly.
“Henry, so you’re what the head waiter?”
Henry shook his head. “No, this is my place.”
“Oh.” She looked around. This was a money maker. Henry must have money. He could help her get back on top. She smiled at him. “I’ve missed you, Henry. I never knew what became of you after you deserted me.”
Henry smiled sadly. “I had to go. Malcolm wouldn’t sign you if I stayed.”
“Well, here we are, back together again.” She reached up and touched his cheek. Julie held her breath.
“I’m glad to see you, Zoe. I always wondered how I’d feel if I ever saw you again. I thought I was so in love with you, but it turns out I was just obsessed. You used me and I was happy to let you, but we’re not together again. I have a beautiful wife whom I truly adore and surprisingly loves me more than anything. I’m happy now. I hope you are too.”
“Hmm. I want to see you, Henry. Somewhere away from here, somewhere private where we can remember how we felt about each other.”
“I don’t think so, Zoe.”
“I need money, Henry. You obviously have it and I need it. You owe me.”
Henry laughed, a hearty, soul-cleansing laugh. “You know Zoe, maybe I do owe you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am, I’d have ended up like you. I’d have followed you anywhere. I owe you my sincere thanks for not looking for me all these years, for letting me go and now I really am free of you. Good luck to you.”
Without a word or a backward glance Zoe returned to her table and to her latest lover. Henry looked around to find his beautiful wife. He crossed the room to her and took her into his arms. “That was Zoe.” He whispered to her.
“I know.” She responded softly, waiting to see where she stood.
“I’m glad she’s okay and now she is truly part of my past. I never have to think about her again.”
Julie let out a sigh. “Are you sure, Henry? Are you really sure?”
“Of course I am. I think I needed to see her for who she really is, who she always was. And now I’m free of the guilt, free of the what ifs.”
“Henry, I paid for her rehab. I paid for her apartment when she got out. I wanted her to be okay. I wanted you to see her and choose to stay with me or go with her. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it, but I wanted you to have a chance to be happy with her if that’s what you needed. I love you with all my heart. I want you to love me with all of yours. I didn’t want to share you with the memory of Zoe.”
“I do love you, Julie. More than I ever thought possible. I’m exactly where I want to be. Right here with you.”
“You’re sure?” she asked gently
He kissed her, right there in the middle of the restaurant, in front of Zoe and everyone else. “I’m positive.”
“Good because so am I.” she grinned up at him. “The test was positive.”
“The test?” he was confused but she just smiled.
“Yes, Darling. We’re growing a family, and I love you.”
He looked over his shoulder at Zoe who was laughing with her friends but her eyes were on him and they were cold. There was no joy there and he knew there never would be. He kissed Julie again, feeling grateful to have her in his life, knowing he’d never love anyone the way he loved her.
Henry was just twelve when he met her and it was definitely love at first sight for him. He was instantly enthralled by her, and he never looked at another girl.
Zoe’s life at home was, to say the least, a horror show. Her mother was known as the town tramp. She worked at the factory but spent most of her time and money at the Dew Drop Inn. She’d bring home different men all the time. Zoe learned to hide in her room with the door locked after one man tried to rape her while her mother “slept it off”. Zoe beat the man with a frying pan, chasing him down the road as he screamed for help. The sheriff came because the neighbors called him. Zoe told him what happened. The man was long gone and so nothing came of it. Zoe stayed in her room with the door locked and a baseball bat under her bed whenever her mother “entertained’.
Zoe could have been a wild teenager, she had no boundaries, nobody paid attention to where she went or what she did. But Zoe had a dream. She was going to be a rock star. She had an unusual voice and went to church just to be in the choir. She sang in shows at school, and she learned choreography by watching YouTube. By the time she was seventeen, she had her act together. She was ready to start sending out audition tapes. She mailed them to all the record companies but there was no response. Zoe realized she had to go to either New York or LA in order to make it. She would need money and she knew Henry had it. All she had to do was get him to give it to her. She had no doubt she could do it. He’d do anything for her. So, when she told him she was going to New York, Henry knew he’d go with her. He had quite a bit of money saved up and had planned to buy a car but instead he took it out of the bank and bought the two of them bus tickets to New York. Zoe just accepted that as her due. She never even thanked him.
Henry only wanted the best for Zoe but now he had to face the fact that it wasn’t him. He’d loved her since they were kids. They dated and were inseparable in High School. He dropped out of college to follow her to New York when she decided that Idaho wasn’t the place to make her mark. His entire life centered around Zoe and her career. He’d been her manager from the first time she’d stood in front of a microphone. She depended on him for everything and that was what he gave her. Everything he had, everything he was. Now he stood there in the wings, watching as she gave her first major performance and the crowds loved her.
An hour ago, he was told that he was holding her back. There was a real manager who wanted to represent her, someone with decades of experience. Someone who could take her all the way to the top. Henry believed that Zoe would never let him go, not even for such a big chance. It was up to him to leave.
A tear slid down his cheek which he swiped away, then quietly he moved away. He had no idea where he’d go or what he’d do to survive. His life had been so completely tangled up with Zoe that he had nothing of his own. No plans, dreams or goals. He had some money but he didn’t have a degree, he didn’t have a trade, he was nothing without her. Still, he kept walking, out the stage door, down the street and out of Zoe’s life.
At midnight he was on a bus headed to Nashville. He knew a little about the music industry, maybe he could find work in the county music capital. He closed his eyes but knew there wouldn’t be any sleep tonight. His heart was broken, his spirit was broken. If he’d been a drinking man, this would be the time to get blasted. But he wasn’t. Henry wondered what Zoe was doing. Was she crying? Was she mad? Oh yeah, she’d be mad. She’d be furious but Henry knew he’d done the right thing. In all these years Zoe never once said she loved him. She was only focused on her career. Zoe would be fine. Henry not so much.
Zoe finished her concert and came offstage to find Henry gone. Nobody knew where he was and she stormed to her dressing room. She’d give him hell when she found him. He knew she needed him to be there when she finished. In the dressing room she found the note.
Zoe, you know I love you. I love you enough to get out of your way and let you become the rock star we both know you are destined to be. Malcolm Harris will take you there. He’ll take you to places I have no hope of ever seeing. Sign with him. I love you, Baby. I’ll miss you and think of you every minute of every day.
Give them hell! Love Henry.
“Love Henry…what bullshit!” she fumed. How could he leave her without a word? Zoe shook her head. Henry was like a faithful dog. He’d never leave her. He couldn’t survive without her. She’d been supporting him for years. She was sure he’d be back soon enough.
Malcolm Harris had told her that Henry was dragging her down. Keeping her from realizing her full potential. Zoe knew he was right. Henry saved her the trouble of having that conversation. Not that she would have any problem doing it, this was just easier. Since the conversation with Malcolm, Zoe had been thinking about what “job” she could offer Henry when she fired him as manager. She had already told Malcolm she would sign with him. She just had to talk to Henry first. Henry saved her from that and when he came back, as she knew he would, he would take whatever job she gave him. Zoe picked up her phone and punched in Malcolm’s number.
The next day Zoe had a new manager with big plans and Henry was working in a Nashville restaurant helping in the kitchen. He’d found a room in a dumpy motel nearby and began trying to put Zoe behind him.
Malcolm Harris was pleased with himself. It had been so much easier than he expected. Zoe was ambitious and greedy enough that she signed the contract with him first thing that morning. She never even read it. No mention of having her lawyer look it over. Nothing, just signed on the dotted line.
Malcolm knew she was the real thing. She’d be going places and he was going with her. He’d had successful clients before but none of them had the talent or presence that Zoe had. She was the real thing. She was going to make him a very rich man.
Ten years later, Zoe’s career had come crashing to halt. She enjoyed her wealth. There were always parties to go to and plenty of drugs and booze available. She began messing up her songs on stage. She missed scheduled interviews and they had to cancel a concert because she was passed out backstage. Malcolm had made bank off her and had no trouble dropping her after that.
Zoe had been to rehab more than once but she’d start right up again. She lost everything and eventually ending up homeless.
Henry worked hard, learning the ins and outs of the restaurant business. He lived in a small, cheap apartment for years, saving everything he could. Finally he bought his own restaurant that became a very popular Nashville hotspot frequented by many music icons and show business people.
Henry had followed Zoe’s career and was aware of her fall from grace. He often wondered if things would have been better for her if he’d stayed with her all those years before. He fell in love with Julie Sanderson after meeting her in the restaurant where she was dining with her family. Julie was working as a back up singer then but had since found her own path to stardom. They married two years later. Despite her growing popularity, Julie refused to do a big tour, preferring to do a few concerts then returning home to Henry.
Henry told Julie all about Zoe. He told her that he wished there was something he could do to help her. Julie found Zoe and arranged for her to go to rehab one more time. She paid all the bills and when she was released, Julie got her an apartment. She made sure Zoe had food and clothing. Zoe had no idea who her benefactor was. She believed it was Malcolm. She couldn’t imagine anyone else caring enough but when she called Malcolm, he refused to speak to her.
This time Zoe stayed clean. She got a job in a road company of a popular Broadway show. Eventually she came to Nashville. The birthday party for the lead happened to be in Henry’s restaurant.
Julie knew Zoe would be there. She wanted Henry to see his first love again. She wanted him to see that not only was she okay, she was thriving. She needed to know that given a choice he would choose her and not Zoe. Julie was all too aware that she could lose him, and that would break her heart. But she wanted to know before she told him her news. She needed to know he truly belonged to her.
Julie stood by the bar while Henry greeted the guests. When he saw Zoe, his heart jumped to his throat. He was momentarily speechless. Julie waited for Zoe to fling herself into his arms, she knew that was what she would do. Zoe did no such thing. She looked as if she wanted to slap him.
“Zoe, Oh my God, you look amazing.” Henry said softly.
“Henry, so you’re what the head waiter?”
Henry shook his head. “No, this is my place.”
“Oh.” She looked around. This was a money maker. Henry must have money. He could help her get back on top. She smiled at him. “I’ve missed you, Henry. I never knew what became of you after you deserted me.”
Henry smiled sadly. “I had to go. Malcolm wouldn’t sign you if I stayed.”
“Well, here we are, back together again.” She reached up and touched his cheek. Julie held her breath.
“I’m glad to see you, Zoe. I always wondered how I’d feel if I ever saw you again. I thought I was so in love with you, but it turns out I was just obsessed. You used me and I was happy to let you, but we’re not together again. I have a beautiful wife whom I truly adore and surprisingly loves me more than anything. I’m happy now. I hope you are too.”
“Hmm. I want to see you, Henry. Somewhere away from here, somewhere private where we can remember how we felt about each other.”
“I don’t think so, Zoe.”
“I need money, Henry. You obviously have it and I need it. You owe me.”
Henry laughed, a hearty, soul-cleansing laugh. “You know Zoe, maybe I do owe you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am, I’d have ended up like you. I’d have followed you anywhere. I owe you my sincere thanks for not looking for me all these years, for letting me go and now I really am free of you. Good luck to you.”
Without a word or a backward glance Zoe returned to her table and to her latest lover. Henry looked around to find his beautiful wife. He crossed the room to her and took her into his arms. “That was Zoe.” He whispered to her.
“I know.” She responded softly, waiting to see where she stood.
“I’m glad she’s okay and now she is truly part of my past. I never have to think about her again.”
Julie let out a sigh. “Are you sure, Henry? Are you really sure?”
“Of course I am. I think I needed to see her for who she really is, who she always was. And now I’m free of the guilt, free of the what ifs.”
“Henry, I paid for her rehab. I paid for her apartment when she got out. I wanted her to be okay. I wanted you to see her and choose to stay with me or go with her. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it, but I wanted you to have a chance to be happy with her if that’s what you needed. I love you with all my heart. I want you to love me with all of yours. I didn’t want to share you with the memory of Zoe.”
“I do love you, Julie. More than I ever thought possible. I’m exactly where I want to be. Right here with you.”
“You’re sure?” she asked gently
He kissed her, right there in the middle of the restaurant, in front of Zoe and everyone else. “I’m positive.”
“Good because so am I.” she grinned up at him. “The test was positive.”
“The test?” he was confused but she just smiled.
“Yes, Darling. We’re growing a family, and I love you.”
He looked over his shoulder at Zoe who was laughing with her friends but her eyes were on him and they were cold. There was no joy there and he knew there never would be. He kissed Julie again, feeling grateful to have her in his life, knowing he’d never love anyone the way he loved her.