Perfect by Ed Sheeran

I found a love for me. Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead.

As we continued to kiss, my hands snaked around Henry's waist, closing in the distance between us. The kiss lasted for a few more seconds, and I never wanted it to end, just like every one of our kisses.

Henry brushed his lips over mine in one more deep passionate motion before placing a kiss on my forehead.

I gazed up at him as a mischievous beam pulled at the corner of his lips. Before I realized it, he had already lifted me off my feet, making his way toward the water.

"You better not throw me in there."

"Oh, yes, I think will this time."

"What?!"

He continued walking towards the water as I held my breath, squirming on top of his shoulders, but then he moved my body into his arms, bridal-style.

"I was only joking with you." He placed me back down on the ground.

We walked away from the water to the sand and found a spot. Once we sat down, he wrapped one arm over me, pulling me in to him.

"Katherine told me something today."

"Is it bad news?"

"No." He chuckled. "Nothing bad. Just something I didn't know that had happened."

I moved up and looked at Henry, feeling bothered. "It's about me, isn't it?"

He nodded, but his expression remained neutral, so I couldn't decipher if it was good or bad. It was definitely the latter. "That night before the hotel conference, you never told me about what you did."

And I figured out what Henry had in his thoughts. He was referring to the time when the flower order fell through for Pearce Hotel and Resort's seventy-fifth anniversary. That evening I️ happened to run into Katherine, the hotel's operation manager, who then told me about the situation. Multiple of Henry's assistants stayed behind late so we could all finished the flower arrangements for the anniversary the next day.

"Well ... I was going to mention it to you, but I forgot. Anyway, does it really matter? It's just flowers."

"Yes, it does, Ally. They were just flowers to you, but to me, it meant so much more. If you should know, they were beautiful. Many of the hotel's workers took them home after the conference ended."

"They did?"

"They really adore the work you made. And I really appreciate it too from the bottom of my heart."

"Thank you. Whenever there any more events like that, can I be in charge of the flower decorations then?"

Henry nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. There's no doubt about it. It's getting late night. Shall we go home?"

I nodded.

Henry stood up on his feet and held out his hand for me, pulling me up. "On second thought, let's go for one last night stroll on the beach first. How about it, beautiful?"

"I love too."

We took off our shoes and held onto them as we walked along the shore of the dark, glistening lake. Henry led the way while I️ followed behind him in his footsteps.

I stalled for a moment and let him walk further away from me before running and jumping onto his back.

I thought that was enough to surprise him, but he didn't even flinch a muscle.

He laughed as he adjusted my weight onto his back. "You're pretty feisty, huh?"

"I can't help it with you around." I placed my chin on his shoulders, and I kissed him on the cheek.

.....

"Call me when you wake up," Henry's voice whispered into my right ear. I felt a soft, warm kiss on my right cheek before drifting back to sleep.

As I opened my eyes to the sunlight pouring through the open blinds, Henry was nowhere in our bedroom.

Recalling the night before when we had dinner with Violet and her mother and the beach walk, I slowly sat up on the bed to find a note placed on the nightstand.

Good morning Beautiful, I went into the office early for work. Didn't want to wake you. Call me when you wake up. ~ Henry

I smiled as I read the note one more time.

After showering and getting dressed, I grabbed my phone and dialed Henry's number, sitting back on the bed.

"Morning you," Henry said.

"Morning you. Why did you leave so early this morning?"

"I had to clear some things at work. What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I just got dressed and was about to go downstairs to make breakfast for Nana." I also wanted to ask her for the coffee roll recipe, so I could make some for Henry today. But that was going to be a surprise for him. "Anyways, did you want me to bring you lunch?"

"No, not today. Nick and I are going out for lunch."

"You guys are having lunch today again?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you yesterday."

"No, you don't have to apologized. I understand."

"But you could still come with us if you'd like."

"I'll see. If not, I'll just meet up with you at the office later."

"Okay, see you soon then."

"Bye."

I hung the call and went downstairs to Nana's bedroom.

"Nana, it's Ally," I called through her door, but no answer came.

I knocked again but still nothing, and I started to worry, thinking the worst. I turned the doorknob and opened the door to her room, but she wasn't on her bed.

When found Nana cooking in the kitchen a breath of relief escaped my lips, my heart beat slowing down back to normal. She appeared much better than she did yesterday. It was good to see her moving around in her kitchen again. "Morning, Nana. Are you feeling better today?"

"A little better, dear," she responded with a smile as she stirred the soup in the pot.

But the look in her eyes wasn't the same as before. They seemed to filled with fatigue and something else, but I didn't want to press her about. I trusted that she would tell me if there was really something she wanted me to know. Until then, I wouldn't want to ruin the moment.

"What are you making for breakfast this morning?" I asked.

"Just some porridge. Henry already had some this morning before he left, and I thought I might make some more for you."

"Thank you." I walked behind her and hugged her small waist, resting my chin on her shoulders. Her body was so small and frail. "I'm glad to see you better this morning."

"So am I." She softly chuckled. "Do you have any plans for the day, hon?"

"No, I don't." I kissed her on the cheek and let her free as I went to set up the table. "I was thinking about going to see Henry later today at the office, but that's not until later in the afternoon. Why do you ask, Nana?"

"I was going to have lunch with Patty. Would you like to join us today?"

"Yes, that would be nice. I haven't seen her in a while either." I grabbed the milk jug in the fridge and filled up a pitcher for the table. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, dear. What is it?" Nana set the two bowls of porridge on top of the place mats.

"If you're not too tired, could you teach me how to make those favorite coffee rolls that Henry likes? I wanted to make them for him today."

"Of course, I thought you'd never ask." Nana's face crinkled as she plastered on a beam.

After breakfast Nana showed me how to make the coffee rolls. During the whole process, I precisely noted all the directions as specific as possible, making sure I didn't miss any crucial step along the way.

When the rolls were finished and taken out from the oven, the smell of fresh coffee wafted around the kitchen.

Although my coffee rolls probably wouldn't taste exactly like Nana's, hopefully Henry wouldn't mind.

After the coffee rolls cooled down on the counter, I packed six of them into a container before heading out of the house with Nana.

Larry drove us to Horizon since Henry took his own car to the office this morning.

Seeing the Horizon building loomed in sight made me missed the times when I still had a job, a desk, and co-workers. I missed waking up early and going into the office, saying good mornings, and sometimes bumping into Nick or having him visit me at my desk.

Nana and I waited in the lobby as Patty came down from the escalator.

"Morning, Fran," Patty said as she hugged and kissed her old friend before turning her attention to me with a huge beam. "Ally! Honey, I'm so happy to see you. How have you been?"

"Doing good, Patty. How about yourself?" I asked.

"Very well myself." She sighed. "Work here isn't the same without you." A slight frown appeared on her face.

"I'm sorry."

"No, no, no. Don't say that, dear. There'll be no apologizes today. Although I love to have you back with us at Horizon, you're in a much better place now." She smiled genially.

"Thank you for understanding, Patty."

She nodded. "It makes me feel happy to see you and Henry together again. Am I right, Fran?"

"Absolutely. Seeing you two happy like this is enough for us."

After a few more exchange of words, we headed out of Horizon's entrance toward the car waiting on the driveway.

"By the way, Ally," Patty began, "Nick told me that you're thinking about going back to school. Is that true?"

I nodded with a grin. "Yes, but right now, I'm still deciding on which college to attend in the area."

Patty smiled. "I know Henry. He wouldn't want you to go faraway. Well, I'm positive you make the best decision, and I hope you the best."

"Thanks, Patty."

After lunch and shopping time, it was already five in the evening when Patty's driver dropped me off at the hotel resort. She advised not to worry about Nana as she would see her home.

I took the elevator up to Henry's floor with the coffee rolls in my purse, excited and prod to show them to him.

His receptionist informed me he was still in a meeting with business representatives from Austria and should be done in fifteen minutes, so I decided to wait in his office.

I placed my purse on the coffee table and wandered behind Henry's desk, dropping into his comfortable, leather chair and then twisting myself around in circles as I waited for him.

The Tiffany box that I had given to Henry for his birthday caught my attention, and I stopped myself from spinning. It was one of the only few items on his empty desk beside his computer and an iPad. He like things very organized and clean.

I reached for the box and opened it, satisfied to find that it was empty. Henry must have kept the pen with him. I wondered if he brings it with him everywhere he goes.

I placed the box where it originally was and walked over to the corner view of the room, admiring the view of Chicago for a few minutes until two familiar hands wrapped around my waist from behind.

"When did you get here, Mrs. Cavill?" Henry left a kiss on my cheek.

I twisted around to see his lovely handsome. "Just a couple of minutes ago. How did your meeting?"

"Good, we have a date set for the grand opening in a few days, and my secretary will be booking out flights very soon for Austria."

"I'm excited to go then."

"Me too, especially with you." He leaned in toward me, nudging his forehead against mine with a pleasant smile. "Let's get out of here. Do you want to go to the Signature Lounge for drink?"

Outside in the busy street, Henry and I walked, hand in hand, talking about how our day went as we headed over to the John Hancock building, a few blocks down from the hotel resort.

When we finally made it to the lounge, I saw Nick already sitting at the bar.

"Nick!" I ran past Henry to him and gave him a hug.