Henry's Hands

By Maxine Murphy

It's a forever love that never lets go.

Two young people meet and marry. They are in love and the future stretches ahead of them. Fate intervenes and everything changes. A love that lasts, this short story will tug at your heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paper Gold Publishing OLD
• Release date: Aug 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386003915

Maxine Murphy

            Maxine Murphy is at heart a homebody but has a wild gypsy streak. She spent her childhood roaming a vast majority of Western and Central United States. During all these travels, she saw many things that touched her deeply. No matter how much she enjoyed these adventures, she loved being able to make a cozy little nest and curling up with a book. She never wrote for other people and still doesn’t to this day. Maxine tells the truth, no matter how tarnished it may be. She uses her writing to deal with all the dark emotions that the world presses in on her.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The sharp knock that rattled the bells on the front door brought Mattie out of her Christmas cooking haze. Wiping her hands on her apron, she smoothed it out over her skirt. Making her way to the door, she fussed with her hair as she checked the time on the Cuckoo clock on the wall.

Pasting a smile on her face Mattie opened the door, unsure of who could be calling at this hour on Christmas Eve. Even though the hour wasn't late yet, the darkness of the cold night had long swallowed up any sunlight that had lingered. She wasn't expecting company.

She had only a moment to wonder who the surprise visitor could be before she saw. There on the porch, a man was standing on the other side of the screen door. Holding his hat in his hand the police officer looked solemn. Mattie's hand tightened on the edge of the door as she kept the wind from flinging the door wide open.

The policeman shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. He cleared his throat before he looked up to meet her gaze. All the denials she had made in the seconds since she saw him got dashed when she saw the look in his milky brown eyes. She knew something had happened to Henry.

Trying desperately to control the tremble in her voice Mattie uttered Yes?

Ma'am I hate to disturb your evening... especially tonight of all nights. But are you Matilda Howard? Wife of Henry Howard?

Unable to articulate an answer, Mattie simply nodded her head. Her tongue felt thick in her dry mouth. Dizziness overcame her. She was certain if she let go of the door she would float away. The world around her dimmed and tilted strangely.

Is it alright if I come in for a few moments? Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you, Mrs. Howard. He looked at her with his puppy-dog eyes. All she wanted