Oliver smiled slightly and leaned forward. “Henry, my boy, nothing in the world could make us happier. With the time that’s passed since you first fell in love with Amala and all that’s happened, we know we don’t have to tell either of you how difficult such a marriage might be. But the two of you would never be in it alone; we’re a family. And the entire household is practically like family. To my knowledge, every person who lives and works here loves and admires both of you. With so much love and support, surely there is nothing the two of you couldn’t face and overcome. In a word, Henry, you have my blessing.”

Tears stung Henry’s eyes, and he drew in a quivering breath before he asked in a voice that was slightly shaky, “Is it too soon to be considering such things? I don’t care what other people think; but I care what you think—and your good wife. Kat’s not been gone so very long. Should I even be thinking that—”

“That what? That you should move on and find happiness? Kat wouldn’t have wanted you to wait; I believe she as much as told you so.”

Henry looked down, unable to hold back his tears now as he recalled well his final conversation with Kat. “You know, I’d actually forgotten. She did tell me not to wait. How did you know?”

“Because she told me that she was going to tell you,” Oliver said, getting a little choked up himself as the memories of Kat’s death hovered around them.

Henry sighed and pushed his fingers through his hair, feeling both overwhelmed and relieved. “But . . . what if Amala refuses me again? I don’t know if I could bear it.”

“Do you think she will?”

“I don’t know.”

“How could you when the two of you have hardly said a word to each other for so long?”

“We talked this morning,” Henry was glad to say. He likely wouldn’t be here talking to Oliver now if Amala hadn’t forced him to start talking.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Oliver said. “And?”

“And what?”

“Do you think she would refuse you again . . . after all that’s happened?”

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. But I can’t say if that’s my own fear talking.”

“Perhaps she’s afraid you’ll never ask, while you don’t ask because you’re afraid of her response. Sounds fairly ridiculous to me.”

“When you put it that way,” Henry said, “it does sound ridiculous.”