Forever Yours
©2025 Elder Road Books - Lynnwood WA
Chapter 4: Ready, Set, Go!
HENRY WAS INTENT on knocking off the remaining two classes that were freshman requirements for the university over the summer. His job as a ‘Youth Pro’ at the Constitution Links Country Club kept him busy teaching children and teens the rudiments of golf, mostly in the long evenings.
But he was just as determined to follow through with Don Harvey to get his intellectual property protected. He wanted patents filed so he could get paid for his inventions. But they were also intellectual property for the company that would help them get employees and funding.
Over the summer, he did some research in the university library regarding businesses that were started by college students and grew into highly successful corporations. There were a surprising number starting with Apple, Microsoft, and more recently, Facebook.
He and Chastity both had classes and summer jobs. Isobel was in South America. Luke was tripping across the country. But text messages and emails flew among them, solidifying their partnership throughout the summer.
“I’m convinced we need to shelter ourselves with a Limited Liability Company, an LLC,” Luke wrote. “We will each need to put a nest egg in the company and we can use that to fund a lawyer to file incorporation papers when we’re ready to launch. We start out as equal partners in the LLC, but when the corporation is established, we’ll each receive stock and options in whatever proportions we decide are fair.”
“How much?” Chastity asked—always the most practical of the quartet.
“I figure we can get in business for a thousand each,” Luke responded.
“Ouch!” Henry said. “I’d better pick up some more hours at the club.”
“I can do it, but I won’t be having much fun this summer,” Chastity said. “Not that I was, anyway.”
Isobel’s response came the next day. “Okay.”
“Henry, I need a guy for a double date. Are you available Saturday?” Chastity asked when she called him on Wednesday, the first of July.
“Hey. I haven’t done anything fun so far this summer. Will it be fun?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah. It’s the Fourth of July! We’re going out to the Avonmore Trails to ride horses, then back into town for dinner and to watch the fireworks,” Chastity said.
“That sounds like fun. When should I pick you up?”
“All excited about driving now that you’ve got a car?” Chastity teased. Luke’s father had helped Henry pick out a good used car at a real deal of a price. “Not to worry this time. Allen is driving. We’ll pick you up at one Saturday afternoon.”
“See you then.”
Aside from their frequent texts, Henry hadn’t seen Chastity since graduation. The idea of going out, no matter what the event, was attractive. He remembered well their time after the prom. He was ready in jeans and sturdy shoes at one when Allen pulled up in his Jeep. This guy was obviously a real outdoorsy type. Henry ran out to join the group and Chastity held the seat forward so he could get in back ... with a lovely young woman. Chastity got in front next to Allen.
“Henry, this is Allen and your beautiful date is Avery,” Chastity said.
“Oh! Hi!” Henry said offering his hand to Avery. “I’m Henry.”
“You’re surprised!” Avery said.
“Not unpleasantly. Chastity didn’t mention who my date would be so I assumed you’d be with Allen and I’d be with her,” Henry said. “No problem.”
“Oh, yuck! I mean Allen is a nice guy and all, but he’s my brother. Definitely not dating material. I had to agree to come along on a double in order to get him to date Chastity.”
“That’s funny. I hope you aren’t disappointed. How do you know Chas?” Henry asked.
“We work together at the Olde Towne Inne. Those are all with extra ‘e’s. Talk about pretentious. We wait tables. Allen is a ranch hand at Avonmore,” Avery said. “And no, I’m not disappointed. So far, you’re everything Chastity promised. A gentleman and a scholar.”
“Haven’t been able to practice either much since graduation. Although I’m getting a head start on university classes this fall and I’m working as a ‘Youth Pro’ at Constitution Links,” Henry said.
“Maybe I could get some lessons sometime.”
“I’m sure that could be arranged.”
Avonmore Trails was a beautiful hundred-acre horse ranch with riding trails, a show ring, and an outdoor training ring. Allen was the only one of the four who had actual riding clothes, including jodhpurs and knee-high boots. But he spent time with each of them seated on barrels, seeing that their stirrups were properly adjusted and then instructing them on how to sit in the saddle and cue their mounts. Then he actually brought horses out, saddled them, and had the three mount.
They spent quite a while in the training ring as Allen gave them continued instructions until he considered them ready to go on a trail ride. Henry was certain he heard his horse sigh as they left the barnyard.
All told, it was a fun afternoon. Allen led the way with Chastity behind him. Avery apparently had no more experience than Henry did, but Henry enjoyed watching her bounce in her saddle as she rode ahead of him. His horse was content to simply maintain his place in line and do whatever her horse did. It was nearly five when they finally dismounted at the barn, removed the saddles from their trusty mounts, and set about brushing them down and feeding them carrots to thank them for their kindness on the trail.
“Ah!” Henry grimaced as he took the back seat next to Avery. “I think I have a blister on my butt!”
“That’s interesting,” Avery snorted.
“Sorry. I’m just thinking of how much sitting remains to be done today,” he laughed.
“I’m not looking forward to that, either,” she agreed.
“I saw the play Arsenic and Old Lace at our high school this past winter,” Henry said. “I recall something about it having been a wonderful compliment to one of the women when her riding companion said, ‘Madam, you have a good seat.’”
“Ooh. I’m glad you noticed,” Avery said. She raised an eyebrow at Henry and offered him her hand. He took it with a smile and they held hands all the way to the restaurant.
“Where are we going for fireworks?” Allen asked as they all got in the car again about eight o’clock.
“Out to the point,” Chastity answered. “Avery and I brought blankets, so we can sit and watch the display over the river.”
Allen drove out to the crowded parking area, but several people were leaving because the family day activities had ended. They found a parking spot and the guys were given the blankets. They passed the security checkpoint and headed down the trail.
Henry’s other hand was soon occupied by Avery’s. He saw Chastity and Allen holding hands ahead and quashed an instant pang of jealousy.
There was no reason to be jealous. He and Chastity were not an item and he had a perfectly delightful and lovely woman holding his hand. Allen was a couple of years older than they were, but Avery had also just graduated. They were all well-matched. Chastity had been doing a good job of getting Allen out of his shell and he was pretty funny when his sister tormented him.
“This looks like a good spot,” Avery said, pointing out a location on the Fort Duquesne lawns. People were scattered all over the area, which was large enough to not be crowded. They spread out their blankets to wait for the nine-thirty start of the show.
The first fanfare burst over the river and Henry automatically leaned back to look up at the sky. Avery leaned back against him. She was incredibly cuddly. Between explosions, she leaned in to whisper in Henry’s ear.
“Are you going to ask me out again?”
“That sounds like a great idea to me,” he answered. “Would you like to go out?”
“Oh, yeah. I just wanted to make sure we’d be doing this again before I kissed you.”
With that, Avery moved her lips to Henry’s and they started little kisses, interrupted by each explosion in the sky. The longer the display went on, the longer their kisses became. When the last barrage was launched and everyone started cheering, Avery and Henry were in a serious clinch.
“I think we need to get up and fold our blanket,” Avery whispered. “People are leaving.”
“I really enjoyed the day with you,” Henry said. “Shall we find something for next Saturday?”
“Yeah. I know we can’t really do anything more often. You’re working and studying. I’m working. Chastity has me convinced I need to enroll in classes over at the Community College. Saturday will be a great time. Maybe something a little easier on our asses,” she giggled.
Henry held his arm around Avery as they walked back to the car. He no longer noticed Chastity and Allen.
“She’s pretty damn cute, isn’t she?” Chastity asked on the phone the next day.
“Yes. You got me there. She’s really sweet,” Henry answered.
“Just treat her nicely, okay? She’s more a girlfriend type than I am. Don’t mistreat her.”
“You know I won’t. Thank you for introducing us.”
“Yeah. Allen’s nice. We’ll probably hang out a few more times this summer, but I don’t think it’s anything long-term.”
“Hey, Chas. Are you going to be okay coming up with the thousand for the LLC buy-in?” Henry asked. “I think I could help.”
“You know, I have no objections to accepting things from you, but for my own self-esteem, I think I should furnish my own buy-in. You know, it’s the first time I’ll really feel like an equal partner with the other three of you. I can make the numbers.”
“Good. You know, I consider you an equal partner regardless.”
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