Henry choked on his last pull.
“How many of you knew?” He looked around at all of us. I meekly raised my hand like a scared kindergartener on the first day of school. Nick and Addie followed my lead. “You told a perfect stranger, but didn’t think that telling me, your leader, was important?!” Oh boy. It was not a good time for “Captain Henry” to make an appearance. Or “Angry Henry”, or even “Drunk Henry”. Oh, Christ, what the fuck did it matter?
“Obviously, I just found out. She was sick outside, and I put two and two together.” Addie went back to cutting the chicken into pieces.
“But you knew,” he stabbed a finger at me, then at Nick, “and you knew?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice shaking.
“And neither one of you felt compelled to tell me?” When no one said anything, he threw his arms into the air. “Brilliant! Absolutely fucking brilliant!” It was a combination of “Angry Henry” and “Captain Henry”. I didn’t think I liked this new “Captain Angry Henry”. He drank some more. I was crossing my fingers that “Drunk Captain Angry Henry” wasn’t barreling in from around the corner.
“Watch your mouth, young man!” Addie scolded. “In my house, we do not use language like that. And I would appreciate it if you took it easy on the bottle.” I snatched the bottle away from him and capped it.
“I apologize,” he said with embarrassment.
“Accepted.”
“I’m not one hundred percent sure,” Claire continued.
“Whether you’re sure or not, I would think that someone would have said something to me!”
“Henry, calm down. Let’s not show Addie your temper. After all, she’s being a gracious host.” I scolded him like he did me.
He stood up, grabbed his bottle, pushed past Thomas, walking out the front door. I turned back to Claire and, of course, she had started to cry. Nick was furious. He stood up.
“Nick, sit back down,” I growled. I refocused on Claire. “Claire, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think he would act like that.” I rubbed her hand.
“I knew this would be a burden. I’m such an ass for letting this happen.”
“What?” Nick was upset. All aboard an emotional train. Our tickets may say Happyville, but watch us pass directly through Pissyville, and let’s not forget the all too important Melancholyville. It was odd to me that Addie just stood at the counter, prepping dinner, while our little soap opera was unfolding before her.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I meant the baby. We should have been careful.” The tears were flowing fast and heavy. I picked up the towel I had chucked at Henry moments before, and handed it to Claire.
“And how were we supposed to be ‘careful’? There isn’t exactly a twenty-four hour quickie mart open that I can drive to and buy a box.” Oh, yes, we were passing right through Bitterville, as well.
“Okay. Nick, stop. You’re just upsetting her more.”
“Well, she’s making it sound like she regrets our relationship.” We were quickly approaching Whinyville. When would I get off the fucking train?
“That’s not what she’s saying,” I said. “She’s just worried. Worried about the ifs, whens, and whats.”
Addie walked over and took a seat at the table. “Listen, I can tell you this. No matter what, a baby brings joy into the hearts of everyone. The circumstances may be a little different here, but y’all will get through it. I promise you that. Giving birth without the help of a doctor or a midwife will be difficult. And I’m going to be real here and tell you that the pain is nothing like you ever had, but you will get through it. The best thing that y’all can do is get along, stop fighting, and work together for the sake of your family. They may be all you have left.”
“I don’t want to be a burden on anyone.”
Addie grabbed Claire’s hands. “Sweetheart, please listen to me. Times will be tough, there’s no doubt about that. The baby will cry when you don’t want it to, and that was true even in the days of convenience. Y’all just have to deal with it. It’ll be difficult, I’m not going to sugar coat it, but once you get to your destination and settle down, y’all will deal with it. With all the hurt, anger, fear, and death in this world, a little life will bring some hope. We all need a little hope, don’t we?”
I wish Henry had been there to hear what she said. I probably should have taken notes so I could repeat it back to him, and maybe he would feel guilty about behaving the way he did. I heard the front door open and close.