“I guess I don’t understand what was so funny,” Julianna whispered.
“Well, it’s more an adult humor kind of thing. I guess you wouldn’t really think it was that funny, unless you knew us and how typical the incident was,” I added in a very nonchalant tone. Addie sat in silence. I could see she was running over the story in her head, seeing if her bullshit meter spiked.
“And the day you were supposed to get married, all of this craziness began?” Addie asked, and I tried to swallow my stomach down back to where it was originally located. I looked at Nick, and he had his head in his hands.
The tears were rising to the surface. I could still see, hear, smell, and feel everything from that day. It still felt so fresh. Then I felt gentle hands touch both of my shoulders. Claire whispered, “That day was very devastating for all of us. We all lost so many in the matter of a few minutes. That’s another reason why Henry is the way he is.” It killed me hearing that because it was the truth. I wilted and rested my forehead on my arms. Hearing her say that made me want to take all of Henry’s pain away. Every last fucking bit of it.
“It runs deeper for him than most,” Claire continued. “That’s why, when he gets injured, he acts the way he does. It brings him right back to the moments when he was beaten near death. Like a flashback. I just said he was a big baby to avoid having to tell you all the gory details. Elaina had been trying to get him to seek therapy. We all believe he has post-traumatic stress disorder.” I sat up, and my face was wet with tears. I reached up to Claire and touched her hands that rested on my shoulders. Nick still had his head in his hands. I knew that he was crying, as well.
“Well,” Addie said, “I see that life has been difficult for Henry, as it has been for all of us as of late. He seems to have had much more to deal with than us, though. He’s a sweet man. You should treasure each and every day with him. Don’t take him for granted.”
Was Addie in the room when Sophie said that exact phrase to me? She paused and worked through her own pain.
“My husband and I used to take one another for granted, and now he’s gone. I’ll never get to apologize or see him again. So, please, go take care of that man. He needs you.” Addie smiled, and the relief poured over me. “Feel free to stay as long as you need. It will be cramped, but we will get through it.”
“I can never thank you enough. You have been amazing to us already.” I was so thankful, and so relieved that our half-truths were good enough for Addie. I did feel guilty about being so shady, but we couldn’t afford to tell her the truth.
“He brought me back my little girl. It’s the least I can do.” Addie stood up and hugged me, Claire, and then pulled Nick into a hug. “It’ll be okay. Y’all are strong. It will be a long, tough road, but y’all will persevere.” She grabbed Nick by the cheeks, and gasped.
Shit, I thought. I looked at Claire, hoping she could come up with some explanation sooner rather than later.
“Your eyes…” She stepped back. “They are the same as Henry’s. I have never seen eyes that color before.”
“Oh.” Claire swatted her hand passively in the air and let out a soft laugh. “It’s pretty common up there. I’ve seen them all around.” She acted like it was a non-issue.
“It’s just so odd.”
I softly laughed. “Yeah, we’ve gotten that all our lives growing up. Mostly, people would say ‘Oh, how sad for you to not have the same eyes as your brother’. I have such ordinary blue eyes.” Addie was still staring at Nick. “Well, I think I’m going to go check on Henry.” I swiftly walked out of the kitchen, touching Claire’s arm, hoping she understood that I was grateful for what she had done.
***
I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. With caution, and a little bit of fear, I pushed open the door. Then I relaxed when I saw that Henry was asleep, curled on his side and facing the window. I smiled for a moment until I heard him talking in his sleep. He was crying out for Sophie.
My heart broke for him. He relived the nightmare, night after night. I got into bed and snuggled up against his sweaty body. I stroked his muscled arm with my fingertips. Then I focused on his hair. It was pretty much out of control by that point, much longer than he ever would like. The brown waves were going in directions that defied the laws of physics.
Henry stirred slightly beneath my touch. He rolled over, slow and careful not to make himself hurt more than he already did. He opened his eyes, and they grabbed me, pulling me in.