“Here.” Nick pointed furiously at Henry’s face when he looked up. “The next time you fuck with her like that, I will do it my goddamned self.” Henry jammed the magazine back into the Sig, then put it back in his jeans. “You hearing me, asshole? I fucking mean it! I will take you out back like a lame horse. Do you understand me?”
“Fuck off.”
“Is that your answer for everything? Someone gets under your skin, figures out your manipulative ways, and you tell them to fuck off? Is that all you got, GQ?” I stood in the doorway, watching the exchange. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I saw it coming. Henry started to stand up. Drunk or not, he could kill Nick in a split second.
“Henry, sit down!” Slowly, he lowered himself back to his chair. “Nick, why are you threatening him?”
He kept glaring at Henry. “Because he’s cashing in on your emotional support, and I don’t fucking like it one bit.”
“Can I ask what brought this on?” I was still lost.
“You can ask him. He knows exactly what I’m pissed off about.” He pushed past me and, a few seconds later, I heard the guest room door slam shut.
“Henry…” He sat at the table, looking down. “What’s going on?” I handed him the jar, a fork, and a bowl. He popped open the jar and poured the peaches into the bowl. He poked at them for a minute before taking a bite. “Henry…”
“Just leave it for now,” he mumbled before he took another bite. He chewed slowly and methodically.
I felt warm hands wrap around my arms. I turned around to see Addie looking at me with a touch of sorrow in her eyes. “I think it may be a good time to leave.”
I nodded. “Yes, I think we’ve overstayed our welcome. I apologize.” Henry sat in silence, eating his peaches. “I’m going to start to get our stuff together.” I left Henry with Addie.
***
“How are you doing?”
“Had better days, I suppose,” Henry mumbled, poking at the last peach in the bowl.
“I just want to say something to you. Some motherly advice, but take it how you wish.” Henry looked up at her. “Don’t play with her heart and mind. The only place it will get you is alone.” He nodded at her. “She loves you with everything that she has. There is no need to test it.”
“I didn’t intend it to be that way.”
“Then what was your intention?”
“I wanted to see if I could pull the trigger. I’ve tried many times. Obviously, I was unsuccessful.”
“And what did you find out?”
“That I can’t.” He choked on his words. “I love her too bloody much to do that to her.” A couple tears trickled down his face. He wiped them away with his bandaged hand.
“Keep that in mind next time you think about it. Make sure you pull Nick aside at some point and explain it to him.” Henry nodded. She reached out and touched his hand. “I’m going to help Elaina. Just sit and relax.”
***
I went out to the barn and collected all of the boxes of booze again, bringing them back to the truck. I was angry with myself for even bringing them, but I knew that if I didn’t, he would be sick without them. I wasn’t ready for detox. I went to get the last box, and Addie walked up.
“Are you sure you want to bring those?”
“Yes. I’m sorry for offering them to you. I shouldn’t have. He has to have it or he’ll be sick.”
“I understand. Let me help you pack up.” Addie stacked the boxes in the truck as I handed them to her. I had a feeling she wanted us to get moving so the kids wouldn’t witness anything more horrendous than they already had.
I walked back inside and folded up our blankets. Nick and Claire came out of the bedroom.
“We’re leaving. Pack up.” Claire looked a little stunned. She turned back around to go back to the bedroom. Thomas helped me gather as much as he could, then ran it out to the truck.
***
Addie went back into the kitchen and sat with Henry. “Are you guys good with food?”
“For now. I found a bunch of stuff at that store.”
“Okay.” Henry was looking down at his bandaged hand. “How’s it feeling?”
“Better,” he mumbled.
“Let’s take a peek at it one more time.”
She gingerly unwrapped his hand. She examined it, and he hissed a few times. Addie sighed. “It’s not healed yet. It will, though, in due time, as long as you keep it wrapped and you don’t do anything else to it. Alright?” He nodded, as she rewrapped it.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I screwed it up for everyone.”