My mother looks up from trying to get my father to respond to her. “You do that for me?” she questions with tears in her eyes. “Every day?”
I nod my head and reach for my mother’s hand to pull her up to her feet. “Damn straight I do. I’d do anything for you. I’d fucking die for you. No questions asked.”
My mom’s arms wrap around my neck and before I know it, she’s bawling into my arms, me holding her up so she won’t fall to the floor. “I’m so sorry. I’m so damn sorry. Oh my God.” She holds me tighter, her whole body shaking as she cries. “I’m hurting you. It’s me. I’ve been the one hurting you.”
I glance over to see more tears roll down Meadow’s face, before she wipes them away and walks over to check my father’s pulse and breathing.
It hurts me so damn much right now that she has to be here to witness this shitty mess and check to make sure that I haven’t just killed someone right in front of her eyes.
Fuck, she may hate me after this.
Once my mom calms down, I release my hold on her and walk over to throw my arms around Meadow when she steps away from Frank. “I’m so fucking sorry. I promise you that this isn’t me. This pain has been building for years and I can’t stand back anymore while that piece of shit hurts my mother.” I kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear. “You can leave if you want. I’ll understand.”
She shakes her head and then cups my face, pulling me in for a kiss. She’s soft and gentle, her lips still wet from the tears she’s shed. “I could never leave you for having a heart and wanting to protect your family. No one deserves to hurt like this. I would’ve done it my damn self.”
She pulls away and looks me in the eyes when the drunken bastard makes noises as if he’s about to vomit and mumbles my mother’s name. “I hate to say this, but your dad can’t be left alone tonight. He could asphyxiate on his own vomit. He’s drunk and covered in his own blood.”
I see my mother looking down at that piece of shit as if she wants to help him and lessen his suffering. “I’ll stay with him. Help me roll him over to his side.” She looks up at me, waiting.
Rushing to her, I pull my mom away from the piece of shit and roll him over with force, just in time for him to throw up on the carpet.
“There’s no way in hell I’m letting you stay here with him so he can beat the shit out of you when he gets back to his feet. No fucking way, mom. Not happening.”
I see the panic in my mother’s eyes and I hate seeing her this way. It has my heart feeling like it’s being ripped in two. I hate that asshole, but I love her more.
“As a nurse I can’t just leave him here with the possibility of him dying, Styx. I hate what he’s done just as much as you do, but someone needs to be here. I’ll stay for a few hours if I have to.”
“Fuck no.” Frustrated, I run my hands through my hair and then grab Meadow’s hand, walking her over to my mother. “I’ll stay with the piece of shit so he doesn’t die. You guys take the car and stay at my place.”
“Styx?” Meadow questions. “Are you sure you can handle this?”
I shake my head. “No . . . but I’ll do it for you two.” I kiss the top of my mother’s head and then wrap my arms around Meadow, giving her a gentle kiss. “You two take of each other until I can, please. That’s all I ask. You can leave after that if you want, but please take care of each other for tonight.”
I look into my mother’s exhausted eyes. They’re red and puffy from crying and she looks as if she’s about to fall over. “Please go with Meadow for tonight. I need you out of here. I need to know that you’re safe. If anything, do it for me. Fall asleep knowing that this asshole won’t hurt you for once. One fucking night that you won’t have to worry. I won’t let that happen. He’s not leaving this house.”
She nods her head and wipes at her eyes. “I’m so sorry I ruined the night. I love you so much. I don’t want to hurt you anymore. I won’t. You’re my baby.” She grabs my face. “Please. I need help to stay away from him. I can’t do it alone.”
“You won’t have to,” I point out. “You’re never alone. I’m here.”
Meadow jumps in and grabs my mom’s hand, before wrapping an arm around her to console her. “I can get you help if you want it, Lily. We can talk about it after you rest.”
Walking my mom toward the door, Meadow looks over her shoulder and whispers something that I can’t quite understand.