AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m so sorry, Chris. I wish there was something I could say or do that could help ease some of your pain.”
She’s only a few inches shorter than me, so I rest my cheek against her temple. “Thank you. Sometimes I think this is all a bad dream and I’ll wake up and she’ll be fine, but then I see her and realize it’s not. Fuck, I can’t take anymore sad right now. Do you want to watch a movie?”
“A movie sounds great.” Her minty breath tickles my cheek.
I pull back and she looks at me with those big blue eyes of hers. My heart starts beating faster in my chest. The urge to kiss her takes over, but I resist it the best I can. “Um…come on. That’s see what we can find.” I let go of her and walk into the family room with her following slowly behind me.
We decide to watch Step Brothers, but as funny as I find that movie, I don’t feel much like laughing. We’re both silent as we watch. The sound of someone getting sick has both Haddie and I jumping up and running down the hall toward my parents’ bedroom.
Haddie enters first and I freeze the moment I cross the threshold. Mom is on her side her gaunt cheek resting in a pool of her own vomit. I come unstuck and move toward the bed and watch Haddie kick into action.
She helps her sit up and talks softly to her. “Do you want to take a shower or do you want to just change and wash you up?”
“I’m so tired. Can we just wash me up?”
“Of course. Whatever you want.” Haddie looks at me. “Can you change the sheets? I’ll wash them once we’re done.”
I step in front of Mom and help stand her up while Haddie grabs her a clean nightgown. I help get them set up in the bathroom and do as Haddie asked and strip the bed. I get the fresh sheets and quickly throw them on, tucking in the ends.
When they come back out I’ve got Mom’s bed ready for her. She smiles at me as they get close to the bed. I try to give her a smile, but I’m sure it looks fake, or at the very least, forced. Mom and Haddie stop right in front of me. My mom reaches up and cups my cheek. “You look just like your dad when we met. So handsome.” She always says that, but I know it’s her that I look like.
I place my hand over hers and ignore how boney and cold it feels. We get her in bed and she immediately falls asleep. I don’t move from my spot next to the bed. It’s like I’m afraid to leave her.
I feel Haddie get close to me, grabbing my hand in hers. She leans in close. “We can move the chaise lounge in here. Then we can keep an eye on her.”
How was she able to read my thoughts?
Together we carry it into the room and place against the wall. I move the lamp and side table next to it so we can read or whatever. It ends up that Haddie curls up with her schoolbooks and I play games and answer emails on my phone.
I’m not sure how much time passes before Haddie starts yawning. She shoves her books back in her bag. I wrap my arm around her shoulders. She glances up at me. “I thought this might be more comfortable for you.”
Haddie rests her head on my shoulder. “Why didn’t your mom and dad have more kids?”
“She had complications with me and Dad didn’t want to risk losing her, so he said no more after me. I always wanted to grow up with brothers and sisters like Joe did. He’d complain about you guys, and you, especially, were always in his business and he didn’t care.” I watch the rise and fall of Mom’s chest.
“I love my brothers and sister, but being the baby, they’ve always tried to shield me from everything.” She’s quiet for a moment. “You know what happened to Abby, don’t you?”
That was such a fucked up time for them. I’d never seen Joe cry until the night he showed up on our front steps. We’re men, so we don’t show our emotions very often, but it was after they got the call that she’d been assaulted. Joe was ready to tear apart the whole town looking for the guy. Instead, my dad took us to a friend’s boxing ring and we went round for round until we both collapsed.
“Yeah, I know what happened. It makes sense they’d get protective after that.”
It isn’t long after that when I feel Haddie’s body go slack. I reach over and turn the light down to a soft dim. I lay my head back and close my eyes.
I blink away the sleep and am hot, but it takes me a second to remember what’s happening. I’m in my parents’ bedroom. I look down and Haddie is sleeping with her head against my chest, and my arms are wrapped around her. I need to piss, but I don’t want to wake her.
I look toward the bed and find my mom is awake staring at me. She smiles. “Good morning, baby.”
“Good morning. How are you feeling?” I’m always scared of her answer.
She closes her eyes for a minute and then looks at me. “She’s something else, isn’t she? Such a beautiful young lady.”
My fingers itch to stroke her soft looking curls, and I just ball my hand into a fist. “Uh yeah.” I clear my throat. “Yes, she’s gorgeous.”
Gently, I shake her awake. She looks fucking adorable at first because her eyes are clouded with sleep. Haddie’s cheek is red from where it rested on my chest. It’s like suddenly she remembers what happened because her spine stiffens and her cheeks turn bright pink. She looks to Mom. “I’m sorry, have you been up long?” She gets up and goes to Mom’s bedside.
“I just got up. Can you help me into the bathroom?” We both help her stand. They disappear into the bathroom and I head to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.
It’s done brewing when Haddie steps into the kitchen. “I’m so sorry I fell asleep.”
