Page 55 of Only You

“Hey,” I said as I approached. His eyes weren’t dark with anger like they had been before. Now they were just sad and empty.

“Hey.” He handed the bouquet of flowers to me so he could hold Kennedy better.

Kennedy wormed in closer, and he kissed her cheek. Wordlessly, the three of us moved to sit on the white front porch swing together. Daniel started the rocking, and I joined in to help. No one spoke. Kennedy asked no questions, which seemed strange and worrisome to me, but after a good ten minutes of holding on to her brother, her breathing slowed. It was clear she’d fallen asleep.

Daniel sighed, transferring her so that her legs flung over mine, and her head was cradled against his chest. She looked even smaller and younger with her eyes closed and her mouth open.

“So…” Daniel began.

“Yeah,” I answered.

Silence lingered a little while longer, and then he offered, “I’m glad you came.”

“Are you? I thought you might be upset.”

“No, it was serendipitous. Kennedy didn’t need to see any more of that.” She shifted a little, as if reacting to her name. After a few long moments, Daniel spoke again, but even more quietly, “They came a few days early.”

“To get the kids?” I surmised.

Peering out over the yard, the sun glinted in his amber eyes. “She lost it.”

I nodded.

“She thought she’d leave first, I guess. Say goodbye to the kids tomorrow and go to rehab. That way she wouldn’t have to see my grandparents take them.”

“Ah. She thought she had another day with them.”

Daniel sighed. “She’s had so many days with them that she squandered with alcohol. But, yeah, she wanted this last one.” He huffed a bitter laugh. “But she’s ruined it now, too. My grandparents aren’t unreasonable people. She could have talked them into letting the kids stay until she left. They could have even gotten a hotel room, so they wouldn’t distract the kids from her time with them. But she went berserk. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen her…” He tried to search for the right word. “That angry.”

I understood his hesitation in having chosen that one. She’d seemed so much more than angry. “What will happen now?”

Daniel looked down at Kennedy’s face, a soft affection and sadness drifting over his features. “They’re going to take them today. As soon as possible. Grandpa is cleaning up the kitchen. I told him I’d do it, but he wouldn’t listen. Grandma is packing Kennedy’s things, and Paul packed his stuff all by himself while we were in the kitchen fighting. He’s ready to get away from this bullshit. I understand.”

I swallowed hard, wanting to reach out to touch Kennedy’s soft cheek. “How will she take it? Kennedy, I mean.” After the hour or so we’d spent together, I couldn’t bear to see her cry again. She was such a sweet kid. She should be always laughing.

Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know.”

We rocked some more. I knew I had no business staying here with him, but I couldn’t seem to bring myself to leave, and Daniel didn’t ask me to.

I reached out, taking his hand. We rocked some more. Kennedy snuffled in her sleep. We gazed out at the sunny sky, at the green grass.

“Tough week,” I commented.

He laughed in that sad way, squeezing my fingers. “Between Bobby and this? Yeah. It’s been a horrible week.” Catching my eye, he added. “Another reason I’m selfishly glad you came. Just seeing you…” He trailed off, but his expression told me what he didn’t say.

“Me too.”

“Listen.”

“Yeah?”

“This is going to sound like a terrible idea, and I’ll understand if you aren’t comfortable with it. You can always say no.”

“What?”

“Nadine—Minty’s mom—is coming over tonight to stay with my mom and make sure she gets off to rehab in the morning. That should be my job, but I just…I just can’t.”

I understood.

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