Page 76 of Resilience on Canvas

“I hope so.”

Robert placed a kiss on Henry’s head. “I’ll take care of everything.”

Henry smiled against Robert’s shoulder. “I know you will.”

Robert shut his eyes and let Henry’s feather-light shoulder kisses lull him into a peaceful half sleep. In only a few weeks, they’d be in paradise.

***

Sitting in the living room with Henry’s parents, Robert’s hands were curled into fists, his fingernails pressing into his palms. While Robert and Henry had been visiting Alva, Clara had told the Sherwoodseverything. Not only had she told Henry’s parents that thanks to Raymond fucking Davis, their family would be losing the farm, but she had even revealed the shameful fact that they had so little money for necessities, Robert had been skipping meals from time to time. Consequently, it had somehow been decided, without anyone even consulting Robert, that the Sherwoods would be paying for the cost of the train fare for everyone to come with them to California. Apparently, Henry’s Goddamn parents had become real fond of the kids, and Charles Sherwood “refused” to let Robert’s so-called “inability to care for his younger siblings” cause Clara and the children to suffer.

Robert Davis wasnothaving this.

“Respectfully, I have torefuseyour offer, Mr. Sherwood,” Robert said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs. He was clasping his hands together so tight that his knuckles were turning pale. “I’ve beencaring formy brothers and sisters for practically my whole life. I’ve seen us through plenty of hard times. When our mother passed,Iwas the one who learned how to cook. It took me some time, but I figured it out, and then I taught Clara, too. When our farm stopped producin’ so much,Iwas the onewho thought of sellin’ some of our belongings, sometimes even travelin’ to the nearest towns to find a buyer, and with that money, I kept us clothed and fed. I may not be perfect, but I wouldn’t never let nothin’ bad happen to my family.” Robert took a pause as memories of him protecting his siblings from their father’s wrath flashed in his mind and made his stomach lurch. “Never.”

Charles Sherwood let out a long breath, and though his exhale was likely calming some of his own frustrations, hearing the sigh only made Robert’s rage burn hotter. Clenching his teeth, Robert forced himself to avert his eyes, lest he let the man see what had to have looked like hatred blazing in them.

“Son,” Henry’s father began, “I respect your tenacity. Don’t misunderstand me. But...” He clicked his tongue. “Look, the schools here in Guymon are closing now because of how terrible things have been with the topsoil blowin’ every which way over the last month. Lots of families, not only yours, lost someone in the wake of that big black blizzard we had. Lillian and I, we want to see that your siblings receive an education. Whoknowswhen the schools will reopen. It’ll take you a long while to save up enough money to take that family of yours out to California. Or wherever else you want to go. Even ifyou take over Henry’s shifts when we leave—”

“Take my shifts?!” Henry blurted out from beside Robert on the sofa. “No, I-I’m not leavin’ for California without Robert.”

Robert looked up in time to see Henry’s father’s nostrils flare.

“Henry, this is between me and Robert. We’re tryin’ to figure out how we can ensure that those little ones are taken care of.” He cleared his throat. “Now, what I was sayin’ was, evenwhenyou take over Henry’s shifts, who knows how long it’ll be before you have enough money for the transportation, not to mention enough for starting your life over out on the coast.”

“It won’t take long for Robert to have enough for that,” Henry said, his voice quivering slightly. “Robert, he... he has a plan. He can sell the car and—”

All Henry’s father needed to do was hold up his hand and Henry stopped talking, the tiny bit of confidence and courage he had in him in that moment immediately snuffed out.

Robert slammed his fist on the coffee table.

“Iwillsell the car. And I’ll sell my tractor too,” he spat. “Between them two things, I’ll have enough to take everyone to California my own self.Includin’yer son. Henry won’t be leavin’ with you. He’ll be leavin’ with me. And together, we’ll make enough money out there to repay what I owe you for my pop’s funeral.Whiletakin’ care of everyone else, too.” Robert took Henry by the sleeve and stood, pulling Henry to his feet. “I won’t be takin’ no charity from you, Charles Sherwood.”

Henry’s father ran a hand through his thinning hair.

“Robert, be reasonable.”

“We’re finished here.” Robert looked over at Henry. “Ain’t we, Hen?”

Henry blinked twice. “Uhm, yeah,” he said. “Yeah, we are.” After Robert released Henry’s sleeve, Henry’s eyes flitted over to his father but then fell to the floor. “I’ll, uhm, I’ll be stayin’ with Robert, then. Do you mind if I come back for my stuff later this week or next? Before the, uhm, the move?”

Henry’s father rubbed his forehead like he was trying to scrub away his upset.

“No, that’ll be fine, Henry. But I wish you two would reconsider. While we couldn’t never support”—he waved one of his hands at them, flicking his wrist—“whatever this is, we would still like to help you and your family settle out west, Robert. And Henry... I...” Charles Sherwood’s voice faltered, and he shut his eyes for amoment as though he had to collect himself. “I mean, you’re my son.”

Henry said, “I can still meet up with you out there. Visit and such, you know?” More meekly, Henry tacked on, “If that’s something you’d still want?”

Ignoring Henry’s plea for reassurance of his father’s love, Charles Sherwood only sighed. Robert’s muscles tensed. Damn son of a bitch wasn’t no better than Raymond Davis in this respect.

Seconds passed while Robert bit his tongue, fighting the urge to come to Henry’s defense.

Finally, Mr. Sherwood said, “Boys, I can’t see how you’ll ever make enough to bring everyone out there.”

“We will,” Robert snarled, barely keeping his voice level. “You’ll see.”

Just then, Clara tiptoed into the room, her brows upturned, her brown eyes large and sad. Probably she and Henry’s mother had been listening to every word from the kitchen.

“Uhm, Robert, should I tell May and the twins that we’re leavin’?” she said.

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