Page 92 of Resilience on Canvas

After everyone had their plates of food, the next little while of supper was nothing but pleasant. Robert continued to bounce his leg, so Henry knew that Robert still was feeling some kind of terrible, but not too terrible to eat it seemed, which was a small miracle.

Halfway through the meal, Henry’s father cleared his throat. He set his fork onto his porcelain plate with a clatter and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. Henry tensed.

“Alright, now that we’ve had some food, I wanted to broach a topic I’ve been waitin’ to talk to y’all about, which is that from what I’ve seen in the city, I can’t imagine it’ll be easier to find work here than it was for folks back in Guymon. Even though there are more businesses here, there are a heck of a lot more people fighting over each other for the work. It’ll take time for you two to find somethin’ that would pay enough to survive out here. Rentin’ costs a pretty penny. It’s likely that rentin’ a home even half the size of ours would cost you over twenty a month.”

Robert shifted in his seat. “Be that as it may, Henry and me willbothbe workin’. I’m sure we can manage that rent with two incomes.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I can’t see even one of you findin’ work right now. Everyone everywhere is strugglin’, including here in California. I’m lucky to have found somethin’ myself.” He took a pause and blew out a long breath. “And, these children, they like it here. Not only in the city, but they like the house. We’d like to buy some more permanent furniture for their rooms—not the children’s beds left here by this house’s previous owners—so that everyone can settle in before school starts.”

Robert reeled back. “Settle in? No one’ssettlin’ inhere. I’ll be findin’ us our own place.”

“With what money? Lillian and I spent the extra you provided to us when we purchased the train tickets. We spent thatand then some.”

Henry gritted his teeth. What a bastard his father was being right now. Arrogant and ruthless. Henry wanted so badly to tell him that Robert was the most tenacious person Henry had ever met.Of courseRobert would find work. Because that was who Robert was.

But even now, Henry couldn’t muster the courage to talk back to his old man.

While Henry was still trying to overcome his lifelong cowardice, Robert snatched the napkin from his own lap and flung it on the table. He moved to stand, but then Henry’s father pushed himself to stand instead, making Robert pause.

“Lillian, take the children to the other room, will you?” he said.

Henry’s heart thudded wildly as his mother ushered the children from the room, not without protest from Thomas who cried that he was still hungry. Rose and Joe exchanged what were very uncomfortable looks before they excused themselves, too, saying that they’d help with the children. Joe snatched Thomas’s plate from the table and took it with him to the living room, throwing etiquette out the window, which was a very Joe-like thing indeed.

Once everyone except for Henry, Robert, Clara, and Henry’s father had left the room, Henry’s father sighed and said, “Look, I know that you two are... friends.” He scrunched up his nose for a moment before he seemed to catch himself and softened his expression. “And, like I said, I can’t... support it, exactly, but we care for your siblings, Robert. Lillian and I want to see that they’re safe and fed and happy. We want to make sure they have opportunities for success. Whatever is happenin’ right now with regards to nobody findin’ work, it won’t last forever, and these children, they need the right environment to succeed in life. I can’teven tell you how happy we are that y’all wanted to leave Guymon. Because Lillian and I have realized how much we’d have missed this family of yours. And so, we’d like it if you and your siblings stayed here. We’d require you and Henry to have separate rooms once Joe and Rose leave, of course, but—”

“No,” Robert said, smacking the table, causing the silverware to clatter and Henry to startle. “Henry and me won’t be stayin’ in separate rooms. We won’t be stayin’hereperiod. Not permanently. Not a Goddamn chance. And me and Henry ain’tfriends. We’re more than friends. Much more.”

Henry’s chest swelled with love and pride. He stared at Robert in awe, taking notice of the way Robert’s nostrils were flared and his cheeks were flushed, and,Lord, what a wonderful man he was. Robert took Henry’s hand, and, in the boldest move Henry’d ever seen, he brought it to his mouth and kissed one of Henry’s knuckles. Henry nearly fainted on the spot. Holy heck, Robert was something else. Truly the perfect man for him.

“AndI’llbe the one providin’ my siblings withopportunities. I left GuymonbecauseI wanted more for my family than our Goddamn failure of a farm.”

“Which you were hours away from losin’ when we left.”

“Iknowthat. Andyouknow that it wasn’t my fault.”

“Robert—”

“Tomorrow, Henry and me will find ourselves some work. And not only will we repay every cent you spent or might soon spend on my siblings, but we’ll find a home for us too. One where Henry and me won’t be expected to sleep in separate rooms. I’m thankful for the help that you and yer wife have provided so far. Really, I am. But I take care of my family my own self. And Henry and me, we want to make a life together. Our own life. I swear to you, I’ll work hard to pay you back for everything. But I willnotsit hereand be told that I can’t take care of my own family. And I won’t sit here and pretend that me and Henry are onlyfriends, neither.”

Henry’s father sucked in a long inhale through his nose, the veins in his neck bulging. When he exhaled, he closed his eyes, and Henry braced himself for something horrible. Robert rubbed the back of Henry’s hand with his thumb, reassuring Henry of his protective presence.

“Fine,” Henry’s father spat. “But I think you’ll change your tune when you realize that the choice you have will likely be livin’ with us or standin’ in a bread line.”

“We’ll see,” Robert said. “Are we finished with this conversation, then?”

Henry’s father pursed his lips and nodded.

“In that case, it sounds to me like we can carry on with supper.” Robert turned to Clara. “Do you want to fetch the others, or should I?”

“Uhm...” She shook her head, her eyes wide and wild and lost. Henry couldn’t help but feel sorry that she had witnessed that catastrophe of a conversation. “I-I will.”

Robert nodded once and then turned his face back toward Henry’s father with the most insincere smile Henry had ever seen. He picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of chicken, making like he was content to continue on with the meal as though nothing had happened.

Except he was still holding Henry’s hand.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Robert

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