(Incoming. Rare Henry post. For all you well-meaning folk, thank you. We have intensive counseling ongoing but kids are more resilient than Bridgets, thank fuck.)
I can hold Henry's face in my hands while he stands in front of me and I see glimmers of Preacher in him. Things I can't explain. Things I didn't want to see because I was so sure. Henry's temper is slow but fierce, like Caleb's. His humor easy and sophisticated. But there's something in his eyes. The way he moves. Big and graceful. The way he considers his words before he lets them fly. Nurture, nature, I suppose.
He looks like me. Same strangely-ashy blonde, same green eyes, same pale skin prone to furious blushing. But he's big. Six feet now. One hundred and fifty pounds of fourteen-year-old awesome that I refuse to expose to Caleb's evil ever again.
I'm sorry about all of this.
Mom. Let go. It's fine.
Fine? Fine isn't the right word for this, Bunny. How do you want to proceed here? You're fourteen. You get to decide.
Can we just have Ben and Lochlan be.....uh... look after things?
Ben isn't , well, he can't-
Lochlan then. He can have twice the trouble. He grins at me. Oh my God. His big white teeth. Why did I let that monster talk me out of what is so obvious today it's heartbreaking?
It's a deal.
Talk to him?
He already brought it to me.
What happens to Da-..Caleb?
Maybe he'll find an avalanche.
Mom-
I don't mean it. Things are going to change.
I don't want you to be alone with him every again.
That won't be an issue, Henry Jacob, I promise you that.
Hey mom? Is Jake- I mean Dad, actually in the garage?
Depends on who you ask. I like to think he's there. In spirit. You know.
Why the garage?
It's big enough for his wings, but dry so he can be comfortable. He never liked the rain.
Henry nods but doesn't say anything. Probably trying to decide if it's okay to think your mom is crazy. But he smiles abruptly. I don't like it either.
