The tension in the room rises, and I pull my hand back, playing it off like I wanted to put it up.
After the game, Henry’s family is getting ready to head back to their suite, but his dad captures my attention. “Is it okay if I stay for a moment to talk to you?” Chris asks, and I hate how awkward this feels.
“Sure,” I say, offering a slight smile. While things might be normal with Penelope and Kaitlyn, it’s still tense with Chris. It’s like he doesn’t know what to do or say around me now, and I know he and Henry talked things out, but it doesn’t seem like things have gotten better aside from them being able to exist in the same room together.
Henry hugs Penelope, turning in confusion before walking toward us. “Dad?” he asks, slipping his arm around my back to pull me protectively against him.Oh god, this definitely isn’t helping.
“I want to talk to you both,” Chris says.
“Of course,” I say, not giving Henry the chance to try avoiding this conversation, because clearly it’s long overdue. They can’t keep going on the same way they have been. It’s been less tense since the call on Henry’s birthday, but it’s nowhere near where their relationship used to be.
After sitting on the couch beside Henry, I rest my hand on his knee, trying to ease him, because acting standoffish isn’t going to help us all move forward.
“I’m sorry,” Chris says, his hands clasped in his lap. He doesn’t look any less tense than Henry, and I don’t think I’m wrong for being worried about how this is going to go. I almost wish Penelope had stayed behind with us to help mediate. “I’m sorry for all of it. Mirabelle, I should never have told you to break things off with Henry. Your age gap is concerning, but you’re both consenting adults. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this because I can see you’re happy together, but I have to step back and let you make your own mistakes like I made mine.” At his use of the word mistake, I flinch and fucking hate that I do. Chris’s gaze softens, and I see the immediate apology on his face. It doesn’t take away the sting of his words, though. “I didn’t mean it that way—”
“No, you’re just telling us that we’re a mistake like you and my mother,” Henry says, his words sucking all of the oxygen from the room in an instant.
Chris shakes his head, exhaling. “Love makes us blind. I love both of you, and I’m happy you’re together.I am.At the same time, though, it doesn’t erase the concerns I have.”
“This doesn’t feel like an apology. Chris, we’re not a mistake,” I say, trying to ease the tension, while standing up for myself.
“I’m sorry, Mirabelle. Can I speak to Henry for a moment alone?” he asks, and Henry scoffs in disbelief.
“No,” Henry answers immediately. “Whatever you need to say in front of me can be said in front of Mirabelle.”
“If that’s how you want this to go, then fine. I’m not trying to compare Mirabelle to Allison, but the fact of the matter is that we never know the things people are capable of until we see them in unthinkable situations,” Chris says, and while it feels like a blow to the stomach, I can also read between the lines to see this isn’t actually about me.
“It’s not my fault you married my mother and decided you didn’t love her enough to try. She didn’t just leave you, Dad. She left me too,” Henry snaps, and all hell breaks loose. I stare at Henry, wide-eyed as he stands up, beginning to pace as Chris rises to his own feet.
“Is that what you think happened? I tried so fucking hard to save that marriage, but in the end, the only thing she wanted was money. She didn’t want me, and I wish more than anything she had fought for you. I wanted us to have joint custody because I wanted Allison to be a part of your life, but she wasn’t the person I had fallen in love with anymore. I spentmonthsmeeting with lawyers and going to court to gain custody of you. Allison changed when I chose to pursue my master’s degree instead of entering the draft because I wasn’t giving her the life she envisioned for herself.”
Oh my god.
“Don’t you get it? Mirabelle is the only one who doesn’t give a flying fuck about my money! This situation isn’t comparable at all, Dad, and that’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re comparing Mirabelle to my mother, even though Mira has done nothing but be there for me. It’s bullshit, and I won’t let you disrespect her or our relationship,” Henry shouts and I understand why he’s so upset, but this isn’t helping. We’re going to get the police called on us because I’m sure everyone on this floor can hear them.
“Henry—”
Chris interrupts, speaking over me. “I’m trying to help you open your eyes so you aren’t blindsided in case things go bad, which can happen despite doing everything to prevent that. Do you know who the two of you remind me of? Her parents, and there is no better lesson to learn than the one they had to, except it almost cost them everything in the process. Thalia and Sebastian nearly destroyed each other, and it tore them apart for years before they were able to overcome their shit to be together. You’re acting like a fucking child, refusing to listen to anyone about the very real concerns we all have.”
My brain stutters, trying to process everything.What is he talking about? My parents have been together since Mom’s year abroad in college? Destroying each other? They fight, but not to that extent.
“You don’t know anything about our relationship because you won’t give it a chance. Do you even care that I’m happy with her?How is my happiness a mistake?If Thalia and Sebastian can accept and support us, then maybe the only person making mistakes isyou,” Henry says as I move in slow motion to get to him, hoping I can try to help him calm down before this gets worse. I’m not sure how it could get much worse.
I’ve never seen Henry lose his temper like this.
“Of course I care. Love isn’t all sunshine and roses, Henry.”
“I know that. I do.” Henry shakes his head. “Maybe I’ll answer one of the phone calls from my mother—”
My heart stops as Chris explodes, proving that this can get much worse than I thought just a second ago. “Allison isnotyour mother, so stop fucking calling her that. Penelope is the woman who helped raise you, earning that title. She wanted you. She loves you. Not the woman who was charged with child endangerment before she fucking kidnapped you to hold you for ransom to the Walkers.Penelope is your mother.”
My hands fly up to cover my mouth to prevent any sound from escaping. The silence in the room is deafening as Henry stares at his dad, all the color draining from his face.
“What?”he asks, his voice cracking.
Chris’s face pales. “Henry, please just listen—”
Except, Henry backs away, bumping into the table before stumbling out. The click of the door shutting behind him causes Chris to fall to his knees. “What have I done?” I hear him whisper as his back begins to shake with silent sobs.
