His brow wrinkled, and he took a moment to reply. “I never hated you, Molly. Not really.”
“But you hate my dad?”
I saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. I knew I was entering a territory where we may not agree, but I needed to know.
“No. I don’t think I hate him either. It’s what he represents that I struggle with.”
We then spoke of our childhoods, Hudson glossing over the harder parts. He explained his issues with authority and how that made him feel. He became more animated when he spoke about his grandparents and their holidays on a small island close by called Block Island.
About thirty minutes into the journey, we got stuck in traffic, the car crawling along, so we stopped at a Wendy’s drive-through. I’d already tried their breakfast that day atthe mall with Harper. We both had a hamburger and it was delicious. Hudson even paid for it, which made me feel like we were on a date.
Eventually, we arrived at the gates of the prison.
The sign said,Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Maximum Security.
The place was bleak as expected, with high grey walls and matching buildings. We eventually got parked next to Reed’s Jeep. Hudson was mentally preparing to enter the building and collect his father’s belongings.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” I asked.
“Absolutely, not. You don’t belong in there, Molly. It’s an all-male prison for a start.”
Pursing my lips, I asked. “And you do?”
He gave me a doleful smile, “Whilst I don’t want to burst your image of me as an upstanding guy. I have been detained in the past.”
His candour pleased me, but I didn’t retaliate. I recognised Hudson’s attempts to put himself down. To make himself out to be the monster.
He nudged me with his elbow. “That doesn’t bother you?”
Uncrossing my legs, I pulled my bag onto my lap. “No. What were you in for?” Please don’t say you beat someone to death, my insides chanted.
“GTA,” Hudson said.
When I gave him a blank look, he explained. “Grand Theft Auto. Stealing cars.”
“Oh. OK,” I chuckled nervously, glancing around the messy cab of his truck.
“I didn’t steal this one, in case you were wondering.”
We sat in our seats, coaching ourselves through what to expect, when Phoenix banged his fist on the window by my head.
“Some of us need to piss you know,” he grumbled through the glass.
I tutted, waving him away with my hand, and turned to Hudson.
“Are you ready?”
“I suppose. Let’s do this shit,” he replied, climbing out of the truck.
I went to wait with the others, and we watched him disappear into the building.
Harper was inside Reed’s Jeep on the backseat with the window down, and the boys were leaning against the truck, looking extremely bored.
“Do you think I’ll get arrested if I take a whizz here?” Micah suddenly said, adjusting himself in his jeans.
“You take a piss near this car, you die. End of,” Reed warned, glaring across at his brother.
“You’re so protective of your baby, aren’t you? You should see how Phoenix drives it.”
