Hank moved around the island, he rested back on the stool and asked, “How do you wanna work this? You want me to bring you in or would you rather Sean and his crew take you in?” Then he snatched another cream puff and tossed it in his mouth. Although, this time it was hard to chew with the knowledge he was dishing out. And when he swallowed, the cream puff landed like a brick in his gut. But he held it all together like Sheriff Hank Weathers always did.
Catherine was simmering with rage, her words burning her throat, her focus shifting to Arissa. The reason all of this was happening. With a swipe, the tray of goodies went flying across the room before Catherine lunged for Arissa. “This is all your fucking fault!” She howled. “You fucking bitch. You did this!”
Hank didn’t even budge as Henry caught his wife around the waist but Arissa jumped from her stool and took a few steps back.
Furious eyes turned on Hank. “All we did was love you. Gave you everything and this is what you give us in return. Your mother was an addict. She would have fallen off the wagon; they always fall off the wagon. We saved you from a life of hell, brought you here, gave you everything. You are the fucking sheriff because of us.” Spittle came from her mouth, her finger jabbing into her chest. “We did that. Your mother would have had you strung out with her, or worse sold you for drugs. You fucking ingrate.”
Hank kept his cool when he asked again, “So, am I bringing you in or is Sean?”
“That’s it?” she screamed. “That’s all you have to say. We kept you from a life of forced prostitution and that’s all you have to say?”
It snapped. That little thread holding Hank together broke. Like lightening brightening up a darkened sky, Hank abruptly rose, the stool clanging to the ground. He slammed his hands on the island and shouted at his parents. “All I have to say? Jesus fuck, you killed my mother!” He roared. “Fucking stole me and then killed another to hide your fucked up shit!” His breathing was ragged, his eyes heated, the blood rushing through his veins was on fire when he rumbled, “You’re lucky I don’t fucking kill the both of you. It was all a fucking lie, my life, a fucking lie!”
Catherine’s fury shifted to tears, sobs filling the kitchen. Henry held his wife tighter. “That’s no way to speak to your mother.” He stood a little taller when he added, “Call your friend.”
Catherine tried to push from Henry. “What the hell are you doing?” she snarled.
Hank grumbled, snatching his cell from the counter and added, “Good fucking call.” Then he tapped the screen and called Sean.
For the first time in his life, Henry stood up to his wife. “Silence! It’s enough.”
What Hank didn’t tell them was that Sean was already in Summerville. He’d arrived at Hank’s house shortly after he and Arissa left hers. Hank had shared with Sean his plan to break down his mother, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to walk his own parents, the people that raised him, out in cuffs. Sean understood and took no time in grabbing a deputy and heading to Summerville.
Hank sat on his parents’ steps; they were inside sitting at their kitchen table having coffee together knowing that they would never have that again. Hank had thought of so many things to say to them but he couldn’t put the words together. There would be a time when he did, when he’d confront his parents and let those words out.
Arissa didn’t sit beside him on the steps but on one of the rockers with a heavy silence between them. A few minutes later not only was Sean pulling up into the driveway but Mike followed behind him at Hank’s request. That’s when Hank turned to Arissa as he stood.
“Mike’s gonna bring you home.” Was all Hank said before he moved down the stairs to meet Sean.
* * *
It had been two days since the confrontation with the Weathers. The news had moved through Summerville like wildfire, but what warmed Arissa was the town rallying for one of their own. She hadn’t left her house in the last two days, needed to finish packing and needed to make arrangements for somewhere to stay in Charleston, but the Belles had visited often. Everyone was pulling together, managing their own shit: Vern keeping her cats close, Ed was controlling Hilda on his own, even Elmer and Sal were behaving, all so Hank could take the time he needed to deal with his new reality.
Arissa walked through the empty house. The movers had just left, but she wanted a few minutes. She lingered in the kitchen and how something so small as a bad water valve had brought the best thing that ever happened to her into her life. Her heart ached, as she turned away and headed for the door. Pulling it closed, and locking it, she made her way slowly to her car. Maureen was standing on her driveway, coffee cup in hand. She and the Belles had said their goodbyes and though they had wanted to be there when she left, Arissa asked that they not be because it was going to be hard enough leaving. Arissa waved, Maureen waved back, a sad smile on her face. Climbing into her car, she didn’t start it up
