"Is she drunk again?" There’s deep accusation in his voice as he stares at Parker. Like he’s blaming his older brother for their mother's current state. Like it’s Parker's fault somehow.
I should leave. I have no business staying and witnessing this. It’s too personal for anyone outside their family to see. But my feet won't cooperate, as though they’re rooted to the spot.
"She's fine," Parker tells his brother. "Go back to your room and do your homework."
"No. I want to help take care of Mom."
"Parker can handle it, Ethan," Aria assures him, forcing a smile on her face. "She'll be fine. Want some snacks? I can make us tacos. You love that, right?" Ignoring his protests, she pulls him away, presumably to the kitchen, leaving me and Parker behind.
I keep from fidgeting awkwardly. Is he going to order me to leave again?
"You don't have to stay." That’s not exactly a command, right?
"I can run a bath for her," I find myself offering.
He hesitates for a moment before saying, "Follow us."
"What about my wine?" Dianne whines as we climb up the staircase.
"I'll get some for you later. Right now, you need to take a bath."
She grabs at his shirt. "Is that a promise, son?"
He doesn't respond. It's probably not the first time she's asked that of him.
When we reach her room, Parker tucks his mom into her bed while I go straight to her bathroom to run her bath.
"Want me to assist her bath?" I ask him when I step back into her room and catch him staring down at Dianne with a deep frown.
"No. Aria will do it. We have someone taking care of her during the day, but she called in sick today."
Well, that answers the million-dollar question of who’s taking care of their mom whenever they’re in school. Still, the situation can't be easy for the three of them. Now, at least, I understand why Parker is the way he is. He was left with big responsibilities at such a young age.
When Aria enters Dianne's room a few minutes later, Parker and I step out.
"I should go."
"Want to hang out a little while?"
We talk at the same time, then stare at each other in surprise.
Well, that’s awkward.
I clear my throat. "Are you asking me to stay?"
"Yes." There isn't any hesitation in his voice.
I give him a small smile. "Then I guess I'm staying."
*******
"She's not always like that," Parker murmurs while we eat tacos in the kitchen, where he brought me after we left Dianne's room.
"I know. I'd seen her around town plenty of times when your dad was still..." I catch myself a little too late.
How insensitive of me to mention his dad. It’s already bad enough that he and his siblings are dealing with the consequences of Richard Holloway's actions, I had to remind him of them, too.
"Sorry," I say apologetically. "I shouldn't have said that."
It takes him a long moment to speak that, for a second, I thought I'd pissed him off. "When he was on his way to his car, where his secretary was waiting for him, Mom ran after him and downright begged him to stay. She clung to his legs like he was her lifeline. He didn't listen to her cries. Didn't even stop the car when she tried to chase after it. I knew this because I was there. I witnessed the whole thing." His voice is devoid of any emotion, but his eyes are brimming with hurt and anger.
I don't even think twice. I reach out across the island countertop and put my hand on top of his, offering comfort in the only way I can at the moment.
How could Richard Holloway stomach hurting his wife and son at the same time? How could he leave his family behind like it was nothing? My heart aches for all of them. Especially Parker.
What he’s doing for his family is nothing short of amazing. I don’t think I’d know how to handle it if it ever happens to me. It makes me feel grateful and lucky that Dad had been strong enough to keep everything together after Mom died. He could've been in the same state as Dianne, but the loss didn't break him.
Parker blinks at our hands but doesn't bother pulling away. "That's why she took it the hardest. We couldn't talk to her for weeks after that. She locked herself up in her room and only came out when she ran out of alcohol and pills."
"Have you ever tried putting her in rehab?"
He lets out a hollow chuckle. "Tried? We already took her thrice. All those times she didn't even last a month before relapsing and going back to her old habits."
The ache in my chest burns harder, and it’s all I can do to stop myself from flinging my arms around him to give as much comfort as I can.
My emotions are probably showing on my face because he visibly bristles. "I don't need your pity."
"Who says I feel sorry for you?" I shoot back. "You're holding your family together. You're acting like the pillar that you're Dad should have been when you're basically just a kid. Instead of enjoying your teenage years, you're already playing adult. Honestly, I can't even comprehend how you manage to do it. So, no, Parker. Your situation isn't pitiful, it's admirable."
"Admirable?" A bitter smile forms on his lips. "I don't even know what I'm doing half the time. I feel like I'm not doing the right thing. That I'm just making it worse. And I'm just enabling my mom's addiction. Every day I fear that I'll walk in on her..." He swallows hard, unable to finish the words.
Chills crawl up my spine at the mental image. That would be the worst thing a son could see. I wouldn't even wish it on my worst enemy.
"If there's any consolation, I don't have to worry about where we'll
