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When all of us have been served, I cut into it with my knife but honestly, I could use my fork.
The first bite is like a revelation against my tongue.
A male groan snags my attention, but it’s raspy and broken and I look to see Harris now teetered forward. Spit strings from his mouth and into his lap, and his mother doesn’t seem to notice as she gleefully enjoys her potatoes.
I raise my hand to alert someone but am cut off by Ruby.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Ruby says. “Someone get Dad.”
Magnolia signals to James Bond.
He hurries to wheel him away.
“And go ahead and give him his evening dose,” Ruby instructs.
He nods, and they disappear into the kitchen.
I look to Jake to see how that affected him, and he’s pushing around his beans with a fork. I want to comfort him in some way like a real girlfriend would, but I can’t manage to step that far into the role.
Preston adds his two cents. “Sure you’re not giving him too much?”
She cuts her eyes at him over her wine glass. “Mind your business,” she says after she swallows.
“He’s my dad too.”
She sets down the glass, says calmly, menacingly, “How about you go suck a cock?” A sarcastic smile. “That’s more your area.”
Out of instinct, my lips part to say something, her words pinging something tender inside. How dare she? But Jake beats me to it. He points a finger at her. “Off limits,” he warns.
“Yes, let’s all calm down,” Magnolia adds unhelpfully. How about, let’s not be assholes to each other? Let’s act like decent human beings?
Ruby is momentarily stunned that Jake got in the middle but she recovers quickly. After a long look, she backs down and skillfully cuts into her meat.
I guess she didn’t want two fights on her hands.
Preston scoots back. “Can I be excused, please?”
Suddenly, I want to hug him. This is what he lives with.
“Absolutely not,” Magnolia replies. “Eat your dinner.”
What?He’s an adult, for God’s sake.
“Well, I’ve lost my appetite,” Jake says. Throws his napkin on his plate.
I did too.
He stands without permission and offers a hand to help me up. “Take a walk?”
I slip my hand into his.
Magnolia sighs. “Now Jacob…” but he doesn’t acknowledge it.
As we leave with their eyes on our backs, I remember something Preston said in the other room—How he lives amongst animals.
He wasn’t lying.
No wonder Jacob never comes home.
