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His mention of my mom makes me cringe. "No."
"Did you tell Mila last night?"
"Yep."
He relaxes in his chair again like he's collected all the data he needs to make a judgement. "I don't think you should give up. So it's a challenge. Rise to the occasion."
"I don't know."
"Her brother's a jerk. He pushed you in the pool. Because of him, I saw you soaking wet on the side of the road and picked you up. Now I have an adoring son who is an undefeated fighter."
Oh man. When Henry calls me son, I love it. Add on a compliment about my fighting and I'm in heaven.
"We should thank Donnie Bianchi for bringing us together, the little shit." He tilts his head and grins.
I have to laugh at the truth in Henry's words.
"You don't know enough yet, so you can't decide. The father is controlling. You're assuming she'll take his side. Get in there and find out what's going on. Maybe she needs you."
He's right. Vaughn Bianchi's tone toward her made my skin crawl. I don't know what the hell is going on with her. I pick up his book and rub the picture with my hand. So much time has passed since he was my age. This book is his life. He doesn't get a chance to rewrite it. "Donnie yanked her arm."
He grunts in surprise. "And you didn't kill him?"
"Held back."
"Good." He nods. We've had many talks over the years about my lack of self-control and the fights I've gotten into.
"She defended me to her father." I didn't realize it until now, but she was taking my side against her father and brother.
"Also a good sign. Sherry and I had our troubles in the beginning too."
"I know. I read the book." I hold it up and flip through the pages.
"The book didn't cover the most important part."
"There's stuff that's not in your autobiography?"
"I kept our deepest secrets private. There was a week in a hunting cabin in California I never told anyone about." He winks at me.
"What happened in the cabin?"
He smiles and looks out over the balcony. "We fought, we screwed, we decided to stay together no matter what."
That makes me laugh. "It worked."
"We stayed together. Ups and downs. I was an asshole. We fought like crazy, but I loved that woman till the day she died. Miss her."
"I know."
"I'll see her on the other side soon."
"Don't talk like that."
He takes the book from my hands and rubs her picture again. "Someday you'll see what I mean. You won't want to be on this earth if she's left it."
Okay. That's enough. I can't handle anymore love talk from Henry today. I stand up and give him a hug. "I'm gonna get some food. I'll bring you something. Thanks for the talk." It makes me uncomfortable, but he's usually right on things.
"Here for you anytime." His hand feels fragile when he grasps my arm and looks me in the eye. "You're not alone, understand me? I'm here for you."
