“It’s a first aid kit because I know you hurt yourself a lot. I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed to doctor your wounds so they don’t get infected or leave scars. Uncle Trouble gave me some of the stuff, and Mom and Dad took me to the store to get the rest.”
Tears prick the back of my eyes. When Maisy came to me yesterday and asked if she could make a first aid kit for Emo, a hopeful look in her eyes, I couldn’t deny her. I know about Emo’s key and the way he uses it against his body. I also know Emo rarely tends to the lesions and doesn’t care about the scars he leaves behind. Judge also told me about the day he came by Emo’s house, witnessed him gauging himself with the key, and proceeded to tend to it himself with peroxide and Neosporin.
As strange as it may sound, Emo caring for his wounds was one of the nicest things he could have done for Maisy. It means he listened and cared about her concern over him.
“Would either of you like something to drink?” Grace asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
I’m just about to decline when Judge grabs my hand. “Yes. We’d love something to drink.”
My eyes slide back to Maisy and Emo as we leave the room. She’s showing him each item in the kit.
After Grace hands us each a glass of ice water, Judge leans back against the counter, one foot crossed over the other. “How’s your dad?”
Grace blows out a breath, ruffling the hair lying over her forehead. “He’s better. Not out of the woods yet, but we’ve hired a nurse to come in each day for a few hours. He’s fighting it, but he may need to be put in a home.”
Putting his glass on the counter, he crosses his arms over his chest, a contemplative look on his face. After a moment, he surprises Grace and me both.
“You could bring him here.”
Grace’s glass stops halfway to her mouth, her brows hitching up. “You’d allow that?”
“It’s your father, Grace,” he says gently. “We’d have to be cautious of what’s said around him, but I won’t stop you from bringing him here if it’ll make things easier for you. Malus is about family; caring for and protecting the ones you love.” His eyes slide to the doorway before bringing them back to her. “Besides, Emo needs you right now. In more ways than one. He came a bit unhinged while you were gone.”
She glances down at the glass, her eyes pensive as she stares down at the clear liquid.
“I’m surprised he didn’t call Janet or Madison.”
He grabs me by the pocket of my jeans and pulls me to his side, wrapping his arm around my waist. “We both know he prefers you over the other two. I don’t think he’s been with either of them for months now.”
Her head jerks up. “Really?”
“Yes.” He pauses a moment. “But don’t let that get to you, Grace. You know he’s not capable of anything more than he’s given already.”
She nods, her lips tipping up to resemble a smile, but it looks forced. “I know.”
While they spend the next few minutes talking, I walk over to the fridge where a homemade card has been taped to the surface. It’s the one Maisy made and gave to him the first day we visited. It’s simply made, with the words Get Well Soon on the front in colorful curly letters. With a smile teasing my lips, I flip it open and read the inside.
Uncle Emo,
I hope you get better soon. Thank you for saving my life.
Love forever,
Maisy
She drew a bouquet of flowers, each one a different color.
“He put that up as soon as you left the other day.” I look to Grace, who has moved beside me. Her eyes are on the card, her expression warm. “In the three years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him smile, but I could see it in his eyes when he taped that to the fridge. It made him happy.”
That’s Maisy. She has the ability to make anyone happy.
Reaching over, I place my hand on hers. “Don’t listen to Judge,” I say, keeping my voice low. “Emo is capable of love. Probably more so than any of his brothers. Never give up hope.”
“I appreciate what you’ve said, and I agree that he’s capable of great love, but it’s bottled inside him so deep, I don’t think he’ll ever release it. Emo tries to hide it, but he really is a wonderful man, despite the cruelties of his childhood.”
Her smile is sad as she squeezes my hand and walks away. My heart hurts for her. To care about a man who’s caged by his past, not allowing himself to see the beauty of the present, must be excruciating for her. Losing Judge the way I did was unbearably hard, but he was gone. Having Maisy was a constant reminder of him, but I loved her with my whole heart. I, at least, had her to help lessen the pain that resided inside my heart. Grace saw Emo on a regular basis. Her unrequited feelings are constantly thrown in her face. I’m not sure I would have been able to handle it had I been in her situation.
I relax against the hard chest when I feel arms wrap around me from behind. His face nuzzles against the crook of my neck, tickling my flesh.