“I saw that exact same look on Abigail’s face once when we were kids. I know what’s going on in that brain of yours and I won’t have that, you understand?” he says gently, holding out a hand toward me.
I begin to cry, covering my face with my hands and Uncle Huck comes over, enveloping me in his strong arms. He kisses the top of my head gently, shushes me, and then leads me out of the barn.
Maybe tonight isn’t the time, but I’m sure it’ll be right soon.
Then no one will have to worry about Madeleine Garner being a burden in their lives anymore.
Chapter Five
We’ve been sitting on his pullout couch in the living room watching old horror movies. He told me that’s what cheers him up sometimes when he’s feeling down and I think it’s because he just doesn’t want to let me out of his sight.
“Your mother hates horror movies, did you know that?” he asks me in a cheerful tone as he holds me against him. I’m convinced his smothering me right now is to make sure I can’t wander off without him knowing my intent either.
“No,” I grumble, shifting against him. “Loosen up a little, Huck.”
He chuckles and gives just an inch of extra space as he props his feet up on the table in front of us and offers me some of the popcorn in the bucket on his lap.
I begrudgingly reach into the container because he’s damned determined to have his family time right now whether the rest of his family wants to have it or not.
I bump the bucket off his lap and when the popcorn spills all over the floor, my face turns red.
“Sorry, Huck,” I say quietly as I pull away from him and get to my knees. I place the bucket upright and begin to pick up the popcorn by hand, tossing it in and praying for the Earth to open up and swallow me.
“I’ve done that a time or two myself, Maddi,” he replies with a good-natured laugh. Uncle Huck gets to his feet and walks out of the room, leaving me to pick up the mess by hand, but returns shortly with a hand-held vacuum cleaner. “This might be a little easier, though,” he says holding it out to me.
I grab the small machine out of his hand, power it on, and pick up the rest of the mess in no time. “I’ll give the carpet a good scrub tomorrow.”
“Why?” he asks in confusion.
“To get the butter off,” I reply sheepishly.
Uncle Huck rolls his eyes as he sits back down on the couch and pats the spot next to him. I let out a loud sigh and sit back down as he slips his arm around my shoulder again and holds me in place.
“I’m not a child,” I seethe through grit teeth. “You don’t have to keep watching me.”
“I know you’re not a child, Maddi, but if you’re going to behave like one, then I’m going to treat you accordingly,” he replies cheerfully as he props his feet back onto the table. “This is how I snapped Abigail out of her bullshit too, so stop acting so hostile.”
“I liked it better when you weren’t talking to me,” I complain trying to pull away from him.
Uncle Huck glances down at me and gives my side a poke with his free hand causing me to look up at him. He actually looks happy again—the same way he did when Momma first greeted him after he opened the door for us, and I feel like a spoiled brat for giving him shit right now.
“I’m—”
“Sorry, I know,” he says, cutting me off. “You say that a lot, kid.”
I shrug and he grins, leaning down and resting his cheek on the top of my head. I never felt as small as I do when I’m this close to him and it makes me feel as safe as it does weird.
“So, Huck?” I ask as he relaxes his body against the couch.
“Hm?”
“What else did you and Momma do as kids? She never really talked about being little much—not that I ever listened if she did,” I say with a sheepish laugh.
“Nothing really,” he beings, pausing a moment to stifle a yawn with his fist, “School, chores, being the perfect son and daughter to the perfect parents, I guess.”
I pull away from him a little and narrow my eyes at him. Grandma and Grandpa were far from the perfect parents he’s claiming them to be. I remember them being bitter and mean to damn near everyone including themselves and I also remember that no one really shed a tear when they died.
“You’re lying,” I say accusingly.