Finn suddenly started crying, his chubby cheeks streaked with tears. “Daddy? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
Simon knew that if he didn’t put some distance between Finn and his stupid-ass drunk father, things were liable to get even more traumatic for the poor boy. “Heather, why don’t you take Finn upstairs to wash his face?”
She exchanged a knowing glance with him and nodded. “Okay.” Lowering her voice, she leaned towards him and said, “Just be careful, Simon. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“I won’t,” he assured her. “Focus on Finn while I get Gary out of here.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Gary demanded.
By now Finn was weeping, clutching tightly to his mother as she lifted him into her arms.
“You go upstairs with them, Sophie,” Bob said as he stood up. “I’ll stay down here with Simon.”
Sophie’s face was ashen, but she nodded and quickly scurried out of the dining room with Heather and Finn.
“Do you have any idea how much you’ve just scared Finn?” Heather’s father narrowed his eyes at Gary.
“How did you even find us?” Simon demanded, fighting to keep his anger in check.
“I saw a post on Sophie’s social media, bragging about having dinner with her family and Heather’s new boyfriend,” Gary spat out. “How nice of you all to invite me.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Bob asked. “You and Heather are no longer married. We’re not obligated to invite you.”
Gary took a step towards them. “You said I was family, Bob. Right before I married Heather, you said I was family. I know we’re divorced, but what’s changed?”
“What’s changed is you trying to take Finn away from Heather. Away from all of us. That poor boy has been through enough, but you keep piling on, Gary,” Bob thundered. “You’re ripping this family apart, you selfish son of a—”
“Gary, you need to leave so you can get sober,” Simon interrupted. As much as he would have liked to watch Bob tear Heather’s ex-husband a new one, all that mattered was keeping Finn safe. Getting Gary sober and out of here was the top priority, no matter how much he hated the guy.
“I drove here.” Gary groaned and rubbed his temple. “I don’t think that was a good idea.”
“How about I drive you home?” Simon offered.
“Simon, are you sure?” Bob asked. “You’re not obligated to help him. Not after the hell he’s put us through.”
Simon placed a hand on Bob’s shoulder. “It’s not about an obligation. This is for Finn.”
Bob sighed. “You’re right. I just feel so helpless, watching Gary self-destruct like this.”
Gary started swearing loudly and Simon gripped the blade of the carving knife even more tightly.
“Say whatever you want to me, but you’re not talking to your son’s grandfather like that again,” Simon said firmly.
Gary snarled but held his tongue.
“Bob, if you want to help, how about you stay here and keep everyone safe while I drive Gary home?” Simon suggested.
“I don’t want you going off with him alone,” Bob said. “There’s no telling what he’ll try to do.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m sober and he’s so drunk he can barely stand,” Simon pointed out. “I’ll be all right. But right now, your family could really lean on you, Bob.”
Heather’s father sighed and then nodded. “Okay. I’ll stay here to take care of them, but if I don’t hear from you within the hour I’m coming down there myself to finish Gary. Forget the cops. Just take care of yourself, Simon, and be careful around him.”
With a grim nod Simon headed over to Gary, placed a firm hand around his shoulders, and started to guide him towards the front door. Gary was slurring something incomprehensible, but at least he seemed to be ready to go quietly. No doubt the alcohol he’d consumed had thrown him way off balance.
Once they got to Simon’s car Simon heaved Gary into the backseat, got his address from him, and got behind the wheel and drove off. The drive down to Gary’s house was, thankfully, uneventful.