“Oh.”
I reach up and push my hair behind my ears before I place my hands on my hips and look him directly in the eyes. When he chuckles and glances away, I can’t help but wonder if he knows that I got this from Momma.
“Listen, Huck; I honestly didn’t mean to make you so mad asking about Aunt Brianna. I just thought you might want to talk about it ‘cause talking about things sometimes helps someone feel better.”
“You are your mother’s daughter,” he replies shaking his head and running a hand back through his wild hair. “Nothing I can tell you about that will make me feel better, understand? So I’d really appreciate it if you would just let it go.”
My shoulders slump and I nod dejectedly. I was just trying to help, but I guess there are somethings I’ll never be good at. I’ve never been able to make anyone feel better about anything no matter how hard I’ve tried, and I wonder sometimes if maybe everyone would be better off without me.
With that thought, I glance up at the high beams above me and blink back tears. It could be so easy; I’m sure there’s a rope around here somewhere and Uncle Huck has to go to sleep eventually.
Momma won’t miss me; Hell she wanted to get rid of me for the summer and Uncle Huck? He doesn’t seem to want me around either.
“Maddi,” he says softly. I reach a hand up and wipe the stray tears from my face, careful not to look at him and continue studying the beams above. “Maddi,” he says in a sterner tone. “Come here.”
I clear my throat and tear my eyes away from my escape, glance over at Uncle Huck and sigh. He looks defeated and almost sad; kinda like he can tell what I’m thinking, and I do my best to force a smile onto my face.
“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,shushesme, 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.