Page 52 of Restless
Dad was so out of it. “Oh, goddamn.”
Dad scowled. “I been prayin’. For your ma and Jo.”
“We all have. Father Wilkins said a special prayer for both of them.”
“What the fuck the fat lil’ motherfucker want now? Another trip to Monaco?”
“You sent the parish priest on a trip to Monaco?”
“Motherfucker more thug than priest. And, yeah, I promised a motherfucker I fucked up, his pieces would be prayed over.”
“Uh, yeah, that entire statement is fucked up.”
“Wilcunt agreed, only if I sent his ass to Monaco with fifty bands and all expenses paid.”
CJ huffed out a breath.
“How long you been awake?”
“Nearly all night. What about you?”
“Since your ma came here, I ain’t slept more than an hour here and there. Ain’t really had a full meal since Thanksgiving.”
“Mom’s been here two weeks, Dad.”
He looked at his watch. “It won’t be two weeks for another thirteen hours.”
CJ didn’t know how to respond to that, so he changed the subject. “Uncle Johnnie stormed out of the house last night. I haven’t talked to Mattie or Rory, so I don’t know if he’s come back. I went to ask him about Bash, and he went ballistic.”
“He hit you.”
Hadn’t that already been established? Instead of bringing that point up, CJ nodded. “Didn’t you stay up for days at a time? You still go on runs.”
“Twice a year, CJ, and my days of staying awake for a few nights long gone. Why?”
“Because you’re sleep deprived and malnourished. No wonder I can’t get through to you.”
“I heard everything. Johnnie hit you. Lost his motherfuckin’ mind and shot up that big, ugly mirror in the dinin’ room and left. Molly knocked up. Bash in Hortensia. You need to tell Mort. And Harley turning into Rebel.”
“You’ve heard me, but you aren’t processing anything.”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Dad yawned. “What do you want me to process?”
“For now,Molly. Ryan’s a dickhead and Bash is a motherfucker. Her parents abuse her. She needs our help.”
“You want her to move in with us?”
“NO!”
“Then what the fuck I’m supposed to do? Fuck up Bash and her parents and put her on the street?”
“Dad!”
“I ain’t understandin’ how you think I can help her?”
“She’s a girl! You always help girls.”
“Your ma a girl.”
