Page 52 of The Curve
“As sure I’ve ever been about anything.”
He stays silent at first, just looking in my eyes. “Then you have to convince her to stay. I know what it feels like to lose the love your life. I don’t want that for you.”
My heart breaks a little for Brick. It’s been years now, but he still hasn’t fully recovered.
“So, how do I do that? Mallory’s welfare comes first, the way it should. But if I could fix things…”
“You’ve got to try. It’s the only way out of this. You gotta fix the problem. For good.”
“Easier said than done. Think I should talk with Mr. Midas about his kid?”
He gives me a pointed look. “No, I don’t. He’s the one who raised the little shit. That won’t do any good.”
“What would you do?”
“Remember how you handled your bully in eighth grade? She needs to give the kid a taste of his own medicine. That’s how I’d start. You know what sixteen-year-old boys are sensitive about. Tell her to use it.”
Suddenly a plan starts taking shape.
“Then hit it on the other fronts. The school, and most importantly Mallory. Talk with her. Back her up. Let her know she and her mother mean something to you. Be her champion. You’re in a relationship withhernow too.” He smiles. “Circle the wagons.”
The familiar Swift saying we’ve heard our parents say a hundred times applies. We’ve always worked as a whole when one of us in trouble.
I knew I loved my brother, but never more than today. He didn’t question my love. He just believed me. He’s been my champion all my life. Now I need to be that for Charlotte and Mallory.
* * *
“Missed you, woman,”I say walking into her apartment.
She leans her head on my shoulder. “Me too. You have no idea how much.”
We hold on to each other, neither wanting to break away.
I brush the hair back from her ear. “How’s Mallory?”
Pulling back she looks me in the eye. “Not good. It took an hour of pushing for Paige to talk her into a movie. That’s where they are now.”
Tossing my keys to the counter, I take a seat on the couch and motion her over.
“I want to help.”
“Honestly, Atticus, I’m not sure anybody can. I’m her mother and I’m really scared. It’s so much worse this time. The wound is so deep I’m afraid for her.”
I can see the tears beginning to well in her beautiful green eyes.
“Is she still talking about moving?”
“Yeah. She reminds me every time we talk that I promised her that. And school starts soon. We’d have to start planning now. If I don’t honor my promise, it’ll erode whatever trust she has.”
I rest my forearms on my knees and shake my head. “That can’t be the answer. Running away isn’t ever the way to go. She needs to stay and fight her fears.”
Charlotte rises and begins pacing. “Easy for you to say. Just think about how devastating it must be to hear and see people every day making fun of how you look. Making fun of something you can’t do anything about. Now picture it happening when you’re a child. No matter how mature you are you just don’t have the skills or the confidence that comes with age. It’s a wound that’s hard to recover from. And then it happens again and again.”
Tears are streaming down her face as I get up and take her in my arms.
“Then her family’s gonna have to stand up with her. That means you and I and Mallory together.”
I take her face in my hands. “I love you, Charlotte. Do you know that?”
