Page 107 of Don't Leave Me Behind
“Holy shit.” Adler sits back in his chair, eyes wide.
“Mercer, what the fuck?” Brooks pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head.
“I needed to know what happened.” Mercer groans into his hands, scrubbing them down his face before he looks at Leni and then me. “You weren’t talking. Either of you. And then Clay drops this bomb that you did find him, but you didn’t tell us?—”
“You don’t have a right to every single thing in my life, Mercer.” Leni’s good hand balls into a fist.
“But I did. I used to know everythingabout you, Leni. It was always us, you and me.” His voice cracks, full of emotion. “I’ve been so fucking pissed at you for shutting me out, leaving me behind. I thought, if I could get to the bottom of this big secret, that maybe things could start getting back to normal. I wasn’t…” Everyone is quiet at the table. I knew the family was hurting the second I got back; I could feel it, like there was this fracture straight down the middle. “I didn’t mean—you know.” He turns to look at Leni, eyes sad, and his shoulders heavy. “I think maybe I was trying to hurt you a little.”
I glance around the table, catching Adler mouth, “Oh my God,” to Toby before Ethan sits back in his chair.
“That’s fucked up.” I pin Mercer with a glare.
“Yeah, I know, Clay. I never claimed to be perfect.” He rolls his eyes, the corners softening when they drop down to Leni. I wish I could see her face, so I could read whatever it is that has Mercer sighing. His eyes meet mine. “I might have overreacted.”
Pepper snorts, every single head at the table whipping around to look at her. She’s been so quiet this whole time, I kind of forgot she was here.
“Sorry,” she huffs, trying to hold back more laughter.
Brooks gives her a glare that only really succeeds in making her laugh harder.
“Are all families this intense?” She whisper-shouts at him. Brooks shakes his head; the corners of his mouth tipping up before he resumes his regular scowl.
“Leni might not be in that chair.” Ethan’s voice cuts through the comedic break, shattering any sense of peace that might have started to build. “If you hadn’t done that, Merc.”
“I know,” Mercer mutters, looking at the ceiling.
“I think we all have things to be sorry for,” Pa cuts in, deep voice filling the room. “The things you all have been through, I never wanted these hardships for any of you. We’re better as aunit, stronger. Leni, I won’t tell you what to do, who to forgive or when, but I am sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Pa. I just…I want to come home.”
The air shifts immediately, almost every back at the table snapping to sit straighter.
“What do you need to feel like you can?” Ma leans forward, reaching for Leni’s good hand.
“I need you guys to let me make whatever mistakes I’m going to make. The only one who gets to give me unsolicited advice is Clay.”
My arms grip around her a little tighter, my lips pressing into her hair.
“You guys finally realize you’re soulmates then?” Mercer crosses his arms over his chest.
“Something like that,” Leni answers at the same time I say, “Yes.”
He sighs. “I’m sorry about your face, Clay. And your ribs. I uh, probably shouldn’t have taken all that out on you.” He squeezes the back of his neck, looking pained as he says, “Also, I need you to get back to work on Monday.”
I startle, my spine stiffening as I stare at him.
“I couldn’t go through with actually firing you. Not if you’re that invested in my sister. Someone has to take care of her, and you’re gonna need money to do that. A bunch of the guys pitched in their time, so you wouldn’t have to worry about being without leave.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” he sighs. “Listen, I’m still pissed about all the secrets,” he raises a hand to stop Leni from cutting him off. “But you put her first, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for her. For any of you assholes.” He looks around the table, some of the tension draining from his face. “Thank you for that.”
Orson grins from his seat at the head of the table, lifting his beer bottle. “Hear, hear.”
We all raise our glasses, and while there’s still tension we can feel in the room, it’s significantly less than it had been at the start of the meal.
“To fresh starts,” Marcy adds her own toast. “Fresh starts, and family.”
