Intertwined

Part 6: A Game and a Burden Too Heavy

She laid awake all night in the living room. Staring at the ceiling well into the early morning as her mind moved through Max's timeline of tragedy.

That poor man lost so much.

She's impressed that he recognized he had a drinking problem and sought out help.

But it still makes her nervous.

How much of his drunkenness did Luna truly endure?

Is that the reason she isn't talking?

Helen knows all too well what a drunk man is capable of and the pain they can inflict.

Not that Helen feels Max would truly ever do anything so horrific to Luna.

However, she doesn't know or even trust him fully.

Having lived with the abusive alcoholic type- she knows things happen and can be dismissed easily without anyone truly questioning it.

"Mum? Are you up?" Lukas quietly asks as he comes out of his room this morning.

"Unfortunately, yes." Coming over to her, he slides under the covers next to her and she cuddles him. "What's up? Why are you up this early?"

"Couldn't sleep. Tossed and turned half the night."

"Why, Lion?" She plays with his hair and he just shakes his head a bit.

"Mr. G, yesterday...he was out of it. I mean shaking really bad, Mum. He couldn't even make it up the stairs- he looked so unwell and upset." Sighing, she rests her cheek against his head and feels horrible. Her son shouldn't have to be kept up at night over his teacher.

"Huh, Max had a hard day yesterday. But it's nothing for you to worry about. Alright?"

"Is he why we had to go with Aunt Lauren?"

"Yes, I had a job to do. But like I said, you don't need to worry about it." Silence fills the room and then there's the creak of the floorboards. They turn slightly and find Logan half asleep walking over and around the end of the Murphy bed before climbing in to cuddle his mom on her other side. "Oh, my boys. Here I thought you were too old and too cool to snuggle your poor old uncool Mum."

"Don't get used to it." Logan tiredly says.

They all fall asleep out there until Helen's alarm goes off three hours later.

......

Walking into school this morning, Max feels extremely unwell. He knows Kenmai is going to have his ass no matter what Helen reports.

And Helen is a whole other matter.

No doubt she'll look at him differently.

How couldn't she?

He told her he was a recovering alcoholic and knowing her past husband was one as well- probably is only going to deter her.

"Morning, Mr. G!" Lukas comes up and claps him on the shoulder- startling him slightly.

"Sup, G!" Logan claps him on his other shoulder and he jumps once more.

"Boys- hands off." Helen states and they remove themselves from Max, who turns and watches her come up behind them in her velvety green dress and black booted heels. "Good morning!"

"Morning." He shyly says and Helen makes a note of Luna's absence.

"She run ahead already?" Helen asks and Max nods.

"Yeah."

"She eat breakfast?" Helen asks and Max nods.

"Eggs and toast." He says quietly and his odd demeanor makes the boys wary of him.