“We help you out a lot,” Chase says. “But, Mom, I don’t think we’re really helping you at all. I think it’s time you think about leaving.”

She stands, backing away from us and thrashing her arms about. “I’m not leaving my husband! It’s not like he beats me or sleeps with other women. When he’s happy, things are good. I just want to keep him happy. I can help him!”

“No, you can’t, Mom,” I say, frustration thick in my voice. “You’ve been trying for a decade to help him, and he doesn’t want to be helped. Why can’t you see this?”

“Just come with us,” Chase says, stepping to her. “We will help you.”

“No.” She’s shaking her head vigorously. “No, I won’t leave. Why do you want me to be miserable? I can’t do this without him. No. No, I won’t.”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“Just listen.”

Suddenly there’s a loud thump on the coffee table, making us all turn around in surprise.

“Everyone stop right now.” Kat’s brown eyes are fierce as she looks at each of us in turn. “Stop talking. You’re not helping anything.”

I turn to Mom and see tears streaming down her pretty cheeks. God, what have we been reduced to? Our family used to be so happy, so connected, and now we’re this?

“I’m sorry, Mom.” I reach for her, but she backs away.

“Don’t you touch me. I can’t believe you’re such a mean-spirited boy.”

“I said stop,” Kat says, glaring at all of us. “Chase, Mac, take a deep breath and walk away.”

Chase starts to argue, but she pins him with a look that would make anyone obey. “Take a breath,” she says again, more gently this time, then turns to my mom. “And Bonnie, you need to take a breath too. Mac, would you please get her a glass of water?”

“Of course.”

I stomp into the kitchen, fill a glass, and return to the living room. And there’s my girl, kneeling next to my mom, wiping her tears, and speaking softly.

Thank God I brought her with me.

Thank God I have her.

Chapter Eleven

~Kat~

I can’t bear to see them all hurting so much.

“I just need their help,” Bonnie says, looking at me with pleading eyes. My hunch is that her husband verbally abuses her when he’s on a losing streak.

“I understand,” I reply, and sit next to her.

“Maybe you can talk to them. Make them understand.”

“Well, I have another idea.” I pass her the water and watch her take a sip. “This isn’t going to be what you want to hear, but I think you should give some thought to removing yourself from this situation.”

She visibly shrinks back, glaring at me now. “I’m not divorcing my husband.”

“I’m not suggesting you do that,” I reply quickly. “I didn’t say anything about divorce. I understand that you love him, and I respect that very much. But you’re frightened, Bonnie, and this isn’t healthy.”

“He needs me,” she says, a bit softer now.

“I believe that.” Of course he needs you. You’re the only reason he hasn’t hit rock bottom yet. But I don’t say that. Instead, I nod in understanding. “But look at your sons.”

She does as I ask and more tears fall down her cheeks.

“They aren’t trying to be unkind to you. They love you very much and they’re trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need to be protected from my husband,” she replies, but her fingers shake and she won’t look me in the eyes now. “He doesn’t mean to hurt my feelings.”

“He has an illness,” I reply gently. “Bonnie, you leaving for a little while might be the only thing that makes him realize that he needs to get help.”

“But what if it doesn’t work?” She grips on to me tightly now. Desperately. “What if I leave, and he doesn’t get help or try to get better?”

“Well, we will cross that bridge if we come to it, but I can tell you with certainty that he won’t get better if you stay. He will keep leaning on you to clean up his mess. I think he meant well in the beginning, trying to win money to make up for everything he lost in the crash.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what he was trying to do.”

“But it’s gotten out of hand, Bonnie. He’s put you in the worst position you could ever be in when it comes to your kids. Does he become mean when he loses?”

She bites her lips and looks up at Chase and Mac, who are standing nearby, listening intently.

“Sometimes,” she replies in a whisper. “But he’s never laid a hand on me in anger.”

We have so much work to do with you. My heart bleeds for her.

“Will you please consider going home with either Mac or Chase tonight? They will keep you safe, and you can think about how you want to proceed.”

“This is my home.”

“I know.” I nod again and wrap my arm around her too-thin shoulders. She’s horribly malnourished. “Both options are frightening. You don’t have to have all of the answers tonight, Bonnie. But I think it would make you and your sons feel better if you were somewhere safe.”

“How did this happen?” she asks blindly, shaking her head in despair. “We always had such a good life together. I don’t understand.”