"Come on now, Howard, open the door," Jack knocked gently. He spoke firmly to be heard over the crying child but nonetheless he received no answer. "Look, we just want to take Emmy downstairs…" he continued, knocking again.
Jack stood awkwardly before the door, unsure of the next step to take. He hesitated and tried the handle again. Forrest was next to him the next time he raised his hand to knock, but Forrest stopped him.
"Go look after Lu," he told his brother, "This is between me an' Howard," he drawled. Jack wanted to stay, to play mediator but he knew that this was not his place. Jack headed back to Forrest's room where Lucy was laying in bed. She'd been in a lot of pain and Forrest made her lie down (as his was the only other bed at the County Line).
"Thanks for tryin," Lucy told him, turned on her side on the low mattress. In addition to the pain her healing wounds gave her, she could not get rid of the knot in her stomach. She could've just torn apart the Bondurant family…. it made her sick.
"Yeah, course," Jack nodded. He yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes he took a seat in the chair near the bed, stretching out, laying his hands on his abdomen. "You know it's gonna be okay…right?" Jack tried his hand at comfort.
"I know," Lucy nodded. She didn't want to let Jack know the extent of her feelings- he had no part in the ugliness.
Lucy jumped & Jack stood out of his chair when a loud bang echoed through the house. Forrest had forced open the bedroom door. Jack headed to the hall and Lucy gritted through the pain and stood.
But in the bedroom, the boys exchanged no words. Howard was holding Emmy in one arm, and holding the half empty bottle of whiskey in the other. His eyes were red and he looked at Forrest. Just looked. A cigarette burned down in the ashtray behind him.
Forrest stepped forward, painfully slow, and he reached out to take Emmy from Howard. It was as if the brothers were having their conversation in their minds. Howard didn't move. Finally, Howard let the rest of the room in on what they were saying, "She ain't your daughter, Forrest," he croaked.
Forrest nodded. "But….uhm…she is cryin'…and she needs Lu…" he tried again for the crying girl.
"She ain't your wife…" Howard took another swig of whiskey. The room was at a standstill.
"Look, Howard," Jack stepped forward. But Howard shut him down, "Stay out of this, Jack!" he exclaimed loudly, wiping his mouth with his arm.
"Howard…please," Lucy stepped forward finally. She had to take responsibility for her actions. "I'm sorry for-"
"No," he snapped. He handed Emmy to Forrest (a moment later the girl stopped crying and began to fall asleep in Forrest's arms). He slowly shuffled over to Lucy, the bottle hanging at his side. His large form casted a shadow over her and she did her best not to cry. But he didn't say another word. After he stared her down for what felt like eternity, he just brushed passed her, down the stairs and out the door into the rain; only with the bottle for company.
For the three left in the house, Howard's exit seemed to hang in the air for hours, but it was only seconds later that Forrest placed Emmy back down in her cradle.
Forrest looked at Jack, who understood and proceeded to leave the room. Guilt was written all over their faces. Forrest placed his hand on the small of Lucy's back and ushered her over to the bed. When Lucy tensed up to protest Forrest spoke, "You're never gon' heal if you don't lay down, Lu…" he said.
Lucy sighed. She gave in and climbed into the bed. She wasn't sure what time it was and everything had started to become a blur.
Lucy held her hand out, reaching for Forrest's. He stood motionless, neither returning nor denying her affection.
When Forrest left the room, Lucy felt sick with loneliness but she understood. Forrest had betrayed his brother and he felt as good about it as she felt about betraying her husband.
Lucy let sleep take her.