“Be there in fifteen.”
I disconnect but don’t move. Part of me is afraid if I take my eyes off Benny for even a moment, I’ll turn around, and he’ll be gone again.
Eventually, knocking pulls me from my spot. I open the door to James’s concerned face. He opens his arms, and I step into them, finally allowing myself to fully break down.I’m sobbing into his shirt as he moves me into the apartment so he can close the door behind us.
Benny begins to stir more, and James releases me. “It’s going to be okay, kid,” he reassures me.
We both turn to the couch. Benny looks more restless than when I first got home. His eyes are squeezed shut tight, as if the light is hurting them.
“Do you know how he got home?” James asks.
Wiping my cheeks, I shake my head. “No, he was here when I got home from searching for him. I was gone for over four hours.”
James squats down next to the couch, assessing Benny. He drops to one knee as he turns his head to me. “He isn’t going to be happy, but he needs to go to inpatient again.”
I wrap my lips over my teeth as I hold back my emotions. Taking a deep breath, I nod. “I know. It’s for the best.”
James gives me a sympathetic look. “I’ll make a call.”
My eyes are locked on Benny as I listen to James speak with someone in hushed tones. He’s right. Benny isn’t going to like going to inpatient. But at this point, I don’t know what other option we have.
James finishes his call and fills me in on the details about where Benny can get into today. I agree with the plan, and we work to get Benny down to James’s truck. Halfway through the parking lot, Benny comes to a little more. His words are still unintelligible, but he tries to pull away from us. James tightens his hold as he drags him the rest of the way to his vehicle. We get him settled in the backseat, and I climb into the front.
James pats my arm as he settles into the driver’s side. “This will be good, Olive.”
I sigh and avert my gaze out the window. I’m strugglingto share his optimism. So many times, I’ve thought that. And just as many times, I’ve been let down.
“Alright,Miss Moore. Here’s the breakdown of the charges and the consent for treatment that I’ll need you to sign.”
I take the papers being handed to me, cringing internally when I see the total. Since my brother doesn’t have insurance, I have to come up with a payment plan. Thankfully, the facility is used to that and willing to work with families needing help from their loved ones. I quickly sign the forms and hand over the check.
The receptionist gives me a sad smile as she takes the check and the paperwork. “I know you’ve done this before, but just as a reminder, you won’t be able to talk to him while he goes through detox. But you’re more than welcome to call for an update from staff as much as you want. You can talk to and visit him once he’s out of detox and is more settled.”
I thank her as I push out of my seat on unsteady legs to head back out to James’s waiting car. He smiles encouragingly as I get in, but stays silent as we drive back to my apartment.
Once we get there, we promise to keep in touch over the next few days. I honestly don’t know what I would do if it weren’t for James.
As I once again make the long walk to my apartment, I pull out my phone. There’s one more thing I need to do before I go back to work.
The ringing fills me with dread.
“Thought I wasn’t going to hear from you.”
“Marcus, can we meet?”
Nervously,I glance around as I move across the street. I tried to get Marcus to meet me somewhere that wasn’t his house or my apartment, but he refused. And since there was no way I wanted him to know where I lived, I agreed to go to his house. He lives in a rough area of Nashville, and I regret my choice as I approach his front door.
I raise my hand to knock, but the door opens before I get the chance. Marcus’s hesitant smile greets me. He looks almost exactly the same as when we dated years ago, besides the few wrinkles lining his face.
“Oli, it’s so good to see you.” Stepping back, he opens the door wider. “Come on in.”
As I enter the house, I force a small smile. His living room has the bare minimum, and all his furniture looks worn. He extends his hand to his couch, indicating I should sit.
I shake my head. “I’m not staying long.”
He nods and crosses his arms. Eyebrows raised, he waits for me to speak.
I open my purse and pull out the thick envelope, staring at it for a few moments before extending it to him.
