“Really? You called her?”
Ash relayed everything that had happened and once again assured him everything was going to be okay.
“I was gonna call your work but wasn’t sure who the best person was to talk to. Unless you think it would be better if you called them,” Ash said.
“Yeah, I’ll call my boss. Shit, I hope they don’t fire me.”
“Just explain what happened and see if they’ll give you another chance. After rehab, of course. And if they do fire you, you can come and live with me.”
“What would I do without you?” Ker asked.
“Let’s hope you never have to find out.”
Ker was discharged from the hospital four days later. Because his relapse had happened over a period of less than twenty-four hours, the hospital staff was confident that the five days he spent there were sufficient to detox his system.
Now he’d moved to a resident rehabilitation program in Falmouth, about a half hour away.
Ash had visited often during his hospital stay. They had talked about the incident that caused all of this along with Ker’s actions. Ash never accused or demeaned Ker for what he had done. He always reminded Ker that no one was perfect, and that mistakes sometimes happened. But more importantly, that together, they could work through anything if Ker was willing.
Ker also spoke to his mom on a couple of occasions. She agreed that Ker’s father had gone too far with everything but admitted that she didn’t see him changing his mind anytimesoon. He was just too set in his ways at that point. The last time they spoke, Irene said to him, “Ker, I’m so thankful you have Ash in your life. Do whatever you have to do to keep him. You deserve someone who cares about you so much.” It was the first time his mom had willingly recognized that he was gay and in a relationship with a man. The feeling it gave him was indescribable.
“Ready to get out of here?” Ash asked when he walked through the door. “I stopped by the nurses’ station, and they said your discharge and transfer papers should be ready shortly. And I’ve got the all clear to drive you to Emerson House.”
Emerson House was part of the Gosnold Behavioral Health treatment center. Ker would spend somewhere between fifteen and sixty days in their inpatient rehab program. The length of his stay was based on the hospital’s recommendation after Ker had spent time meeting with a rehab counselor.
Ker actually had a lot going in his favor. He’d been through rehab before. Well, twice before, and he had managed to stay clean for over ten years since the last time. And thanks to Ash and his ability to find Ker quickly, his relapse was extremely short. The doctors at the hospital and the staff at the rehab center were confident that some individual and group counseling, more education, and development of a long-term follow-up plan would lead to success on Ker’s part. The fact that he would have the support of Ash through all of it just added to his potential success.
They didn’t speak much on the ride; it felt like they’d said everything they needed to in the past few days. They just held hands and listened to soft music on the radio. When they arrived at the facility, Ker was happy to see that it looked like it had originally been a large old home. Better that than an institutional-looking place. Ash carried in a small bag he’d packed for Ker with clothes and a few books.
Ker signed the necessary paperwork, ensuring that Ash was listed as his significant other so that he’d be allowed to visit.
When it was time for Ash to leave, they hugged, and Ash gently kissed his temple. “I’ll see you soon.”
Ker felt a mixture of fear and excitement. He knew this wouldn’t be easy, but he knew he would get through it. Especially this time, as he now had something to look forward to. A life with his man.
Moving forward, the only thing he wanted to be addicted to was Ashton.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Ash
Muriel looked at her son, concern evident in her eyes. “How are you doing, Ash?” They were sitting in her sunroom drinking coffee on New Year’s Eve morning.
“I’m hanging in as best as I can, Mom,” he replied honestly.
“I need you to be honest with me, son,” she said. “Is Ker the man you want to spend the rest of your life with?”
“I …” Ash began, knowing what he wanted to say but unsure how his mother would react. “Yes, Mom, he is. To be completely honest with you, I love him.”
“Okay, then,” she said, her tone conveying the love he knew she had for him. “I’ll do whatever I can for both of you.”
“Thank you.” Relief filled him.
“Have you spoken to your brothers yet?” she asked.
“Yeah. Well, I talked to Mitch and Finn in person, and they told me the same as you, that both Ker and I had their support. I had to leave a message for Court, but he called me back relatively quickly, and again, he said he’d support Ker and me.”
