Mrs. Phillips fumbled for the door handle. Hailey flipped the locks shut. In her inebriated state, it would take her a minute to find the lock in the dark. “Let’s go find someplace warm to talk.”
“Not home,” she demanded belligerently.
“We’ll go to my house.” Rather than argue about Jesse, they’d go home. She’d call him from there once she had his mother inside and warming up.
The ride was blessedly short with no additional hiccups. In only minutes, they were safely inside Hailey’s family home. “Coffee or hot chocolate?” She tucked a blanket around her charge, securing her to the couch once they were finally inside.
“I suppose a hot toddy is out of the question.”
Hailey laughed to keep her tears back. “Yeah. No alcohol for either of us.”
“Hot chocolate. I don’t think my stomach would take coffee. Too many wings and nachos.” She belched loudly.
“I’ll be right back. You sit tight.” Hailey stared at her until she slumped back on the sofa. Passed out or resting? Hailey couldn’t tell and it didn’t matter as long as her charge stayed inside. Watching this once vital woman, a family friend, continue to destroy herself carved grooves in Hailey’s heart. She shook her head. There had to be something she could do.
She turned the kettle on, plugged in her phone and texted Jesse. Silence was the key to keeping his mother in the dark. If she knew he was coming, she’d cut and run. He arrived in less than ten minutes, sleep rumpled and angry.
“I can’t believe she went out after I went to bed. The first night in a month I’ve been in bed before midnight.” He kicked off his boots at the back door and hung his coat on a hook.
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Sh. We need a plan before she wakes up. There has to be a way to get her into rehab before she seriously hurts someone. She already destroyed a borrowed vehicle.”
“We can’t force her into rehab. I’ve been to support groups for families of alcoholics. She has to accept, by herself, that she has a problem.” He raked his fingers through his hair, agony and frustration on his face.
“That gives me an idea. Can you go take a picture of the car?”
“I can,” hesitation filled his voice. “But I don’t see why.” He shook his head. “You better explain what you’re thinking.”
She laid out her idea. It was a long shot. A trillion to one shot, but if there was anything Hailey was sure of, it was a grandmother’s love for her grandchildren.
Jesse didn’t look convinced, but he hurried out to take the picture. While he was gone, she rearranged the chairs so they sat across from the sofa, a small table in the middle, giving the room the look of a police interrogation room or therapist’s office.
She sat on one chair, Jesse in the other, Rover on the floor between them until Jesse’s mom woke up, just before dawn.
She stirred groggily, tilting her head left and right with a groan. She probably had a vicious kink in her neck to go along with her hangover.
“Good morning, Mom,” Jesse greeted her, trying to hide his disappointment.
“Morning, Mrs. Phillips.”
“Oh, my head.” She massaged her temples, a wince of agony pinching her features together. She was ashen and her hands trembled against her face.
Jesse handed his mom a glass of water and some pain pills. She swallowed them greedily. Maybe easing her pain would make her civil.
“Coffee?” his mother grunted rudely.
So much for being civil. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes or chide her like a child. Nothing would be gained by irritating her.
“Coming right up.” Hailey jumped to her feet and went to the kitchen. Through the doorway, Jesse saw her add a generous amount of sugar and cream to the mug.
His mom downed half of it, wincing. “That’s hot.”
“Are you awake now?” Jesse sipped from his coffee, feigning calm he didn’t feel. He wanted to wring her neck. He loved her so much, but he’d grown tired of her attitude and her issues. They needed to resolve this. For both their sakes, and for the sake of his growing affection for Hailey.
His mom blinked at him and rubbed her eyes. She looked again, taking in the changes in the room. “What is this? An interrogation?” she demanded, struggling to stand. Rover lurched forward with a growl and she dropped back into her seat.
He glanced at Hailey and they both shrugged. He had no idea what had come over his dog. “Rover, sit.” He obediently dropped onto his haunches, staring at Jesse’s mom.
“You turned your dog against me?”
