But if he was drinking again, that explained why he’d seemed so indifferent when Zoey called to tell him about Sylvia’s passing. It wasn’t as if she had expected him to come to the funeral or to send Gabi back east for it. But she had at least expected him to reminisce with her about her aunt for a moment, considering all the summers Sylvia and Ivy had hosted him and Jessica. Instead, he’d expressed perfunctory condolences and quickly ended the call.
“I’m sorry to hear about this,” she said after Kathleen regained her composure. “How long has it been going on?”
Kathleen sniffed. “Almost two years.”
Why hadn’t Zoey noticed Scott’s drinking when she’d visited their house? “I had no idea.”
“Scott used to be able to hide it, but it’s gotten a lot worse. It’s ruining his career, his health and his relationship with his daughter. And I can’t tell you what a strain it’s putting on our marriage. We’re fighting all the time.”
Zoey winced, remembering the months—theyears—leading up to her own parents’ divorce. No wonder Gabi took her father’s car; she was probably trying to get as far away from the two of them as fast as she could. And at this moment, Zoey wished she could help her escape. She didn’t know what to say except, “That’s awful, Kathleen.”
“Yeah. That’s why I finally gave him an ultimatum. Either he goes through a recovery program and gets sober, or I’m leaving him and I’ll do whatever it takes in order to bring Gabi with me.”
Zoey was afraid to ask. “Which did he choose?”
“Recovery—he’s going to a residential center.”
“That’s great!”
“It’s hardly great,” Kathleen said sarcastically. “But itisnecessary.”
Don’t get snitty with me. I’m kind of on the edge here, myself.“I meant it’s better than the alternative. And it’s a very hopeful step. But it’s still going to be difficult. For all of you.”Especially for my niece—and she’s the one I’m most worried about.
Kathleen seemed to read her mind. “Yeah, it is. I don’t know how Gabi is going to behave once Scott isn’t here.” She explained that Scott was either drunk or hungover so often that he’d become something of an absentee parent. Which meant she’d had to play bad cop when Gabi banged up the car. She’d taken away Gabi’s phone and in retaliation, Gabi hadn’t spoken to her for over three weeks. Kathleen anticipated Gabi would blame her for sending her father away and she was concerned the teenager would act out and get into even more trouble.
“She refused to tell us the name of the boy who dared her to drive the car, but obviously I’m concerned about his influence on her. And I can see how the tension between all three of us has negatively affected her, too. I think it would be helpful for her to be in a healthier, more positive environment. That’s why I’m calling—to ask if Gabi could stay with you for a while.”
Zoey bit her lip to keep from blurting out,How fast can she pack?She recognized a decision of this gravity needed to be considered from all angles. “Don’t most programs want the family members to be involved in the recovery process? Like go to counseling and stuff?”
“Eventually, but Scott’s not going to be allowed to have visitors for the first thirty days, at least. And he only gets to make phone calls once a week.”
Thirty days, at least? “What about school?”
“She can transfer. There’s not that much of the school year left, anyway.”
“I’d like to take her, but I’m… I’m still unemployed. And I’ve been spending most of my time at Hope Haven, on Dune Island. I don’t know if Scott mentioned it, but my great-aunt Sylvia just passed away.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I totally forgot. When is the funeral?”
“We, uh, already had it.” Zoey didn’t want to make Kathleen feel worse by telling her it was the day before. “Anyway, I’ve been subletting my townhome on a month-to-month basis. But if I land a job, I’ll need to go back to Rhode Island and start work. Which means Gabi might just get settled into a school here in Benjamin’s Manor and then I’d have to uproot her again. That could be really disruptive.”
“Trust me. It would be a lot less disruptive than what’s going on here.”
Zoey’s head was swimming. “Have you talked to Scott about this?”
“More like he talked to me. It was his idea. Obviously, he trusts you deeply. We both do.”
“What does Gabi think about coming here?”
“Who knows? Like I said, she won’t talk to me.” Kathleen sighed. “I’m not sure she should have much of a say in this decision, considering her behavior lately. But before we even considered asking you to take her, Gabi told Scott she wished she could go stay with her cousin in Virginia, so she clearly wants to get away. Not that we’d ever let her live with Sophie.”
Zoey understood why they wouldn’t: Scott’s niece was a year older than Gabi but she acted as if she were twenty-one and she had absolutely no parental supervision. Then it occurred to Zoey that if Gabi was willing to go to Virginia, it meant she was willing to give up playing her flute in the spring concert. And if she was willing to give that up, things at home must have been really, really bad.
“I’d be happy to have her. I’ll have to talk it over with my aunt, first, but I can’t imagine her objecting,” Zoey said. “When will she arrive?”
“Um… is Tuesday too soon?” Kathleen explained she was concerned that if she didn’t put the plans into motion immediately, Scott would change his mind.
Zoey agreed Tuesday was fine and they arranged to discuss Gabi’s itinerary and the details involved in enrolling her in the local high school later that evening. Kathleen thanked Zoey profusely, saying, “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. And to Scott. We know you’re the best person to take care of her.”
