“Nice to meet you,” Eliza said weakly, wondering if she should leave and give them privacy. As far as she knew, Cassie hadn’t spoken to her mother since Donna skipped out on rehab right before Christmas.
Donna offered a tentative smile before alternating her gaze between two armchairs. Finally, she chose the one closest to the fireplace, not that it mattered, since it hadn’t been lit in months. She crossed and uncrossed her long legs, wearing her discomfort as blatantly as her costume jewelry.
“Why don’t I go start the coffee?” Eliza whispered, ready to excuse herself when Cassie reached for her hand.
Her furtive squeeze and clammy palm communicated all Eliza needed to know. Squeezing back, she remained firmly in her seat.
“I’ve been trying to contact you for months. I thought something horrible might have happened to you.” Cassie’s voice cracked, and Eliza tightened her grip on her hand.
“I know. And I’m sorry.” Donna stared at her fingers laced in her lap. “I’ve been… unavailable.”
Unavailable? She had to be kidding. Her only child was getting married in two days. And she hadn’t sent a single text, phone call, letter… nothing. She hadn’t even bothered to decline Cassie’s wedding invitation. And Eliza knew for a fact that her friend had kept a seat open in the front row, just in case.
Eliza wanted to scream. Instead, she focused on taking slow, intentional breaths. She needed to be a pillar of support for Cassie, not fly off the handle in indignation. No matter how deserved it may be.
“What happened?” Cassie whispered, her fingers trembling in Eliza’s grasp.
“I… couldn’t do it.” Shame flickered in Donna’s eyes and, for a moment, Eliza softened. It was a feeling she knew well.
“I wanted to. I wanted to be strong. So very badly.” An inky-black streak followed the tear trailing down Donna’s cheek. “That first night in rehab, I knew I’d never make it. And I kept thinking about everything you’d sacrificed to get me there.” A second tear followed the first, stalling on her chin. Donna brushed it aside roughly, as though she blamed the tear for everything wrong in her life. “So, I left during the trial period. When you could still get your money back.”
Except for the $1,000 deposit….Eliza winced, dismissing the unkind thought as soon as it entered her mind. She knew Cassie didn’t care about the money.
Sniffling, Donna reached into her purse and pulled out a thick white envelope. Leaning forward, she set it on the coffee table. “I know it’s a little late, but that’s your deposit. Plus a little extra for all the times I borrowed money and never paid you back.”
“I don’t want the money, Mom.” Cassie wiped at her damp cheeks, tears tumbling freely. “I just want you to be okay.”
A tender, unexpected smile lit Donna’s eyes. “I know. You’ve always been more than I ever deserved.”
At the catch in Donna’s voice, it took all of Eliza’s self-control not to become a sobbing mess.
“When I left rehab, I… relapsed.” Donna dropped her gaze back to her lap. “A week-long binge. If I hadn’t run into my friend Gretchen when I did, I-I…” Anguish contorted her features, and Eliza heard Cassie inhale sharply. Her hand went limp, and Eliza traced soothing circles against her skin with her thumb, willing herself to remain strong for Cassie’s sake. But even the thought of her dear friend losing her mother in such a horrific way sent shivers down Eliza’s spine.
“Gretchen and her AA sponsor helped me get sober. I wanted to get in touch with you sooner, but… I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case I failed.” Reaching back into her purse, Donna retrieved a shimmering green token. She placed it on top of the envelope. “I just got my three month chip. The next one is blue, for six months. I…” Donna paused, glancing toward the empty fireplace as color swept across her cheeks. “I’d like it to be your wedding present. That is, if I’m still invited.”
Slipping her hand from Eliza’s, Cassie leapt off the couch.
Donna rose to meet her daughter, and the two women embraced in the center of the living room, their tears falling unrestrained.
Eliza watched the scene unfold, her heart breaking and mending all at once.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the coffee table, Ben’s face flashing across the screen for their good night call. Not wanting to disrupt Cassie and her mom, Eliza snatched her cell and ducked outside.
“Hey, Bug.”
“Mom!” Her heart swelled as his cheerful chatter filled the speaker, Grant’s voice muffled in the background.
Oh, how she longed to all be together again.
But for now, she would cherish the little things.
Like good night phone calls.
And above all…
She would hope.
Chapter 30
