Ry nodded, glancing out the window at the too-bright sky.He knew what Brand meant.
After a couple of moments, Brand said, “I’ve made plans to see my family for a couple of weeks.Once Alex settles in, at least.”
“Tell them hi for me, okay?”Ry said, standing up.“I’ll talk to Lon.Fill him in.”
“Will do.”
Ry hugged his friend.Brand squeezed him back and patted him a couple of times before waving goodbye.
After Brand left, Ry messaged Lon with the news about Alex’s state and the facility.He also told Lon he would go to a facility as well to help him deal with his issues.
Ry grabbed his tablet and dug deep into the Rosewood Clinic.The facility in Malibu offered an unparalleled rehab journey, standing out as one of California’s premier and discreet options.The more he learned, the more he needed to go.He had to make things right with Alex now.Before it was too late.
Ry envisioned him and Alex eating in the cafeteria together, their walks in the hushed halls, them roaming the grounds after intense therapy discussions.Rosewood would be a crucible for a healthier connection with Alex.He imagined the sense of togetherness, as his presence offered a calming anchor once again.Any healing he did would help Alex.Their shared journey would forge a new, unbreakable bond.Something Arend couldn’t touch with his legal threats.
His decision made, he called the clinic and made the arrangements for his stay.As Alex would likely arrive there in a few days, Ry scheduled his arrival in a week.Brand would be with family—none the wiser to Ry’s plan.
?
Ry surveyed the facility.Nestled in the hills of Malibu, the low, sprawling Spanish-style buildings seemed less like a medical facility and more like a resort.Even from the driveway, he had a clear view of the ocean sparkling in the distance.The cab driver commented on the place, her last words before dropping him off and her last attempt to pull him into conversation.
Several old pines and broad oaks lined the driveway.Other trees rustled in the light breeze from the ocean.Ry grabbed his bag and headed toward the entrance.Flowers and bushes lined the footpath to the massive archway with its wooden doors open to a courtyard.
The courtyard, filled with benches, flower beds, and stone paths, seemed smaller than it should have.There was another wall between the main building and the courtyard wall.Perhaps this had once been a home.
Large glass doors marked the entrance, almost out of place, but with a touch of elegance on the handles.He opened the door, and cool air washed over him; a faint hint of lavender and tea-tree oil lingered in the place.A woman, occupied at the moment with something on the computer, motioned him closer.
He walked up to the large front counter and took off his sunglasses, hoping that he looked enough the part of someone desperately in need of rehab.The woman behind the counter smiled.
“Welcome to the Rosewood Clinic,” she said, her voice musical and calming.“You must be Mr.Orion Clair.Here to check in, correct?”
“Yes,” he said, a little baffled.How did she recognize who he was?He shook his head.Of course she did.
“Nothing to worry about,” she said, reassuring him.“We are very discreet about our clientele here at the Rosewood.Now, would you mind filling out some paperwork?Once everything is ready, let me know and we’ll get you settled in.In the meantime, do you mind if we look through your luggage so we can make sure everything is safe and clean?We’ll need to do that with your personal effects after checking in as well.”
“Yeah, that’s fine,” he said, wheeling his suitcase to where she pointed.
After spending a good few minutes on the medical sheets and signing a dozen forms (yes, he read them all, just in case), he was ready.His luggage was nowhere to be seen.
“Wonderful,” the woman said when he handed her the forms.“Your single room is ready.You can relax and settle in before starting tomorrow.David, one of our staff members, will be around to show you the facility once you’ve finished inspection.We just want to make sure you and our other patients have the best and most productive experience here.We focus on healing here.”
“Okay,” he said, looking around.The rest of the reception area was spacious.Several plants and benches created separate nooks, and thick rugs covered much of the tiled floor.Most of the place seemed to revolve around circular or square seating.“So, where do I go for this inspection?”
The woman smiled, and it didn’t seem fake.She gestured to behind him.“It’s a very simple procedure, much like going through security for a commercial flight.”
He turned away from the cheerful woman to the security booth that looked less like security and more like a help desk.Two burly men, the same size as Alex had been a couple of years ago, stood there.They were equally polite, instructing him to walk through what, at first, had appeared to be an elaborate archway but was really a scanning machine.They pronounced him clean after he entered, and David, the large man with lighter hair, introduced himself.
“Welcome again to the Rosewood Clinic.”David reminded him of the major reason he was here: to see Alex and hopefully repair some of the damage he’d done so long ago—if possible.
“Here we have the lobby.This area is mostly for a meeting place and relaxation outside of one’s room after hours.”
Ry nodded along.
David led him outside, through one of the meditation gardens, complete with fountains to drown out any noise from the city.A labyrinth at the center drew his eye, its two colorful paths surrounded by ornate and comfortable benches.Next, his guide showed him the outdoor activity recreation area, which Ry knew Alex would love.There was a pool, tennis courts, a basketball court, an obstacle course, and more.“We also have 10 miles of hiking trails in the hills behind here with some wildlife,” David mentioned, pointing to the hills surrounding the buildings.“Gotta sign up early if you want to go, Mr.Clair.It’s a popular activity.”
Ry grinned.He imagined him and Alex talking through their past, working out the bad while hiking, with a view of the ocean in the distance and a breeze stirring salt with pine.
David led him back to the main building, and they followed an enclosed walkway between medical facilities and meeting rooms on the other side.Here, there was no sterility or industrial weight.The rooms and grounds were calm, with warm, ample lighting and soft, cushioned chairs, counseling rooms for the patients, and a few doctors on staff for any withdrawal symptoms.After that, they crossed back to the main building and into a nearly identical walkway to another building that housed all the residents.He would stay here with all the others.
