Chapter Eighteen
They managed to squeeze everyone into Hailey’s SUV. Hailey let her father take the wheel. She sat in the passenger seat and shared glances with Jesse who sat in the back, alongside his mother. Hailey’s mom sat on Mrs. Phillips’s other side.
The snow had tapered off, the plows had been through and the morning breeze pushed the clouds away. Sunshine poured down on them, hailing a new day and a fresh start.
Jesse’s mom was pale and shaking, but determined to stick to her goal of checking into rehab. They’d called ahead, reserving her a spot in a private, high-end facility.
She’d have a tough row to hoe. The expensive center would assist her, helping her heal, assisting her to deal with the emotional damage that had triggered her drinking. The first two weeks would be spent without visitors and without day passes. The program ran a minimum of three months, if she stuck with it. She was free to leave anytime, it was illegal to hold her against her will, and Hailey had the feeling Mrs. Phillips would stick with it this time.
“Here we are,” Hailey’s dad declared, pulling to a stop outside the closed wrought iron gates. “Are we ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Jesse’s mom chimed, her voice shaking but ringing with determination. They climbed out of the vehicle.
“You’ve got this, Mom.” Jesse hugged her. “Call me anytime. Day or night.”
A security guard came through a small, side gate. “Good afternoon, folks. Which one of you is our guest?”
Jesse’s mom raised her hand. “I am.” She stepped forward. “This is it. Here I go. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” they chimed in unison.
“Only our guest can come inside. She’ll be allowed visitors in a few weeks,” the guard said sympathetically.
“Bye, Mrs. Phillips.” Hailey hugged her, pouring all her hope into the embrace.
“Take care of my boy,” she whispered in Hailey’s ear. “He needs you.” Though Hailey didn’t believe her, the comment made her blush and filled her with hope for a relationship with Jesse.
“Good luck, Iris,” Hailey’s dad shook her hand.
“You can do this. You’re the strongest woman I know.” Hailey’s mom threw her arms around her friend’s shoulders. They cried together for a moment. “I’ll be here the first day you can have visitors. I swear it.” She stepped back.
Tears filled Hailey’s eyes when Jesse stepped up to his mom. “I’m so proud of you. Amy Jo is too. If you need anything, even just to talk, call me. Nothing takes priority over you.”
“I will. You be good and finish those renovations. I can’t wait to see the results of your work.”
“Bye, Mom. See you soon.” His voice cracked on the words, tearing Hailey’s heart in half. He kissed his mom and she stepped through the gate.
They watched her until she entered the large sandstone building across the yard. She didn’t look back, not even once. Mrs. Phillips had it right. This was a time to look forward, not backward.
When she was gone, they climbed into the SUV for the long ride home. “Mom, why are you home? You’re supposed to be on vacation.”
“We were, but I decided I needed my sewing machine. I’m going to try quilting, so we came back for it. I’m glad we did. I’m glad I could help Iris. You kids have done a good thing. Thank God you found her last night.”
Was it only last night? It felt like a lifetime ago. Hailey slid across the seat to lean against Jesse. He looked like he needed a friend.Maybe more than a friend?His eyes were moist and red-rimmed. They probably ached like hers. Still, he smiled as he looked back at the facility. Hope shone in his eyes and in her heart.
Chapter Nineteen
“How can you do this, day after day?” Hailey asked. “I’m dying from exhaustion. We were here past midnight last night.” She twisted her shoulders to relieve the ache from holding the shelving. She set a few Santas on a shelf and stood back to admire them. Perfect. She added a few reindeer to another shelf. The new Christmas store would look spectacular when it was fully stocked.
“I’m used to the physical work. It’s what I do. Besides, all the shelves are in. Only the cupboards are left. If we get them in, I can bring over the tree displays.”
“I can’t wait to see them. How did you manage to find time to work on them?” There was no way he’d done it alone.
“I have a friend who helps when I need a hand. I completely trust him and I checked his work everyday. Remember, the cabinets are pre-made, we only had to build the doors. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I wish I could have seen you working on them.” She didn’t understand why he avoided taking her to see them. Sometimes, she’d debated stopping by his mom’s place to see them. He was only a couple blocks from her parent’s place. Only the thought of running into his mother had stopped her.
“Too bad you didn’t get a chance to watch me, but the place is a pigsty anyway.”
