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Laughter spreads around the circle, the majority of people turning to Ruth, the culprit and Mabel’s friend.
“I want to apologize for leaving without warning. You did too much for me not to get a proper goodbye.” Finn pauses. “Last year wasn’t an easy one for me, as you all know. I got sober, dealt with my anger issues, and did a shit ton of soul-searching. And all of you were there, listening to me bitch about it every week.”
The group laughs again.
“I’m not going to lie, it was hell, but you kept me accountable. You reminded me that it was worth it when I wanted to give up. It was the hardest year of my life, but…” His eyes find mine across the room. “I’d do it a thousand times over if I had to.”
I feel a painful pit crawling up my throat, only to realize it’s my heart.
“Thank you for everything you did for me. I’ll never forget it,” Finn concludes.
The meeting ends on that note, and Finn makes quick work of telling everyone a real goodbye—even Brooke, who stares daggers at me as soon as Finn looks the other way.
Before I know it, we’re back in Finn’s car, driving to the restaurant where we’re supposed to be meeting his sober sponsor.
* * *
We arrive at the restaurant ten minutes early. The restaurant is right by the beach, overlooking the ocean, and the sun is shining so bright I have to block out the light in order to see as we walk to the entrance. This isn’t a fancy place. There’s no employee at the front to greet us, the usual waitress replaced by a sign holder saying:
“Sit wherever you’d like. If there are no more seats, go eat somewhere else.
P.S. This is a joke. Don’t go somewhere else. Please talk to us and we’ll throw someone out and give you their place.
P.S. That last part is also a joke.”
I let out a chuckle at the sign. I like this place already. I could never imagine seeing something like this back home, but I’d be willing to bet that because Hillford is such a small town, business owners know every person who lives here and their mother, therefore don’t have to worry about offending their customers.
“Come on.” Finn walks past the sign and into the empty dining area. It looked small from the outside, but it’s a decent size. I spot a man with a warm smile, silver hair and glasses sitting at a table by a large floor-to-ceiling window as soon as we turn the corner. I understand he’s the one we’re meeting when he waves at Finn.
“About time. I’ve been waiting here for an hour.” The man’s mouth curves into a smile.
“He’s lying. He’s been here two minutes.” A waitress, who seems to be in her forties, exposes this Ruben guy as she wipes down a table with a washcloth.
“Hey, Ania,” Finn greets the woman.
Everyone really knows everyone and their mother here.
Finn and I smile, stopping near Ruben’s table. Finn draws a chair for me, and I thank him, sitting down.
“I’ll be back with two other menus,” the waitress tells us as soon as we’re settled.
“You must be Dia.” Ruben holds out his hand over the table.
I shake his hand with a shy smile. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to everybody knowing my name before I introduce myself.
“Yes. And you’re Ruben, right?”
“I am.”
“Finn told me you were his sober sponsor. Although I’m not entirely sure what that means,” I admit.
“It’s kind of like a mentor,” Finn explains. “Ruben’s the guy I called when I wanted to drink. He helped me avoid a relapse. It’s basically a sober buddy, except he’s been sober twenty-six years and likes to remind you every five seconds. Oh, and he comes with dad jokes and inspirational quotes.”
I’m not sure whether or not to laugh as I don’t want to mock Ruben. Until Ruben himself cracks a laugh and I get a grasp on their dynamic. These two obviously like to poke fun at each other. We’ve barely been in the restaurant for five minutes and they’re already bickering.
“How did you meet? Was it the AA meetings?” I ask right as the waitress comes back with our menus. She gives them to us before retreating to the back.
Finn’s smile slips off his face. “We actually met on the day you…”
