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Bree had warned her, when she’d called to say that Adam had promised her that he’d sign the HIPAA waiver.
But Lucy still hadn’t been prepared.
He was twenty now, but he looked far older with his grayish complexion, gaunt face, and unkempt, listless hair that straggled past the collar of his faded T-shirt.
Instead of the usual surly attitude she’d expected, he seemed shy, as if unsure of his welcome. “Mom?”
She wanted so much to run to him and smother him with hugs and kisses, but she forced herself to wait and watch him for cues. He’d rejected her love and affection for so long that maybe that part of him was gone.
“I’m so, so glad to see you, honey. I’ve missed you so much.”
She stood up when he drew closer, tentative as a young deer. Would he snarl and bolt away if she tried to hug him? If she touched his hand?
“This time was bad. Real bad.” He looked down at his feet. “I was so deep into drugs with my buddies that I didn’t care about anything or anyone else.”
“I know,” she said gently.
“Then Rick OD’d and I knew I’d be next when someone hauled me into the ER. I nearly died, too.”
Her heart seemed to stop. It was all she could do to keep from wrapping him in an embrace and never letting him go.
“I’ve made such a mess of everything, Mom. I don’t even know where to begin. Except...I’m sorry.”
He hadn’t spoken this many words to her in three years, but each one hit her heart like a tiny dagger. She’d feared losing her son to his addictions. But he’d been the one to truly suffer.
“They say I need to be in here for the full ninety days. But this time, I’m going to stick it out. I don’t want to live this way anymore.”
“I’m going to love you through whatever it takes for you to heal and I’ll do whatever I can. I can’t bear the thought of losing you again. If you ever want to move home, even for just a while...”
Their eyes locked for a long moment.
Then his eyes filled with tears and he walked into her arms.
* * * *
WHEN THE HEAVY SNOWin Chicago turned into a full-fledged blizzard, Bree had called to say that she would go to her apartment for a while, then drive to Minnetonka on Christmas Eve. Some of her college friends had lingered in Chicago, after all.
Lucy’s spacious condo—with three bedrooms upstairs and a finished walk-out basement—had always felt like home, but with both kids grown and gone, the silence seemed to echo around her.
Even the fresh Christmas tree in the living room, the holiday music playing softly in the background, and the familiar decorations she’d placed all over the house didn’t quite fill the emptiness.
Her thoughts often strayed to Nick, but she pushed those thoughts aside. Whatever she might have felt, whatever she might have dreamed, their paths would certainly never cross again.
Unless he followed through with bringing Sniper to Minnesota when his grandchild was born in January. But that was highly unlikely.
He hadn’t emailed, texted, or called since she’d left Hawaii, so she hadn’t, either. After all of the drama during her stay, he’d probably been relieved to see her go.
She pulled on her coat and boots, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed out to the garage, ready for another day.
She smiled, her spirits lifting as she thought about the ways her prayers had been answered.
She would be able to visit Adam at the treatment center a few evenings a week, and already she could see a change in his demeanor. He was even allowed—and eager—to come home for Christmas Day dinner, praise the Lord. Bree would be driving home tomorrow so their little family could be together again.
Family waseverything.
And Lucy also loved her new career.
She had always been fulfilled by the challenges of working in a NICU. Providing the best possible care during high-risk deliveries. Newborns in distress had always filled her with a deep sense of purpose.
