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“Oh no, Daddy,” I reassure him. “It’s the opposite. He’ll admire you for recognizing what you need to get well for us. Trust me… Aiden will support you staying in.”
“Is he there?” he asks. “Can I talk to him?”
My heart breaks. “I’m so sorry. He’s out on a walk with Boone.”
I hear the smile in my dad’s words. “A walk? That’s fantastic.”
“See?” I tease him. “He’s doing so well, and that means you should stay there if that’s what you need to do. This is the perfect time in Aiden’s life for you to put some effort into yourself.”
“I only think he needs two weeks,” Mary interjects. “I think we can get him ready to go outpatient in that time frame.”
“That’s not so bad,” I reassure my dad. “That time will fly by.”
We spend a few more minutes as Mary explains the therapy regimen for those two weeks and what the transition to outpatient will look like. My father reluctantly agrees, but I’m afraid he’ll change his mind. I promise Dad to pass on his love to Aiden and I end the call by saying, “I’m so proud of you. In a few weeks, we’ll all be a family again.”
After I hang up, I try to concentrate on my work but worries push in. What if my dad isn’t strong enough to overcome this after all? And maybe he shouldn’t get out in two weeks but stay longer? I have a sneaking suspicion that as long as Aiden is sick, that pressure is too much for my dad to get sober.
I worry myself into a state of anxiety so that by the time Boone and Aiden return from their walk, I’m pacing the room.
Aiden doesn’t seem to notice and heads into the bathroom, but Boone takes my arm gently. “Are you okay?”
My eyes cut to the bathroom door and I shake my head. “I need to talk to you,” I murmur in a low voice so Aiden can’t hear.
He nods and calls out to my brother through the door. “Hey, buddy… Lilly and I are going to go down to the café for a coffee. We’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” Aiden replies.
I don’t want coffee and I don’t want to go down to the café. Instead, I turn right out of Aiden’s room and head down the hall that ends in a wall of windows that overlook the side of the hospital. There are two rooms on either side of us, but the doors are both closed so we have some privacy.
“What’s up?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the glass.
“My dad called with his counselor while you were out with Aiden.”
“Is everything okay?”
I shrug. “I thought so, but now I’m not so sure. They called because his counselor doesn’t think outpatient will be enough for him. Dad doesn’t want to stay but I encouraged him to and he finally agreed. I’m just so worried he’ll change his mind and I’m worried that maybe I shouldn’t have pushed him to stay. Maybe he should be home but then it would be devastating to have him fail. How did your family handle this with your dad?”
“By realizing his actions were beyond our control. Just like your dad’s actions are beyond your control, Lilly. It’s all up to your dad, and if his counselor says he should stay, then he should stay.”
“Is he in the best facility? I mean, maybe he should be around us and not inpatient. But then, it’s stupid to even think that. I can’t handle him and Aiden. I can barely handle the deli and Aiden. I mean, if one thing goes wrong, like Georgie deciding to quit or Charles getting hit by a bus, everything will implode. I’ll be right back there, and Aiden will be on his own and—”
Boone’s hands lash out and grab my shoulders, pulling me into him so that his mouth can press against mine. It’s a closed-mouth kiss, but it’s not cold or quick. He keeps our lips mashed together for several seconds before he releases me.
I stumble back, eyes wide as I touch my fingertips to the corner of my mouth. “What was that for?”
Boone looks chagrined as he lifts a shoulder. “I realized I really wanted to kiss you. Do I need to apologize?”
“No,” I whisper as I shake my head.
Relief fills Boone’s eyes and he once again pulls me into him. This time with hands to my face, he bends and brushes his lips softly over mine. When he lifts his head, our eyes lock onto each other.
“What is this?” I ask breathlessly.
“I don’t know,” he murmurs. “But I like you. A lot. And I just can’t fucking help myself. If you don’t feel the same—”
I go up fast on my tiptoes to put his mouth within reach of mine and I kiss him. His hands tighten their hold on the sides of my head, tilting slightly to deepen the kiss. No tongue, but a soft opening of his mouth against mine, an exchange of breath and then we’re breaking apart once more.
“This is weird,” I proclaim.
