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Michael immediately spotted Haize at the front of the church where she always was right before the meeting started. Her smile was comforting, her laughter like a ray of sunlight bursting through the dark cloud hovering over him. The mention of his mother, along with having to wait days for the results of the paternity test were hanging on him like added weight he couldn’t shed.
She spotted him across the room and nodded her head. He returned the gesture, motioning toward Mitch. Did she realize he was her brother? They resembled each other in a way, only his brother was scuzzier and fit the ex-convict mold far better than he did.
After grabbing coffee and a cookie for Mitch, they found two seats toward the back and waited for things to start. Haize walked between the chairs and stopped near Michael, holding her hand out.
“Good to see you, Michael.” He shook her hand in return.
“Good to see you, too, Haize. This is my brother Mitch.” Michael bobbed his head toward his brother, who was scarfing down the cookie. He was probably jonesing for a drink and the cookie was the next best thing, like a junkie looking for a quick fix.
“Good to meet you, Mitch.”
“Same to you,” he replied, with some cookie still stuck in his teeth. Michael cringed, regretting bringing him, but then reminded himself of how grateful he was that he had come. Why did it matter what Haize thought? They were here to maintain sobriety… or in his little brother’s case, begin his sobriety.
When Haize walked away to greet more members, Mitch started laughing and took a sip of coffee. “Oh, man, I totally get it now.”
“Get what?” Michael asked.
“I see why you come to these meetings now.”
“And why do I come to these meetings?”
“That girl.” Mitch finally stopped laughing but he was still sporting an expression that was pissing Michael off.
“What are you talking about?”
“The girl. She’s fucking hot, man. You haven’t changed. You’re just being more subtle about it.”
Michael felt his face heat up. Was Mitch being loud enough that everyone could hear him? He already had a reputation. The last thing he needed was for people to think he was only coming to meetings to get lucky. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I come to these because it’s required of my parole.”
“Sure, big bro, whatever you say. You only have to do two a week. You’ve been coming to these things every day!”
Haize approached the podium and pulled out the Alcoholics Anonymous book. They recited the serenity prayer, and she began to talk. “Be quiet, Mitch. The meeting is starting,” Michael whispered, searching for an empty chair to get away from him.
“I’m cool. I’m cool.”
“If you’re not gonna take this seriously, then leave. I can walk home later.”
Mitch straightened up and listened to people who were willing to share their stories, and Michael was glad Haize didn’t ask either of them to speak. Maybe she got a vibe from Mitch – he was immature, and Michael hated himself for thinking he’d take it seriously. He stayed quiet for the remainder of the evening, much to Michael’s surprise.
Everyone dispersed when it was adjourned, and he wanted to talk to Haize, but he didn’t want Mitch to get any more bright ideas or say something that was going to embarrass him. She approached him instead, sipping coffee as she waved to a regular.
“I’m glad to see your brother decided to come.”
Michael glanced toward the entrance where Mitch was waiting, twirling his truck keys on his index finger. “He doesn’t know how much I’ve told you about things.”
“No problem. Mum’s the word.” She smiled. “How have things gone since we talked?”
“Life just keeps happening.”
“And it will. Until the day we die, life will happen.”
Michael glanced at Mitch. He was watching them, waiting to pounce and poke fun. Michael wanted to pull her in for a hug, or at least take her hand and hold it for a second to show some gratitude for all the help she’d given him. But he stayed on the side of caution. Normally he wouldn’t give a damn what Mitch thought. Before he went to prison, he had no problem bringing a woman home and messing around right in the living room. But this was different. He wasn’t messing around with Haize. He respected her and loved the advice she had given him. Mitch always took any interaction with a woman as a chance to get in her pants, and Michael feared he’d come over and say something and ruin the sponsor relationship they had developed. And he needed her.
“Do you need me to sign anything tonight?”
“No. I got my required meetings in. I just needed to come.”
“Are you admitting that they’re helping?” She arched her eyebrow and took his hand in hers. Michael waited for Mitch to whoop and holler about it, but he didn’t. He wasn’t even standing at the entrance anymore.
