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“You must be cold, Mel. Come on in here and let’s see what we can do. I’ll tell you like I told Adrienne: this house, our home is welcome to you if you need it.”
“Yes,” Dan said, heading for the kitchen. “You want something to drink?” Mel shook his head. He hadn’t had much of an appetite since they released him, even though his stomach felt empty. “Well, you probably know Adrienne is going to need a little time. A little time to get herself together. Like Charlene said, you’re welcome to stay here with us until she’s ready to talk with you. In the meanwhile, why don’t we eat something before we talk about this drug rehab program that Charlene recommends. It’s a weekly. It’s supposed to be very good, and later we’ll catch the game.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Debra stared at Adrienne intently, lit a cigarette, and inhaled loudly. “I think Mel believes you in love wit’ your boss.”
“That’s crazy,” Adrienne said, “I didn’t even really know him.” Her hands fluttered helplessly. How could she make Debra understand? “He had money and a big-time job, plus I admired him. He was really poor when we were kids and . . .” Her voice trailed off because Debra was frowning.
“You shut my brother out when Delilah died. He was hurtin’ as much as you. Then you take him back, only you wasn’t really thinkin’ ’bout him at all.”
“I was thinking of us.”
“No, you wasn’t. You was thinkin’ ’bout havin’ another baby. But I ain’t mad at you about that. I nevah had no kids, so I can’t judge on what you did after Delilah passed away.”
“Then what are you mad at me about?”
“I’m mad at you for comin’ here today lookin’ for trouble.”
“Trouble? I’m not looking for trouble. I just want peace between us after all these years. Mel has a long, hard road ahead of him, and it would be easier for him if you and I were friends. That way he won’t have to sneak up here to see you or be sad because you never visit us. If you and I stand strong together, he’ll get well faster.”
“I just want to get some money together to give him so he can get out of your brother’s house and into a room somewhere. He gonna do better wit’ out yo ass pullin’ him down.”
Adrienne took a deep breath and hoped the big woman did not hit her for what she was going to say next. “Debra, I’m sorry that Mel didn’t marry your friend Rose, but you really need to get the fuck over it and help me save his life.”
Debra took a few more drags on her cigarette and stubbed it out. “If your boss had done whatever it is you wanted him to do, me and you wouldn’t be havin’ this talk. You woulda run off wit’ him and not looked back at Mel.” She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Now get outa my house.” Debra walked to the front door, opened it, and stood aside. “Bye.”
Adrienne shook her head and refused to move. She thought about Lloyd and how she had allowed herself to believe that a knight in shining armor had ridden into town to save her from her life. She thought about letting the music business beat her down and how that defeat had driven her into marriage with the first man who came along. At first, the marriage had been a place to hide out. A place to pretend she didn’t care about her hopes and dreams of becoming a singer. Now it meant everything to her, and she didn’t intend to lose it.
“I wasn’t planning to run off and leave Mel for another man. I was just about to throw him out because he was drunk all the time, he gave you our rent money one month, and he went to bed with your man’s cousin.”
Debra gasped. “Mel told you ’bout that?”
Adrienne ignored the question. “Wouldn’t you throw Big Boy out if he did all of that to you?”
Debra closed the door. “What do you want me to do?”
“Charlene told me that the program that he is in meets once a week in the evening. I’m going to surprise Mel by picking him up one night from one of the rehab meetings and taking him home with me. I’d like you to be at our house waiting with one of those nice, old-fashioned meals that he likes you to make so much. I want him to see you in my kitchen. That will tell him that the past is past and we’re friends.”
“If he don’t drop dead of shock, first,” Debra said dryly.
“Then you’ll do it?”
Debra hesitated.
“It’s not for me, Debra.”
“All right. I’ll be there.”
They shook hands on it.
CHAPTER FORTY
Ready for Recovery met every Wednesday night on Seventy-second Street between Second and Third Avenues. Mel looked at the building number, which he had scrawled on a slip of paper. Several people smiled at him as they went inside. I wonder what goes on in there, he thought. Are they going to ask me a whole bunch of questions? He took a few steps back without even realizing it. Maybe getting shot was enough. If I ever think about using drugs again, I’ll come back, he decided. Mel turned to cross the street and found himself face to face with a slim white man. His kind, gray eyes were filled with compassion. He placed a hand on Mel’s arm. “Please stay,” he said. “My name is Paul. Why don’t you come inside, grab a cup of coffee, and just sit in the back of the room. I’m the group leader, and I give you my word that you don’t have to speak.”
Mel hesitated, not knowing how to respond. Paul smiled and removed his hand from Mel’s arm. “Come on.”
The room was set up like a classroom, with folding chairs in rows and a microphone on a stand in the front. Paul disappeared into a group of people who were talking on the far side of the room. There was another cluster of people standing closer to Mel, drinking coffee out of paper cups. A tall, slender black woman disengaged herself from the cluster and bounced toward him. She was smiling. “Welcome. I’m glad you made it. Would you like some coffee?” Mel nodded and followed her to the coffeemaker. She was wearing a green turtleneck sweater, jeans, and a pair of sneakers. He accepted the warm cup from her gratefully. She sipped hers. “I’m Nora.” She beckoned to the cluster of people she had been standing with. They came over, and a man shook his hand. “Hello, I’m Steve. What’s your drug of choice?”
