One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1) (24 page)

“Normal for us doesn’t mean normal for you. I’m sure you’re aware of the state she was found in and we don’t have much of a relationship, not for my lack of trying, so I’m finding it difficult to act as if everything is fine.”

He was deep in thought for a moment.

“I don’t know if this will do more harm than good but I’m deeming it okay to talk about the rehabilitation program with her. I trust you will be as sensitive as possible but she needs to know that she was in serious trouble last night and it can’t happen again.”

I felt all the weight pile on my shoulders. How was I supposed to convince someone, who apparently didn’t remember me, to go to rehab? “I’ll leave nurse Parker with you the whole time, just in case you need any support then she’s there.” I thanked him and turned to Kee before walking back into the room.

“Wish me luck.”

“You’ll do great, Sam.” Nurse Parker smiled at me as I walked in.

“Okay, I’ve been told by the good doctor himself that I should talk to you about something.” Sitting down in the chair again, I froze. How was I going to say this? I didn’t just want to spit it out, or maybe that was the best way? Nurse Parker gave me a simple nod and I continued. “I know you can’t remember me, or you, or what happened last night. But what happened, well, it wasn’t the first time you’ve been in a state like that.”

She gasped and covered her mouth with one hand. “It was definitely on a bigger scale but I need you to understand that it wasn’t the first.” She nodded, tears coming to her eyes. “I’m sorry to say that we don’t have a typical mother/daughter relationship but that’s not to say I don’t want to. I can’t lose you.” I grabbed her hand and she squeezed.

“What have I done?” she muttered, more to herself so I chose not to react to it. I reached down into my purse and pulled out the pamphlet I’d been given earlier.

“The hospital gave me this.” I handed it to her. “You don’t have to read it now, I just wanted you to have it. I realize this must be really hard to process but I really need you to do this.” Tears sprang to my eyes as she scanned the front page.

“Rehabilitation? You want me to go to rehab?” I was waiting for the anger to kick in but none came. In place of the anger I was expecting, came acceptance.

“Okay.” That was all she said.

“You’ll go?” She looked into my expecting eyes.

“Of course I’ll go. I may not remember who I am but I’m quickly learning that I don’t want to. I don’t want to be the mom that let’s down her daughter. I don’t want to end up here ever again.” She nodded, locking her decision in place. “When can I leave?” The nurse passed us both a tissue and stood up.

“Health wise, if it wasn’t for the coma we had to put you in, you would be cleared to go within the next few hours but your body will start to feel the effects from the lack of alcohol within that time. Going cold turkey isn’t easy and although you may not remember being dependent on it, your body will. We’d like to monitor you over the next few days to make sure the withdrawals don’t affect you anymore than they should, then you could be on your way if all goes well. I can go and call ahead to arrange a place for you if you’re certain of your decision?” Mom nodded furiously. “Well, alright then, I’ll be back to check on you in a little while.” My mom lay there staring at me after nurse Parker had left the room.

“Why do you look so shocked?” Now she was asking the right questions.

“Remember that stubborn streak I was talking about?” The corner of my mouth lifted as she chuckled, she grew serious then.

“I meant what I said, Sammy. Is it okay to call you that?” I hesitated, then nodded. “I will get better, for you and for me.” Although it was coming out of her mouth, I could hardly believe it. She’d told me once or twice in the past that she was going to change but she was never as determined as this.

There was a knock on the door and Keeley came in. “Hi, Cindy, sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to tell Sam that Lewis was here. Oh sorry, I forgot you won’t remember who Lewis is. I’ll just shut up now.” Her face turned pillar box red and my mom burst out laughing.

“That’s alright.” She turned to me. “Is Lewis your boyfriend? Husband?” Her face went ashen. “Oh my gosh! Am I a grandma?” At this, I started laughing too.

“No. Don’t worry, there’s no chance of that happening anytime soon. Lewis is Keeley’s...friend?” I raised a brow at her.

“Our friend, he came to see if we all needed anything and, Sam, it could be sooner than she thinks.” It was my turn to blush and I cursed her as she left quickly.

“Is there something I should know?” She looked down at my stomach.

“I...no, not at all. I’m not even involved with anyone, well...well, no I’m not.” I’d managed to put Connor to the back of my mind, until now.

“You don’t seem too sure about that. Is there a certain someone?” I looked at her, it didn’t feel right talking to her about this. We’d never had this sort of relationship before; it was going to take some getting used to.

“I guess you could say there kinda
was
but he left last night to go back home. There’s a lot you don’t remember and if you did, you’d know why it was for the best.” She looked up at the ceiling before answering me.

“Do you love him?” This was beyond what I was comfortable talking about with her and I wanted to hightail it right out of there “I understand this is hard for you too but humor me for a minute. I could do with something else to concentrate on.”

Still as sly as ever, even without her memory. I smirked. “I suppose I do but a lot has happened. We live in different places.” She drummed her fingers on the bed.

“I hate to point out the obvious but neither of you are trees.” I furrowed my brow. “You don’t have roots.”

It clicked then.

“It’s not as easy as that, he left last night for good.”

She had a determined look on her face. “So what are you still doing here?” I studied her face, she was being deadly serious.

“Well, now it’s my turn to point out the obvious; my mom’s in hospital after being in a coma, remember?”

She gave me a sarcastic look. “Well aren’t you a smart ass. All I meant was, what are you still doing here, specifically, right now? I’m fine aren’t I? Unless they’re telling you something I don’t know?”

I went to say something but found myself lost for words. “The way I see it, you have two options. Wait here in a hospital room until they ship me off to rehab, or you go fight for something you can change, instead of going back to regular life; alone. Don’t look at me like that, I’m entitled to say unwarranted things right now.”

I still couldn’t form words. My mind went back to the widower from this morning. They were both right, I felt it deep down inside me, this was what I wanted. I looked at my mom and she smiled.

“Go. I promise I’ll be okay. Says in this pamphlet I’m allowed phone calls once a week, just leave me your number then get on out of here.” I pulled out an old receipt and pen from my purse to scribble my number down and tucked it in her hand.

“You may not remember before this morning, but I want you to remember this; this conversation has meant more to me than you’ll ever know and I have faith that you will come out the other side of this. I’ll come visit you as soon as I’m allowed and ring me when you can.” I bent down and kissed her forehead before making my way out into the hallway.

Turning toward the nurses’ station, I told nurse Parker to call me if there were any developments. She seemed curious as to where I was going and what had happened but I didn’t elaborate because it was none of her business.

I marched towards the entrance of the hospital with renewed purpose. I was really doing this.

Spotting Kee and Lewis in the waiting room, I went on over to them.

“Kee, I need you to take me home.” She looked at me with wide eyes.

“Everything alright?” By the time I’d told them my plan, Lewis was already texting away on his phone and Kee had a huge grin on her face.

“Road trip?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, Kee, I think this is something I need to do alone. Plus, we need you here to look after the salon, we can’t both be out.”

The ride back consisted of us finalizing all the details. She agreed to ring around my client’s and move them about for the rest of the week. I didn’t know how long I’d be gone for so it was better to plan ahead.

Arriving back at the apartment, I jumped out and ran inside. “Kee, did you forget to lock the door?” She paused in thought.

“I could’ve sworn I locked it. Sorry, Sammy. Nothing’s missing is it?” Luckily, everything looked untouched, not that I’d be overly worried in this town but you could never be too careful.

Lewis insisted he went up to our apartment first and I saw the look Keeley gave him, I was so used to eye rolls off of her that her sweet smile was so out of character that I laughed.

“What’s so funny?” She narrowed her eyes at me, daring me to say something.

“Oh, nothing.” I winked at her and she blushed.

“Well, it seems everything is fine here, ladies.” He gestured for us to go into the apartment and I went to throw my things into a duffle. “He hasn’t text back yet, Sam, but I’m sure he will.”

I’d gotten Lewis to ask Connor for his address, he made up something about sending him some old photos from school.

“Thanks, Lewis, I really appreciate it. Wait!” I don’t know why I hadn’t thought about it before. I loaded up my laptop and clicked on Connor’s business site. If I had the city he lived in, then at least I’d know where I was headed

“Woah.” Kee came in then and stuffed my toiletries into my duffle.

“What?” She came and scanned the screen. “Sam, that’s like an eleven-hour drive away. There’s no way you’re doing that alone.” I sighed.

“I’ll get a motel half way, okay? You can’t leave here too; we’ve gone over this.” I plugged the city into my phone’s GPS and got up to zip my duffle.

“You guys just text when you have an actual address and yes, I promise I’ll call as soon as I stop.” I gave Kee a hug and Lewis a quick wave before it really hit me. What was I doing? “What if he doesn’t want to know?”

It was Lewis who answered first. “That man loves you more than life itself. If you don’t do this, you’ll never know just how much.” I grinned at Kee and she blushed. She had a romantic one there.

“Okay, I’m going. You look after her.” I pointed to Lewis and he gave me a grin before Kee started pushing me out the door.

“Just go.” With one last wave, I made my way to my car and peeled out of my parking spot.

I woke up in the same position I’d crashed in. Rubbing my eyes and stretching out my arms, I reached in my jean pocket for my cell. I couldn’t believe it, I’d slept for eight hours straight for the first time in I don’t know how long and it was nearly dinner time.

I sat up and read a text from Lewis.

Cindy woke up, has agreed to go to rehab. Sam’s a lot better too so that’s good news. I found some old photos from school, funny shit. Send me your address so I can pass them on! Lew

I was stoked everything was going smoothly back there, I fired back a quick text with my address on and made my way to the en-suite bathroom.

I couldn’t remember a night that I’d slept that long without having a nightmare of some kind. Maybe I was finally ready to let go of the past?

I went downstairs and followed the sounds of pans clanging, and my mom’s whistling, into the kitchen. “Good afternoon, sleepy head.” She had a smile on her face as she stirred something that smelled delicious.

I kissed her on the top of her head and went to sit at the counter. “I didn’t mean to sleep so long but I feel great for it.” She smiled at me before turning the hob down.

“I’m assuming you’ll stay for dinner before you shoot off?” It wasn’t a question; it was a ‘mom said so’ statement posed as a question.

“Sure, smells great.” It really did, my mouth was already watering. “Where’s Pete? Can I do anything?”

She wiped her hands on her apron and pointed to a loaf of bread. “Cut that into thick slices will you? He had to go collect something from the office but he should be back by the time dinner is done.”

I got a knife out of the block and started to slice into the bread.

“How’s your job going at the shop?” I asked.