Authors: Brenda Kennedy
“
We still have time to
cancel on the dinner cruise for tonight.”
She leans into me and whispers, “I miss them,
but I don’t miss them that much.”
My phone rings and I stand to answer it. I am
shocked to see it’s from Molly’s mom. “It’s Bridget,” I say to
Emma.
“
Hello, Alec here,” I
answer.
Bridget says, “Molly is here!”
“
What does she
want?”
I look at Emma as she stands and walks over
to me with concern in her eyes.
I say, “Whatever you do, do not give her any
money.”
I listen to Bridget and then say, “I’m on my
way, and I’ll be there soon.”
I hang up and look at Emma, “Molly’s at her
mom and dad’s house.”
“
What does she
want?”
“
I have no idea, but we need
to get over there.”
“
Alec, I think you should go
over there alone. I’m the last person she wants to
see.”
“
I’m not going without you;
do you have everything you need?”
“
Just give me a minute.”
Emma walks into the bedroom and returns a few minutes later wearing
a pair of jeans and a tee shirt.
We pull up at Sam and Bridget’s house and I
hold Emma’s hand as we walk the short distance to the porch. I hear
crying coming from inside the house. I open the door and hold on to
Emma’s hand with her safely behind me.
Bridget and Molly are sitting on the couch
and they are both crying. Sam is standing in the doorway with his
arms crossed. “Bridget and Sam, is everything all right?”
Molly and Bridget looks up at me with tears
on their faces. “It’s a bit of a mess, I’m afraid, Alec,” Sam says,
moving away from the doorway.
Emma stands beside me, not letting go of my
hand. “Molly, what’s going on?” I ask, not moving from the
doorway.
Sam gestures to the loveseat and says,
“Please sit down.”
Emma and I walk further into the house and we
sit side by side on the loveseat. I lean forward and rest my elbows
on my knees.
“
Alec, Molly’s here for
help,” Bridget announces through sobs.
“
Molly, is this true?” I
ask, not taking my eyes off of Molly.
She nods her head and wipes away the steady
stream of tears from her eyes and cheeks. “I am, I miss my
daughter.”
I know I should feel sympathy for her, but
this is nothing new. Molly has asked for help on several different
occasions and has never followed through with any of the drug
programs. “And why is this different from any other
time?”
“
Alec?”
Bridget starts to talk, but Molly interrupts
her, “No, mom, Alec has a right to be leery of me.” Molly turns in
her seat so she is facing me. “Emma, I’m sorry for showing up at
your son’s birthday party, and your job…,” she says, before she is
interrupted.
“
Oh, Molly, please tell me
you didn’t?” Sam asks.
“
I did, dad, and I am so
sorry. I am a mess and I need help. I want to get help.” She wipes
away the tears without taking her eyes off of Emma. “I have been
stalking you, and I have no idea why.”
I look at Emma and she nods to
Molly.
“
And what about the threats
you made the day you showed up at James’ party?” I
ask.
“
What threats?” Emma
whispers.
“
Molly, what threats is he
talking about?” Sam asks, sternly.
“
Alec, I wasn’t well when I
made those.”
“
But you remember making
them,” I say, looking directly at Molly.
She lowers her head and whispers, “I do; I
remember what I said and I’m sorry.”
“
Molly, what did you say?”
Sam walks from the doorway to the fireplace.
Molly looks around the room and then looks at
Emma. “I’m sorry, I said I was going to hurt you.”
“
Molly, no,” Bridget
cries.
“
I didn’t mean physically.”
Molly says, looking at her lap. “I was going to tell everyone what
a home wrecker you are.”
“
What else did you say? Tell
them the rest!”
“
Please, Alec, don’t make me
say the rest.”
“
What else, I want them all
to hear all of it. Tell them everything.”
“
I’m sorry, Emma.” She looks
at Emma with remorse in her eyes. “I said I would go to your son’s
school and announce how you destroyed my
marriage.”
“
Oh, Molly, no!” Bridget
cries.
“
I’m sorry, I need help. I
never meant any of it, and I never would have done that. I was just
mad and hurt.”
“
You would go to my son’s
school and tell lies like that? Lies that could potentially destroy
me and my son?” Emma says, barely above a whisper.
“
Please forgive me. I watch
you and you are so good to my daughter, and I appreciate that. I
didn’t realize how much I needed help until I got the get-well card
from Raelynn. She looks so happy, and she is so beautiful. I love
and miss her so much. Emma, I think you are responsible for her
making me that card.”
“
It was her idea to make it.
Alec and I just got the craft items out, and then she and Alec
mailed it for you.”
“
I know, I watched them as
she placed it in the mailbox.”
Bridget hugs Molly and I can see hope in
Bridget’s eyes. I’m afraid she is getting her hopes up for
nothing.
“
Molly, you have been
watching Emma’s house?” I ask, a little louder than I
wanted.
“
Yes, I’m sorry. I know I
have a problem, well, two problems, and I want help. I need to get
help. I have nowhere else to turn.”
Sam walks over to me and asks, “Can you help
her, Alec?”
“
Molly, where have you
been?” I ask, not taking my eyes off of hers.
“
What do you mean? I just
told you I have been watching Raelynn.”
“
No, before that. You left
over a year ago and have just recently returned. Where did you go?
I thought you were dead, your parents even thought you were dead.
You just left and never contacted anyone until recently. Where were
you, and where did you go?”
Sam and Bridget both look to Molly for
answers. Molly looks from me to Bridget and then to Sam. “I left
town. I was so embarrassed by what I have become; after I cleaned
out our savings account, I just left town.”
“
And why did you come
back?”
“
Alec? What difference does
that make?” Sam asks, and I know he is upset with me for
asking.
“
Why,
Molly?”
“
Alec, please?” She begs and
cries some more.
“
I know why, do you want me
to tell you why?”
“
Alec, what difference does
that make? She’s home and she wants help.” Bridget gives me a stern
look.
“
Bridget and Sam, she came
back home because she ran out of money. Isn’t that right, Molly?” I
look at her and say, “She didn’t return home for you.” I look at
Sam. “Or for you.” I look at Bridget. Then I say, “And she didn’t
return home for Raelynn.”
“
I’m so sorry, but yes, I
ran out of money so I came home.” She looks at me and I don’t look
away.
“
She came to our house and
stole both big-screen televisions when she
returned.”
“
I did do that and I am
sorry. I still have some money from the house you gave
me.”
“
Are you willing to spend
your own money on your treatment?”
“
I am.” She
sniffles.
“
Alec, can you help her?”
Bridget asks.
“
I don’t know,” I say
honestly. “She has been in so many of the treatment centers; I
don’t know if any of them will take her back.”
“
Alec, please. I swear, I
want to get help, I need help if I want to see Raelynn again. Why
did you tell her I was sick?”
I crack my knuckles and run my hands up and
down my legs. “I couldn’t tell her the truth about you.”
“
I understand, thank
you.”
Emma sits quietly beside me and doesn’t say
anything.
“
Alec, can you help her?”
Sam asks, hopefully.
I look at him and I can see the love a father
has for his daughter. My heart breaks a little because I know the
outcome probably isn’t going to be one he is hoping for.
“
Molly, if you’re serious, I
can try to get you in one of the treatment centers locally. I have
to be honest with you; I have no idea if they’ll even take you
back.” I look at her and she has a slight smile on her face. “Once
you walk out of them, they don’t usually let you come back. They
save those open beds for people who really want help and who
deserve a second chance.” I stand up and take Emma’s hand in mine.
“As you know, it’ll take a day or two to get you in one. I’ll call
some places tonight, and we’ll be back over
tomorrow.”
“
Thank you, Alec.” Molly
stands, and I can see how emaciated she is.
“
Stay here tonight, eat
something, and take a hot bath. It’ll help with your early symptoms
of detox, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Emma and I start to walk to the door, but
Emma stops and turns to look at Molly. “If you want to hurt me,
that’s fine, but leave my son out of it. Do you understand
me?”
“
I do, and I am so
sorry.”
We walk to the door and Bridget and Sam
follow behind us.
“
Thank you, Alec,” Bridget
says, before hugging me. “And Emma, I don’t know what to
say.”
“
It’s all right, and I don’t
blame you,” Emma says.
“
Bridget and Sam, don’t get
your hopes up and don’t give her any money.”
“
Alec, give her a break;
she’s reaching out for help,” Sam says, as he holds his wife’s
hand.
“
I’ll be in touch tomorrow.
If her detox gets too bad tonight, hot showers will help; give her
some Motrin for her leg and abdominal cramps. If she has a seizure,
call 911 first and then call me.”
Emma and I leave and she doesn’t say anything
on the drive home. She holds my hand in the car like she always
does. “You think I was too hard on her?” I ask, looking over at
her.
“
I do. I’m sorry. It’s none
of my business, but I felt sorry for her.”
“
I felt sorry for her, too —
in the beginning. We’ll see how much she wants help if she is still
there in the morning.”
“
Are you going to help
her?”
“
If she is there tomorrow,
I’ll do everything I can for her.” I squeeze her hand and say,
“People on drugs are often all over the place with their emotions;
they want help one minute and want the pipe or the needle the next.
I pray for Sam, Bridget, and Raelynn — and Molly — that she is
serious this time.”
Emma looks over at me, and says, “Why didn’t
you tell me about the threat she made?”
“
I was trying to protect you
and James.” I look at her and I hope she can see the sincerity in
my eyes.
“
Alec, I appreciate that, I
really do. But the next time someone threatens me or my son, I want
to know. I will be better prepared to protect him and myself if I
know of the possible threat.”
“
I’m sorry, Emma. I only
wanted to protect you
and
James.”
“
I know that, and I love you
for it. Just tell me and we can work as a team to stop
it.”
I smile and say, “I hope there won’t be a
next time, but if there is, I’ll let you know.”
“
Thank
you.”
I look at my watch and say, “I’ll shower in
the guest bath while you use the master.”
“
Are we still
going?”
“
I have a date with my
girlfriend that I intend to keep. I also have a surprise for you
later.” I look over at her and wink.
“
I have a surprise for you,
too,” she smiles.
Emma
I shower and put on a white lacey bra and
panties set I bought with him in mind. I was hoping to have a
special occasion to wear it, and it looks like tonight will be the
right time. It’s hard to look or feel sexy when the kids are
around. I am a mother first, then a girlfriend second. Lucky for
me, Alec understands that.
Once my makeup is done, I curl my hair in big
loose curls. I slip on a new red form-fitting dress that I bought
for tonight. This isn’t something I would wear with the kids
around. I apply some red lipstick, and then put on the
diamond-studded earrings and my infinity necklace Alec bought for
me. A little more perfume and a pair of red stilettos and I am
ready for an evening out with my boyfriend.
I open the bedroom door and slowly walk down
the hallway. I stop only when I see Alec leaning in the doorway
wearing a black suit, a crisp white dress shirt, and a red tie. He
looks as handsome as ever. He is on his cellphone texting someone
when he looks up and sees me. A smile forms on his lips as he
pushes off from the doorway. I get butterflies low in my belly when
he saunters over to me.
He bends down to me and whispers in my ear,
“You are breathtaking.” He kisses the shell of my ear before
standing up. I get cold chills up and down my arms and I shiver.
“Are you cold?” he asks.