Page 39 of Fortunate Miracles
“That’s okay,” I smile. “We can go to the diner. This is my brother, Troy, who I live with. He can drive us.”
Beth looks warily at him, but Troy puts a big smile on his face, looking carefree and relaxed. “It’s so nice to meet you, Beth. Seb talks about you all the time. I’d be happy to have lunch with you and Seb. Come on, I’m parked right out front. Let’s leave before the noisy teenagers crowd the halls,” he says, walking toward her and offering his arm. My brother can charm the pants off anyone.
“Oh, okay,” she says, nervously folding a hand around his elbow.
He walks her towards the hall as I open the door and follow them out. We get outside the building just as the bell rings for lunch. Troy settles Beth into the back seat as I get into the passenger side. The guy is a smooth talker. I don’t know whether he planson taking us to the diner or straight to the rehab center, but I’ll play along. Hopefully, she’s willing to get clean again. I wonder if her boyfriend got her into drugs when they moved here. She wouldn’t have known anybody here to buy from, but if she went looking, she’d be able to find them on her own, I guess. I don’t like her boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean he’s into drugs. Pulling out my phone, I text everyone that Troy and I are taking Beth to rehab.
Troy asks Beth questions about herself, keeping her engaged in conversation as he drives in the opposite direction of the diner. Guess we’re going straight to rehab. I notice he’s keeping her talking rather than having her listen to him talk. That occupies her better than letting her mind wander. Smart. I think she’s on something right now despite her not appearing fidgety. Wonder if she’s in the middle of her high or if it’s something new. I guess it doesn’t really matter.
Troy pulls into the parking lot of a two-story brick building north of town. It’s plain on the outside, with no signs or markings, reminding me of an old office building. I notice him texting something while still talking to Beth. “Let’s grab a bite to eat,” he smiles, getting out of the car.
Following his lead, I get out and walk over to her side of the SUV. Troy is asking her what her favorite food is. When she looks around, she stops walking, but Troy puts a hand on her back, encouraging her along. “Where’s the diner?” She asks.
“Don’t tell me Seb hasn’t brought you to this diner? It’s the best diner in town,” Troy exclaims. “Come, you have to try their burger. What toppings do you want?”
Beth gets distracted again, focusing back on his question as I step ahead and open the door for them. I see a reception desk on my right through another door. Pulling that one open as well, I walk ahead. A man gives me a nod and steps forward. Once Beth and Troy are inside, he quietly slips behind us and stands in front of the door. Despite Troy still engaging her, Beth tenses and looksaround. “Where’s the diner?” She asks again, looking at me. Not knowing what to say and feeling like an idiot, I turn to Troy.
He takes a step back, a serious expression wiping the charm off his face. “Beth, this is a rehab facility. You’re here to get clean again.”
Several emotions cross her face in succession. Shock, fear, sadness, and then anger. “Sebby, you lied. Why did you lie? I’m fine, Sebby. Tell them I’m fine,” she pleads.
I look her in the eyes. “Beth, you’re using again. You need help to get clean. These people will help you get better, and then we can hang out again. Don’t you want to spend time with me? We were getting to know each other.”
Beth watches me for a minute, then launches herself towards me, her face contorted in rage, arms reaching to punch me. I step back in shock as the man by the door grabs her gently. “How dare you? Who do you think you are? You have no right to do this to me,” she yells as another man enters from behind reception and steps up to her other side. “I hate you! You are dead to me, Seb. I will never forgive you,” she shouts, kicking and screaming as the two men carry her behind reception and through a steel door.
Tears drip from my eyes at the venom coming from my mom. I remind myself it was the drugs talking, but, fuck, that hurt. Troy squeezes my shoulder as a woman enters and takes a seat at reception. Troy signs a few papers, then leads me back outside. Once we’re seated, he turns towards me. “Forget what she said. Her mind is messed up right now, Seb. She didn’t mean those things.”
“I know. Shit, that sucked though,” I say, blowing out a huge breath. “How did you know what to do with her?”
“Training,” he shrugs, before starting the vehicle.
“Thank you for this. You’re always taking care of things for us. I appreciate you, man.”
“I know,” he smiles. “Up for some food? Cause I’mstarving.”
“You know I can always eat.”
Troy drives us to his favorite Italian place for lunch. I’m still reeling from what just happened, but she’s safe and warm now. Beth will get the help she needs, and I know where to find her. Wondering if she was dead or alive, and where she was sleeping, was driving me crazy.
Troy tells me about the program he enrolled Beth in. There’s no set length of stay. Doctors will detox her, and then she’ll have counseling and group therapy. There are classes she’ll have to take that teach how to handle addiction, stress management, and coping skills. Once she’s stable, I can visit. When Beth feels she’s ready, they'll release her. Halfway houses are available for her to stay in, which can help her get a job and an apartment when she’s ready. “How much did that cost?”
“Not much, actually. It’s state-funded, and so is the halfway house. I had to call in a few favors to get her in immediately, since there’s a wait list.”
“I’ll pay you back. Take it out of my Finn paychecks.”
“No. No need Seb. But,” he emphasizes, “no more handing her cash if this doesn’t work. You need that money for college. As much as you care about her, you can’t do that again. She has to stand on her own two feet. Promise me.”
“I hear you, and I promise. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
Nodding, Troy goes back to his lunch, and I do the same. We stay for over an hour talking about school, work, and college. It feels like we haven’t done this in years.
By the time we leave, I’m feeling settled. Troy said I can skip the rest of the afternoon, so I follow him to Finn. I’ve got basketball practice after school, so I settle into Sunshine’s old office and get caught up on homework. I get a message from Sunshine between classes, checking on me. I know she and the guys have been worried about me and Beth, but thanks to Troy, it’s over now.
Chapter 23
Summer
Nick, Gabby, Seb, Holly, Alex, Bay and I all head to the Spirit Halloween store after school. I wasn’t really feeling up for a party, but Seb convinced me it would be fun. Instead of a house party at one of our classmates’, we bought tickets to an event in Charleston, and Zander arranged for Finn to provide security there. We haven’t seen any more photos, and the letters have stopped from Ben, I think, but we’re all still cautious. The party is for high school and college-aged kids and, according to Seb, it looks amazing.
