Page 19 of Fractured Mind
“No, thanks. I don’t drink.” I know Ruby’s being polite, but the mere thought of alcohol sends shivers down my spine.
“Not at all?” Levi’s eyes are bugging out of his head as if I’m from outer space.
My hands twist in my lap. “My mom has an alcohol problem. She’s in rehab now.” Ruby’s hand covers mine in support, and I give everyone a forced smile. “I’m just glad she’s getting help.”
“We all have messed up families,” Roman rasps.
Even though it’s sad, it’s comforting to know that in this group, I’m not the only one whose life is far from perfect and that there’s no judgment.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
MIA
I’m sittingwith Nana having breakfast. “How was school yesterday?” she asks.
I pick at the leftover crusts on my plate. “It was better than I expected.”
She presses her lips together like she wants to say something but doesn’t.
“Have you heard from Mom yet?”
“No, not yet. The rehabilitation programs are intense. She could be detoxing. I’m sure she’ll call when she’s well enough.”
More than anything, I hope she gets better. I want to know the sober side of her, the one I have yet to meet.
“Ruby asked me to go on a boat with them. Am I supposed to ask you to go?” I’m uncertain about how this works.
She grins. “You’re eighteen, you don’t have to ask me. Go have fun!”
“Thanks. Can you tell me about Ruby?”
“She’s a sweet girl, but in case you don’t know, Ruby and Jackson’s parents passed away a couple of years ago.”
I feel a deep ache for them.
“Ruby has got her head on straight. I’ve heard she’s planning to go to university.”
My stomach drops. They’ll be leaving to pursue their careers. I’m not sure how long I’ll remain in Crown Village, so I’m unsure why hearing that cuts deep, but it does. I guess a part of me wants something as simple as having friends. I had hoped that since they know more about me than I do, their friendship would fill some of the emptiness.
“Any thoughts on what you’re doing after school finishes?”
I’ll be lucky to get my high school diploma, but I keep that to myself. “I’m not sure yet.”
She sips from her cup. “Make sure you choose something you enjoy.”
A wave of gratitude hits me. “I appreciate the support and everything you’ve done for me.”
Her eyes glisten. “You don’t need to thank me. We’re family.”
“Why haven’t I seen you since the accident?”
She lets out a heavy sigh and stares off into the distance. “Your mother wanted to live elsewhere. It was too hard for her to stay in the place she lost her father and to deal with the seriousness of your injury. Your mother had a close relationship with her father... we were a tight-knit family.”
The accident affected everyone’s lives. The thought makes my lungs tighten. I wish I could remember the happy times. But my memories begin from when Mom was drinking.
“She said she needed privacy to grieve. After that, one year turned into two and so on. I really struggled those first few years. I was still grieving too. She answered my calls but was always reluctant and never ready to see me. She said you two were in a good place and getting on with your lives. She didn’t want to upset you, and she wasn’t ever ready to talk about your grandpa. I was torn, so I didn’t push her... but I wish I did.” She grantsme a melancholic smile, then looks at the wall. “Well, you’d better get a move on.”