Page 12 of The Moment Promised

“Finn.” Pete widens his eyes as he’s about to tell a story. “Who would’ve known a couple a ducks could get into so much trouble? Daffy started bullying my dog—you met him I think—Gus Gus. Anyway, Daffy chases Gus Gus around the pool. Does this scary thing with her wings to make herself seem all big and tough. Poor dog’s too scared to go out back now. I gotta go home and walk him every few hours so he doesn’t pee in the house.” He laughs easily. He doesn’t take life too seriously; I wish I could be as carefree as Pete sometimes.

Finn laughs at the image. “Man, poor Gus Gus.”

“Yeah well, what about you two? Datin’ yet or what?”

The tips of my ears burn, I focus anywhere but Pete or Finn. What a horrible time to ask that question. You know, with the horny ghost possession and all.

“No, sir,” Finn answers politely.

“Come on, Finn!” Pete slams his palm against the red table. “Make a move already. I haven’t got all the time in the world like you two do. You’ve tortured me enough for ten somethin’ years, watching y’all do that flirty banter thing you’ve got going on.”

“Pete, we need you in the kitchen!” one of my coworkers yells from the back.

“Saved by the bell. You two, enjoy your meal.” He winks at Finn and walks to the kitchen.

We are left alone, Pete’s words still lingering in the air, making it extremely hard to look Finn in the eye.

“Do you think you’re truly living, Adeline?” Finn picks up our earlier conversation, right where we left off.

“Yes,” I lie.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

“I just worry about everyone else who isn’t,” I tell him truthfully.

“Of course you sit around and worry for strangers’ well-being.” He drums his straw against the table to get the paper off. “Adeline, you spend every day taking care of your mom and serving people pizza. How are you any different than the strangers you worry about?” His words sit heavy on my chest.

I don’t have a choice. My mom needs me, and I need a job. Since I don’t have a degree or a clue of what career path I want to take, waitressing is the only option right now.

“Maybe I’m not, but at least I don’t mask my pain like everyone around me. They scroll for hours on their phones pretending they live a different life… Or drink into oblivion.” I grab the paper from Finn’s straw, ripping it to pieces, and then rolling each piece into a ball.

I try to convince myself the words I’m speaking are the truth, but a memory of my bruised mom and terrifying dad parade around my mind until I do what I always do, burying it deep inside.

It’s the only way I survive.

“That’s their choice, Adeline.” He doesn’t miss a beat. “You don’t have to give up your life fortheirchoices.” He doesn’t say her name, but we both know he’s talking about my mom. “I don’t know the meaning of life, but it’s definitely not spending it trying to save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.”

My stomach sinks. “Ouch.”

“Ad, I didn’t mean?—”

“No,” I interrupt, not letting him get away with this so easily. “Addiction isn’t achoice.” I correct his ignorance. “And I would rather spend my time helping my mom than the rest of my life regrettingnothelping her.” I blow out a breath. “I’m all she has.” My voice cracks.

Finn’s hand stills my shaking ones. “You can’t fix her.”

“She just needs—” I start.

“Just like she couldn’t fix your dad,” he interrupts.

The heaviness of his words in the air weighs between us.

“What do you recommend I do?” I ask, knowing there’s no right answer to the problems in my life.

“She could go to rehab,” he suggests.

“She doesn’t want to admit she has a problem,” I counter.

“You could come to FSU with me and hope she finally acknowledges her problem,” he says hopefully. “Think about it. Without you there to make every area of her life easier, she’ll figure out real fast how much her addiction really disables her.”

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