Page 78 of Happy Trails & Honey Pots

I answered and put the phone to my ear. “Mom, can I call you?—”

“Miles, where are you?”

“I’m in Georgia. Can I call you?—”

“I’m at your house, and you’re not answering the door.”

She was slurring her words. It was clear she was under the influence of something. I just didn’t know if it was alcohol or pills or what.

“I know. I told you, I’m in Georgia,” I said louder, as if the volume of my voice had anything to do with her not comprehending my words.

“But I need to get into your house, and I keep knocking, and you're not here.”

“Okay, Mom, just stay there. I’m going to send someone over to let you in. They will stay with you until I can get you help.”

I’d paid for her to go to several rehabs. Some were better than others. I always had hope that they would stick, but I knew that she was going to have to want to change. I couldn’t force her to get sober.

“Okay, can you just come to the door now, please? I’m really tired.”

“No, Mom, I’m in Georgia. I’m gonna call someone. Just stay there. Okay?” There was silence. “Mom?” I looked at the screen and saw that the call had dropped.

I sighed and dialed Braxton.

“Did you want me to turn around?” she asked when she answered.

“No. My mom just called. She’s at my house wasted. Can you call Liza or Beatrice to go over and stay with her until we get back?”

Liza and Beatrice both worked for me over the years. They’d moved on to bigger and better things, but they still had access codes to my home, knew my mother, and I trusted them. More importantly, Braxton trusted them.

“On it.”

“And can you see if we can get her into Horizons or maybe Serenity? I know she’ll fight us to do outpatient, but I think she needs inpatient care.”

“Got it.”

“Thanks.” I hung up and tried my mom again. It went straight to voicemail, which meant her phone was probably dead.

“Fuck.” I put my phone back in my pocket and ran my hands through my hair as I turned around. When I did, I saw Zoe standing in the small hallway entrance.

“Hey.” I smiled.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I knocked, but it was open, so I just came in.”

“No, it’s fine. I was just…my mom called. She was drunk or on pills or something…”

Zoe started to turn. “I can go if you need to go be with?—”

“No.” I took a step forward. “She’s at my house in California. Or at least she said that’s where she is. There’s nothing I can do for her now. I have someone going over there. It’s getting taken care of.”

Her eyes softened as she nodded. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“Just that you have to deal with that.”

I shrugged. “You don’t get to pick your parents.”

She let out a forced laugh. “Yeah.”

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