Page 32 of Everything I Desire

“You got a problem here, Son?” Sheriff Miller asks, stepping out of his cruiser.

“No, sir. Just talking to my sister here so she can go find a treatment facility.” I step back from Maura.

“What is this bullshit? You two are fucking friends now? That’s rich.” Maura sways and slurs.

“Maura, what are you on, darlin’?” Sheriff Miller asks her.

“Fuck you both. I don’t need this shit. You can keep that fucking princess that thinks she’s fucking better than me. She isn’t and neither are you, asshole.” She steps forward and tries to swing at me.

“Ok that’s enough, darlin’. Let’s go.” Sheriff Miller steps in and cuffs her.

He escorts her back to the cruiser and shuts the door.

“I assume you won’t be bailin’ her out this time, Son?” he asks me.

“Not unless it’s to check her into rehab,” I answer, staring through the back window of the cruiser. I’ve bailed her out one too many times.

Even though it kills me to see her like this, kills me to let my sister sit in jail, it’s what she needs right now. She needs to sober up and the jail is thebest place for that. She has too many hook ups for a fix around here.

“Well, sounds like she’ll spend a night in the tank then. You come on by in the morning if you want to, maybe she’ll listen to ya when she’s clear headed.” He nods to me and walks back to his cruiser, bringing Maura in for the night.

I hope so. As much as I’m pissed at her over what she did to Kayla, I will still happily pay for her rehab. I will happily move her where she doesn’t get sucked back into the same crowd. We grew up in the same house, with the same addicted parents, I understand how she got here. But it’s a choice, I chose to get out. She chose to stay in.

I guess this is part of what Ronnie was saying. That Iambetter than them. I made the choice to be better than them everyday and ignore the habits my parents were offering.

I shut off the recording and send it over to Stacey so she has it for evidence of Maura’s state of mind.

She’s worse than I remember. Now she’s drunk and high. She reeked of alcohol and is so damn skinny her clothes were all but falling off her. I gave her my offer of sending her to rehab. Something our parents never did.

She knows where I am. I’m not wasting any more time trying to get her into rehab if she doesn’t want it. She can sober up and I know Sheriff Miller will remind her of my offer in the morning, plus I’ll swing by in the morning and hope she’s still there. I can only hope she’ll take me up on the offer. I'vehad a facility in mind for years, ever since I started trying to get custody of Kayla so Maura could go to rehab.

Footsteps that are softer than Maura’s enter my shop. I whirl around to find Lorelei Harper, Addy’s mom.

Great. Just what I need her to witness.

“Porter, are you alright?” she says softly.

How many times had I wished that I had a mom like Lorelei growing up? Wished that I had someone to check on me just like she is now?

Too many times to count.

I used to fantasize about the day Addy became my wife, not only because I’d have her forever, but because I’d get the family I always wanted.

“I’m fine, I’m sorry you had to witness that. I don’t know how much you saw but any of it was more than you needed,” I say.

I wipe off my stool and I gesture for her to sit.

She puts her hand up to politely decline. I don’t blame her. This is just a dirty shop she doesn't belong in.

“I only saw Sheriff Miller in the parking lot, so I pulled in when I saw you standing by the door. I only want to make sure you’re alright. I assume that Maura showed up since I saw someone being put in the cruiser?” Concern laces her voice.

“Yea. She did,” I say flatly.

“I’m so sorry, Porter. You shouldn’t have to deal with this. You’re doing a wonderful thing for Kayla. I’ve really seen her blossom under your care. She isa wonderful girl.” She smiles weakly walking into the shop more.

“Thank you, Mrs. Harper. I appreciate you saying that.”

“Porter, can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer if you think it’s too personal. I've been told once or twice I meddle too much.”

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