Page 60 of Everything I Desire

I send a text to Addy to let her know what just happened. I ask her to meet me at the house to talk to Kayla.

We make plans to meet in half an hour when she’s done with a meeting at school. Kayla is still in her classroom waiting to come home.

I clean up, and close the shop so I can run home and take a shower before they get there. I am covered head to toe in grease today.

The scent of onions and garlic wafts up the stairs and infiltrates my senses after I get out of the shower. I walk to my bedroom door and hear the girls laughing in the kitchen.

I love when Addy cooks dinner. I’ve gotten pretty good at breakfast items but dinners aren’t really my strong suit. I pull on a pair of clean jeans and my tee before going downstairs to the kitchen.

“Mmm, something smells good in here.” I say sniffing the air in the kitchen.

“Addy is teaching me how to make Beef Stroganoff. It’s Eric’s favorite. Do you mind if I invite him over for dinner?” Kayla asks.

“Well, let’s talk before we make a decision on that, ok?” I sit at the kitchen table. Addy turns the stove down, and comes with Kayla to the table.

“What did Mom do this time?” Kayla takes a deep breath like she’s exhausted by this back and forth.

I feel awful, she just wants to be a normal kid inviting her boyfriend over for dinner. A kid without the drama of an addict mother.

“She came by the shop today, she was sober, Kayla. She wants to go to rehab. But she wants to talk to you first before she goes,” I explain.

“About what? About how much she fucked up my life?” She asks sarcastically.

“Kayla, I understand you’re angry, you have every right to be. I don’t blame you at all. But I think she just wants to talk, she wants closure or something before she goes. I found a place for her in Florida, I actually talked to them on the way home today and she can go tomorrow morning on the first flight out. But she just wants to see you before she leaves. She’ll be gone for a while. Despite how she acts, I know she loves you in the best way she knows how.” I show her the rehab facility I found, and try to let her know that I support however she feels no matter what.

“Will you and Addy be there with me?” She asks.

Addy answers, “You can do this however you want. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable, is what we’ll do.”

“Okay. I think I would be more comfortable if she came here to talk in the kitchen so you guys could be close by. And she has to come alone.” Kayla decides.

“You got it. You want me to call her or do you?” I ask.

“Can you please?” She turns to Addy, “What about dinner? I was supposed to learn?”

“We can finish after your talk. No worries. We’ll eat a late dinner. And if all goes well you can probably still invite Eric.” Addy goes to the stove to turn off the burner so they can finish cooking later.

I walk outside to the porch to call the Inn and ask for Maura. I tell her that Kayla is willing to talk on her condition that Maura come here alone. I let her know that I will not tolerate any bullshit under any circumstances. She is not going to come here and upend Kayla’s day, once again. She agrees to everything and she’ll be here in ten minutes.

I take a deep breath and sit on the chairs on my front porch to wait for her.

Addy comes to join me out on the porch and sits beside me on the small table between the chairs.

“Are you ready?” She looks at me with a soft smile.

“I don’t know. I just hope she doesn’t start any bullshit.” I answer. “Where is Kayla?”

“I think she went up to her room. She needs some space before seeing Maura.”

Of course she does. I would need to be in a different state to prepare for Maura, just like I was for ten years.

“She’s here,” Addy whispers, nodding to the driveway.

I stand up along with Addy. I stuff my hands in my pockets, waiting for her to get to the porch.Addy stands behind me, her small hand resting on my back, letting me know she’s here for me.

“Hi, Porter. Hi, Adelaide. Thank you for letting me come over.” She says quietly.

“Kayla let you come over," I make it clear that Kayla is in charge. "Come inside and I’ll go get her.”

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