Page 34 of The Ballad of Us
“Andrew should be here soon,” I tell her eventually, though I don't want to hang up. These conversations have become my lifeline, the bridge between the protected world of rehab and whatever comes next.
“Call me tonight? When you're settled wherever you're going?” she asks and puts me out of my misery over worrying when I’ll hear from her next.
I also worry I’m going to wear her out with the number of times I want to talk to her per hour. I already abstain daily without access to a cell phone. “Absolutely. I'll call you tonight, tomorrow, every day until you get sick of hearing from me.”
“That's never going to happen, Gray.” How does she know exactly what to say?
After we hang up, I return to my room and sit for a moment in silence, trying to imprint this moment in my memory. This feeling of being clear-headed, hopeful, and connected to the woman I love, without the desperate neediness that once characterized all my relationships.
A knock at my door interrupts my reflection. “Gray? Your ride's here.”
I grab my bag and head to the lobby, expecting to see Andrew's familiar face. Instead, I'm also greeted by all five members of Case in Point, crowded into the seating area, grinning as if they're sharing some kind of secret.
“What the hell are you all doing here?” I ask, but I'm smiling as I say it. The sight of my brothers, my band, here to take me home together, hits me harder than I expect.
“Intervention. We're kidnapping you.” Parker says with a straight face.
“Taking you somewhere you can't cause any trouble,” Zep adds.
“Basically, babysitting you until we're sure you won't do anything stupid,” Cody chimes in.
I look at Andrew, who's trying not to laugh. “What's really going on?”
Andrew finally releases a laugh he can no longer hold. in. “We'll explain in the car. Say your goodbyes, brother. Time to go.”
The next twenty minutes are a blur of handshakes and hugs, of thanking staff members who've become friends, of saying goodbye to the other residents who've shared this journey with me. Randy gives me a bear hug that lifts me off my feet, and I’m more than thankful my ribs have finally healed before he does.
“Stay in touch and remember what we talked about. Just take one day at a time, brother,” he says gruffly.
Bruce is last, offering his hand and a smile that holds three months of shared work. “You've got this, Gray. Trust yourself, trust your recovery, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”
“Thank you for everything. For helping me find my way back to myself,” I tell him, and the words feel inadequate for what he's given me.
“You did the work. I just helped you see what was already there.”
The SUV is packed tight with all six of us, instrument cases, and enough luggage for what looks like an extended stay. As we pull away from Pine Falls, I roll down my window and throw one last wave at the place that saved my life.
For the first few miles, everyone talks at once, catching me up on band business, label negotiations, and the logistics of whatever plan they've cooked up. But as the conversation settles into a comfortable quiet, my mind inevitably drifts to Rhea.
I wonder what she's doing right now. Probably prepping for the afternoon rush, steaming milk and grinding coffee beans with the focused concentration she brings to everything she does. Maybe she's humming under her breath the way she used to when she was content, creating melodies that only she can hear.
The thought of her makes my chest warm with something that's not quite longing, not quite contentment, but somewhere in between. Love, maybe, but a different kind of love than I've ever felt before. It’s a love without possession, without the desperate need to consume or be consumed. A love that wants her happiness, even if it doesn't include me.
“Andrew. Where exactly are we headed?” I ask eventually, breaking into whatever conversation is happening around me.
In the rearview mirror, I catch him exchanging a look with Parker. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I need to know if I should be mentally preparing for Nashville. I'm not ready for Nashville yet, man. Hell, I don't know if I want to live in the same state anymore.”
“It's not Nashville. We've rented a place for a couple of months to see how it goes here, then we’ll take it from there. It’s a quiet spot where we can reconnect as a band, work on new material, and ease back into things without all the pressure.” Andrew seems to always know exactly what I need before I do.
“Okay, but where?” I sound like a bored child, waiting for the end of the trip.
“A cabin about thirty minutes from Pine Falls. Nice place, plenty of space for all of us, good privacy.”
I nod, relieved. Staying close to the facility feels safe, like I can still access the support system if I need it. “What's the nearest town?”
“Small place. I forget the name of the town. There’s not much there, but there's this cool little village about ten minutes down the mountain from our cabin. The village has a bookstore, a few antique shops, and a coffee place called Mountain Mornings Cafe. We rode through the village this morning on the way to Pine Falls.”
