Promise Me

“What would I do with the kids? I’ve tried outpatient. It hasn’t worked for me.”

Gramps was coming back to the living room. “We’ll help you with them,” he told her. “I caught the tail end of that conversation. The kids can stay here with Ronan and Sky or at the farm. They are happy both places.”

She was still shaking her head no. “Why the fuck not?” I snapped. Then I felt my wife’s hand on my shoulder. I glanced up into her eyes, calming me.

“Want some coffee?” She asked. Her sweet and gentle nature settled me.

“If he doesn’t, I do,” Gramps responded.

She was wearing those green, plaid pajamas again. Loose about her big belly. She started to walk towards the kitchen and I caught her hand drawing her back to me. “I love you,” I told her. She smiled and leaned over me pressing a kiss to my lips. I was damn lucky I had her. Things could have turned out so differently.

Soon, she was carrying in steaming cups of black coffee to us; the way that Gramps and I liked it. She sat by Delilah who didn’t want anything. She took her hand in hers and smoothed the top of it. “Tell me why you think you couldn’t do an in-house treatment?” Skylar was so comforting. Delilah visibly relaxed in front of our eyes.

“I can’t afford it,” she said looking at my wife.

“I’ll pay for it,” Gramps told her.

Delilah glanced around Skylar at him. “Why?” She was confused as to why anyone would help her especially someone who didn’t know her well.

He smiled. “You remind me of Betsy when we were young. It’s like looking back in time only you’re taller than she was.” His face was scrunched up as if he seeing Betsy in a memory not Delilah.

“I’m taller like my mom,” she replied. He nodded acknowledging her explanation. “But I’ve been told that I look like Tebo.”

“I want to help you. Nickolas talks to me a lot. I think we’re kindred spirits, both quiet men, we seek each other out to discuss life’s oddities.”

Delilah laughed. “That is my Nickolas. He is an old soul.”

“Yes, he is but he deserves to have a life as much as Dominick does. Delilah, you aren’t making good decisions. The kids coming home and finding you in compromising positions on the couch with men is not good. Seeing you wasted is not good. Keeping Dominick from having the life he should have now; forcing him to grow up before he needs to is not good.”

Even though my grandfather wasn’t pulling any punches his tone was kind and gentle. “He should be letting the college scouts look at him and find out if one of them is interested in him. Picking a college to go not taking care of siblings and trying to ensure that they stay together.”

I had more I could contribute to what Gramps was saying. “The one thing that Sam has taught me is to have more self-respect for my body and what I put in it. If I didn’t have Skylar it would also include who I sleep with too. If you don’t remember what you are doing Delilah that can be dangerous. You don’t know what are you exposing yourself to?”

“I’m afraid,” she said.

“What are you afraid of?” Skylar asked gently.

“Who am I without the drugs,” she answered. “Who will I become?”

“As harsh as this is going to sound Delilah, the kids can’t keep going like this. Don’t you see what Nickolas’s meltdown meant?” I asked her.

Her eyes were sad as they gazed at me. She nodded. “They would be better off somewhere else, not with me,” she replied.

I was beyond exasperated with her. Why could she give up so easily? “No, they would be better off with you cleaning up your act. That is all they want. They love you.”

“Nickolas has a lot of hostility towards me. It has been building for a while now. I’ve wanted to bury my head and pretend it wasn’t happening. Dominick is good at keeping him separated from me so I didn’t have to deal with it.”

I shook my head. “So you think you need in-house treatment? I’ll talk to Sam. Find a good place for you. Gramps said he would pay for it. I’m sure the diner would be more than happy to let you have the time off. Dominick said they love you there.” She nodded. “We’ll take care of the kids while you’re in treatment. You’ll go?” I asked.

Delilah was twirling a strand of hair. “Let me think about it.”

I groaned. “Don’t think too long,” I warned her. “Things are coming to a head or can’t you see that?”

“I’d like to go home and shower.”

“You’re coming to the farm for dinner?” I asked. She nodded.

“Delilah, would you take me home?” Gramps asked. “It’s on your way.”