Chapter 28
Forty-five days later
Ash
This had been the longest month and a half of his life although he was sure it felt longer to Ker. He’d lost count of the number of times he made the drive from Hawthorne Bluff to Falmouth to visit Ker. After Ker’s first seven days there, he went a couple of times a week, whenever his schedule permitted. And Ash and Ker talked on the phone whenever possible. Both Hank and their captain were giving him some leeway in his schedule, knowing how important this was to Ash and to Ker’s recovery.
Ash had gone to individually scheduled family meetings and a biweekly family education program. He wanted to be as fully involved and informed as possible since Ker’s recovery was really a never-ending job. He was often reminded of something Ker had told him the first time they went out for dinner: “Once an addict, always an addict.”
He pulled into the facility’s visitor lot and sighed. Ker was finally coming home!
Ker
Today was the day! Time to go home!
He rose, stripped the bed, and placed the dirty linens in a laundry bag located in the closet. After cleaning up, he packed his bag and went to breakfast. He chatted with a few of the residents he’d gotten to know during his stay, but he was having a hard time focusing; he was just too excited about leaving.
But first things first. One last meeting one-on-one with his counselor, Doug. Then a second meeting with Doug and Ash, once Ash arrived later that morning.
They’d review everything he’d need to do once he was discharged. He had an appointment to meet with a therapist in Plymouth the following day, and they would schedule regular meetings, both individual and group therapy sessions. He’d attend NA meetings as often as possible. Or AA meetings if he couldn’t get to an NA meeting.
His employer had been more understanding than he could have anticipated. When it was clear that Ker had been clean for the entire time of his employment and had only relapsed on Christmas night, their concern had been only for his well-being. It seemed that the owner, Paul Standish, Sr., had a nephew who had found himself in a similar situation several years before, and the nephew’s employer had not been at all compassionate. Paul had made a point of getting himself and the company educated so if something like that happened at his company, they’d do whatever they could to help the person involved.
As a result, Ker had been granted a leave of absence for however long it took for him to complete his rehabilitation. Furthermore, he’d be allowed to go to appointments and meetings during the day as needed once he was back to work. Finally, his workload would be lessened upon his return for a period of three to six months so that he could ease back into things. He was beyond thankful for the second chance the company had given him and had no plans to screw it up.
And then there was Ash. True to his word, he had been completely there for Ker. He called, visited, and attended meetings and training whenever he was needed. And he’d be arriving in just over an hour to pick up Ker and take him home. Yessiree, Ker was a very lucky man.
As for his family, well, that was still a work in progress. His sister, of course, was completely supportive. She already had plans to visit him with Colt in a few weeks. And while his mom was trying to understand it all, especially with Muriel’s help, Ker’s dad was still a stumbling block. He still couldn’t understand why Ker wouldn’t bend to his ways.
And he couldn’t forget Ash’s family. Muriel was a godsend, and Ker couldn’t imagine his life without her. Ash’s brothers had their backs, based on what Ash had told him. Having this new family in his corner would help him succeed. He could just feel it.
When the two men finally walked out the door of the facility, Ash asked, “How do you feel today, Ker?”
“Like the luckiest man in the world. I’ve been given a second, well, maybe a third or even a fourth chance, and I don’t want to take that for granted.”
“You know,” Ash told him, “Valentine’s Day is coming up soon. We definitely have something to celebrate.”