Chapter 13
Olive
Four hours.
I spent the last four hours driving all over Nashville, going to every one of Benny’s favorite hangouts that I could think of. I knocked on every friend’s door who he might have gone to see.
My cheeks puff as I blow out a breath, staring stare across the street at the small, dilapidated house that the woman who birthed us now calls home.
I haven’t talked to her in years. And usually, I have no interest. But I’m desperate.
I would’ve just called her, but I need to see her to know if she’s lying to me about whether he’s here, or at least if she’s seen him.
The only reason I even know where she lives is because she begged me to help her out with rent a few months ago, and I had to bring her the cash because she didn’t have transportation.
Who knows if that money even went to her rent or if it just funded her vices.
I heave one last breath and push my car door open. I can already feel my muscles tensing with every step closer. Before I can walk all the way up the driveway, the door opens, and the woman who made our childhood miserable steps out.
“I thought that was you.” She takes a long draw of her cigarette as she watches me with guarded eyes.
I stop a few feet from her on the cement walkway leading to the door. All I can manage is a terse, “Delores.”
She tips her head back and blows smoke out of her wrinkled lips.
“Have you seen Benny recently?” I don’t need to waste my time making pleasantries with her. Neither of us wants that.
She scowls at me, scoffing. “Why the hell would I have seen him? Poor excuse for a son, if you ask me.”
Regretting my decision to come here, I shake my head, turning to walk back to my car. “Thanks for nothing.” I glance over my shoulder one last time. “As usual.”
My mother spits out, “Bitch.”
I don’t even look back when the door slams.
Eventually, I run out of places to look for him, and I’m unsure where else he might be.
I return to my apartment, feeling even more dejected and hopeless.
Even though my stomach is in knots, I’ll have to go back to work.
I can’t lose my only source of income on top of everything else.
James will have to keep up the search in my absence, and I hope we find Benny sooner rather than later.
My body aches as I climb the stairs to my apartment. Once again, my mind wanders to Nate.
What’s he doing now? If I remember the schedule correctly, they’re in Cincinnati. He doesn’t seem like a player, but I wonder if he’s found someone else to fill his nights. I instantly feel ashamed that I’m thinking about myself and wishing I were there with him instead of here looking for Benny.
Unlocking my front door, I wipe the tears slipping down my cheeks.
A low noise makes me freeze as I push the door open. My eyes fly to the couch. Benny’s sprawled out, his eyes half closed. He moans softly as his arms and legs fidget.
“Benny, oh my god. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Rushing across the living room, I drop to my knees next to him.
I gently place my hand on Benny’s arm to calm him. His skin is ashen, hair dirty and unkempt. He smells like he hasn’t showered in a couple of days.
“Benny?” I call out to see if I can get any reaction from him or if he’s too far gone to acknowledge me.
He mumbles something unintelligible. I drop back to sit on my feet, watching him.
He’s home. That’s all that matters right now. He’s alive.
I keep repeating that as I pull out my phone.
“Olive? Any updates?”
“James, can you come over? I just got home. Benny’s here. He isn’t in good shape.” My voice breaks with emotion.
“Be there in fifteen.”
I disconnect but don’t move. Part of me is afraid if I take my eyes off Benny for even a moment, I’ll turn around, and he’ll be gone again.
Eventually, knocking pulls me from my spot. I open the door to James’s concerned face. He opens his arms, and I step into them, finally allowing myself to fully break down. I’m sobbing into his shirt as he moves me into the apartment so he can close the door behind us.
Benny begins to stir more, and James releases me. “It’s going to be okay, kid,” he reassures me.
We both turn to the couch. Benny looks more restless than when I first got home. His eyes are squeezed shut tight, as if the light is hurting them.
“Do you know how he got home?” James asks.
Wiping my cheeks, I shake my head. “No, he was here when I got home from searching for him. I was gone for over four hours.”
James squats down next to the couch, assessing Benny. He drops to one knee as he turns his head to me. “He isn’t going to be happy, but he needs to go to inpatient again.”
I wrap my lips over my teeth as I hold back my emotions. Taking a deep breath, I nod. “I know. It’s for the best.”
James gives me a sympathetic look. “I’ll make a call.”
My eyes are locked on Benny as I listen to James speak with someone in hushed tones. He’s right. Benny isn’t going to like going to inpatient. But at this point, I don’t know what other option we have.
James finishes his call and fills me in on the details about where Benny can get into today.
I agree with the plan, and we work to get Benny down to James’s truck.
Halfway through the parking lot, Benny comes to a little more.
His words are still unintelligible, but he tries to pull away from us.
James tightens his hold as he drags him the rest of the way to his vehicle.
We get him settled in the backseat, and I climb into the front.
James pats my arm as he settles into the driver’s side. “This will be good, Olive.”
I sigh and avert my gaze out the window. I’m struggling to share his optimism. So many times, I’ve thought that. And just as many times, I’ve been let down.
“Alright, Miss Moore. Here’s the breakdown of the charges and the consent for treatment that I’ll need you to sign.”
I take the papers being handed to me, cringing internally when I see the total.
Since my brother doesn’t have insurance, I have to come up with a payment plan.
Thankfully, the facility is used to that and willing to work with families needing help from their loved ones.
I quickly sign the forms and hand over the check.
The receptionist gives me a sad smile as she takes the check and the paperwork.
“I know you’ve done this before, but just as a reminder, you won’t be able to talk to him while he goes through detox.
But you’re more than welcome to call for an update from staff as much as you want.
You can talk to and visit him once he’s out of detox and is more settled. ”
I thank her as I push out of my seat on unsteady legs to head back out to James’s waiting car. He smiles encouragingly as I get in, but stays silent as we drive back to my apartment.
Once we get there, we promise to keep in touch over the next few days. I honestly don’t know what I would do if it weren’t for James.
As I once again make the long walk to my apartment, I pull out my phone. There’s one more thing I need to do before I go back to work.
The ringing fills me with dread.
“Thought I wasn’t going to hear from you.”
“Marcus, can we meet?”
Nervously, I glance around as I move across the street.
I tried to get Marcus to meet me somewhere that wasn’t his house or my apartment, but he refused.
And since there was no way I wanted him to know where I lived, I agreed to go to his house.
He lives in a rough area of Nashville, and I regret my choice as I approach his front door.
I raise my hand to knock, but the door opens before I get the chance. Marcus’s hesitant smile greets me. He looks almost exactly the same as when we dated years ago, besides the few wrinkles lining his face.
“Oli, it’s so good to see you.” Stepping back, he opens the door wider. “Come on in.”
As I enter the house, I force a small smile. His living room has the bare minimum, and all his furniture looks worn. He extends his hand to his couch, indicating I should sit.
I shake my head. “I’m not staying long.”
He nods and crosses his arms. Eyebrows raised, he waits for me to speak.
I open my purse and pull out the thick envelope, staring at it for a few moments before extending it to him.
He hesitates before he takes it. “What’s this?”
“I know it doesn’t come close to paying off Benny’s debts, but I’m begging you to convince your boss to work with me. This is all I can afford right now, but I promise to make regular payments until it’s paid off.”
Marcus is silent as he opens the envelope and thumbs through the money.
“It’s $7,000,” I state. My stomach sours at my words. That’s the entirety of my savings account after making the payment for Benny’s rehab.
After a few moments, Marcus replies with a hint of regret in his tone. “I can’t guarantee my boss will be happy about this.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Please, Marcus,” I whisper before locking eyes with him. “I’m doing all I can. Benny is back in rehab now. I need you to convince your boss to be okay with it.”
Breaking my gaze, he looks down at the cash.
When he looks back at me, the person staring back is the sweet, goofy kid who convinced me to give him a chance all those years ago.
But now, his expression is filled with sadness, and I can’t tell if it is for me or himself. “I’ll see what I can do, Oli.”
I nod, because if that’s all I can get, I’ll just have to trust him and hope for the best.