May 29th #3
“What kind of party are you having? Like, is there a theme? Do I need to dress up?”
“Wear something that is easy for me to strip off you,” he says with a straight face before he bursts out laughing. “My dad planned it, which could mean it’ll be anything from a pirate scavenger hunt to … some kind of competition.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll be there.” I grin. “With, at the very minimum, bells on.”
“Oh, I like the way you think. Speaking of thinking,” he says, “I need a Sammy–Roman update. What happened when he snuck out? How did the reverse psychology work?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t you want to know how it played out?”
“Since when are you and Sammy buds?” I ask him.
He gives me an eye roll. “Since that fateful night of nakedness, of course.”
“Of course. Let me text him.”
Me: Have you heard from Roman?
Sammy: No. I’m slightly heartbroken, but at the same time, I feel empowered. If he isn’t willing to make the first move after the kind of night we shared, then he doesn’t deserve me.
Me: Damon says, “Go, Sammy.”
Damon kisses me again. “I’ll see you tonight. We have naked mini golf on the menu. Should be fun. ”
Sing to her.
Ainsley
Our family goes out to dinner at the resort’s nicest restaurant. It sits up on the top of a hill and has a beautiful view. The best thing about tonight though is seeing my mom all dressed up and looking happy.
She looked like the weight of the world was on her shoulders when I picked her up to come here, and now she looks lighter. Less stressed. And although I’m upset about all that went on with my dad, I am glad she’s feeling better.
But after dinner, when we’re riding back to the house in the golf cart, I decide to bring up the subject.
“I’m glad Dad ended up going to rehab after everything, but I texted him this morning, and I still haven’t heard back,” I tell her.
“He will be allowed to call you eventually, but at first, they take away their phones.”
“Why do they do that?” I ask.
“Depends on the addiction, but basically, because their first call would be to their dealer—in your dad’s case, he’d be trying to figure out how to make a bet.”
“Are you worried about him?” I wonder because she seems a little callous about this.
“Of course I am, but I’m also trying to put back the pieces of a life his gambling has destroyed.”
And that hits me hard.
“I’m sorry. I’m just used to talking to him, and I wish I knew he was okay.”
When we get to the house, she pulls out her phone and sends me a contact. “That’s the number for the rehab center. Your name is on the list of relatives, so they will answer questions about how he’s doing, if you want to know.”
“Thanks,” I mutter.
I go up to my room and change into something suitable for naked mini golf, then sit on my bed.
I look at the name of the rehab facility, then do an internet search on it.
Pull up their website. Discover it is located in Arizona.
I don’t know what I thought a rehab facility would look like, but I sort of thought it would be some kind of medical facility and not have the luxurious spa vibe this one has. Which, I guess, I shouldn’t expect anything less than top notch from my uncles.
And the fact that it is so nice speaks volumes about their love.
I call the number and inquire about my dad. I’m quickly transferred to the person in charge of his wellness.
“Hello, Ainsley. Your dad has mentioned you. He is doing well. Unlike many addicts, he’s lucky in the regard that his body doesn’t have to go through the detoxification process many addictions require.
It is my understanding that although he was drinking since the foreclosure of his home, he is not an alcoholic, and his body is proving that.
So, we are focusing on his mind and soul. ”
“And when do you think I can speak to him?” I ask.
“Because he’s here to fully commit to his personal well-being, we ask that families give us between two to three weeks. I suspect sometime in that timeframe, he will call you with an update. But it really depends on his progress.”
“Well, thank you for chatting with me, and if you are able to, tell him that I’m thinking of him.”
“I will do that. Thank you, Ainsley.”
I get off the phone, feeling a bit better. At least he’s getting help from someone who sounds very compassionate.
Then I send Damon a text to see when he wants to get together.
At eleven, I decide to close my eyes for just a minute.
I’m awoken by my phone, which is vibrating by my head.
I glance at the time and see it’s almost two in the morning.
“Hey,” I say when I answer.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” he says. “My little sisters and Emersyn were playing Ring Around the Rosie right before bed, and when they all fell down, Weston broke her wrist.”
“Oh no!”
“Yeah, and she was hysterical and would only let me hold her. And although there is a medical facility for such needs here at the resort, since it’s not open yet and the doctor is on vacation, we choppered to the hospital in Springfield, where the doctor there confirmed it was broken.
It was also out of alignment. At first, I thought they might have to do surgery, but it turned out that they were able to just use their hands to set it. Then they had to put a cast on it.”
“I bet that didn’t feel too good.”
“No, it didn’t. I think I cried more than she did. But she just clung to my neck and buried her little head in my shoulder when they did it all. She made me sing to her. The same song, like, a million times in a row.”
And I can just picture it. Damon with that little girl, holding her tight and protecting her.
“You’re going to be such an amazing dad someday,” I tell him.
“I can’t wait to be a dad. I mean, I can, but it will be so much fun.
She was just so helpless, and I felt so bad.
Jennifer was in tears the whole time. Partly because she was rejecting her and Dad.
No idea what that was all about, but I didn’t mind.
Other than the fact that I missed naked mini golf. ”
“You can just tell me what we would have done,” I suggest.
“Oh, well, we only made it to the course’s third hole, where the waterfall is. You pulled me behind it and suggested … a thing or two we could do back there.”
“I am so sorry.”
“As I said, I didn’t mind. You were cute. I’m so exhausted, but I didn’t want to go to sleep until I called you.”
“Thanks, Damon. And what song did you sing? ”
“‘Can’t Stop the Feeling.’ It’s in the Trolls movie, and she loves to dance to it. I hope I never hear that song again.”
“I’ll remember that. All right then, get some sleep,” I tell him.
“Oh,” he says, “don’t forget, tomorrow, I’ll be out fishing. Be here just before sunrise if you want to join us. I know there are boats going out from both of our families.”
“Oh, yes, there are. That’s all my family talked about at dinner tonight.”
“Ainsley,” he says.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, happily smiling into my phone.