“Drink?No, but I came close.”Her mother crossed to a floral-print armchair and lowered herself into it.“Too close.Earlier today, I went by the liquor store when Zeke wasn’t there.I thought maybe one of his employees would sell me a bottle, even if he wouldn’t.”
“Mom.”Jenna’s voice was gentle and surprised.
“I know.I know, it was stupid of me.But Zeke told them not to sell me a single drop, and they didn’t.”
Mom forced a smile.The lines of worry in her face, the thin line of her mouth, made Jenna think of the despondent way her mother looked after losing her father.But now there was a determination in her mother that she hadn’t seen back then.
“That’s a good thing, right?”Margaret said.“It’s a good thing I was caught?”
“Better than good,” Jenna said, pulling a straight-backed chair close.“It means Zeke’s got your back, and it means you reached out to me before things got out of hand.”
“It was so close,” Mom said, and her voice faltered on the last word.“I’m just worried that...”
“Don’t be worried,” Jenna interrupted, gently.“Just keep being honest.Didn’t Zeke offer to take you to AA with him?I think it’s time you go with him.”
“I’ll call him in the morning.”Mom twisted the edge of her skirt in her fingers.
Jenna watched the nervous movement and decided to push.“Call him now.”
Mom’s face turned white.“Now?”
“Right now.”Jenna pulled out her cell phone and held it in front of her mother like a challenge.“The liquor store’s open for another few hours.Chances are we can catch him there.Let’s get this set up.”
Mom hesitated, her eyes darting between Jenna and the phone.“I don’t know.He sounded so proud of me when I told him I quit on my own.What if he thinks—?”
“Call him, Mom.”
Mom took a deep breath and nodded.“Okay.But you do it.”
Jenna dialed the number and put the phone on speaker when a young voice answered.She asked for Zeke, her tone all business.
His voice came on the line a moment later.“Well, I’ll be.Sheriff Graves.How can I help you?”
Jenna put an arm around her mother and squeezed.“Zeke, I’ve got someone here who wants to take you up on your offer.”
“Margaret?”
“Hi, Zeke,” Mom said, her voice a shy echo of its usual self.“I, uh, I thought maybe it’s time I take you up on the AA meeting.”
A beat of silence made Mom close her eyes, and Jenna squeezed her shoulder again.
“Yeah, it’s time to do that, all right,” Zeke said.“And I’m proud of you for saying so.Can you be ready this weekend?I’ll pick you up in my car, so you won’t have to worry about anything.”
A sigh escaped Mom, like all the fears she’d held in had come rushing out at once.“Yes.This weekend.I’ll be ready.”
They settled the time and ended the call, then Mom rested her head in her hands for a long, silent moment.When she lifted it, her expression was tired but relieved.“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“You’re a good daughter.”
“You’re strong,” Jenna said.“And brave.You’ve come this far.Reaching out is a big step.”
A silent pause drew out between them, a history of hurt and hope mingling in the space where words should be.Then Jenna broke the silence.“I have something to ask you.On a different topic.”
Mom looked interested, so Jenna reached into her purse and withdrew the brooch.“I’m wondering if you recognize this.Maybe if it was Piper’s.”
Mom’s eyes focused on the object, turning it in her hands with curiosity and confusion.“Where did you get this?”
Again, Jenna felt that she couldn’t explain the whole truth.“I found it in the forest, an area where Piper loved to go.”
Mom frowned.“It looks expensive.Do you remember her ever wearing it?”
