Sweet Serendipity (30 page)

“Well, how about if we try therapy first? Is it really necessary to have him on medication?” Rebecca asked.

“There is a group home here in Plymouth that can offer him care.”

“You can stop right there.” Jack interrupted. “He’s not going to some group home. He’s not some troublemaker. He’s a kid who’s dealing with kid stuff.”

“We understand your concern Mr. Davis” Carol began. “They offer a stay retreat or in house therapy. I am recommending that Adam be seen three days a week to start. One of those days will be in a group setting so that he can learn that he is not alone in his feelings. The other two sessions will be one on one with a psychologist. It can be to help with homework while talking, playing games, it will not be the kind of therapy that you are thinking. He needs to learn how to cope with the pressures that he will be facing in the future. We will monitor his medications and his therapy. We will cut back as we see improvements to once a week, and then every other. We are trying to work with the child’s best interest, and I feel taking him away from his family will not be in his best interest. However, it will be a court ruling that you follow through or the state will intervene and he will be placed in the group home.” Carol told them.

Rebecca had a hard time swallowing what she was hearing. She couldn’t believe it. She just found herself nodding at what was being told to her. She signed paperwork, but all she could think about was seeing her son. “Are we done now? I’d like to take my son home?” she asked.

The doctor agreed and the social worker took all the forms. “We will bring him down to you” she told them.

Jack paced back and forth in the little conference room. She wanted to comfort him, but she didn’t want him to misread her intentions. She noticed that he seemed to have aged recently. Gray hair was growing in around his temples. He looked tired, like he hadn’t been sleeping much. She didn’t blame him, she wasn’t sleeping well either.

The door opened and Adam ran into the room. He ran to his mother and threw his arms around her. She told herself she wasn’t going to cry, but these were tears of happiness, not sorrow. She wrapped her arms around him and Jack hugged him too. Rebecca felt that this is what she wished she could do for him surround him and protect him as they were doing right now.

The doctor handed her a pill bottle and a script.

“This is his medication. I filled the first month and have written a script for the next six months. He is to take one in the morning and one around dinner time. Don’t skip doses, and keep them out of his reach. Be sure to monitor that he does take them. We have made the first appointment for later this afternoon with Dr. Owen. He will be expecting you by four this afternoon.”

They said their goodbyes and headed out to the parking lot. Jack walked them to their car and hugged Adam again. “I have to head into work bud. I will meet you at your appointment later on.”

Adam looked at him with sad gray eyes, “you mean you are going to come too?”

“Yeah buddy, I wouldn’t miss it.”

Adam got into the back of his mother’s car and put on his seatbelt. Jack walked Rebecca to her car door and opened it for her. “I’ll see you about three forty five then” she said to him. He nodded and then hurried off to his truck.

Rebecca pulled into her driveway and Adam didn’t make a move to get out. She turned to face him.

“What’s the matter, buddy?”

He looked over at the house, “I don’t want to go inside mom. I just don’t want to.”

Rebecca felt a chill run through her. She understood completely how he was feeling because she was feeling the same way. “Where should we go then?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Anywhere but here” he answered.

Rebecca knew that the phone call she made earlier was the right one. She knew it was too painful for any of them to remain in the house. “Do you want to go to Aunt Tasha’s house then?”

He shrugged his shoulders again and sat quietly. “What does that mean Adam?”

“Can we stay at dad’s apartment?”

She knew that this was going to be difficult for them.

“We can’t do that, sweetie. You can stay with your dad if you want, but I can’t.”

“Why? Why can’t we be a family again? Why can’t we just move somewhere and be a family again?” Tears began to fall down his cheeks.

Rebecca opened her car door and quickly got into the back seat. She grabbed hold of her son and pulled him to her. “Adam this has nothing to do with you. I hope you know that. Sometimes moms and dads just need to be apart in order to be better parents.”

He wasn’t buying it. “Is that why Dad spends time with me now?”

“He loves you Adam. We both do. We will both always be there for you.”

Adam stopped her from finishing her sentence. “Would you and dad still be together if Brian hadn’t died?”

“I…I can’t answer that sweetie.”

“So that means yes!” he cried even more.

“I didn’t say that. I don’t know what would have happened, but whether your father and I are together or if we are with someone else, it will never change us.”

“Is it because you are with someone else now?”

She knew this conversation was going to happen sooner or later.

“Not because I am with someone else. I met Ethan after your father and I were already divorced. Ethan is very sweet and he wants to spend time with us.”

“But Dad will get upset. You got upset when dad had a girlfriend.”

“That was different. Your father and I were still married to one another. Never mind, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you get better.”

“What if Ethan doesn’t like me or I don’t like him? Would you choose him over me?” Adam asked with worry behind his question.

“Never,” Rebecca called out. “You will always come first with me. Why don’t you wait until you get to know him? There is no rush, but I think you’ll really like him.”

“I doubt it,” he mumbled quietly.

“I’m going to take you to Aunt Tasha’s house and then I am going to come back here to meet Riley and pack up some of our things. Is there anything special you want me to bring?”

“No, none of it matters.”

She hugged him without saying anything. She knew she had a battle ahead of her and she just wanted to keep him safe.

She pulled into Tasha’s driveway and Tasha threw open the door. “Get over here little man. Give Auntie a big hug.”

Adam forced a smile and walked up to Tasha. “Do you have any idea how much I missed you?” she looked over at Rebecca and knew that Rebecca wasn’t doing well.

“I set you up in the guest room upstairs. I put Ashlee’s Xbox in there for you. It’s all set up if you want to go and play?” He hurried up the stairs and into the guest room.

Rebecca closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I feel like I’ve been pushed in front of a bus.”

Tasha walked over to her and hugged her. “You are incredible. You are going to make it through this.”

“I can’t stand the sight of the house, and neither can Adam. I have to go get some stuff and I’m meeting a realtor. Can you keep an eye on him just until the girls get home? I’ll get Riley and head back here?”

“I don’t have a problem with that. I do have to be at the healing center at two, but he can come with me. He might like it.”

“Just watch him. He’s really depressed. They put him on an antidepressant, but it won’t be effective until it builds up in his body.”

“No problem. I’ve got your back, sista.”

She hugged Tasha again and jumped back into her car. She made it to her house just as the realtor was walking around the yard writing stuff on a piece of paper. She noticed Rebecca and plastered a huge grin on her face. “Hello there, you must be Rebecca. I am Renee Donovan. My agency sent me over. Can I just tell you that you have a pristine piece of property you have here. I won’t have any problems listing this. Actually, I may already have someone who will be interested. I have a client moving in from out of state and you meet all the prerequisites that they asked for. You even have the pond in the back that they said they’d love.”

“Is that so?” Rebecca said. “Well then let me show you the inside, I’d like to get this over with as soon as possible.”

The realtor looked at her strangely as she passed by her to enter the house. She did a quick tour and measured the rooms. “What are you hoping to sell it for?”

“I honestly don’t know. I am hoping to break even on a purchase of another house.” Renee perked right up, “So you are looking to buy also? I can help you with both. Do you have a place to stay if this sells first?”

“I am at a friend’s house right now. I’ll probably just put my stuff in storage so you can sell it as soon as you can.”

“Terrific” Renee said. “Let me make a few calls and take a few pictures. I have a feeling I can have it sold by the end of the week.”

The two women shook hands and Renee walked off to take pictures of the property. Rebecca walked into her room and pulled out a suitcase. She packed her everyday clothes. She threw all her toiletries into another bag. She walked into Adam’s room and threw his things into a suitcase. She didn’t want to touch Riley’s things, she’d just let her come and take what she needs.

She packed up her car and walked back into her den. She looked up a number for PODS the personal storage units that deliver directly to your home. She set up a delivery for the next day. She felt that everything was happening so fast, but obviously for a reason. She’d bring Adam into school and then begin packing up the house. She packed up her laptop and the stories she was working on. She sat in her chair and picked up a picture that she had on her book shelf. It was of the five of them when Brian was a baby and everyone was smiling. She ran her hand over the frame and closed her eyes.

“Ah come on Aunt Tasha do you really have to drag me to some voodoo thing?”

“First, it is not voodoo. It is healing energy. There is no magic or voodoo involved. You might learn something.”

She put her arm around his shoulder and walked with him down the sidewalk. They were coming upon Ethan’s gallery when Adam slowed down. Tasha looked at him and asked, “What is it Adam?”

“This is the guy right? I saw him in the hospital. I heard him talking to my mom.”

Tasha smiled. “He’s a very nice guy, and he cares about your mom a lot.”

“Yeah but if he wasn’t around, maybe my mom and dad would get back together” Adam half asked half told.

“Oh no, you don’t young man” Tasha began. “He’s one of the good guys. Your mom deserves a good guy. Your dad wasn’t exactly easy to get along with. You know that. Ethan treats her like a princess. Don’t you want someone to treat her like that?”

“Well yeah, but my dad has changed. He knows he made mistakes.”

“Uh-uh, if that’s true, then maybe they can find a way to have a great friendship like Richard and me. Your mom cares for him, and if you care for her, then you should give him a chance. Come on.” She led him to the door and opened it. “Where are we going?” Adam asked her.

“You are going to meet him in person and say thank you for being concerned for you when you were in the hospital. He sat there all night, worried for you.”

“Oh!” Adam remarked.

Tasha ushered him inside and the bell on the door rang. Ryan was behind the counter on the phone. He called out, “I’ll be right with you.” Tasha waved, and Ryan recognized her and waved back. Tasha watched as Adam walked around the room looking at all the artwork. He stood staring at one that was just a mass of color and texture. He seemed lost in it when a voice spoke next to him. “I see you like abstract painting. It’s not really my technique but I have some students who find it therapeutic to just put paint to canvas and see what shows up. It’s about feelings and not a tangible item.”

Adam looked up at Ethan and he got quiet. Ethan held his hand out. “We haven’t officially met yet. I am Ethan Roberts.”

Adam couldn’t help but smile back. “Hi Ethan I’m Adam.”

“I’m glad to see that you are up and about. You gave us all a scare.”

Adam didn’t know how to respond. He looked and saw the paint all over the smock that Ethan was wearing. “Are you painting now?” Adam asked.

“I am. Would you like to come and paint something?” Ethan asked.

“Wow really?” Adam said with excitement. “You’d let me?”

“Sure.” He looked over to Tasha and she nodded. “I have a session down the street. It should only take half an hour. I’ll come back. He didn’t want to come with my anyway.”

Tasha said goodbye and smiled to herself as she walked out the door.

Adam looked at the rest of the paintings in the huge gallery. He came across “Sweet Serendipity” and stopped in his tracks. He looked at each and every painting in bewilderment. He came across the painting of the picnic and he froze. He looked at his baby brother and a tear fell down his cheek. Ethan stood next to him and said nothing. He let Adam feel what he needed to feel. “Did you paint this?” Adam asked him.

“I did.” Ethan answered.

“It looks just like him. I remember when my mom took us there. You are really good.”

“You could be too.”

“Do you think?” Adam asked.

“Sure I do. I can sense these things. Come on I’ll show you.”