Everything I Desire (Lupine Valley #3)

23. Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Adelaide

At quarter of seven, we are all loaded in the truck, heading to the inn. I tried to tell Porter that I shouldn’t be here. But both he and Kayla insisted that I’m part of their family and should be with them for this.

The look on Porter’s face was practically begging me to come, to be there for him.

I know he is struggling to send Maura to rehab. He’s so torn between being the good man he is, helping her, and wanting her to suffer the consequences for what she’s done to Kayla.

The man I know wins out every time, and he’s paying for one of the best rehab facilities on the east coast. Keeping Maura’s love for the beach in mind when he was looking for a place.

Porter parks the truck in front of the inn, and looks toward me.

“Are you ready?” I ask him.

“I guess so. I’m doing this for her.” He nods his head to the back where Kayla has already fallen asleep again .

“I love you, you’ve got this.” I lean over the center console to kiss him.

“I love you too, baby.” He opens his door and walks around to the back of the truck to drop the tailgate.

Maura walks out of the inn with a small bag. I get out of the truck to let her have the front seat.

“Good morning, Adelaide.” She is still calm but seems a little more agitated than yesterday.

“Good morning, how are you feeling today?” I ask, genuinely caring about her answer.

“It’s not fun.” She laughs half-heartedly. “I know the Sheriff put me in a position to detox within a hospital, but the urge to get high is stronger than ever. I just kept staring at a photo of Kayla all night, knowing that I need to do this for her.”

I squeeze her hand, “I’m proud of you, Maura.”

“Thank you,” she looks around, “Did Kayla decide not to come?”

“She did, but she’s already back to sleep in the truck.” I chuckle. Teenagers and early mornings don’t mix.

A look of relief washes over her face. I hand her bag to Porter, who places it in the bed of the truck. I know he’s going to go through it, but he’s making it look like he’s moving stuff around in there.

I walk around the truck to climb in the back, but Maura stops me by placing her hand on my arm.

“Do you mind if I sit with her? I know she’s sleeping but I want to spend my final moments with her before I can’t for a long while. ”

“Maura, you know Porter will still let you see her as long as you’re clean.” I say softly.

“I know. It’s just, it seems so final you know?”

I nod in response. Even though she’s left Kayla before to go get high, or out on a bender, this wasn’t her choice. She knows she can’t just come home and clean up for a day when they come to inspect her home and get Kayla back.

I can imagine how hard this must be for her to give up everything she’s known her whole life, and her child all at once.

Once we’re all settled in the truck, Porter starts the drive to the airport.

“Porter,” Maura’s soft voice comes from the back. “I signed the papers with Stacey last night. You’re Kayla’s guardian with all rights.” She chokes on a sob.

“What? You did?” Porter asks, clearly shocked by her confession.

“Yea. I didn’t want you to have to fight in court and waste money on a lawyer when I won’t even be here. I want you to be able to make decisions for her. She loves you, and even though I’ve been a shitty sister, I love you too, and I trust you. You always did try to take care of me even though I was the older sister,” she admits.

He reaches his hand back and she squeezes his hand. “I love you too, Maura. I just want you to get better. ”

Tears spring to my eyes and fall silently down my cheek. I know he needs to hear that from her. And I imagine she needs it from him as well.

After the long ride to the airport, we finally park in the lot.

Everyone gets out of the truck, and we mill around to the back of the truck while Porter gets Maura’s bag.

Kayla and Maura walk ahead of us into the airport. I can hear Kayla telling her she’s proud of her for getting help, and she promises to write to her every week since she isn’t allowed to have a phone. I’m glad Kayla isn’t holding a grudge for Maura’s sake. And her own. This is the most hope she’s had for her Mom in her whole life. I just hope Maura doesn’t crush it.

Porter’s hand slips into mine and our steps sync together.

“Thank you for coming today, baby.” He kisses the top of my head.

I smile up at him.

We wait with Maura for a bit before she has to go through security to get to her gate for boarding. Porter says his goodbye and gives Maura some information she needs and we give her and Kayla a moment alone to say goodbye.

When Maura turns and waves, Kayla runs over and tucks herself under Porter’s arm between me and him. We watch her walk through security together before we leave .

Once we are back in the truck, Porter turns toward the backseat, “How are you feeling?” He asks Kayla.

“I’m okay. I’m happy she’s trying to get help. I’m just nervous she won’t, you know?” She admits, shrugging her shoulders.

She puts on her headphones and turns to look out the window. He turns back to face me, holding out his hand with his palm up. I place my hand in his as we drive back to Lupine Valley. A feeling of being settled falls over us all.

It’s been three months, and Maura is finishing her rehab today. Porter, Kayla, and I came to Florida to be here when she is released.

We are waiting outside on the benches in front of the facility when she walks out.

Kayla jumps up, “Mom!” She runs to Maura.

I stand and pull Porter up to stand with me. We wait for them to come to us trying to rush them.

Porter pulls Maura in for a hug. Over the last three months they’ve talked a lot on the phone.

He’s so proud of the changes she’s been able to make. He and Kayla were able to participate in therapy with her through virtual appointments. It’s made a huge difference in their relationships and Maura’s recovery.

“Adelaide, thank you so much for taking care of my girl, before and during this.” Maura clasps my hands in hers and kisses my cheek. “She tells me that they’re going to be moving in with you soon?”

Porter wraps an arm around my waist, “Yup, next week we’ll be moved in. And you can move into our house. I kept the lease on it.”

“About that, I think that I might go to the sobriety house, here in Florida, with my recovery friends. I’ve even found a job," she beams.

“Maura, that’s amazing!” I ask her, “What will you be doing for work?”

“It’s just an office job. One of the companies that partners with the rehab facility, they had an opening, and I’ve already finished my training.”

She turns to face Porter, “I really appreciate everything, really I do. But if I go back there, I’ll fall back into everything I’ve worked so hard to escape. I love it here, I’m on the beach, and I’ve got an amazing support team, and I know my girl is taken care of.” She smiles at Porter.

I’m proud of her for realizing that she can’t be around the same people. She looks clearer, happy. Her cheeks are filled in and rosey. Her smile reaches the apples of her cheeks, and her skin has a nice glow from being at the beach and getting a healthy dose of sunshine everyday. Her eyes sparkle in the sunlight showing how clear they are now that they aren’t muddled by the drugs.

Porter stares at her, mouth open. “I always thought- I mean when this was over, I just -”

I jump in to answer for him, “We just thought you’d want to come home, but whatever you need to do for yourself. We just want you to stay clean and be happy. We can always visit you. I’d love to get out of the snow in the winter!”

Porter squeezes my waist, “Yea, that’s what I meant. We’re happy for you.”

“Mom, does this mean I can visit you now? Maybe spend summers here on the beach?” Kayla asks excitedly.

“You guys can definitely visit, as far as spending the summer, let’s tackle that question next year and I’ll see if I have my own place,” she chuckles.

The four of us walk together down to the beach to walk and talk with Maura about her recovery after rehab.

“This is perfect.” I whisper to Porter as we walk hand in hand behind Kayla and Maura.

“It is. The only thing that can make life better is me and you living under the same roof with our girl. I can’t wait to get home and make that dream a reality.”

“Me either. It feels like I’ve waited a lifetime for that to happen.” I reach up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

Everything seems like it’s perfect, fallen into place, and at exactly the moment it was supposed to. Everything I've ever desired is finally within my reach.