a successful family practice doctor until he got hooked on prescription pain meds and lost his medical license. He almost lost his wife too. She almost left him but then he quit cold turkey and has been clean ever since.
"Steve quit. He's a perfect example of someone who can get clean and stay clean."
"He's using again. Sheryl called my mom last week and told her."
"But he was doing so well. And I thought they were trying to have a baby."
"They were, but that might be off the table now. Sheryl may not stay with him."
"Is she sure he's using again?"
"Not a hundred percent but she found pills under the mattress. He told her they were old but she didn't believe him. That's the thing. With an addict, you're always wondering. It's a shitty life, Faith. I know you love Tyler but you don't want to end up like Sheryl."
"The situations aren't the same. Tyler's girlfriend pressured him do drugs. He said he only did them with her. Without her in his life, he won't do it again."
"That's what he tells you but can you believe him? Do you know how many times Steve told Sheryl he'd never take pain meds again?"
"You don't know if he's taking them. He told Sheryl he's not. She's choosing not to believe him."
"She's not choosing. She knows. She'd only tell the family this if she knew for sure he was using again."
I glance out the window at Walter's house. "It's not the same. And it doesn't matter because Tyler's still leaving." I sniffle, forcing myself not to cry.
"I'm sorry, Faith. I wish I was there to help you get through this. I could send you some chocolate brownie ice cream but it'd be a little melted by the time it got there."
"Yeah, that's probably not the best idea." I smile, remembering all the pints of chocolate brownie ice cream we devoured in high school because of stupid boys breaking our hearts. I thought that would end when I got older but it only gets worse. "I should go. I need a shower."
"Okay, but call me later."
"I will. Bye, Jules."
After a quick shower I get dressed and go down to the kitchen. "Grams?"
She's not there. I check the living room and guest bedroom but can't find her. Looking out the window, I see her in Walter's flower garden, sitting on a bench.
Walter comes out the back door, holding two mugs of coffee. I watch as he slowly walks over to her and hands her one of the mugs. She smiles softly as she takes it. He sits beside her and pats her hand.
It's like their argument never happened. Grams couldn't stay mad at him. She may say she doesn't love him but I know she does. And Walter loves her more anything. He gave her his a heart a long time ago. She just wasn't sure what to do with it, given her loyalty to my grandfather.
There's a knock on the door. I'm still in the guest room so I make my way down the hall to the front door. I open it and see Tyler standing there in a white t-shirt and jeans, holding a plate.
"What's this?" I ask, pointing to the plate.
"A peace offering." He hands it to me. "And breakfast."
The plate has two of his perfectly made two toaster pastries and a package of beef jerky.
I smile. "Thanks but this doesn't really go together."
"The jerky is for later. It's not as good as my friend's homemade stuff but it's not bad."
"Shouldn't I be the one buying you jerky since I ate all yours?"
"Got you this too." He pulls a tall skinny can from his back pocket and hands it to me. "It's a coffee drink, like the kind you like from that coffee shop by campus. I was going to go down there and get you your favorite drink but I didn't have time."
Why is he doing all this? Is he leaving? Is this his way of saying goodbye?
I'm suddenly not feeling so good, my heart racing from the panic I'm feeling over Tyler leaving. I'm not ready. We haven't even discussed this. Did he get a job and not tell me?
"I need to sit down." I go past him and take a seat on the porch bench, setting the plate on the table next to me.
"You okay?" he asks as he sits beside me.
"No." I shake my head. "I'm not okay." I look at him. "I'm not ready for you to go.