Even still, I’d been surprised that she wanted to include me in her wedding celebration. I knew that April had forgiven me, but on some level I didn’t trust it yet. I didn’t want to rock the boat by making her upset this weekend. My relationship with her was too important.
That’s why I was resolved to stay away from Reed and his magic lips. I was too old and way too practical to indulge in a silly crush. It was too bad though. That had been the most amazing first kiss I’d ever had. I’d been dying to invite him into my cabin for more.
I met April in the parking lot the next morning for our run. It was supposed to be a hot day, and we were both dressed in running shorts and tank tops to stay cool. Running in the woods was a nice change from the hard asphalt I usually ran on in the city. The trails were soft and well groomed, and wide enough for us to run side by side and talk.
We were about a mile in when April brought up her fiancé’s uncle.
“You and Reed seemed to have some major vibes,” she said with a slight teasing quality to her voice.
“There are no vibes,” I protested. “I’m one hundred percent focused on you this weekend, April. I want your wedding to be perfect. I promise I won’t do anything to mess it up.”
My daughter was silent for a long moment.
“Mom, I’ve forgiven you for what happened when I was a kid. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me. I don’t know if I ever told you, but I went to counseling for several years when I was in college. It was helpful. My therapist helped me to understand that addiction is a disease.”
She stopped as a family came towards us from the other direction, then picked up the conversation after they passed.
“I’ve also read about how aggressively doctors and pharmaceutical companies used to push opioids, and how addicting they are. You’re not the only person who got hooked on them. You don’t have to feel like you need to prove yourself over and over. You and I are good, and if you like Reed, you should go for it. He’s been alone for a long time, and so have you. If you guys get together, Jonathon and I will support you one hundred percent. We all will.
“Thanks honey, I appreciate that and I’m so thankful that we have a relationship now. But I’m totally fine alone.”
She sent me an appraising look.
“Just because you messed up with Dad, that doesn’t mean you have to live like a monk.”
“I don’t,” I protested. I was surprised how well my daughter seemed to understand me.
“When’s the last time you dated anyone?” she asked. “You haven’t mentioned anyone since we started talking again and that’s already been, what? Three years now?”
“It’s been a while since I dated anyone,” I hedged.
I actually hadn’t done more than go on a couple of dates since I got out of treatment. I’d been celibate for so long I was pretty sure I’d regained my virginity. Not that I would share all that with my daughter. We were getting closer, but not that close.
“Just think about it Mom. I want you to be happy. Reed is a great guy, and he seems to really like you.”
“I don’t need a man to be happy,” I protested.
“No, but the right man will help with that.”
Reed
“How are you feelingabout the big day?”
Jonathon, Mark, and I were golfing along with April’s father Jack. There was a golf course not too far from the resort, and it was surprisingly empty for a Saturday morning. Maybe it was because we’d gotten there so early. We were all evenly matched in that each of us liked golf but none of us were particularly good at it.