Time Makes You Bolder (Sequel to No One's A Fool)

Chapter 19

"Huh." Gabe said, and everyone else was quiet. Amy scratched her head, and Wrenna just stared into space.

"I didn't know any of that!" Jessi finally exclaimed, looking to her mother.

"Because we didn't want you or Birdie to know. For many reasons." Stevie offered.

"You really think that was the best way to motivate her to come home?" Jessi asked her mother.

"I did, yes." Lori nodded, firmly.

"I don't know, Mom. I think there was probably a gentler way."

"I don't think there was, Jessi." Mick said. "Klonopin is a powerful drug. It's not like weed or cocaine. And a lot of people can't come off of it in two months. Your mum was in a difficult position. She did the best thing she could."

"He went to see you." Wrenna said, her voice quiet. "He actually did it." She looked up, making eye contact with her mother. "Why?"

"I think, because he knew he should. He obviously expressed to Lori that he knew he'd fucked things up with us. He'd never even met you. So I think he knew he owed it to you to try to help. I honestly don't believe he had anything but good intentions." Stevie offered.

"But he never reached out after?"

"No, he didn't. I've always wondered if shame kept him from trying to meet you. He was so into drugs, and according to the people around him he didn't get clean until you were about ten. I think maybe by then he thought it was too late. But he could come terrorize me in rehab, and that would seem on point. And if Lori believed it would help, then maybe he thought it was something he could do."

"But why? Why would he even care?"

"Because it was the right thing to do, Wrenna. Sometimes we fuck up big time. That doesn't mean we are evil in our entirety. Joe isn't evil – just a little stupid." Stevie said.

~~~~~~~~~

1994. LA

Stevie asked Lori if Wrenna could be brought to LA the day she was released from rehab. The thought of being away from her daughter any longer than she needed to be felt unbearable, and Lori, recognizing this, obliged.

Leaving Jessi with Chris, she and Amy drove the child through the night to LA, telling her only that she was going on a trip to see Amy's horses in California.

"Is Mommy in California?" The little girl had asked.

"Yes, she is." Lori responded.

"Can we go see Mommy too?"

"As soon as she gets out of the hospital, you'll get to see her. Very soon." Lori assured her. She and Amy had agreed not to tell Wrenna the truth, in fear it would give the child more anxiety leading up to the reunion.

Stevie was discharged at 6am. She knew Wrenna likely wouldn't be awake for another couple of hours, which would give her plenty of time to get to the hotel and surprise her. Mick picked her up that morning and drove her the twenty minutes to the hotel.

"Amy and Lori are both there with her." He told her. "I'll drive Amy home later this morning, though."

"My heart is racing. I can't wait to see her. God, I can't believe it's finally over!"

"Almost there now." Mick said. Stevie let out a sigh.

"Soon, we're going to talk about what you said when you came to visit me. Right now I need to see Wrenna, but soon we're going to talk about you and I."