Beautiful Boy

bellevue

amara haven

19 days sober.

I was proud of myself.

Much to my surprise, I'd felt much better without alcohol, though that was sort of a dumb thing to be surprised about, wasn't it?

Mum had been out nearly every day since the funeral, something we found odd, but ignored.

I felt so amazing that I was able to make food for me and my sisters, feed Patronus, take him on daily walks, and take better care of all of us.

The buzzing off my phone pulled me from my sketching.

I moved my sketchbook and pencil to my side and answered my phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Am, it's Mum."

"Oh, hi! Are you using a different phone? The number was different," I asserted.

"Oh, yes, sorry, I'm borrowing Rick's phone. Speaking of, I have some news!" She said.

Rick? Who the fuck was Rick?

"Oh?" I muttered.

I racked my brain trying to remember a Rick, but I couldn't.

He was a stranger.

"Yes, so, I know I've been out a lot and I'm happy you and the girls are taking care of each other, and I want you to know that I've been out with a man. His name is Rick, he's great, and I was going to bring him over for dinner tonight," she explained.

"Excuse me?" I asked, sitting up and suddenly becoming hyperaware, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Amara-"

"I'll see you tonight, Mum," I hung up the phone.

She had to be joking, right?

Dad died less than a month ago and she already found some new guy?

There's no fucking way.

~

The front door opening followed by a "Girls, I'm home." told us that Mum was there with her date.

Kinsley and I looked at each other.

"So, we have to go down there and pretend we're cool with this new guy showing up out of nowhere?" Kinsley asked.

"Well, what else can we do? Let's just get through tonight and I'll talk to her when he leaves," I replied.

I hoisted Valeria into my arms and carried her downstairs after Kinsley.

"Girls, this is Rick! Rick, this is Amara, Kinsley and that's Valeria," Mum introduced as she unpacked a take-out package.

"Well, it's nice to meet you all, I've heard all about you. And Amara, congratulations on 19 days sober, I know that must be hard," he smiled.

I set Valeria down and looked at him with disgust.

"Yeah, well it was easier when my Dad was around. I assume you've been told about that too?" I asked.

His face fell, "Yes, I'm so sorry for the loss, but I'm just glad I've been able to be there for your Mother. She's a lovely woman."

"Yeah, yeah, save the bullshit," I rolled my eyes, walking into the kitchen to help unpack and set the table.

"Amara, be nice!" Mum scolded me.

"Lillian, have some self-respect," I snapped back as I walked out of the kitchen to place plates down.