The Guidebook To Sobriety

Chapter 14

"It's a pleasure to finally meet Mateo's mother," Amir said after we entered room Delta.

Me and my mother shared a glance. That was a greeting neither of us had ever heard - people usually forgot I even existed once my mother was around.

My mother took the offered hand. "The pleasure is mine. I haven't seen Mateo with eyes this clear since forever."

A joke in poor taste but Amir politely chuckled nonetheless.

"Please, sit down. I understand you're a busy woman so I'll try to keep this as brief as possible."

"Oh, no need to worry about that. I've cleared the day completely to attend this meeting. I consider this a top priority."

That was new.

"I'm glad to hear that. Hopefully, it motivates Mateo to keep on trying."

"Mateo described this place as ok, which coming from him is high praise. I figure you've already discovered he's not easily pleased." My mom said as we sat down.

Amir smiled. "Yes, it seems he's atleast made one friend so far and he's even contributed to winning the first event we held. So strictly camp-wise, I'd say he's been a success story thus far."

"And therapy-wise?" My mother asked, reading between the lines.

"Therapy wise there's still a lot of work to be done. Mateo hasn't opened up to me as yet, which is understandable as it's only been a week, but helping him through this process does require him to be transparent with me."

My mother bit her lip. "He's never been the type to readily share his feelings, unless it's cloaked behind some sarcastic comment, so that doesn't surprise me. You might get a real headache with this one."

"That's what I'm here for. In fact, that's what we're all here for - to address what Mateo may prefer to say in a more comfortable setting." He paused, gauging my expression. "This is a comfortable setting for you, right?"

I considered the question. "Nothing like the woods for comfort."

"Then do you think that this will be productive?"

"I mean...I'm sober right now so isn't it already productive?" I replied.

Amir sighed wistfully. "If only it were that simple." He turned his attention back to my mother. "Ms. Higgins-

"Please, call me Evelyn." My mother quickly interrupted. The simple gesture surprised me slightly since she rarely ever did it.

Amir took it in stride. "Right, Evelyn, I'm going to ask you a question that might be sensitive. I want you to keep in mind I wouldn't bother asking if I didn't think that it was a necessary avenue to address."

My mother nodded slowly, pressing her tongue against her cheek firmly which I knew was her way of steeling herself when she was about to receive bad news.

"Mateo's father...where is he?"

The color drained from my mother's face until she resembled the white walls outside.

It wasn't a random question about an absent father. There was a time when my father was just as viral as my mother, though not for good reason. His frequent drunken stunts became something for the haters to latch on to in hopes of tarnishing my mother's rising legacy.

Amir was currently studying my mother's reaction, much like he studied ours. For some reason, it royally pissed me off.

My mother wasn't the test dummy that needed therapy here.