The room was small and suddenly felt very cramped, a twin sized bed sat in the corner of the room and a desk on the other wall. Some natural light came in through the window, he glanced at his mother and brother both wore concern on their faces.
"I'm okay...well, I will be okay" he forced a smile, "I'm sorry for scaring you both..please tell Ashley how sorry I am" he couldn't keep his body still, the next ninety days would be hell on earth.
Adam nodded, "I will...you take care of yourself, and listen to the doctors, I need you to get better. Nicky needs you to get better, he misses you." He hugged him, "I love you Alex...you got this"
"I love you too Adam" Alex replied.
"I'll give you two a minute" Adam said as he left the room and retreated to the lobby of the rehab center. It required calling in a few favors to get Alex in so quickly Adam just hoped it would work.
Sylvia looked over her shoulder as the door closed, she'd never expected to have spent the last few days with her eldest son, "You're going to be okay sweetie, I just know it" she reached out to touch his face, "you'll come out on the other side of this a stronger person"
Alex nodded in agreement, "Things with Adam..they better?" He had noticed Adam place a gentle hand on their mother's arm a few times over the past few days, and he could hear a softness to Adam's voice as he spoke to her.
"Yes, they are. All of this has brought us together, it may be the best thing to come out of it" Sylvia was trying to keep her hopes tempered, but she was hoping she'd be able to repair their relationship.
Alex knew he had his first of many group therapy sessions in a few minutes, "I better get down to the conference room" he hugged her, "I'll see you soon?"
"You bet" Sylvia kissed his cheek, "I will write you often"
Alex would be without the internet and cell phone for the next few months, it was going to be hard on them all, especially knowing Ashley was due within just a few days.
"I will send word once the baby is born, try and get a picture to you too" Sylvia reached for the door, "I'm proud of you"
He laughed, "Seriously? I'm in rehab.."
"I know" she responded, "you're taking responsibility for your actions and you're allowing your brother to adopt that precious baby of yours. You're already a better parent than I was at your age"
"Mom...you need to forgive yourself..."
Adam stood up when he saw his mother returning to the lobby of the facility, "Is he alright?"
She wiped the last few tears from underneath her eyes, "I think so...thank you for doing this with me..I know it hasn't been easy for you" she paused as he opened the door for her, once outside she continued, "Being with me..I know it had to be hard"
Adam shrugged, "Alex is my brother and he needed me" he walked her to her car, "Try not to worry about him, he's in great hands they'll help him"
She opened her car door, and turned back to face her eldest son, "I'm proud of you Adam, so very proud, you've grown into a wonderful man in spite of how horribly I failed you"
"Mom..it's in the past" Adam answered, he'd learned over the last few days that his mother was nothing like the woman had remembered, her hand rested on the open door and he covered it with his own, "everything is going to work out, Alex will be okay and I think one day we will be as well"
"I'd like that Adam"
He nodded as she climbed in her car, "Drive safe"
Nick had went to their parents house for the night and Kim was beginning to get antsy that Adam hadn't returned yet, she knew how conflicted he'd been feeling the last few days and she just wanted to hold him.
He'd been in and out the last few days, between the hospital and trying to find a rehab facility and then busting his ass to get the charges against Alex dropped all. It didn't help matters that most of that time was spent in the company of his mother.
"Finally!" She practically shouted when she heard the garage door spring to life as it opened for Adam, she went and met him in the kitchen.
"Adam" she immediately fell into his arms, "how's Alex"
Adam inhaled her scent, it was amazing how she could cure everything that ailed with just her touch, "He's alright..all things considered. He signed off on the adoption" he pulled back from her embrace and set the paperwork on the countertop.
"That's great" she felt the tiniest pang of guilt over her excitement knowing what Alex was currently dealing with.
"Yes, it is" he smiled, "I can't wait for our little girl to get here" he sat at the table, "How's Nick?"
Kim went to the fridge and pulled out their dinner popping it in the oven, "He's good he staying with our parents" she handed him a beer, "you could use one..right? How did it go with Sylvia?" She knew Adam was beginning to feel something for his mother, she just hoped it didn't come back to bite him in the ass.
"She's hanging in...she wants to rebuild our relationship" Adam enjoyed the cool liquid as it slid down his throat.
"What about you? What do you want?"
"That's the thing..I don't know. On one hand I want nothing to do with her..but on the other one she's my mother.."
Kim's heart ached for him, "Adam, whatever you decide I will be by your side"
TWO WEEKS LATER
Ashley had been relieved to hear that Alex was getting the help he needed and that he finally signed off on the adoption. They'd exchanged a few letters over the past two weeks and it was obvious Alex was on the path to recovery.
Her whole body ached, her ankles seemed to have swelled to double their size and she was miserable. As much as she wanted the pregnancy to end she didn't want it to end, she didn't want to think of giving the baby up.
She rubbed her hands over her belly, "Baby girl...I love you so much already..." She tried to get comfortable on the couch but it was damn near impossible her back ached and she checked her phone the pains in her abdomen seemed to hit her every twenty minutes or so.
She had already called the doctor's answering service and was just waiting on their reply, her mother came into the living room, "Are you okay?"
Ashley fought the tears in her eyes, "No...I don't want to give her up Mom..I love her"
--NOTE---
Alright I lied..one more chapter coming up.
