A Little Bit of Sugar

Chapter 21: Wednesday - Hunter

"Hunter, darling. What's wrong?" Marie asked, drawing me into her frail arms as soon as she saw me on her front door step.

I drew her in, smelling the familiar scent of her lotion she always put on her face before bed, instantly feeling a tad bit better because I was here and she would know what to do. Ever since Jerry took me, Marie had become my new mom. Someone who I could depend on. Someone who tried to understand me. Someone who I opened up to when Jerry was gone.

She was my compass, pointing me in the right direction.

Always.

After being on autopilot the entire day, I decided I needed to see Marie or else I was really going to lose my mind.

"Molly's gone." I mumbled into her shoulder. We were still in the hallway of the house I stayed in for many family dinners. Jerry and Marie had three kids of their own but it was like I was their fourth. Sam, Jim, and Lily all welcomed me with open arms like I was their brother they never had.

"What happened?" Marie released me, closed the front door, and guided me to the kitchen. She sat me down and filled up the pot with cold water. The solution to everything, according to Marie, started with a piping hot cup of tea.

"I pushed her away." I mumbled, playing with the few napkins on the table. I didn't want to see Marie's disproving face. It was too shameful to admit.

"Then bring her back." She said firmly, placing a cup of chamomile tea in front of me. "It's not rocket science."

"She's in Kitchener." I defended myself.

"Then drive there." Marie shrugged, bringing the cup to her lips, sipping on the golden liquid.

"I could." I reasoned. "I just—I just don't know if it's the best for her if I'm back in her life."

"Hunter, love." Marie reached out, squeezing my hand comfortingly. "You've got to stop putting the blame on yourself. It's stopping you from living the life you always wanted. You're not the teenage boy you were back then. You've changed. You deserve every good thing in your life."