Chapter 19
April 10th
"Emma," said Adam as he walked up the path to his front door. He didn't feel like looking after Emma when she was drunk again after a long day at university, "are you drunk?"
Emma smiled at Adam before she gave him a hug.
"Whoa? What is this for? You aren't going to kiss me, are you?"
Emma removed herself from the hug, "I am not drunk and I am not going to kiss you. I am here to thank you, actually."
"Thank me? Why?"
"For persuading me to go to that counselling appointment."
"You have just come from there?" asked Adam, looking at the car that was parked in his driveway. He waved to Emma's mother who was sitting in the driver's seat and she smiled warmly back to him, thanking Adam for all of his help.
Emma nodded.
"Well?" asked Adam, "how did it go?"
"I know it was only my first session, but I feel so much better."
"That's great. I am glad."
"And I am sorry. You know, for all the things I put you through."
"That's okay."
Adam meant it.
Now he knew how Tasha felt when he was drinking.
"No, really," said Emma, "I must have been a real handful and I really appreciate you helping me. Now I have to talk to Matilda and Ash."
"I can come with you," Adam suggested.
"I'd like that, Adam. Thanks."
"Do you want to go now?"
"Yeah, I'll just got and tell mum."
Adam watched as Emma went to her mother's car. Adam was glad that the counselling appointment worked. Finally Emma wouldn't be getting drunk anymore. Adam was hoping that it would last for a very long time. Now it would be good that he wouldn't have to babysit Emma all the time and bring her home when she was drunk. Maybe it was Adam who should have been the counsellor, not Tasha, because he had successfully helped Emma.
"Mum said we can go," said Emma as she came back, "we just have to call her when we finish so she can pick me up."
"She doesn't trust you, does she?" asked Adam as he and Emma started to walk to Matilda's house.
Emma shook her head.
"I know what it's like."
"Do you?"
Adam nodded, "it has been four years since I was getting drunk and I still don't think my family trust me."
"Really?" asked Emma.
"Yeah."
"So, my parents will never trust me again, will they?"
"I don't know, your family is different to mine. It doesn't matter for you as much as it did for me. Having a bad reputation is not good when you are a part of a rich family."
"Why?" asked Emma.
"It is just that my family has a reputation in this town, a good one, and my reputation wasn't good for us," replied Adam.
"Oh, what did you do? How did you tell Matilda and Ash?"
"I didn't tell them," said Adam.
"What? So I don't have to tell them?"
