Page 35 of Sinful Addiction
“You talked about your mom and dad briefly.Can you tell us about them, and do you have any siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins?”
“I don’t have any siblings or the rest.It’s just been my parents and me.I was an only child, they had me later in life.My mom would say I was a beautiful surprise for them.”
Koa reached for her hand and squeezed.“What happened?”
“Cancer.Breast cancer.”She swallowed the lump that grew in her throat.God, would the pain ever go away?“They caught it too late, and it had already spread to her liver and brain.We had eight months with her before she died.She decided against chemotherapy.The chances of it doing anything were less than one percent.So instead of being sick from the drugs, she decided she’d rather have the time with us and make memories.The last month was tough because she was in a lot of pain, and she was put on heavy doses of morphine so she would be in and out of consciousness most of the time.”
Koa pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap.She hadn’t realized tears were running down her face.She sobbed when his arms closed around her.The men murmured softly to her and waited until she stopped.Jon handed her a few napkins, which she used to wipe her tears and blow her nose.
“I’m sorry.I haven’t done that in years.”
Jon had moved his chair closer and rubbed her back.“How old were you when she died?”
She wiped her hand across her cheek as a few more tears escaped.“Twelve.”
“Jesus,” Jon blurted.“That had to have been hard on you.”
She leaned back against Koa and rested the side of her head against his chest.“It was.I lost my mom and best friend, and I also lost my dad that day.”
Koa smoothed the hair from her face.“What do you mean, pet?”
“My dad started drinking right away and went downhill quickly.He was able to function at work, but he’d open a bottle the minute he got home.”
“Was he abusive to you?”
“Not at all.He just wasn’t there anymore.I could never say my mom’s name in front of him, and he didn’t like being in the same room as me.”
“How did you survive?Who took care of you?”
“I did.I got myself ready, went to school, and rode the bus back and forth every day.I would cook us simple meals with the few groceries he brought home.It was great when I turned fourteen.I got my school permit and started working at a grocery store.I was able to drive myself everywhere with an old second-hand car my dad bought for me.I was able to get the groceries we needed at a discount, and it took one more thing off my dad’s plate to deal with.”
“Jesus, that must have been hard?”
She shrugged.“It’s what had to be done.I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself.”
“So, what happened?”Jon asked.
“I turned eighteen, and a month later, I graduated from high school.I started working full-time at the grocery store and was trying to decide what to do.I came home one day, and there was a FOR SALE sign in our yard.”
“Goddammit,” Koa growled.
She’d never forget the feeling of despair she’d felt looking at that sign because she knew deep in her heart, she would lose her father for good.
“My father said he couldn’t handle living in the house any longer without Mom, so he was selling the house.He told me I had a few weeks to find an apartment, and then when the house sold, he’d leave.He didn’t tell me where he was going.I don’t think he knew.”
“What happened?”
“I found an apartment right away and moved.He told me to take whatever I wanted, that he was going to throw the rest away.”She wiped a stray tear.“I took all the photos we had and a couple of pieces of furniture from my maternal grandmother that my mom cherished, the things I needed to set up my apartment—dishes, bedroom, towels, and then my stuff.”
“And then your dad just left.”
“Yeah.I saw him about six months later.He stopped by the grocery store and gave me a check for half the house.I’ve seen him a few more times when he’d stop into the store, and then about five years ago, he just vanished.I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”
Koa pressed his lips against the side of her head.“I’m so sorry, pet.”
She shrugged.“I survived.”
Jon rubbed her back.“You did great.You not only survived, but you also did a good job taking care of yourself.”
