They stood at the side entrance of a shabby building with trimmed bushes and tufts of weeds. It was something a working man could afford, and probably made Betty feel a lot more comfortable than the upscale places for rich people and celebrities that Dave had surely chosen in the past.

Noah had called the number, and, after mentioning Sandy’s name, had been told there’d be a window later that night. However, to earn it, they had to bring three cartons of cigarettes. Janie’s response: Is the place a prison, or what?

“You shouldn’t come in with me.” Janie pushed Noah away.

“Why?”

“Because I’m about to badger an older woman who has had a very bad few weeks, not to mention a bad life before that, and you’ll get squeamish.”

“You’re going to go with the hard-love approach?”

“Yeah. Dave has tried the soft approach how many times? It hasn’t worked. She needs a wake-up call.”

“Cool. I’m coming with you. I’ll stand in the corner like a goon, or something. Just in case.”

She rolled her eyes. “What do you think is going to happen to me in there?”

“They might talk you out of drinking, for one.”

A laugh bubbled up. She nodded, her lips pressed into duckbill. “This is true. Good point. That would be horrible.”

She rapped on the door and stood back, looking out at the countryside beyond. The rehab center was way outside of the city, tacked onto a small town with not a lot going on. If someone escaped for the night, they wouldn’t find much in the way of partying.

Her phone vibrated as the lock turned with a clink. The handle rotated before a head with dark, braided hair peeked out from around the door. “Yes?”

“Camila?” Janie stepped to the side so she could be seen. “I’m Janie, and Noah is beside me. We—”

“Yes, fine.” She pushed the door open a little farther. Her eyes rounded when she took in Noah. “Wow.”

He shifted and put his empty hand in his pocket, his face expressionless. The other hand was wrapped around the cartons of cigarettes.

Janie elbowed him. “Say hello. Honestly, of all the times to be sheepish about someone liking your junk.”

A grin spread across Camila’s face. “He’s shy?”

“No, ma’am. I’m just not used to situations such as these.” He shifted again. His body screamed uncomfortable.

Camila noticed it, and her smile spread. “He’s polite, though.” She looked between them. “You both coming in?”

“No, just—”

“Yes.” Noah stepped up. “Both of us.”

“Normally I would say one of you has to wait outside, but…” She tsked, her smile still evident. “I’m not saying no to that. C’mon.”

Camila pushed the door open even farther and led them through a small hallway. “We’re in the staff quarters now. The other girl is on break, so you have an hour until I have to sneak you back out.”

“I won’t need that long.”

“And it’s Betty Miller, right?”

“Yes. How is she doing?”

Camila tsked as they walked out through another hallway. At the end, someone with a wristband was turning into a room. “Not good. I don’t know that she wants to get better. She’s not real happy with her life, know what I mean?”

“Have you seen cases like that before?”

“Oh yeah.” She held the door open, and they walked through a large industrial kitchen, currently inactive. “A lot, right? They just keep ending up back here.”

“Anybody ever pull out of it?”

“Oh yeah, sure. That happens. It’s gotta start with them, though. A lot of people find a higher power. Usually God, but not always. It’s early yet for Betty. She hasn’t been here very long. It’s harder to get going in the beginning.”

She stopped in front of a closed door. “She’s in there. Alone for now. Her roommate does yoga in the evenings.”

“Great, thanks, Camila.” Janie gestured for Noah to hand off the cigarettes. “How do we find you when we’re done?”

Camila held up her phone. “Text.”

“Right. Okay, great.”

“Good luck. Hope whatever you do helps. I hate when people come back. It’s such a waste.”

They waited until Camila had moved away before Janie let herself into the room. A light glowed in the far corner over a chair, illuminating the woman reading beneath it. Her gray hair had been pulled back in a bun, bringing attention to the lines etched deeply in her face. Her eyes weren’t as red, which was good, but a pallor still clung to her. The effect of having given up.

Janie walked forward slowly, deep emotion rising up within her. Dave really loved his mom. He wanted the best for her, even if she didn’t want it for herself. It broke Janie’s heart that he would ever have to see her like this. She knew it must tear him apart inside. He was such a good person—such a good man. He deserved the best in life.

“Hi.” She sat on the edge of the bed as the book lowered.

Betty’s brow furrowed. Trying to place Janie’s face, no doubt. “Yes?”

“I’m a friend of your son’s. You probably know that guy.” She hooked a thumb at Noah.

The furrow in Betty’s brow deepened as she glanced back at Noah. “No…”

“We’ve never met, but I’ve heard a lot about you.” Noah clasped his hands behind his back.

Oh. Janie hadn’t expected that.

She forged on. “Anyway, I’m here to talk about Dave.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say your name was again?” Betty closed her book and put it to the side.

“I’m Janie. A friend of Dave’s. I’m going to level with you, Betty. I was there the other day. I helped him take you to the hospital.”

Betty’s eyes clouded over, her expression bending to one of misery and embarrassment.

Janie raised her hands. “I just want us to be on even ground. I also want you to know that I paid a visit to the Hutchinsons.” Fear sparkled in Betty’s eyes. That was an interesting reaction. “They won’t be bothering you anymore.”

Betty smiled in a placating sort of way. “I’m not sure what you’ve heard, but—”

Janie held up her hand to stop the lies she knew would come. “Betty, let’s get serious. I know where you are in life. I know what landed you in here, and that you have relapsed many, many times. I also know what the Hutchinsons are up to, how you got that gun, and I’m pretty damn sure I know why. Here’s what I don’t know. Why are you doing this to your son, who’d move the world for you? Who just wants you to be happy—so he can be happy? Why are you dragging him down with you?”

Shock smacked into the woman’s expression, and then tears leaked out of her eyes. “Wh-what?”

Janie ignored her desire to soothe the older woman’s feelings, and waited.

More tears leaked down wrinkled cheeks. “I ask Dave to just leave me be. To live his life. I’ve told him that he needs to be free of me. He can’t help me. No one can.”

Janie leaned forward and held out a single finger. “One person can help you.” She pointed that finger at Betty. “You. You are the only person who can help you, Betty. Not Dave, not this place, not even God. If you don’t make the decision that you want to get better, then you’ll never get out of this rut. It’s that simple. You are the one who has to be willing to accept help and learn from it. You are the one who has to open up to the higher power, whatever that power is. Without believing you can get better, you certainly won’t.”

“But I can’t. I’ve tried.”

So much for the nice pep talk. It was time for the hammer.

“You’ve tried, my ass.” Janie leaned back, letting anger infuse her. “You can, and you freaking better. Because we both know Dave will not leave you be. Losing you is not the best thing for him—it’s just the easiest thing for you. No, the best thing for him would be if you got better. The best thing for him would be if he didn’t have to spend his life on suicide watch, terrified he’ll have to clean his mother’s brains off the wall. For him to keep the hard-earned money he’s killed himself to make instead of throwing it away on medical bills and fruitless trips to rehab. To have a loving mother who knows his friends, and who sees him at Thanksgiving. The best thing for your son is for you to try to be even somewhat independent.”

Anger flashed in Betty’s eyes. “Who do you think you are, coming in here, trying to tell me how to live my life? Telling me what’s best for my boy?”

“Someone who clearly loves your son much more than you do. I’d do anything for him. I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure he gets a happily ever after, and do you know who is preventing him from doing that?”

Her face hardened.

“That’s right. Ms. Betty Miller.” Janie waited for the anger to come back. The lady had a stubborn streak. “It’s not you versus Dave anymore. It’s you versus me. I’m not going to tell him I’ve been here. I’ll never mention a word about it. But know this. If you don’t agree to whatever he asks you to do, I will haunt the shit out of you, do I make myself clear? I will come to this rehab center every night. I got in tonight, so you know the threat is legit. When you get out, I’ll haunt your trailer. All the people who think they’re your friends? They’ll turn on you. I’ll make sure of it. I mean, they already have, but you probably don’t want to see it. Their willingness to sell you pills and give you guns clearly wasn’t a big enough hint. Dave won’t need a suicide watch, because I’ll call the cops on your ass if you so much as think about doing something illegal.”

“So much for healing starting with me,” Betty said in a sullen tone.

“It does start with you. It starts and ends with you. He wants what’s best for you. If you get better, you get to lead a happy, fulfilled life. You don’t have to deal with me. Doesn’t that sound nice? As an added bonus, I will personally whisper in his ear that you don’t like all the extravagance he tries to shower you with. It can be embarrassing, I know. I’ll make sure he stops at comfortable, instead of blasting off to ridiculous.”

Betty’s eyes widened at that.

Janie stood, ready to go. She’d said her piece.

“What’s in it for you?” Betty asked, her hands tucked into her lap.

“I told you. His happiness is what I want. I don’t want to see his heart break like it did the other day. I can’t bear to see him like that.”

“You’re his girlfriend? One he didn’t bring around to his own mother…”

“Now you’re just being an ass. When was the last time you were that boy’s mother?” Janie stared her down. The words were harsh, but Betty needed harsh. “And no, I’m not. I love him, not the other way around. He’s assured me that we can’t have a future, and I’m okay with that. If that’s what he needs, then that’s what he’ll get. Just like he’s going to get a normal mother who loves him and tells him so, even if I have to stalk you through hell and back to get you to see sense. And maybe that normal mother pats him on the cheek. You seem like you could sell that. Whatever. That’s for you to decide. All I’m saying is: get your shit together, or you’ll have a bad case of the crazies following you around.”

Janie turned and headed for the door. Before she walked out, leaving silence in her wake, she paused. “I hope not to see you Monday night, Betty…”