“Alright!” I called out while chuckling, halting her barrage and causing her to blink at me. “I think this is a great idea. I was thinking about taking a few courses myself anyway.”
“You were?” I heard Mom and Ava ask simultaneously.
“Yes. I was thinking about securing my job. The ones I was looking at are mostly online courses, but, who knows, maybe we can join forces to embarrass Ava and Maggie on the days I have to be there.”
“Oh thank you, Darling!” Mom exclaimed, as she rushed around the table to kneel next to the armchair I was sitting in and wrap her arms around my neck. “You have no idea how important this is to me. I know money is tight, but I couldn’t ask anyone else, since my parents just put most of their money into that college fund and John just bought that house.”
That part made sense. So, she really didn’t ask me because she somehow learned that the cash didn’t go up in flames. Though, there was one thing I still wanted some clarity about.
“Mom, why is this so important to you?” I asked. “I mean, sure, being independent and all that, but we made due so far, and I don’t think I was rushing you to find a job.”
Somehow, this caused her to revert back into the tentative state she had shown me when I asked about how much money she needed.
“Well, you see, I spent a lot of time talking with Danny. She’s helping me get back on track. And ... she gave me a list with ... goals.” Mom explained, her eyes involuntarily darting around the room.
“What goals?” I asked, intrigued from her behavior, and she sighed as she seemed to resolve herself.
“Danny came up with a six-step-program for me. It’s supposed to help me ... well ... get my shit together, really.”
“Huh. What steps?” I asked, now smirking about that shyness in her demeanor.
“Well, first, to properly apologize, of course. Take responsibility for what I did to you. Second, what Danny called ‘Walk the Talk’. Identify what caused my behavior and then avoid it. Third, to be there for you and to make sure you know that you, especially, can count on me.”
As she listed off those points while counting them with her fingers, something in the back of my mind started calling for my attention. Though, I couldn’t quite place it, yet. I was sure, however, that the second point on her list was the reason she had stopped attending the family orgies, and the third must be the reason she found the resolve to move in with me when I was hurt.
“Fourth,” she continued after shifting uncomfortably “is to make sure you never feel like I’m forcing it onto you. And fifth is to show you that I can be a proper Mom for you.”
By this point, I had realized where that weird feeling tugging on my brain came from. I had to fight back the grin my lips wanted to form, so Mom wouldn’t think I didn’t take her seriously. I would need to have a serious talk with Danny about this.
“Didn’t you say there were six steps?” I asked in an attempt to distract myself from my realization, since I remembered what it would be.
“Yes. But the last step requires me to finally get a job.”
“Ah. Like, be a proper role model to your children again?” I asked, no longer able to fully suppress my smirk.
“Uh, yes.” Mom responded, eyeing me for a moment. “That’s exactly how Danny phrased it.”
“Yeah, thought as much.” I chuckled, as I pulled out my phone and started typing into the search bar. “You know, when all of our problems started, I tried to read up on it. I found the most helpful articles on psychology sites, but the most articles that helped came from reddit subs and self-help guides for neglected kids. And ... I quickly noticed a recurring theme when it came to the reasons why most kids became so estranged from their parents.”
As I spoke that last sentence, I handed her my phone. She hesitated for a second before taking it, looked at the screen, and then her expression darkened.
“I’m not an addict, Tim!” she finally called out, looking at me with a hurt expression.
“Look at the list underneath the headline, Mom.” I simply said.
“Wait...” Mom stammered. “That’s ... That’s exactly the list Danny gave me.”
“Yes. ‘6 steps to regain your children’s trust while in Recovery’.” I quoted.
“But ... I’m not in ... Why would she...” She was still unable to form a complete sentence.
“I mean, let’s be honest here. I highly doubt there’s a list titled ‘6 steps to regain your children’s trust after you refused to have sex with them’. I guess she made do with what she had. And let’s not forget that it did work, didn’t it? I think that’s all that counts.”
Hearing me say those last few words, she perked up.
“Do you really think that?” she asked, not in a disbelieving way. I got the impression that she simply wanted me to confirm, again, that our relationship had improved so much.
“Yes, I do. Now, let’s clean up, change, and start dinner. I’m starving!”
Over the following two days, two things happened.
First, Ava and I finished the condo to the point John could show it to the rest of the family. I was in the office when he did, but I heard that Ava held true to her word and did not comment in any way when Mom, Maggie, and the grandparents started praising John to high heavens for his great investments.
Second, I decided to make further use of my surveillance software on their phones, and listen in on Mom’s last few counseling sessions with Aaron. I’m not exactly proud of violating her privacy like that, or of betraying her trust, but I needed to know. I had to be sure her intentions were genuine. Yes, she had gone to great lengths in order to regain my affection, but after years of lies, secrecy, and cruel pranks, I hope it is understandable that my trust-issues with my family didn’t vanish over the course of a mere few months.
I did not have to wait long for that confirmation.
“Oh, get off your high horse, woman!” I heard Aaron say in an annoyed voice, when I listened in on their tenth counseling session. “You screwed up just as much as I have, so stop placing all the blame on me! Let’s just get back together in OUR home and work this out!”
“Not without Tim!” I heard Mom shout in an angry voice. “Yes, I fucked up just as much as you have, Aaron. Maybe even worse. But, contrary to you, I’m doing EVERYTHING I can to show Tim that I changed and be his Mother again, while you still blame him for what YOU screwed up! He’s been nothing but a godsend to Ava and me.”
“How was he a godsend, Claire?” I heard an unfamiliar voice. This must be their counselor then.
“For one, we had a place to stay. We didn’t sleep on my brother’s couch for the last two months, that’s for sure. And that’s only because Tim allowed us into his home. He also paid for EVERYTHING Ava and I needed, since he closed our joint account! Without Tim, we would have been completely lost!”
That was news to me. And, apparently, for the counselor as well.
“He ... what? Aaron, you left your Wife and Daughter penniless?” She sounded genuinely astounded.
“Yes, he did!” Mom answered for Aaron. “His exact words were ‘Let’s see how long you can hold out without my support’. He thought he could force us to come crawl back this way. But, surprise, I didn’t even have to ask Tim for help. He himself offered it before I could even gather the courage to ask even more of him. He’s even offered to pay for my college courses, so I can finally get a job myself!”
“Excuse me, Claire, but ... how is Tim paying for all of that? Isn’t he still in high school?” I heard the counselor ask in doubt. Surprisingly, I was more confused by her constantly calling them by their first names than irritated about being doubted.