Summer Plans
"Landen, honey, take a seat. We need to talk," said his mother.
"Sure, Mom, what is it?" said Landen, a big smile on his face. "Did it come? Did the letter come?"
"Letter?" said his mother, crinkling her forehead.
"Yeah, from the Sanderson Academy," said Landen. "Come on, Mom! I told you. It's the best lacrosse summer camp in the country."
"Oh, right," said his mother with a little sigh. "No, it's not about that. But it is about this summer."
"Is everything okay?" said Landen, starting to feel a rising sense of dread in his chest.
"Honey, this is hard for me to talk about, but I love you, so I'm going to tell it to you straight," his mother said, reaching across the table to take his hands.
"Mom, you're scaring me," said Landen, wanting to pull his hands back but not daring to.
"Son, I think you know I've had a hard time since your father left," said his mother. "And, well, I'm afraid that I've been drinking a bit too much lately."
"What? No. Come on, Mom," said Landen with a weak smile. "You're fine. Just a glass or two of wine after work. That's all."
"I wish that's all it was," said his mother, dropping her gaze. "But the truth is that I've been drinking a lot. Some days, it's as much as two bottles per night."
"Woah," said Landen, leaning back. "Well, I mean, it's understandable, right? You've been under a lot of pressure. And with Dad doing what he did to us, I mean..."
"It doesn't matter what the excuse is," said his mother. "The point is, I know I'm losing control, and that is a really hard thing for me to accept. And that's why I have decided to ask for help."
"Sure, Mom!" said Landen. "Anything you need. Just tell me what it is. I'll even learn to cook that fancy pasta you like. Oh! And I promise to keep my room neat and tidy."
"Thank you," said his mother, a sad smile on his face. "I want you to know that none of this is your fault. I know I've told you this before, but you're the light of my life, son. This drinking problem is my cross to bear, and that's why I need professional help."
"Professional help?" said Landen, confused. "Like, you're going to go to therapy or something? I don't understand."
"I'm going to enter a rehabilitation program," said his mother. "I did my research, and I found this place called the Greenhaven Clinic. It's got a stellar reputation. They have all the resources needed to... take care of people like me."
"Woah, rehab?" said Landen. "Well, I mean, lots of people do that, right? One of my favorite singers went to rehab last year. So hey, it can't be so bad, right?"
"I wouldn't do this to you, son, without thinking long and hard about it," said his mother. "But I need to get this thing under control before it kills me. And I want to live a long and happy life, including being there on the day you get married."
"Oh gosh," said Landen, feeling his cheeks grow warm.
"Sorry, I'm just a little emotional," said his mother, taking a tissue out of her pocket and using it to daub the corner of her eye. "This rehab place has a very intensive process. I'll send you the link to their website later, but it involves breaking down a person to their core and then rebuilding them into a brand-new person."
"Woah, that does sound intense," said Landen, now curious to get out his phone and see what celebrities had gone to this place Greenhaven.
"Yes," said his mother. "And the whole process takes six weeks."
"Six weeks!" said Landen. "But... but... I mean, what about your job?"
"Mr. Brookman was very understanding," said his mother. "And he promised to hold my job for me. But what this means is, son, that I'm not going to be here with you this summer."
"Oh," said Landen, images of throwing parties and inviting Stacy Cunningham racing through his mind. Why, with the house to himself, the potential of climbing the popularity ladder at school was endless!
"Now, I know you're growing up fast, but I just don't feel comfortable leaving you alone here all summer," said his mother.
"What? Come on, Mom," said Landen, hating the whiny tone in his voice. "For goodness' sake, I already have my driver's license. I'll be fine."
"I'm sure you would," said his mother with a wry chuckle. "But six weeks is a long time for a teenage boy to be on his own. And that's why I called your Aunt Jackie. She is absolutely delighted to have you down there with them this summer."
"Aunt Jackie?" said Landen. "Woah, you mean our cousins down in Alabama? Who live in the middle of nowhere?"
"Don't say that," said his mother, frowning. "Jackie said they have an extra bedroom since Sonny joined the military, so you'll have your own space. And I think the fresh air will do you some good."
"Jeez, Mom! I mean, like, it's been forever since you took me down there," said Landen. "And besides, I really wanted to go to lacrosse camp. With the instructors they got, it could be my ticket to getting a college scholarship."
"I know you did, son," said his mother. "But the Greenhaven Clinic isn't cheap, and i just can't afford that and to send you off to another fancy sports camp. Besides, I thought you might be excited to see your cousin Savannah again."
"Um, not really," said Landen. "All I remember about her was she was a pig-tailed brat who was always drinking chocolate milk and spilling it down the front of her shirt while annoying me with her dumb questions."
"Well, she's sixteen now, and Jackie said she's turning into quite a lovely young woman," said his mother with a little laugh. "I'm sure you two will get along great."
"Ugh," said Landen. "She's probably into boy bands and talking about clothes all day long. Can't I just stay here by myself? I promise I won't do anything crazy."
"Son, please. I need you to support me on this," said his mother with a sad sigh. "Going through the rehab process is going to be really difficult for me, but I'll feel a lot better knowing that you're with family."
"Fine," said Landen. "But do they even have internet down there? I mean, come on, Mom, they live in the middle of nowhere."
"Yes, they have the internet," said his mother, glaring at him. "Aunt Jackie and her husband are good, upstanding people, and so are their neighbors. I grew up in that little town, and some days, I really miss it."
"Wow, now that is hard to believe," said Landen with a laugh.
Sometimes, it was quite surreal knowing that his mother had come from such a backward place, especially now that she was a high-power attorney at a prestigious law firm in the big city.
"So, do we have an agreement?" said his mother. "You'll go spend the summer in Jedburg with your cousins?"
"Fine," said Landen, images of his glorious summer playing lacrosse at Sanderson waving goodbye as they disappeared over the horizon of his mind.
"Wonderful!" said his mother, rising to her feet and walking over to him. "I love you, son. This means the world to me."
"I love you, too," murmured Landen, cringing when his mother wrapped him up in a big hug and then planted a wet kiss on his forehead that was only faintly redolent of sour wine.
