Vegas Sunrise by Fern Michaels

another reason it works. Harry wouldn’t be able to stay here otherwise. I had a real hard time with the rules at first. There were days I would have killed to see Jake and Polly. I got over that real quick because I had no other options. Now, I’m the welcoming committee for new patients. I pep-talk them, the whole nine yards. When there’s a problem they call me. Enough, already, why are you here? What’s wrong? Don’t tell me nothing because I can see it in your face.”
    â€œI hit Celia. Three times. She really pissed me off. It’s no excuse, and I promised I’d never do it again. She stayed downstairs till five-thirty this morning, and she was drunk when she came up. I think, Sunny, I might have made a mistake in coming back here.”
    â€œOh, Birch, no, it wasn’t a mistake to come back. It was a hell of a mistake, though, to hit your wife. Listen to me. I started hitting Jake, and Dad let me have it. I was out of control. Tyler had just left, I was getting worse, Dad was sick, Mom and I weren’t speaking. I couldn’t handle it. I took it out on Jake. That little boy didn’t deserve what I did to him. No one in this family will tolerate that kind of battering. You come and talk to me. I want your promise.”
    Birch nodded. “You really got a handle on all of this?” Birch asked, waving his arms about. “Are you and Harry an item?”
    â€œYes and yes. If your next question is, do we have sex the answer is yes. It isn’t easy but we manage. His family tossed him out. They didn’t want the responsibility of caring for him. He’s a dear, sweet man. We watch out for each other. We have teams here. The dogs look out for both of us. I see your eyes filling up. Don’t be sad for me. I’ve come to terms with my life. It’s what it is. Fortunately for me I have a wonderful family. We’re Harry’s family now, too. Remember how we used to talk about family where Dad was concerned? He just didn’t get it till the end, and then it was too late.”
    â€œI want you and Celia to be friends, Sunny.”
    â€œBirch, I don’t think that’s going to happen. For starters, I don’t think I like your wife. I know that hurts your feelings, and I’m sorry about that. You see, we learn here that we have to say things just the way they are. We don’t sugarcoat anything. Everything has to be out in the open. We can’t hide behind doors, words, or people. Celia looked at Harry and me with revulsion. We’re both used to that, but we shouldn’t see it from our families. Sure, I smear myself sometimes if my hand goes someplace else instead of my mouth. I spill and dribble and drop things. Sometimes I want to cry. Sometimes I do cry. Fred licks my tears or Harry wipes them away. I’d kill to be able to hold a chicken leg or pop a lid from a yogurt cup. The big word here is tolerance. They have signs posted everywhere. I’ve learned to live by that word. Please don’t say anything to Celia. It will just make things worse. Some people can’t handle other people’s handicaps.”
    â€œSunny, I’m so sorry. I want to do something for you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you. For whatever consolation it is to you, I did think of you every single day I was away. I wondered what you were doing, what kind of mess you got yourself into with that mouth of yours. I used to talk about you so much Celia would tell me to shut up.”
    â€œYou did write five whole letters, so I forgive you. Now it’s my turn. Are you okay with Jeff? He’s all right, Birch, but . . . there’s something off-key about him. I have to be honest and say no one agrees with me. It’s just a feeling. Mom’s back was to the wall. She really didn’t have a choice, Birch. She’s done her best to do things the way Dad would have wanted her to, and his first rule was that only family