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I let out a small laugh. “I’ll try.”
She pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat. “I got chocolate truffles for you. Don’t worry, they are without alcohol.”
I smiled and took one of the small treats.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?”
I swallowed the chocolate, then released a small sigh. “You can’t tell anyone, not even Renato, but maybe Samuel will tell him. He’s his best friend after all.”
“I’ll keep your secret.”
I confided in Giorgia and immediately felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders. For the road ahead, both Samuel and I needed support, and Giorgia had always been my best friend.
Pietro picked me up at the hospital with my wheelchair.
“Samuel hasn’t drunk anything since the car accident,” Pietro said as we headed to their mansion.
“That’s a good start.” That was only twelve hours, but I hoped it was really the beginning of him winning this battle.
When Pietro and I entered the mansion, both Ines and Samuel waited for us in the entry. Samuel came toward me, looking his usual sophisticated self, but for once in slacks and a sweater. “How are you?” he murmured.
“Better,” I said.
“And the little one?” He brushed his fingers over my bump.
“Kicking me all morning.”
Samuel smiled, then straightened. Ines took his place and pulled me in a tight hug.
“Would you like a tea?”
I nodded. “I need to have a word with Samuel first.”
Samuel led me toward his father’s office. I immediately noticed that all the liquor bottles were gone from the cabinet. “Dad hid them this morning when I slept on the sofa.”
“That makes sense.”
“You think I have so little restraint?” he asked quietly, stopping in front of me.
“What do you think?”
He sighed and squatted before me. “I know it’ll be hard, really hard, but I know why I’m doing it, and I won’t fail.”
I touched his hand, and he linked our fingers. “I think we should move in with your parents for a few days until the absolute worst of your withdrawal is over. It’s Christmas, so nobody will be surprised if we decide to be close as a family.”
Samuel nodded. “Perfect timing. Trying to get sober during Christmastime.”
“It would be the best Christmas present I could imagine if you didn’t drink until Christmas morning.”
“That’s only four more days.”
“The first few days will be the hardest, and the rest will be hard too. Addiction is a lifelong battle, Samuel.”
I had tried to read any article I could get my hands on in the past few months. I was far from being an expert, but I wanted to support Samuel as well as I could.
“I know. But I’ve never shied away from a battle, and I won’t start now. So will you stay here with me?”
“Of course, I won’t leave you alone.”