Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(39)

If Tate was willing to do the work, then I’d support her on this. And I’d talk to my stubborn ass of a best friend about getting on board for his sister’s sake. She needed him whether he believed in his father or not. He needed to be there for her.

“So that’s everything in a nutshell. You’ve got all the pricing there, and I discussed the deposit that I’d need before I could admit him.”

“Yep. Working on that right now. I should have the money here pretty quickly for you. And then the balance we can finance?”

“Yes. We’ll set up a payment plan. Are you handling the financial responsibility all on your own?” Lauren asked.

“Um, well,” Lila said as she looked away and gathered her thoughts. “Probably, yes. And I’m fine with that.”

“Are you going to be fine with it regardless of the outcome?”

“Of course.”

“What I mean is…” Lauren reached for Lila’s hand like they were old friends. They’d just met, but there was a comfort there. “I told you that I’ve been through this, Lila. That’s why I work here. But my outcome with my brother was not what I’d hoped for. And that can get tricky when you’re financially obligated to a program that might not work for your loved one.”

“I understand the risks. I’d spend every penny I have trying—otherwise, what is all the hard work for? I mean, my father is the only parent I have. I can’t bring my mother back. He’s here. He’s hurting. I won’t turn my back on him, ever. That’s not what you do when you love someone.”

Her tone was serious, and it was clear that she meant every word she said. She would never give up on her father. I used to be in the same camp as Travis, where I worried she’d lose herself trying to save him. But today, I got it.

She wasn’t going to lose herself. She was just a woman who loved hard. And she didn’t give up on the people she cared about. It wasn’t something to pity. It was something I admired. The blind faith that Tate would figure it out, even after all he’d done.

Hell, I was cheering for the dude now, too.

“I get that, I really do. We’re very similar in our convictions.” Lauren paused and smiled as she squeezed Lila’s hand still in hers. “Would you consider doing something as a personal favor to me?”

“Yes. Name it.”

“I’ll get your father in as soon as you have the deposit money. We’ll move him to the top of the list. But I want you to go talk to someone. It’s important. This is not easy, and I want you to be okay, as well.”

“Okay. Like a therapist?” Lila asked.

“Yep. Will you promise me you’ll do that?”

“Um, er, I can try.”

“I can promise you she’ll do it. I know a great therapist who will do it pro bono,” I said with a wink. My mother was well known in Cottonwood Cove as the best listener in town, but it was also her profession. She was amazing at her job, and I knew she’d be thrilled to work with Lila. She’d always worried about her and Travis when they were kids after all they’d gone through.

“Oh, you think she’d be willing to see me?” Lila looked at me before glancing back at Lauren. “Hugh’s mom is a family therapist.”

Lauren smiled. “Oh, that’s amazing.”

“She would for sure be willing to see you, as often as you needed. She loves you; you know that.”

“Okay, then. I promise. And I’ll get you that money very soon.”

“All right. And your father seems ready to do this?” Lauren asked as we all pushed to our feet.

“Yes. He’s on board. I feel really good about this. Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me and for all that you’re doing for my father.”

“I’m happy to help any way I can. And you’ll follow through on that therapy appointment, right?” Lauren’s voice was teasing, but her gaze landed on me, and I nodded. She was counting on me to make sure it happened.

“You can count on it,” I said. And I would make sure it happened, even if it meant I had to carry her to my mother’s office myself.

Lila hugged her goodbye, and I held up my hand and waved as we made our way back to the truck. She didn’t fight me when I helped her in the truck and reached over to fasten her seat belt. She was quiet. Deep in thought. Probably trying to figure out how the fuck she was going to come up with this deposit money.

Once I got in the driver’s seat and we pulled down the long driveway, I glanced over at her. “You okay?”

“Yes. Yeah, of course. Just trying to figure out how it’s all going to work.”

“How much is the deposit?”

She cleared her throat. “The initial deposit is eight thousand dollars. And then the rest is paid over time.”

I nodded. “And you have that kind of money?”

She’d just graduated from college, and she’d told me that her internship with the company who was holding a job for her had been unpaid. I couldn’t fathom where she’d saved eight thousand bucks. She hadn’t been working for me long enough to have made that much.

“My car is for sale. That’s why I’ve been walking everywhere. I don’t need one while I’m home, and I truly don’t need one in Chicago. I can take public transportation everywhere. It’s actually easier that way.”