Alex sat at the kitchen table, holding an empty bottle of wine. "She needs help." Alex sighed as she watched Jimmy pace back and forth across the small kitchen.
"I know that Alex." Jimmy's voice was tense and he stopped to finger the wine glass, recognizing it from their wedding. He picked it up and ran his fingers over the smooth glass absentmindedly. "I just don't know who exactly we should go to. Do we take her to the ER when she wakes up. Or do we contact her doctor and get some sort of referral. If she goes to the ER, they'll put a hold on her."
"But we can't let her stay here, what if she does it again. And even if one of us stayed with her what if we fell asleep and she tried something while we were sleeping. I just never even thought…"
Kim woke up to find herself lying on her couch and for a moment had no idea what she was doing there. Then she moved and her head pounded and she remembered drinking a lot of wine and then going into the bathroom and… "Oh God," she moaned softly. She stood up slowly swaying. She heard the voices coming from her kitchen and walked towards the kitchen and stood outside of the doorway, listening.
"I know, I didn't either Jimmy. Nobody knew. We just have to figure out how to deal with this."
"God, what about
Joey?" Jimmy slammed his fist down on the counter. "What am I
going to tell him?"
From outside of the kitchen Kim let out a
sob. Joey, how could she have forgotten? In the Kitchen Jimmy and
Alex stopped talking and she knew they'd heard her. Sure enough in
a matter of seconds Jimmy had walked out and found her.
"Kim?" He said softly. "How long have you been standing there?"
"I...I just got there," She lied, her words a little bit slurred from the wine. "Jimmy listen, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to hurt you or Joey or anyone I just…I can't…I don't…" Her voice broke and she looked down.
"Listen," Jimmy put his hands on her face and lifted her head so she was looking at him. "I know you didn't, you just need some help right now and Alex and I can't do that. I'll support you however I can, but I can't help you on my own. Alex and I are going to take you to the ER. But we're going to be there with you and-"
"-no Jimmy please, they'll take Joey away from me if I get locked up and I don't want…" She broke off as he put his finger over her lips, shushing her.
"I'm not taking Joey from you right no Kimmy, but if you don't get help I can't let him stay with you. It's not fair for him to come and find you passed out or even worse dead. You know it's not right that you'd rather be dead. Please Kim, don't make me force you." He paused, brushing the hair from her face. "Kim, please I'm scared. I don't want to get a call telling me you're dead." She paused for a moment studying his face. With a shaking hand she reached up and traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips. Then slowly, she nodded, without saying a word.
"There's my girl," he whispered as she buried her face against his chest. Then under his breath, "Thank God."
