When we reach the waterfall, my friends are drying off on some nearby steps, the sun casting a golden glow over the scene.
Timmy wastes no time hopping into the water, donning a mandatory life vest, and swimming around with a huge grin on his face.
“What happened last night?” my friend asks, with Timmy well out of earshot.
I fill her in.
Her eyes widen. “Oh my god. You woke up in the plants? He just left you there?”
“Yeah,” I sigh, trying to shrug it off. “He does this kind of shit. I was worried about bringing him, but he was fine until after we left you guys. Then he got upset with me over nothing. I expected him to come back, but he never did.”
She shakes her head. “Wow,” she says, probably unsure of what else to say.
After Timmy is done swimming, we meander our way back through the gardens and check out a cute farmer’s market at the entrance to the facility.
We take a couple of group pictures, and then I hug my friends goodbye and wish them safe travels.
Their visit could have been worse—much worse—if I put it into perspective.
Sure, I would love to not have woken up sprawled in a garden of plants at one of the nicest hotels in Sunset Cay.
I would have loved for Timmy not to have started an argument and slept in his truck for a few hours—if that’s even really where he was.
But nobody was hurt, and most importantly, my friends’ trip wasn’t ruined. That’s the most I can ask for when it comes to him.
With Timmy, I’ve learned to count my blessings—wherever I can find them, and no matter how small they may be.
CHAPTER 36
A VERY BOUNCY DAY
MARGAUX
For the rest of our trip back to our apartment, and for the remainder of the day, Timmy continues to be apologetic, reflective even, and continues to swear he’ll follow through on his promises.
The next day, I update Alice about the truck and gardens escapade:
Alice:
The hell did he go?
Me:
I think it was a wake-up call for him. He’s apologized, and we had some good conversations where he realizes how much he’s been fucking up lately.
So there’s a plan, and we will see (therapist and meds adjustment, and not drinking so much).
Other than that, visiting with my friends was soooo nice!
And there were no runaway incidents yesterday.
When he was sleeping in his truck, he tried to make me think he was at his friend’s club, but it sounded like he was bluffing to piss me off, and was in the truck the whole time.
Which he now says he realizes was incredibly dumb
Alice:
I'll be curious to see if he follows through with the therapy and meds. My ex used to say the same in moments of clarity.