The delicate chain was in his pocket as Adam grabbed two bottles of water from his mother's fridge. Sarah was conked out. He'd peeked into her room and she was snoring with her headphones on. She was a good kid. They were going to go to one final family therapy session at the center and then bring his mom home. His fingers were crossed that things would hold together, but there was never any certainty about how his mom's sobriety would go. If things went sideways, Sarah could always join them at the farmhouse. There was room for her. He slid his hand into his pocket and twined the gold chain around his fingers. Mimi wouldn't be the kind of mom he'd grown up with. His heart ached every time he thought about her wearing the collar to please him.
Quiet as he could, he turned their bedroom door knob. They wouldn't be at his mom's house much longer. In the bedside lamp light, Mimi knelt on the floor next to his bed wearing only the slim black collar. When he entered, she reached up and touched the leather circle around her neck. "I didn't want to take it off."
He placed the water bottles on the dresser and went to her, his tasty cupcake. Adam knelt in front of her, settling his knees against the outside of hers. Her skin glowed, peaches and cream. Adam reached out and slid his fingers along the light scattering of freckles across her shoulders. "I'm glad. It looks pretty resting on your throat. Would you like me to get you a nicer one?" He traced her skin below the soft leather with a feather touch.
Mimi brought her fingertips to her sternum. "I like this one."
"It might not always go with the colorful things you like to wear."
She dampened her lips. "Does it mean the same thing if I have different colors?"
He brushed her curls behind her shoulders. "It does. I can get you a rainbow of them, and perhaps something elegant for when you want to dress up."
"What does this symbol mean to you?"
"That you are mine. Similar to a wedding ring, but different."
Her chin lifted. "And am I yours?"
"From the first breath you ever took." He slid the back of his fingers along the curve of her breast. "It just took me a little while to believe I deserved someone like you."
She shivered. "I don't know what I'm doing. Adam, I didn't plan for love or this belonging."
"We will figure it out together, baby girl." He bent forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We've got the rest of our lives."
Tears gathered on her lashes. "You promise?"
"I do."
***
Mimi...
With her suitcase fighting her, she pulled it along the stone path that led to the cabins. Adam had offered to drag it for her, but he was already carrying everything else: his suitcase, a laptop, two collapsible camp chairs, and a cooler they had filled with snacks. She was determined to manage one stupid overstuffed bag.
The path forked. One arrow said Guys and the other said Gals.
"Why can't we stay together?"
"That is part of the fun."
"Are you sure Sarah is going to be okay without us?"
"It's just a weekend, and Mom is home now. Sarah can call us through the main line in the counselor's cabin. The family session went well. I think she is going to get a grip on her life." He pointed down the path. "I signed you up for the Bluejay cabin, so you could have access to all the toys and swings that come with that area. If you decide that you'd rather play with letting your inner moody teen out, we can move you to the Woodpecker Cabin."