Piper was aware of the big man at her side. Felt his sadness, and the turmoil that was going on inside his head.

“You’ll get a headache if you keep that up.”

“What?”

“Overthinking.”

“It’s why I’m good at my job. I can go from A to B, then Z before returning to A.”

“Nice, and handy it has to be said, but right now you can’t make this right, Dylan. Ava has a problem that she is going to need support to get through, and you can offer her that and more, but ultimately she will need to make the decision to change.”

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

“I was addicted to cocaine. That was why my mom brought me here. She worked hard, and long hours, and I spent time on my own. I hooked up with these other kids, one had lots of money but no parental guidance, so we got high.”

“Christ, what were you? Ten?”

“Twelve. Mom found out because one night she came home early from work and found me and Joanie wired in the house. Short story, she left her job and drove here. Coming to Ryker Falls changed my life.”

“I’m telling you this because the battle to give up was hell. I was a demon to my mom. I hated the world and everyone in it. She locked me in my room here and wouldn’t open it unless I needed the bathroom or a meal. At night she slept beside me, holding me when I was crying, washing my face when I was sweating. She put up with a lot from me. She was also dealing with Joe going off the rails, and a wild Luke and Jack.”

“She sounds like an amazing lady.”

“More than, but the point here is that I know what Ava is about to go through, and it’s not going to be easy. If they detected the cocaine in her blood then she’s used within the last four days, Dylan.”

He looked up the road and she knew he was thinking about her words.

“I know, and I won’t leave her again.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. That above everything else will be important to her now.”

He shot her a look but didn’t speak again, as they’d just entered the main street.

“Well, look at that sweet picture.”

Piper smiled as Fin approached. Dressed in his uniform, he was his usual vital self.

“You all look cute together.”

“Funny, Hudson,” Dylan said.

Fin’s face changed and the smile dropped as he studied Dylan’s face.

“Hey sorry, bud, heard about your family. How’s your mom and Ava doing?”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Well, you let me know if you need anything, and don’t forget we have the pool tournament tomorrow tonight. It sounds to me like you could do with a break.”