Monroe walked up to her father’s house as she spoke on the phone. “I’m just stopping by dad’s to have lunch with him. I’ll be home soon, I love you.” She hung up the phone as she reached his door. She knocked on the door and waited for a moment. When no reply came, she knocked again. “Is he not home?”

Monroe gripped the doorknob and turned it. “It’s open…” She stepped inside as her eyes adjusted to the low lights of the house. After a moment she spotted him; her father was on the floor, a graveyard of beer bottles surrounded him.

Monroe gasped running over to him and kneeling beside him, trying to shake him for signs of life. “Papá! Please wake up!”

Mario opened his mouth wide and snored. Monroe’s panic subsided and was replaced with irritation. She looked around the living room. He had been drinking heavily. She felt disappointment growing in her chest. “It’s 3:00 pm. How is he drunk right now?”

She struggled to get up, her belly was getting too big for her to manage. Once she was on her feet, she swung her leg back and kicked her father in the ribs. “Wake up!”

Mario yelped as he twisted on the floor, leaning on his arms as he gathered himself. “Ow! Hey quit it!”

Monroe watched him with hard eyes. “We were going to have lunch together. Remember?! What are you even doing drinking at this hour?”

“Oh…I’m sorry mija. I lost track of time. Give me a few minutes, I’ll get ready for lunch.” He said apologetically.

Monroe swung her arm back, wildly gesturing at him. “No! I’ve had enough of this! You said you were going to make a change! Is this a change?! This is just the same shit I grew up with! You know, Darcy just lost his brother to addiction. I’m not going to just stand here and watch my father drink himself to death!”

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she reached for her belly, trying to soothe herself by rubbing it. “It was bad enough seeing you do this to yourself when I was growing up. But now? Now I’m having my own children, and I’ll never expose them to this.”

Mario’s voice was strained as he spoke. “What are you saying, Monroe?”

Monroe knew this was it. There was no other way. “I’m saying get sober or lose me and your grandsons forever.”

Mario watched her with a slacked jaw, his shock evident. “You would keep my grandsons away from me?”

Monroe was planted on the ground firmly; unwilling to bend. “If that’s what it takes.”

Monroe watched him process for a moment before she continued. “Apa, you have to understand, I’m not doing this to hurt you. But seeing you like this hurts me. It has always hurt me, and I never asked you to stop. Not once. But I’m asking you now. Please, please stop.”

Mario had tears in his eyes. He didn’t know how to respond. “I…I’ve tried to stop before, mija. It never sticks. I don’t know how to get better.”

Monroe watched him for a second, deliberating whether she would open up to him or not. She thought of George in that casket. Cold and lifeless, she imagined her father the same way. She knew she had to open up. It was a matter of life or death. “I…I got better.”

Mario watched her with shocked eyes. “W-What?”

Monroe’s eyes dropped to the ground as she tried to get the words out. “I’m an alcoholic too, but I got better. I never told you because I was afraid you’d feel bad. But you need to know, there is hope.”

Mario regarded her tenderly. These were uncharted waters; things Monroe and Mario had never acknowledged aloud. “I knew. I always knew.”

Monroe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You…you knew? How?”

How could he not? “I guess it takes one to know one. I never said anything because…I felt responsible.”

Monroe closed her eyes and sighed. It wasn’t his fault. “I don’t blame you. I made bad decisions, that’s all.”

Mario watched the ground for a moment before he spoke again. “So…your recovery stuck, huh?”

Monroe smiled at him as she spoke, hoping her words of encouragement was all he needed to make a change. “It did. I’m not going to lie to you, it’s work. Some days are easier than others, but I have a great support system, and I go to therapy and support groups.”

Mario raised a brow skeptically. “Support groups? That junk works?”

Monroe looked at him seriously. “I admit, it’s not for everyone. It can be a bit off-putting at times, but I appreciate the community. I’d like you to at least try it.”

Mario grimaced. He wasn’t sure he could do it. “I don’t know if I can do the steps. You know I don’t believe in anything.”

Monroe watched him sympathetically. “Darcy and I don’t believe in anything either. I didn’t do the steps. I simply go to the meetings and listen. Sometimes I speak. I just appreciate the support. So please, consider it. Have you been going to therapy like we discussed.”

Mario fidgeted with his hands as he answered. “I have…it’s been very difficult, but it helps.” He stayed quiet for a moment and then continued. “Don’t you think it’s too late for me to get sober? I’m an old man now.”

Monroe smiled at him, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. “It’s never too late.”

***

               Monroe opened the door to her home and entered swiftly. She was exhausted. The conversation with her father had been very emotionally taxing. She turned to the living room and spotted Darcy; his eyes were lost in a book. “I’m home!”

Darcy put the book down as he watched Monroe walk over to him. “Hello love.”

Monroe kicked off her shoes and sat down on the couch beside him, bringing her feet up to Darcy’s lap. “Please tell me there’s food here.”

Darcy rubbed her feet gently as he spoke. “I can order something. Didn’t you eat with your dad? I thought you two were having lunch.”

Monroe rubbed her belly as she frowned, recalling the tumultuous evening. “Things didn’t go exactly as planned. I showed up and he was passed out drunk. I woke him up and we had a long conversation about his drinking.”

Darcy’s eyebrows pinched together with concern. “Oh…how did it go?”

Her expression fell. “I told him to clean up or lose me and his grandsons forever.”

Darcy didn’t like the sound of that. He knew how much Monroe loved her dad, his potential absence in her life would devastate her. “And…what did he say?”

Monroe dropped her head back on the arm of the couch as she looked at the ceiling. “He said he needs a few days to gather his thoughts. So we’re taking a bit of a break.”

Darcy’s heart sank. He only hoped Mario would make the right choice. “Oh Mon.”

Her eyes met his as she spoke, she didn’t smile, but her tone seemed hopeful. “It’ll be okay. I think he’ll make the right choice.”

“You must be tired. Why don’t you just keep resting and I’ll order you some food.” He said as he pulled out his phone and dialed for takeout.

Monroe closed her eyes for a moment as she laid on the couch, speaking softly as she did. “Ugh, yes please. I’m exhausted and I’m starving.”

After Darcy was done ordering, he turned to look at Monroe. She was snoring and breathing in evenly. He smiled; he would wake her after he picked up the food. But for now, he was just going to enjoy this moment. Her easy breaths brought him comfort, he loved her. He got up from his spot and set her feet down gingerly, taking a blanket and draping it over her after a moment.