Terri Blackstock - Intervention

Books by Terri Blackstock

Double Minds

Soul Restoration

Emerald Windows

Restoration Series

| Last Light

| Night Light

| True Light

| Dawn's Light

Cape Refuge Series

| Cape Refuge

| Southern Storm

| River's Edge

| Breaker's Reef

Newpointe 911

| Private Justice

| Shadow of Doubt

| Word of Honor

| Trial by Fire

| Line of Duty

Sun Coast Chronicles

| Evidence of Mercy

| Justifiable Means

| Ulterior Motives

| Presumption of Guilt

Second Chances

| Never Again Good-bye

| When Dreams Cross

| Blind Trust

| Broken Wings

With Beverly LaHaye

| Seasons Under Heaven

| Showers in Season

| Times and Seasons

| Season of Blessing

Novellas

Seaside

Other Books

The Listener

The Gifted

The Heart Reader of Franklin High

The Gifted Sophomores

Covenant Child

Sweet Delights

Intervention
Copyright (c) 2009 by Terri Blackstock

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ePub Edition August 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-31316-8

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Blackstock, Terri, 1957 -.

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This book is lovingly dedicated to the Nazarene.

Table of Contents

T his book was a special labor of love, because I firmly believe that our culture is killing our kids. The story is fictional, but unfortunately, its truths apply to many families across the world today. For that reason, I'd like to say to all of those who are fighting for the lives of their addicted loved ones, that you are not alone. This is your story, and I hope it brings you some comfort and hope.

To those of you trapped in the bondage of addiction, it's your story too. The hill you're climbing may look insurmountable, and your prison bars (whether spiritual or literal), may seem impenetrable.

But Jesus came to set the captives free.

To all those treatment centers and recovery homes that aren't motivated by money -- the ones that truly strive to repair shattered lives -- I salute you. May God give you many victories, and empower you in multiple ways. You do make a difference.

T he interventionist stood on the sidewalk at baggage claim, smoking a cigarette and chugging a Red Bull. What irony. The woman who'd promised to help rid Barbara's daughter of her addictions clearly had a few of her own. Barbara considered driving past her, leaving her to get back on the plane and return to the rehab she ran. She could work this out herself -- lock Emily in her room and take away her car keys, force her to stay sober. But hadn't she already tried that? Despite Barbara's best efforts to turn their home into a lockdown, Emily still managed to sneak out and get high.

How had this happened?

That familiar knot burned in Barbara's stomach as she pulled to the curb and waved at the woman. It had to be her -- the long red skirt, the white peasant blouse, just as she'd said. The outfit made her look more like a college student than someone who could escort a determined addict across the country. What if Emily put up a fight? How would this petite thing handle her?

Barbara stopped along the curb and pulled the lever under the dashboard, popping her trunk. Forcing a welcoming smile, she got out of the car. "Hi, are you Trish?"

"Sure am." The woman dropped her cigarette on the concrete and stomped it out with a sandaled foot, then thrust a hand out to Barbara. "Trish Massey."

"I'm Barbara Covington."

Barbara glanced at the small bag at the woman's feet. "Is this all you have?"

"Yeah, I won't be here long."

She picked up Trish's bag and set it on the backseat as Trish got into the car. Barbara slipped back into the driver's seat. The car that she'd freshened with Febreze suddenly smelled of smoke. "How was your trip?"

"Uneventful, which is always a good thing." Trish was all smiles. "So where did you tell Emily you were going?"

"To an Al-Anon meeting."

"And that's okay with her?"

Barbara breathed a laugh. "Oh, yeah. She likes it when I'm working on her problem. She would love it if everybody she knew were going to meetings and wringing their hands. She loves to keep us playing the What-To-Do-About-Emily game."

There she went again, letting her bitterness spill out to a stranger.

"Meetings are good," Trish said. "Have you really been to any?"

Barbara slipped the car into Drive and pulled away from baggage claim, heading to the loop that would take them out of the airport and into Jefferson City. "Plenty. I've done the workbooks and gone through the twelve steps, like I'm the one with the problem. I've done everything they've told me to do. But she's still using."

"Al-Anon meetings are to help you cope, not to give you some secret code to sober up your loved one."

Barbara knew that now. She'd gone to a few meetings, hoping to learn what would work with Emily. When she didn't get those answers, she'd lost interest. Her own sanity would return when her daughter was sane.

Strange, that a woman who couldn't be more than thirty would be counseling Barbara now. And who was Trish to counsel an eighteen-year-old? Emily would take one look at her and declare her dominance.

What was she doing? Maybe this was all wrong.

"You're doing the right thing," Trish said, as though she'd read Barbara's mind.