Chapter 13: Carrie

Rebuilding my relationship with Ernie was a long, slow process. We had good days, and bad days. Sometimes, we were over the moon, and other days he called me at work to check if I was, indeed, working late.

When I came home, he apologized to me for his lack of trust.

“I understand why you did it, Ernie,” I said.

I was certain my drinking days were behind me. Staying sober was my unwavering goal, and I was committed to doing whatever it took.

I discussed the situation with Cindy, and she assured me that Ernie’s attitude was normal and emphasized the importance of patience.

“I understand it’s uncomfortable,” she said. “Rebuilding trust takes time. My mom used to say, ‘You hike seven miles into the woods, you have to hike seven miles out.’ The more time that passes, the easier it will become. Trust me on this.” She continued, “Being transparent and consistently demonstrating your reliability is the key.”

“Patience isn’t my strong suit,” I admitted, with a sigh.

So, to work on my patience, I signed up for a yoga class at the community center. Amber, a recent addition to our A.A. group, was a yoga teacher. She had recently moved to Middletown, and invited all of us to her class.