Page 12 of Firefighter Midlife Wolf

“That’s because I don’t like to be drugged,” Verna snapped. “There’s a pill for everything these days. Everyone is so eager to give you those little orange bottles from the pharmacy. Modern medicine has its place, but there’s such a thing as too much.”

“I’m going to get started while we chat.” Jessica came over to Verna and began taking her vitals. She had a feeling the crotchety woman was going to feel like the two of them discussing anything about her health would be an attack. Older folks especially could be sensitive to these things, and Verna didn’t seem to be a big fan of her niece. “Verna, have you been having difficulty remembering what medication to take and when? We can have the pharmacy work up multi-dose packs that have the date and time on them. Then you don’t have to think about it or wonder if you’ve remembered.”

“I can remember just fine,” Verna growled.

Jessica removed the blood pressure cuff. “It’s something to think about, so just let me know if you want to do that.” She pulled her thermometer from her bag and scanned her patient’s forehead.

Verna sneered at the device. “The next thing I know, you’ll be telling me I have to go to the bathroom at certain times of the day.”

“Now, Verna,” Darcy cooed. She reached over to lay her hand on Verna’s, but the old woman snatched hers away. Darcy settled for rubbing her fingers over the arm of the chair. “I know it seems like a lot, but we just want to make sure you’re taken care of. It’s the least you deserve in your golden years.”

“Golden years,” Verna muttered. “Bullshit. It’d be my golden years if everyone left me the hell alone and stopped treating me like I might drop dead any second.”

“According to your vitals, I think you’re doing just fine.” Jessica used the shoulder of her scrub top to wipe away the bead of sweat that was dripping down from her temple. “Is it warm in here to anyone else?”

“That’s her fault.” Verna jabbed her thumb toward her niece.

“Yes, I’ll fix that.” Darcy got up from her seat and crossed the room to the thermostat. “I know sometimes Verna gets a bit chilly, and I don’t want her to be uncomfortable.”

“Please. I’ve never needed anyone else to take care of me for the last hundred and thirty-five years, and I sure don’t now. It’s not like I couldn’t walk over there and hit the fucking button myself if I were cold. Or get a blanket.” The old woman let out an impatient sigh.

Jessica pressed her lips together, restraining any comment about Verna’s slip of the tongue. She was certainly a senior citizen, but she definitely wasn’t over a century old. “Everything is looking good. Is there anything I can do for you today, Verna?”

“Just tell me when you’re going to go out with that firefighter.” A small smile flashed across Verna’s face, the first Jessica had seen since she’d arrived. “The two of you are a good match in several ways, I think.”

Darcy put her hands on her narrow hips. “Aunt Verna, it’s not nice to live vicariously through someone else’s love life.”

“You wouldn’t have me living at all, would you?” Verna retorted.

“Jessica, I wouldn’t mind your opinion on this bathroom off the kitchen. It’s supposed to be up to ADA standards, but I really think it could use more grab bars.” Darcy marched into the next room, but turned on her heel as soon as the door closed behind Jessica. “Sorry. That was just a ruse so Verna couldn’t hear what I really wanted to talk to you about.”

“What can I do for you?” Jessica’s eyes drifted over Darcy’s shoulder, where she spotted the open door to the bathroom. From this angle, she could see the grab bars in the shower and surrounding the toilet, with plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair or walker if need be. Darcy wasn’t concerned, she knew, but the nurse in her was automatically assessing it. She was seeing just how difficult it could be for someone who was ill, injured, or disabled to get around their homes without the proper equipment and support.

Darcy sighed and ran her hands down her face. “This is really hard.”

“It’s all right. Caregivers often feel stressed and overwhelmed. Support groups can really help,” Jessica offered.

“I just might take you up on that, but this is more than that.” Darcy frowned deeply, sending cascading lines down each side of her face. “I think Aunt Verna is really starting to lose it. That’s not the right medical terminology, I know, but I’m sure you understand what I mean. I think she needs to be put in a home.”

This was a conversation Jessica had known was inevitable in this line of work, though this was the first time she’d experienced it. She felt a little dip in her stomach, knowing this wasn’t an easy decision for families. “Has Verna expressed any interest?”

“She’s a bit resistant,” Darcy admitted. “She thinks she’s fully functional and independent, but you heard what she said about being over a hundred years old. If she’s slipping that badly, I’m worried about what might happen to her when no one is around.”

“I can understand your concern,” Jessica said carefully. She rested her hands on the back of a kitchen chair and noticed Verna’s pill organizer on the table in front of her. According to which slots were flipped open and empty, Verna really didn’t need any help remembering when to take her medication. “She does have her MediCheck button, which she can push if she needs assistance, and I’ve personally seen how quickly they respond. Ultimately, it’s up to Verna to make the decision if she needs to move to a place that gives her more support.”

“Which she’ll never do on her own,” Darcy stated, her voice hardening a bit. “It’s frustrating because I know I can take care of everything for her if she’d just let me. I need to have her sign over power of attorney. Then she won’t have to worry about anything even as small as paying her bills. She won’t listen to me, though, and I need your help.”

Alarm bells rang in Jessica’s head. She started to sweat again and wondered if Darcy had turned the temperature down at all. “Verna is still independent, and I can’t see that she’s doing anything that would put her in danger. This is all up to her.”

“Please.” Darcy pressed her hands together in front of her chest and wrinkled her forehead in concern. “Aunt Verna seems to like you. Even if you just talked to her about it as an option, I think it would make a big difference.”

Clearly, this woman didn’t know how to take no for an answer. “I’m sorry, Darcy. That’s not my job. I can’t do it, and frankly, I won’t. I’m sure you can understand how that would be an ethical issue for me.”

The sweet look on Darcy’s face disappeared instantly, and her features turned hard. “Fine. I thought visiting nurses were supposed to help their patients, but you obviously don’t care about Verna’s best interests. I might be calling your agency and telling them to send someone else.”

“You’re welcome to speak to my supervisor if you have an issue,” Jessica said evenly, though she was raging inside. Her wolf was pissed that anyone should question her that way or threaten to tattle on her like a child on the playground. Jessica hadn’t liked something about Darcy in the first place, and her instincts were proving to be spot on. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my time here is done for today.”

Stepping back out of the kitchen, she forced a smile for Verna’s sake as she picked up her bag. “I’ll see you next time, Verna. You take care!” Jessica hurried quickly out the door, grateful for the much cooler air surrounding her the second she was outside. She couldn’t believe a family member was trying to take advantage of Verna and had threatened to call Jessica’s supervisor.

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