Page 50 of The Right Kind of Wrong

CHAPTER 18

Evelyn

“I knew I'd find you here.”

I'd been hiding out every day for the past week at Nana's house. Mornings would be spent at the hospital with her, praying for a change but nothing ever happened. If she didn't show any improvement tonight she'd be disconnected the next morning.

Jenna sat next to me and I heard the rustling of papers. I didn't pay much attention because frankly, I didn't care. It was probably school work I was behind with anyways. The semester no longer mattered just like the rest of my family didn't either.

“Nathan's been worried about you. Says you won't talk to him.”

“He wants Nana dead like the rest of them.” I rolled my eyes, bringing my knees up to my chest and leaning my head on them. “I don't want to talk to him, I don't want to talk to anyone really so it's best if you leave.”

Jenna snorted, nudging me with her elbow. “You remember my mom is a notary, right?”

I shrugged not really caring what Jenna was about to say. She picked up the papers she'd set next to her, placing them in front of me. When I didn't pick them up she sighed, looking through them.

“Your grandmother, Carter, and Nate discussed this extensively in front of my mom.” My eyebrows furrowed at her words but I listened, now eager to hear what she had to say. “I have in my hands the original copy of her living will, in which she states that Nathan Maxwell is the person she designated as her power of attorney, the person who will decide what will happen if something should happen to her.” Jenna paused and I could feel her eyes on me, assessing whether or not to continue.

“What else?”

“Well, Anne never states specifically how long she would approve to be kept on a ventilator or life support, but she was clear that she wouldn't want it to be that long. Nathan wasn't lying, Eves, she didn't want to be kept alive that way and trust me, that's not an easy decision to make. He doesn't want to make the call, Evie, but Anne was clear: she didn't want your mom making it both because she’d make it for the wrong reasons and because she couldn't ask you since you're her little girl, Evie. She didn't want that pressure on you.”

I pushed back a sob, clearing my throat before speaking up. “It's only a week, Jen. Why can't he give her longer? Miracles happen, don't they?”

My friend wrapped her arm around me, squeezing my arm. “Here are medical records, Evie. Nate is open for you to get any doctor, whoever you want so that they can reevaluate her condition, but these tests were done earlier today and nothing has changed. In fact, she's deteriorating.”

“So there's nothing left to do?” I asked.

Jenna shook her head sadly. “I'm sorry, Evie. I know the last thing you want to do is be at the hospital but you need to be there for your Nana. If there's anyone that your Nana would want to be with her, it's you.”

***

I walked through the hallways of the hospital. The day had arrived and I was nowhere near ready. I would never be ready. When I arrived at Nana's room, Nathan was sitting at the edge of her bed, running a hand through her hair. Carter stood behind him, a hand on his shoulder while my mom stood at the other side of the room, looking at her watch.

“Hannah is never late. We need to work on your punctuality,” my dad scolded me. “You're half an hour late.”

I was, and I didn't care. I would have done anything to keep Nana alive if only a few minutes more. Hannah wasn't there yet.

The room was tense and by the way my parents looked at Nathan, it was clear I'd missed an argument.

“I'll go get a nurse.” I took a step back.

Nathan cleared his throat and stood up, gesturing for me to take a seat. “You shouldn't have to get the nurse,” he said with a small smile. “I'll go.”

I nodded and sat, completely tuning out my mom and dad. Their business talk didn't matter. Nothing else mattered but these last few moments I'd have with my grandmother. She looked so weak and as I took in the sight of her lying motionless and fragile, I knew that this was the right decision. Nana had always been so full of life. This wasn't what she'd like.

“I love you, Nana,” I told her one last time, placing a kiss on her forehead. “I miss you already, but you can go. Everything will be okay.”

The next few minutes went by rather quickly. The doctor walked in along with a nurse and explained what would be happening. I couldn't focus on what they said though, my eyes were glued on the woman who'd been my mother and friend; the only one worth it in the family and now she was leaving.

Swallowing, I watched as the machines keeping her alive began to shut down, the tubes helping her breathing removed from her body. I pretended not to hear the strangled gasp that left her throat.

“Is Hannah not going to be here?” I asked Nathan.

He shook his head. No further explanation was needed; I perfectly understood what my sister's priorities were.

That didn't make it hurt less.

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