Page 33 of Hotel Mallois

"Things that can wait. You're more important. Take a quick shower and get dressed, I'll tell Mike to get the car ready."

Jodie doesn't argue, not only grateful that Katherine is coming with her but also that she's making the decisions right now, because she's so nervous that if Katherine hadn't reminded her she wasn't dressed, she would have left the penthouse in underwear and a sweatshirt.

An hour later they're walking through the nursing home's door. Jodie greets the staff and, despite being outside visiting hours, they let her see her mother given the circumstances. She doesn't know if it's because of the hit to her head or pure coincidence, but again, her mother recognizes her.

"Are you okay? How did it happen? You must have been terrified," she fires off, crouching in front of her.

Katherine observes from the doorway, not daring to enter, but Amanda's restless eyes fix on her immediately.

"Who is she?" she asks her daughter, and Jodie feels her cheeks suddenly burning.

She doesn't know how to introduce her, and she doesn't want to give too many explanations to avoid creating confusion in that already deteriorated mind, but Katherine saves her from the awkward moment and steps forward.

"I'm Katherine, I'm your daughter's friend," she says and extends her hand in greeting.

Amanda shakes it and smiles kindly before looking at Jodie, who remains frozen.

"This is the first time you've brought a friend," Amanda says, trying to draw Jodie out, who looks at the floor hoping a hole will open and swallow her.

"I'll bring her more often, Mom, though I hope it won't be because you've fallen. You really scared me."

Amanda nods, satisfied because there's something about this Katherine that she likes.

After spending some time in the room, they finally leave and Jodie walks furiously toward reception demanding to speak with the director, who is called immediately.

"Calm down," Katherine asks her in a soft whisper that partially achieves its effect, as Jodie sighs and leans against her while they wait.

"When it's about asking for money, he doesn't take this long to appear," Jodie mutters, making Katherine laugh.

The man appears after a few minutes and they follow him to an office, where he relates what happened.

"Apparently she slipped in the shower, fortunately it wasn't serious. She pressed the alert button and a caregiver came in right away," he explains calmly.

"What I don't understand is why she was showering alone, aren't the caregivers supposed to be there for that? To help them?" Jodie protests, though maintaining her composure.

The man clears his throat visibly uncomfortable before responding.

"What?" Jodie frowns.

"You see, Mrs. Sinclair, you pay a basic fee that only includes lodging, meals, and basic care assistance. The truth is your mother is at a point where, due to her illness, she should be assisted with many other things, like showering, helping her dress, accompanying her when she goes to the garden for walks..."

Jodie opens her mouth but can't say anything.

"You should consider upgrading to the intermediate care level, which is what she needs."

Silence settles in the office like a heavy slab. Jodie can't process what she's hearing, if she already has problems paying the basic fee, how will she pay the intermediate one? Not to mention this is the first she's heard about these different levels, or the shame she feels for not being able to care for her mother as she deserves.

"Thank you for everything, we'll discuss it and make a decision and let you know as soon as possible," Katherine intervenes, taking Jodie by the arm to get her out of the building before she faints.

Once outside, she takes her hand and leads her directly to the car.

"Where are we going?" Jodie asks, feeling like a doll in Katherine's hands.

"To eat at a place I know. You'll like it, it's very quiet," the businesswoman states.

Jodie doesn't protest, she needs these minutes in the car during the journey to think, and especially to process what has happened.

Katherine hasn't lied about the place being quiet, basically because it's a private room in one of New York's most expensive restaurants, where they're completely alone. For a moment, Jodie feels uncomfortable enjoying these luxuries while her mother is poorly cared for in the only facility she can afford to pay for, but she knows Katherine's intention in bringing her here isn't to show off everything she can afford, but to provide a quiet space for her to calm down, one just for them.

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