Page 34 of Brandishing Betrayals
“It’s okay,” Jenna said. “It’s going to be okay.”
I wished I could believe that, I really did. “Dad’s bills are piling up and Luke just had a damn growth spurt. He’s going to needall new clothes before school starts.” I sniffled as tears welled in my eyes.
I’m such a shitty mom. I can’t even afford new clothes for my son.
“Hey, you don’t need to worry about Dad’s bills. Just let them go,” Jenna advised.
I shook my head. “They’ll stop treating him if we stop paying. You know that, Jenna. You’re a damn doctor.”
“Yeah, and I also know they can’t refuse to care for a patient!” Jenna shot back. She sighed and I heard her take another deep breath. “Look sis, I know you moved there wanting to help mom and dad as much as you can, but Dad’s not going to get better from this. He’s barely hanging on as it is. You should bring in hospice care and relieve some of the burdens and stress from you and mom.”
“But he’s not dying…hospice won’t come until he’s close to the end. Besides being completely bed bound and nonverbal… he’s not dying.” I was tired of the same argument I’d had countless times with my sister. For being a doctor, Jenna could be completely uncaring sometimes.
“He needs more care than either of you can provide. He should be in a facility,” Jenna said.
“Which we can’t afford and insurance won’t cover.” I rolled my eyes. “Look Jen, I can’t do this right now.”
“I’m sorry Maya. I wish I could help more.”
“Don’t worry about it, sister. I’ll take care of it.” I didn’t know how, but as usual, I’d figure it out.
“You should really talk to the police or your guys about what’s happening with Hillcrest. I might not agree with what they do, but they’d be the ones to help.”
I shook my head again. Shecould notgo to my guys about Dax Hillcrest. It would only cause more problems across the boardfor all of us—which was the last thing we needed. “Maybe,” I conceded, placating my sister.
“Are you still coming up here next weekend?”
“Yep.” I didn’t know how I’d afford the gas and whatever else we’d need up north, but I would make it happen. I knew Luke was looking forward to seeing his old friends.
“Alright. I’ll see you then. I love you,” Jenna said. As usual, she just brushed things under the rug, acting like they weren’t as big a deal to her as they were to me.
“I love you too,” I told my sister before I hung up the phone. I felt more dejected than I had before I’d spoken with Jenna. My sister just didn’t get it.
I left my room and headed out into the living room to find my mother sitting in the recliner. It was rare that my mother left my father’s side—he often got agitated if he was left alone for too long.
“Was that Jenna?” my mother asked, cutting right to the chase.
“Yeah,” I said, taking a seat on the couch across from her.
My mother hummed noncommittedly, not looking away from the TV. “Are you still going up there next weekend?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
“And what of Luke and his father?”
I ran my hands through my messy curls, pulling my hair from the roots. I was so sick of these damn conversations. “Marcos knows we’re going up there.”
My mother tsked under her breath.
I rolled my eyes. “What?”
“I just think he should be with his father. He’s been without him for too long.”
I gritted my teeth. “And I’m not keeping him from Marcos. We’re going to see Jenna for three days: Friday throughSunday.” I spelled it out for my mother, trying to reign in my temper.
Again, my mother hummed.
“I gotta go, Mom. I’ll be back later.” I stood from the couch, not caring that it was almost eight o’clock at night. I couldn’t stay in the house a moment longer.
