Page 33 of The Wish
‘Is this why you wanted to see me?’
Kelly sits back in her chair. ‘I’m afraid we have a problem.’
Alex looks directly at her. The ball is in her court.
‘Dean has left instructions with the staff that you are not allowed near Jesse,’ she blurts out.
‘How is that my problem?’
Kelly stares back at him, clearly at a loss. ‘Well, how can you make Jesse’s wish if—’
‘Look. This is how I see it. I was asked to do a job, I’m here to do it and if you have a problem getting me access to Jesse, then that’s your problem, not mine.’
‘You’re being unreasonable, don’t you understand . . .’
‘Oh, I understand. Either you make it possible for me to see Jesse or there is no wish. You have to deal with the father, not me.’
Kelly stands, clearly outraged. ‘You’re refusing to help here, is that what you’re saying?’
Alex also stands, placing both his hands on the desk, leaning towards Kelly, who doesn’t budge.
‘I’m going back to my office now to tell my boss I was here twice yesterday, when I was verbally attacked by Jesse’s father, and again today but unfortunately the social worker has been unable to get me access to the patient, to Jesse.’ His voice changes to sorry and pathetic. ‘I tried my best, boss, I truly did but her father won’t let me see her, according to the social worker, that is.’
‘What if Dean doesn’t find out? What if you work with Jesse and Dean needn’t know?’
‘Sneak around behind his back, looking over my shoulder in case he sees me and comes after me, is that what you’re asking me to do?’
‘No. Yes, kind of, just be careful but do what you can for Jesse.’
Alex shakes his head in frustration. He turns and leaves.
As Alex leaves the office Kelly comes around from her desk and calls out to his retreating back, walking down the department corridor, ‘I was right all along, you are an arrogant—’
‘Arrogant what?’ Alex says, turning back to look at her.
‘Person, male, thing, whatever.’
Kelly slumps into the chair Alex has just vacated and her colleague George from the office across the corridor comes in, sitting in the second chair.
‘Well, that didn’t go well then,’ he says, ‘anything I can do to help?’
‘Why are men such jerks?’ she asks.
When he doesn’t answer Kelly looks at him apologetically. ‘I’m sorry, George, not all men, just some.’
‘That one, huh?’
‘Yeah.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I have to talk to Jesse; I’ve got to tell her about her father refusing Alex access to her and see if there is something else we can offer her for her wish.’
‘What’s the issue?’
‘I’m just . . .’ Kelly looks down at her lap, sighs. ‘I can’t seem to do the right thing. Dean wants to refuse Alex access to Jesse. Although everyone else wants Jesse to have her wish, he’s just putting up too many roadblocks.’
‘I’ve got to say, I wouldn’t want to be in your position. That’s tough. Has Mandy tried talking to him?’
