Page 36 of A Surefire Love
Blaze shook her head. After the initial behavioral health appointment and a round of assessments, they’d come in for this follow-up. Now, Mercy had her diagnosis. ADHD. Blaze had been so focused on getting them this far, she’d failed toread up on treatments. She would have to study the papers before she knew what questions to ask.
She put her arm around Mercy as they shuffled out of the clinic. Well, Blaze shuffled. Mercy bounced.
“As soon as the drugs work, I’m going to be normal like everybody else?”
Blaze’s lungs deflated. “You think you’re different?”
“Well, yeah. I can’t ever remember stuff. Nobody else knows all the office ladies like I do because I’m always in there calling you. And sometimes people aren’t real nice about it, like I’m doing it on purpose or something. But I’m not. I’m just different, and now I don’t have to be, right?”
Blaze rubbed the center of her chest, but the ache didn’t ease. “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
“Don’t you?” Mercy broke away from her and skipped sideways. “You forget stuff too. It’s, like, our family thing. Mom used to forget a lot too.”
The ache anchored in her heart. Mom had forgotten things, sure, but addiction was the most obvious cause of her problems.
Mercy tugged Blaze’s hand. “When can I start?”
“The medicine?”
She nodded.
Blaze swallowed. Alcohol and drugs had done such damage to their family. Now medication to alter Mercy’s mental state was the prescribed answer? She’d steered the doctor away from stimulants, but the thought of putting Mercy on any medication constricted her ribs.
Would lifestyle changes alone be enough? The pamphlets outlined dozens of strategies for coping with ADHD. If only the changes weren’t so severe. Like, how inthe world would they avoid all food dyes? Many Oaks didn’t have a natural foods grocery store.
Help me know what to do, Lord.
The only next step that came to mind was to keep their Wednesday night commitment. “Right now, we need to get home and eat so we can get to Rooted.” Blaze unlocked the car, and they piled in. “Remember, the doctor said it’s going to take time for the changes we make to make a difference.”
“So the sooner I start the drugs, the better.” Mercy’s seatbelt clicked.
“Let’s call it medication, okay?”
“Okay. So, tonight?”
If only distractedness would kick in now. Blaze steered out of the lot. “I need time to research treatments and pray about what we should do. Medicine is only one option. And you heard the doctor. The prescription can have side effects. Things might get worse before they get better. If we start with other changes first, your symptoms might get better without the rough adjustment period.”
“Like what changes?”
“Getting rid of food dye. Less sugar. Eating more home-cooked meals.” Blaze’s body rested heavily in the seat. As much as she enjoyed puttering around the kitchen, she didn’t want the pressure of cooking as soon as she got home from work every day.
“Can we start that tonight? I want to be normal.”
The sentiment echoed in Blaze’s spirit. She’d already called her primary doctor’s office for a referral to work toward her own diagnosis and treatment. According to the receptionist, her doctor could handle it, so Blaze scheduled an appointment. At least one step had been easy. “I needmore time to think about medication, but we can start looking at nutrition labels.”
The concession created a monster.
While Blaze heated their dinner, Mercy compared ingredient lists to one of the pamphlets and purged the pantry. By the time their chicken, pasta, and frozen vegetables were ready to eat, a pile of their favorite foods waited on the floor.
“There.” Mercy fluffed open a garbage bag.
Blaze motioned her to stop and picked up a box of cereal. “What are you going to eat for breakfast if we throw this out?”
“I dunno. Toast?” Mercy eyed the dinner plate Blaze had filled for her. “None of that has dyes in it, right?”
“As far as I know.” But considering the pile on the floor, she’d probably have to change her answer if she checked the label on the honey mustard dipping sauce. Thankfully, Mercy’s mission hadn’t reached the fridge where they stored it. Yet.
She took the garbage bag from her sister and set it aside so they could eat. During the meal, her attention kept wandering back to the pile. Some of her own favorites lay there. Plus, this food was expensive.
