Page 40 of Accidentally Mine
“It’s normal for there to be timeline confusion in a brain injury,” I murmured.Even if I didn’t know anything else, that much, I was an expert on.
She shifted her eyes back to her aunt.“Aunt Marie, Hugh isn’t here.He died over ten years ago.Remember?”
I watched as tears formed in the woman’s eyes.She clearly didn’t remember.
I’d been through nearly the same thing over two years ago.I’d come out of a two-week induced coma, looking for my dad.It hurt just as much to find out he’d died then as it had the first time I’d learned of his death so many years ago.
Roselynn handed her aunt a tissue and hugged her, telling her it would be all right.
The nurse came in and told us that Marie had to get her rest.Roselynn kissed her goodbye, but Marie had crawled into a shell by then, rolling on her side and burrowing under the covers.She didn’t seem to notice as we left.
Roselynn’s lips trembled as we walked from the room, her head lowered.“Oh, god.What do I do?”
The neurologist, Dr.Andrews, met us out in the hallway.She explained that Roselynn’s aunt had suffered what was called a transient ischemic attack, which was a brief interruption of blood-flow to the brain.Another mini-stroke.At that moment, they hadn’t determined a cause, but there had been a battery of tests performed to try to narrow down why they might be happening.We just needed to bide our time and wait for the results.
Roselynn held up her hands, clearly feeling helpless.“But this isn’t her first one.So they can just keep happening?”
Dr.Andrews lifted a shoulder.“Not if we narrow down the cause and put her on the correct medication to stop them.”
“But what do we do in the meantime?”
“We keep her here overnight, and your best bet is having her moved to a rehabilitation facility so they can keep an eye on her until she’s stabilized.”
Roselynn nodded, rubbing at her eyes.“But I’m not sure where that would be.”
“The best one in the state is right in Charlestown,” I interjected.“Spaulding will take good care of her.”
Dr.Andrews looked at me.“I’m sorry.You look so familiar.Do I know you?”
“I don’t believe we’ve met yet.”I reached out to shake her hand.“I’m Brent McKee.”
Her face brightened.“You mean, from Key Technologies?You’re the inventor of the Key 2000 Imaging Sensor.”
“Yes.That’s me.”
She covered her mouth with her hand.“Wow.It’s an honor.Truly.Your invention is saving so many lives right here alone.It’s a godsend, especially for those who have trouble with traditional MRIs.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly, deflecting Roselynn’s astonished look.
As the woman continued to gush, I felt vaguely like I did during the galas, my face growing hot.“If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”
“Yes.You can make sure that Marie Monroe receives the best care possible.That would be a huge weight off our shoulders, knowing everything’s being done for her.”
“Oh, of course,” Dr.Andrews said, reaching out and shaking my hand.“I’ll see to her care personally.She’ll be moved to the rehabilitation facility shortly, and depending on how her condition is and whether we can keep her stable, we’ll look into when she can be released.”
“I appreciate it,” I said as Roselynn offered her own thanks.
“Now, Miss Reid, I see your aunt is divorced, but you’re currently living with Ms.Monroe?”the doctor asked her, sorting through her aunt’s file.
Roselynn nodded.“Temporarily, though.I live out of state.”
“Temporarily?”Dr.Andrews frowned, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose as she regarded the woman at my side.“That’s unfortunate.Temporarily isn’t going to work.We need to make sure she’ll be cared for once she leaves the rehabilitation facility.”
Roselynn’s mouth opened then closed again.She looked at me, and I got the feeling she wished I wasn’t present.But why?I had no intension of walking away.I wanted to know from her own lips what was so bad about Boston that she simply couldn’t stay.“Are there options for a nursing home?Or maybe a visiting nurse?I really do think that that might be a better option.My aunt loves her home and would hate to be away from it.”
Dr.Andrews looked at her folder.“Depending on how well she responds to treatment, that could be an option if you need to be elsewhere.Of course, nothing beats a strong family support system close by.”
Roselynn nodded but wouldn’t meet my gaze.Instead, her eyes drifted down to her fingers, clasped in front of her so hard that the knuckles were white.“Yes, I suppose that makes sense,” she said quietly.“But I’m sorry.I can’t stay.I do have to leave town very soon.”
