CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THE DRIVE TO the hospital on Saturday morning gave Timothy the time to think about his week. What began as light and hopeful turned darker. He spent most of the week studying for exams and last night with Mom in the hospital. He was running late this morning because he wanted to stop at the hospital. He knew Dez would be irritated with him. With the parking lot at the hospital full, Timothy parked on the street. He saw no pickets out this morning. This gave him one less thing to think about. He walked through the main entrance and up the stairs to Mom’s floor.

“How did she do last night?” Timothy asked Sandy, the charge nurse on Three-Main.

“She had a bit of a tough night last night. Her breathing was labored but settled down by early morning. Wasn’t she recently here for a breathing issue?” Sandy said.

“Yes. It was a reaction to furnace fumes in the house. Do you think this is connected?”

“Oh, I don’t know. We have her scheduled for more tests this morning.”

“Sandy, you’ve been at this awhile. How bad do you think this is?” Timothy said.

“I really don’t know. The doctors are being cautious at this point. During the night when she was having trouble breathing, the house doctor increased her blood thinner and that seemed to help. I’m thinking there’s another clot in there somewhere obstructing the breathing. But we won’t know until later today.”

“Okay, can I go see her now?” Timothy said.

“Sure, as soon as the aide is finished with vitals, but don’t stay too long.”

“Got it, thanks. Who’s the aide?” Timothy asked.

“Ginny.”

“Good, she’s a good aide. Going to be a nurse, right?”

“That’s what she says,” Sandy said.

Timothy waited outside Mom’s room for Ginny. He knew second-guessing the previous diagnosis made little sense at this point. Is this a sign of what’s coming? No use going there—I’m not a doctor, but it is a good question for later.

“Hi, Tim. Your mom is stable and resting. Going in?”

“Yes. Thanks for your help.”

“That’s what we do, you know.”

“I know, but it helps having people you know involved,” he said.

Ginny squeezed his arm and walked away. He stood at the door and stared at Mom lying there. She looked pale. He put on his game face and went in. He leaned over and kissed her clammy forehead. She stirred and opened her eyes.

“Hey, Mom. How did you sleep last night?” he said.

“It was rough, Son. I had some breathing problems, but they got it under control with some medicine. It kind of feels like last week when I was here, but they said something about a blood clot.” Some of her words sounded lazy and even labored, which led him to believe she threw a clot.

“Yeah, I talked to the nurse and she brought me up to speed. It sounds like things are stable now,” Timothy said.

“Yes, but it’s still . . . a lot of work . . . breathing.”

“More tests today, I understand. Then we’ll know for sure.”

“Yes,” Mom said. “I already feel . . . like a pin cushion. In all night . . . sticking me. Hard to sleep . . . when people are working on you . . . all night.”

“No one gets any sleep in the hospital, Mom. Have you eaten breakfast?” Timothy asked.

“Yes, I had a piece of dry toast, and some tea with lemon. My stomach’s upset . . . that’s all I could handle.”

“It’s probably unsettled from some of the pills, but you must keep your strength up.”

“I know, Timmy. You’ve been good to me. They told me you rode in the ambulance last night . . . and here you are early this morning. Every mother should have such a good son . . . I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“That’s not anything you need to think about now, is it? I’m here now and Leslie will be up with the kids later. I talked to her this morning before I left home.”

“Would you hand me some ice chips? My mouth is dry.”

“Sure, it’s probably the meds. How about a 7 Up? That should settle your stomach,” he said.

“Yes, good idea.”

Timothy went to the nurses’ station to get the ice chips and 7 Up. This gave him an excuse to tell the staff what Mom said about her stomach being upset. They already knew about it and told him she complained of her throat hurting from the tubes they put down it.

“She didn’t tell me about that,” Timothy said.

“She probably didn’t want to pile on,” Ginny said.

“You don’t know Mom,” he said and grinned.

Timothy went back into her room and Mom greeted him with one of her more pitiful faces. He thought she must practice these in the mirror to create the right effect. He laughed, but part of him felt guilty thinking that. Mom had a unique talent for eliciting an eclectic mix of emotions from people. He fed her the ice chips, as a dutiful son would do.

“Thank you, dear.”

“Is your throat hurting?” he asked.

“Yes. I thought it was parched from being dry, but apparently they put some tubes down my throat last night . . . and irritated my throat. That’s another reason I have trouble eating this morning,” she said this as she took a sip.

They sat silently for a couple of minutes, Mom treating her dry mouth with ice chips and sips of soda. What would she do if I weren’t here? Leslie can’t be here. Frank doesn’t care. How did I end up with all of this responsibility? It’s like I’m the last man standing. Shit, now I’m being dramatic. Timothy did not allow himself the luxury of asking these types of questions without feeling guilty. He dealt with his guilt the only way he knew; he felt it and stuffed it.

“Mom, how about I go to the snack bar and get you a chocolate shake? You like those when your stomach is upset.”

“Would you do that for me, Timmy?”

“Sure, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Timothy walked to the snack bar on the main floor. He threw a leg over one of the stools and sat down at the counter. Penny, a waitress, came over.

“I’d like a chocolate shake, please,” Timothy said.

“What! You can’t even say hello to a girl?” Penny said and smiled.

“I’m sorry, Penny. I’m preoccupied. Hi.”

“I don’t see you down here much anymore,” she said.

“I got moved to evenings and now nights,” he said.

“I heard.”

“How did you hear?” he said.

“Please, this is the smallest big hospital anywhere. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. That’s the favorite pastime around here,” she grinned.

“I’m here to see my mom. She’s up on Three.”

“Is this for her?” Penny asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ll make it extra special for you,” she said and winked.

Timothy thanked her. Penny was a sweet girl, a few years younger than he. He heard from other employees she had a crush on him. That surprised him. He never did anything to encourage her. She normally gave him a heaping serving of fries with his burger and a large soda when he ordered a medium. Sometimes, she even threw in a piece of lemon meringue pie. She made up some bogus excuse that she cut it for someone else by mistake and couldn’t put it back in the tin. Her attentiveness embarrassed him, especially when he sat there with coworkers. She returned with two shakes with lids and straws. He shook his head in amusement.

“Thank you, but two?” he said.

“Oh, yes. I put too much ice cream in the cup for one and didn’t want to throw away the rest so I decided to make two shakes. You only have to pay for one. The other is compliments of the house.” She smiled and handed him the shakes, making sure she touched his hand as she gave them to him. He flinched.

“No need to jump. I don’t bite,” she said.

“Sorry. I’m jumpy today. Lots going on. Thanks a bunch. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime, Tim,” she said and smiled.

As he turned to walk away, he nearly bumped into the director of nursing.

“I’m glad I ran into you, Tim,” Monica said. “When I took census this morning, I saw your mother’s name on the admission list. I understand she may be here a few days?”

“I don’t think we know yet. Waiting for some more tests this morning. Thanks for saying something.”

“Oh, that’s okay.” She paused. “You know we have a policy that prohibits employees from working on the same floor where family members are patients?”

“Yes, I seem to remember that,” he said. “I guess that means I go back to nights on Psych until she’s discharged?” he said.

“No. Doctor Faro prefers that you not work on the floor. He thinks Psych is not for you.”

“Does he have some special power that enables him to read minds?”

“I know this is a trying time for you, mother and all—”

Timothy didn’t want to hear any phony sympathy, so he cut her off mid-sentence.

“So what’s the plan?” he pushed.

“The good news is you can keep your Tuesday and Thursday nights schedule, but we will need you in the ER.”

“ER?” They are trying to get rid of me.

Timothy had worked a few weekend shifts in the ER and had a bad experience after a bloody night. It took him back to a place he didn’t want to go. He did not look forward to the sights and sounds of the ER. He felt trapped. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

“Do I start with my next shift?” he asked.

“Yes,” Monica said.

“Okay, if that’s what I have to do, fine. Will I go back to the third floor after my mother is discharged?”

“Not immediately, but yes.”

“Okay.” End on a positive note and keep your job. “Thanks again for mentioning my mom.”

“Of course. We’re interested in our employees’ problems. Thanks for understanding, Tim. And don’t let Dr. Faro’s comments discourage you from your studies,” she said.

Why would I let that discourage me? That was nowhere in my mind. That guy is a button-happy pill-pusher. There’s no way I’d listen to him.

Timothy took the shakes up to Mom’s room. Between gulps, she managed to say how nice of him to take such good care of her and that the shake soothed her scratchy throat. After he had enough of the shake, he kissed Mom on the forehead and told her he would be back later today after his work at Dez’s.

“Timmy, you work too hard. I wish you didn’t have to push yourself this hard. If you want to take some time off . . . it’s okay. Everyone would understand. I’m sure even Cheryl would understand.”

“Okay, Mom. Thanks. Bye.”

Time off. Time away. Time to myself. All of that would feel good at this point.

The pickets were now out on the sidewalk as Timothy walked to his car. He picked up his pace and reached his car a little winded. With his leg, a brisk pace tired him quickly. His car started on the second attempt.

Now I get to deal with Dez.