Page 25 of Chase
Chase puts some food on my plate and Nat sits back at the end of the table holding her cup of coffee. She looks lost in thoughts.
“Did you check your sugar this morning?” Chase asks.
I catch Millie smiling at him. Shaking my head, I realise that in my daze this morning I forgot to grab my monitor. “Crap, I forgot to grab my machine. I’ll just run home to get it.”
Chase pushes his chair out and walks over to the kitchen bench. “No need, Arden bought this yesterday while he was on a supply run. We all have one, just in case.” He says as he brings a brand-new monitor over to the table placing it in front of me.
“He said that we can sync them all to the app on your phone.”
After getting to know Arden a little this week, I’m not surprised.
My initial assessment of him was way off. He does small things like this that have a massive impact. I busy myself with the machine and check my levels.
“Arden really does think of everything doesn’t he?” I ask as we wait for my result.
“You have no idea.”
I show Chase the result. 3.8
“That’s low right? Arden told us anything under 4.5 and we need to watch you because you could crash quickly.”
Before I can respond Nat speaks up. Her smile is warm. She’s just watched our interaction. “Arden is right. But some people can wake up low. Some can crash in their sleep and not know that they are crashing. Have you eaten this morning Yasmin?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“Well please eat. I’d really like to discuss your diabetes with you as well. Arden told me before he left that your Dad doesn’t know.”
I pick up my fork and stab a piece of bacon.
“No, he doesn’t. Three years ago, I started getting dizzy all the time. I felt sick. I just brushed it off as stress. Then one day I passed out in my garage at home. My friend Smalls called an ambulance as he couldn’t rouse me awake.” I stop to eat the bacon on my fork, everyone else eating while I talk.
“I woke up in hospital a few hours later. Smalls and Mille were both waiting for me to come to. I was hooked up to an IV and I felt terrible. The doctor came in and explained that I’d had a hypo.
He explained that my early blood work showed signs of diabetes. Said that it was likely type two and although I don’t need insulin yet, there is a chance I might need it later on. He explained that if I watched what I ate and monitored my sugars I’d be able to understand the disease and how it affects my body so it doesn’t control my life. He gave me a heap of information and discharged me from the hospital. They couldn’t reach Dad at work so I was released into Smalls care as he was eighteen.”
I reach for my coffee that Chase had poured and take a mouthful.
“When we left, I made Millie and Smalls promise not to tell Dad. I was angry at him for not being there when I needed him, so I didn’t want this to be the reason he started showing up for me.” I remember how furious I was that day. I was over emotional and I hated him for a moment that day. “We researched all we could and started to make some changes with my diet, I still haven’t been able to control it. I either get hyper or hypo. I can’t seem to find a balance. But I admit I haven’t been paying attention recently. There’s been a lot happening.”
“I’m sorry Yasmin. Your dad should be supporting you, educating himself and getting you all the medical help you need. I’d like to say I’m surprised that he isn’t, that the man I knew was different. But I can’t. Your mother changed him; she broke him.” Nat knew my dad before he was with Mum?
This shocks me a little. She takes my silence as a sign to continue. She tells me everything about my parents. Why she was looking after me and why Dad made us leave town. I can’t do anything but sit and listen as she fills in the blanks for me.
Chapter Ten
Chase
I keep a careful eye on Yasmin while Mum tells her everything about the past. She slowly eats her breakfast. But I notice subtle changes in her demeanour the more that mum talks. She tries to keep herself composed.
After breakfast, GW heads out to the garden and Mum asks Millie if she would like to go with her to meet Ally for their weekly coffee catch up. I get a feeling that they are trying to give us some space.
Millie jumps at the chance to go with Mum. From what Yasmin has told us so far, she is the only female figure in Millie’s life.
Ally and Mum have been meeting once a week since Ally’s parents died when we were ten. It started off as a distraction and quickly became part of their weekly routine. I have no idea what they talk about but it makes them both happy, which in turn makes me happy.
Yasmin is quiet. Processing all the new information. I pull her up from the chair and take her down the hall to my room.
She follows behind without protest.
