Page 20 of Changed By You
“Good. I FaceTimed them the other night, and I thought Dad seemed more tired than usual. And Mom said he refused his therapies two different days. I’m worried.”
Will pauses before saying, “So am I.”
I sit up straighter. “You are? Why?”
“I should have texted you. Mom called me last week because Dad’s been really fatigued and his urine output has decreased.”
My heart pounds nervously. Why didn’t my mom tell me any of this?
“Okay. Is it some kind of nutritional deficiency? I can overnight a supplement to them. Why didn’t Mom--”
“I wish it were something like that. The medication he’s on to prevent more strokes can cause kidney issues for people who are on it long term.”
I’m quiet as I consider my brother’s words. He isn’t offering up a solution, and I don’t like that.
“What does that mean, Will? And don’t bullshit me.”
“I mean, I haven’t seen him recently, so it’s hard for me to say for sure. I told her to get him in with a nephrologist, but she can’t find anyone in their network who has an opening less than three months out.”
“I’ll pay for it. Wherever he can get in, I’ll pay for it.”
“You’re already spending a lot on their expenses and in-home help. And we’re not just talking about one consultation. There’ll be tests and probably treatment.”
Panic rises in my throat, clawing at my ability to breathe. “I have forty-two thousand dollars, Will. And you know how much Farrah pays me. If I can get a payment plan--”
He cuts me off. “It’s been six years, Alice. He’s beaten the odds just by staying alive this long.”
“I’ll ask Farrah to call in a favor. She knows people.”
“Listen to me.” Will’s stern tone takes me by surprise. “If I think he needs it when I get there this weekend, I’ll make sure he gets admitted to a hospital. I’m getting him in with a specialist here within the next two weeks. We’ll know more then.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, admitting something I can only say out loud to my brother. “I’m scared.”
“Yeah, me too. But I’m not a nephrologist, and neither are you. Let’s wait until we get more information, okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You doing okay?”
I can barely hear him over the background noise. “What?”
“It’s the train. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I end the call, my tears blurring the oranges and pinks of the sky as the sun slips past the horizon for the night. My chest aches with worry.
My brother is the smartest person I’ve ever known. He’s a doctor. Even though he’s still completing his education, he sent me a picture of his white coat and it has “Dr. William Morrow” stitched on it.
As hard as it is, I have to do what he says and wait until we know more about what’s going on with our dad. Even if it’s hell to be waiting at a massive pink Malibu beach house while a reality show is filmed around me.
eight
Dalton
“Pushthat chest out and inhale the ocean air,” Farrah instructs. “Let your core show you how much it can do for you.”
