Page 131 of One More Kiss
Chapter3
Dr. Fran has knownme for years, she completely understands how little my mother knows or cares about my illnesses. I wish she privately saw patients because I would love for her to be my regular doctor. Too bad she only sees patients here at the hospital. She’s told me it’s because she feels she wouldn’t be able to give her everything to all her patients if she did both. She did help me find Dr. Trent, who I see once a month to get my meds and to go over how I’m doing. Dr. Trent is mainly an office doctor, meaning he doesn’t see any patients in the hospital.
“Mrs. Washington, I think we’ve had this discussion before, multiple times actually, and each time I told you that Tink cannot be declared mentally incompetent just because she doesn’t do everything you want her to do.” This is one of the reasons I love Dr. Fran. She sees my mother for who she is and not for who she tries to be.
“What do you know? You can’t even get her name right, yet you walk in here like you know what’s going on. She cut both her wrists. She tried killing herself again.” Dr. Fran, Axe, and I all groaned at once.
“Get out.” My voice is stronger now that I’m not so out of it.
“Ginger, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’re sick darling, you need help.” The sugar dripping from her voice made me want to throw up.
“My name is Tink. Ginger died years ago. You killed her. You pushed her so hard, belittled her so much that she died inside me. I am not Ginger Marie Washington. My name is Tink, just Tink, and the only help I need is for someone to remove you from my life.” My breathing is labored to the point of being painful.
“Leave, now.” Axe snarls at her. “If it takes me calling the police I will.”
“No need for that. Dr. Hines was calling them before I came in here. If needed the hospital will send a guard up to stay with Tink while Mrs. Washington is removed from the hospital grounds.” Dr. Fran tells Axe before turning to me. “I think it’s time we get you a restraining order. We both hoped it would never come to that, but I think we can both agree it’s probably the best answer for now.”
“I agree.” I squeeze Axe’s hand to get him to look at me. “If we have to stay longer can we order Mario’s? I want a cheese pizza and a frozen coke.”
“Hopefully, we can pick it up on our way home.” He winks at me before turning to Dr. Fran. “Are you going to hold her? You have to know this wasn’t a suicide attempt.”
“I still need to talk to Tink alone for a few minutes. As long as I don’t see signs of anything dangerous I don’t see why she would need to be held for observation.” Dr. Fran walks over next to Axe and pats my leg. “You ready to have a nice chat?”
“Nice chat?!” My mother screams. “Ginger tried to kill herself and you want to have a nice chat?! And what is this nonsense about a restraining order?”
“It’s not nonsense Mary. After everything you’ve done to Tink you still think you are mother of the year. Women like you make me sick.” Dr. Fran lays my casefile and a notebook on my bed before crossing her arms. “Tink has bipolar and is a cutter, which is a form of self-mutilation. Having bipolar isn’t something to be embarrassed about. It is a chemical imbalance. It’s something millions of people have. You either need to learn to accept that your daughter has a mental illness, at no fault of her own actions, or you need to leave her alone so she can heal.”
I’ve never seen Dr. Fran this mad before. It feels kind of nice to have someone outside of my daily life to stand up for me. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone other than Axe talk to my mother like this.
“I don’t care what a hospital psychiatrist has to say about my daughter. If you were any good at your job you would have your own practice.” My mother tries to take my hand in hers, but I jerk it away from her. “Ginger, stop being difficult. You need to stay and get some help. Just think of what would have happened if I hadn’t found you.” The fake sobbing has started. She has perfected the sounds of a real cry but has never been able to cry real tears.
“How did you find me?” I ask her, not letting her sobbing affect me.
We all wait for her to calm down before she answers me. “I was coming over to visit you. You haven’t stopped by the house in over a month, and you’ve ignored my last three phone calls.”
“How did you get into my apartment though?”
“I have the key you gave me a few months ago. Remember, you had me get your mail while you went somewhere with Axe for a few days.” Axe’s name came out with a hint of a hiss.
“I never asked you to get my mail. Mrs. Lawson always gets my mail for me.” I grip Axe’s hand as I ask. “How did you get into my apartment? You better tell me the truth this time or I’ll have the police charge you with breaking and entering after they toss you out of here.” I’m trying my best to not get too upset.
“With my key.”
“But how did you get a key?” Axe growls at her.
“You stay out of this!” Shit, I can’t take this.
“Tell me how you got a key to my apartment.” I snap at her. “You know damn well I wouldn’t have just handed you one because I hate when you come over. You criticize everything I have while you try to convince me to move back home.”
“You gave it to me Ginger.” Mom sighs like she’s done talking about this.
“Bullshit, now tell the truth!” I snarl at her.
“Fine.” She crosses her legs and lays her hands on her lap. She looks like she’s about to go into a meeting or something. “About two months ago you came over to the house to see your cousin Jenny who was in from Ohio. You two ended up going to see a movie. While you were gone I went to get your car detailed for you as a surprise. You had left you keys at the house because you and Jenny took her rental car. While your car was getting detailed I walked next door to the small grocery store to pick up a few things. They have one of those key machines and when I saw it I made a copy of your apartment key for emergencies. I truly didn’t think you would mind though.”
Her tone was so gentle, like she was talking to a baby. She truly doesn’t see anything wrong with what she just said. I shouldn’t be shocked but I am.
