Page 53 of How We End
“Have a seat.Someone will be out to speak to you.”Crystal took the paper off the clipboard.
“Is there a problem?I don’t remember all this last year.”Last year Morgan had been with me.
“Ms.Nguyen will be out to speak to you.”She sat down, and the sound of typing filled the small space.
“Okay.”There were no outdated magazines to read.The only thing on the wall was a large crucifix.We hadn’t attended church regularly.My parents had run a bar and last call was at one a.m., and they didn’t get home until two or three depending on how busy it was.So Sunday mornings were filled with Morgan and me trying to be quiet.
I pulled out my phone, checking emails.Margo had emailed, confirming an hour with Julian at the full price.I had a message from a real estate company in Silver Creek, California.They were inquiring about the property I had there.When I was twenty-five, I thought I would retire to Silver Creek.But now I had gotten used to the bright lights and chaos of Las Vegas.
“Ms.Halliday?”A woman dressed in a dark blue skirt and jacket came out.She had a badge clipped to the pocket of her suit coat and sensible shoes.“I’m Leah Nguyen.I’m your mother’s social worker.I have met your sister, Morgan, and your father, Ferris.”She looked through the file she was holding.“I wasn’t aware she had another daughter.Wyatt Cassidy, is that correct?”
“Yeah.Why does my mother have a social worker?”
“Your sister didn’t tell you?”Leah glanced over at Crystal as if she should’ve explained all of this already.
“Why don’t you tell me.”That was the embarrassing part of my family.It wasn’t only a mountain range that separated us; it was years of family drama and shit Leah wasn’t going to fix.
“I don’t want to get in the middle of your family, so I’ll let you discuss this with your sister.”Leah forced a smile.“When was the last time you saw Vail?”
“She is my mother, so if there is something wrong with her, I’d like to know.”I ran over the last phone conversation I had with Morgan.We talked about my flights, when I’d leave, if I’d be staying with them.I had told her I was okay staying at a hotel, but Morgan thought that would upset Dad.Then we talked about what we’d have for dinner, and that was it.She said Mom wasn’t getting better, but I assumed if there was something really wrong, Morgan would have said so.
“Your mother’s condition has worsened.We cannot continue her care here.”
The front door opened, bringing with it cold air and the mailman.Bill, from what Crystal called him.Their voices seemed amplified in the small space.They talked about family and pie.Leah was still talking about my mother’s good days and bad days, how she had bitten two people.All while Bill the mailman and Crystal the cheery receptionist talked about church and potlucks as if it were an everyday occurrence that a woman in her fifties would strip naked in the game room.Or that the county would have to step in.
“Ms.Halliday,” Leah called.
I tore my eyes from the front desk.“Yes.”
Leah watched Bill and Crystal before turning back to me.She put her hand on my elbow and directed me to the corner, her back now to Crystal and Bill.“I didn’t know you were still in the picture.Your sister made it sound like you were estranged.For the county to step in, all family members have to be in agreement.I understand this is all very sudden, but a decision needs to be made soon.”
“The county?I’m not sure I understand.”How could I make a decision if I didn’t know what decision needed to be made?My head spun with everything that was happening.I felt like the movie I had paused six months ago had skipped to the end.
“Morgan can fill you in.”
“Can I at least see her?Please?”
“Of course, but you should be prepared.”Leah looked at the door.“She’s not doing well today.She’s agitated.The snow set her off.”
“Okay.”My mom had been diagnosed with dementia at forty-seven.It started out as her not remembering simple things like where she parked the car.Then one day she walked out the front door and was missing for six hours.Some tourists found her walking along the road barefoot.She had no idea where or who she was.
“This way.”Leah smiled and turned, scanning her badge.The other side of the door was a different world.There was no cheery music, and the smell of the hospital was stronger.To my right was a bright room with a TV behind plexiglass.A few residents were slouched in chairs or hunched over puzzles.I wouldn’t have recognized my mother if the nurse standing next to her hadn’t pointed to me.
“What happened to her?”My mother had always been thin when we were younger.But the woman in the chair was half of my mother.Her hair hung in greasy clumps, and her clothes were a size too big.
“She has an illness, Ms.Halliday.One that will not get better with time.She’s only going to get worse,” Leah said as we walked towards my mother.“Vail, you have a visitor,” Leah said loudly.
“Is she deaf?”I studied my mother.
“No,” Leah said, frowning.
“Vail, do you know who this is?”The young nurse pointed to me.
“Mom, it’s me, Wyatt.”My mother didn’t flinch at the word.She looked at me, her blue eyes empty.Her lips were chapped, her skin almost translucent.
“That’s a dumb fucking name for a girl.Who the fuck gave you that?”My mother’s voice was the same.But the harshness of the words was not.She rarely swore, and if she did, it was not at anyone.
“That’s her new word.”The nurse put her hand on my mother’s thin shoulder.“Vail, remember what we said about saying that word?”
