Page 31 of Receiving His Mercy
Hopefully her nerves didn’t get to her while she was waiting. She perched on the edge of a firm, uncomfortable chair and brought out her phone as it buzzed.
OPN:Yeah, good morning.
To her shock,she found herself smiling. She could just imagine how disgruntled he’d been as he’d typed those words. Lord, she wished he was with her right now.
No. She didn’t need him or anyone else. She could do this alone. Just like she did everything.
“Ms. Stanford?”
She glanced up to see a smiling older man step into the waiting room.
Caren jumped to her feet. “Yep, that’s me.” After shaking his hand, she followed him into a large office.
“Please, take a seat. I won’t take up much of your time. It’s just that this is the first time someone other than your mother’s lawyer has been to visit.”
Was there a slight note of disapproval in his voice? She tensed.
“I was told you were out of the country. Of course, that would make things difficult. But we do find that patients enjoy regular visitations from family.”
“I very much doubt that my mother will care whether I visit or not. I haven’t seen her in twenty years.”
He blinked. “Right, yes, of course. Families are complicated things, aren’t they?”
They sure are, you pompous ass.
Okay, she was probably being unfair. He didn’t know what she’d suffered at the hands of her mother. He probably thought she was just a terrible daughter.
“Sure. Complicated. Was there something you wanted from me?” she asked.
He shuffled around, appearing uncomfortable.
“There’s not a problem with payment, is there? Because my mother’s lawyer assured me that was all being taken care of by her estate.”
“No, no, payments are prompt and we appreciate that. It’s just that your mother has had some episodes.”
She sighed. “Just spit it out.”
“Violent episodes. It’s not uncommon and our staff are well-equipped and experienced. But it’s more that her verbal lashes that are affecting them and visitors.”
Okay.
“But you said your staff can handle it,” she said, feeling confused. “I looked into this facility and you must have experienced this sort of thing before.”
“Yes, of course. I just wanted to warn you because most of her, um, expressions of anger seem to be directed at you.”
Awesome.
Then his words fully infiltrated.
“Wait, so she’s been getting angry and violent at others, likely thinking they’re me? Or it’s about me? And you disapprove of the fact that I haven’t visited more often? Why? So that abuse will be aimed my way and therefore spare everyone else?”
His mouth dropped open. But, was that a hint of guilt in his face? “Well, I, um, wouldn’t put it quite like that.”
“I’m not sure that all of the reviews I read about this place and how wonderful it is are true.”
“You are always welcome to seek alternative arrangements,” he said stiffly.
Great.
