Page 44 of Judge Me Not

"Yes. She's in room eight-twenty-one, but let's keep it to one person at a time."

"Thank you." Jasmine races down the hall.

"Dr. Plax, what's Abby's full situation?" I ask. I've known him for years. My mother knows him better since she has done most of the groundwork for the new wing, but I've been in several meetings where he came in to consult on different issues.

"I can't discuss her situation due to the laws. You'll need to get that from her mother. Or Cee Cee." He winks. "Excuse me. I need to see another patient."

I turn to Cee Cee. "Please tell me what's going on."

She hesitates.

I firmly say, "Cee Cee, I can help."

She purses her lips and glances at the teenager in the chair. "Yes. I'm aware of how you can help and what's involved."

I cringe. "Can we discuss my downfalls at another time and focus on what is important right now?"

She sighs. "Okay. Abby has leukemia. She's had too many treatments to count over the last three years. There is a new treatment that just got approved. The hospital is starting it in January."

"I'm aware of it."

She gapes. "How?"

"Because we pushed the hospital," my mother's voice says behind me.

Cee Cee scrunches her face.

"This is my mother, Caroline. Mom, this is Jasmine's cousin, Cee Cee."

My mom holds out her hand, and Cee Cee shakes it. "Nice to meet you. But why would you know about the new treatment?"

"It's a long story. Colton will fill you in. However, can you finish explaining what is happening with Abby?"

Cee Cee continues, "Before we met with Dr. Plax last week, all the doctors told Jasmine the only options for more treatment would only briefly extend Abby's life. They gave Abby anywhere up to a year. Everything depends on her not catching anything and how quickly the cancer would continue to spread. Dr. Plax said Abby was a perfect candidate for the new treatment. But the hospital won't allow it to start until after the new year. Abby needs to stay healthy enough to start, and Jasmine has to come up with twenty-five thousand dollars a treatment. Dr. Plax said the foundation had approved to pay the other half."

I say to my mother, "Who on the board pushed for the January rollout?"

Disgust fills her face. "Who do you think led the pact?"

"Nelson?"

My mom nods.

"Who's that?" Cee Cee asks.

"The greedy bastard who doesn't think about sick people, rather how the hospital can make more money."

"I don't understand."

My mom sighs. She puts her arm around Cee Cee. "And you never will. Walk with me. I want to know everything." She glances at the girl in the chair. "Is this your daughter?"

Cee Cee smiles. "Yes. Maribel."

"She looks just like you. Should we have her come with us?"

Cee Cee shrugs. "She knows everything. Come on, Maribel."

Maribel obeys, and I watch them disappear down the hall. Dr. Plax appears, and I corner him.

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