That would be the coward’s way out.And she’d never been a chicken.
“No, I got it,” she whined and dragged her feet back to the desk.Except when she picked up the phone, it wasn’t Rourke’s name on the display.She answered fast.“Mom?”
“Ms.Radley, I’m a nurse from your mother’s residential home.There’s been an incident.”
“An incident?What does that mean?What happened?”
Shit.This wasn’t exactly a shock; she’d had calls like it before.But her heart always sped up a little as trepidation crossed her shoulders.
“Your mother had an episode.She’s been skipping meds and—”
“I thought you were supposed to watch that.”
“She has a new therapist—” the woman sputtered.“In her mania, with her low mood.It’s not a good combination.”
“What did she do?”she asked, rubbing her forehead.“We’ll pay for any damages.”We?She.“Please don’t lock her up again, she gets—”
“No, Mrs.Radley, I’m sorry.Your mom is in the hospital.”
Her hand fell.“The hospital?”
“She locked herself in one of our therapy rooms, cut herself, she’s okay, we think she’s okay, but she lost a lot of blood.Security had to break through the reinforced—”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she said, glad her apartment was in the building.Clothes she didn’t care about, but her cards, her ID, she’d need them to fly.“I’m across the country right now.It will take me a few hours.”
“Your sister is a contact too, but we couldn’t get hold of her.”
“I’ll try.”Though her sister could go weeks without turning on her phone.Most of their communication was via email.“She’s not the easiest to get hold of.I have to get in the elevator.I’ll call from the airport.”
She hung up and used her time in the elevator to search for flights.
Her mom needed her and she was far away.That was never supposed to happen.It was on her to be around, to be available.There she was prioritizing Huddle Hope, harping on about the importance of responsibility while neglecting her own family.
It couldn’t happen again.Her mom needed her support, the support of family.That’s what counted more than anything else.
THIRTY-SEVEN
I, ROUX RADLEY, take full responsibility for the incident that occurred in LA at the Huddle Hope event held in Crimson Los Angeles last weekend.
Yes, it is true that I barred Alaina Havenash from festivities.As we did not invite her to the event, we had to maintain structure and discipline in who was granted admittance.It was not as simple as letting any famous face attend.We handpicked the invitees for their connections to the medical and mental health communities, to charitable work and/or their personal connection to the cause.
To my knowledge, Alaina Havenash has no such connections.Hence why she was not invited in the first place.
Invitees were people we believed could be valuable Huddle Hope members.To help further our reach and expand our horizons.
The event intended to raise awareness and funds, but it was also to show deference to the importance of the cause.We do not pretend to know every aspect of the issue and are happy to take guidance or see others get on board.
I apologize for any upset or inconvenience, but the integrity of Huddle Hope was at the forefront of my actions.
The cause is not about photo ops, it’s about caring.Understanding the sheer gravity of the mountain we have to climb is utmost.We need people with us willing to pull for the long-haul.
Huddle Hope needs endurance runners.Who said what to who or how things went down is irrelevant in my opinion.Getting bogged down in these trivialities marginalizes the focus.Our petty grievances should not take precedence over Huddle Hope’s aims and intention to help as many people as possible with real, honest to goodness distress and pain.
Once again, I apologize and hope this in no way tarnishes the reputation of the cause so near and dear to my heart.
This will be my final word on the matter.Thank you for taking the time to read this statement.
Time in the air gave her a chance to regroup.Worrying about her mom got her nowhere.With the hospital details saved in her notes, she’d go there first, before anywhere else.But she had to fly across the continent first.
