“Oh, it’s not too bad. I don’t know why they called you,” says Mom, waving her good hand dismissively. Pointing to her purse on a chair, she says, “Can you try calling your father again for me?”
“Where is Dad?” My father is a dick and a cheating liar, but surely he would at least show up to the hospital to be with my mom when she’s been hurt.
“Or better yet, why don’t you call him from your phone? I’m sure he’ll answer you. Tell him not to worry. That I’m going to be fine.”
“You don’t look fine. Why isn’t Dad here? What exactly happened?” The only reason she could want me to call from my phone is if he isn’t answering any calls from her.
“I’m sure he’ll arrive soon,” Mom insists. “Just as soon as you tell him what’s happening.”
“But I don’t know what’s happening!” The guilt I felt earlier is beginning to fade, being replaced with an irritation I try not to show. This woman is maddening, but she’s injured and has just been through something traumatic. She doesn’t need me yelling at her.
“Hi, are you the daughter?” asks a male nurse, stepping through the curtain into my mom’s bay.
“Yes, I’m Rebecca. Can you tell me what happened?” Since my mom clearly won’t.
“Neighbors called an ambulance, stating that your mom fell while chasing a car,” says the nurse, looking over a chart. “Looks like she fell with her arm stretched out, which tore her rotator cuff, and she has a full-thickness tendon tear. There are also a couple of cracks on her ribs, there are some minor lacerations to her face from the road, and we’re going to monitor her for a concussion.”
“Okay, but what does that mean exactly?” I’m hung up on the part where she fell while chasing a car. What on Earth was she doing that for?
“She’ll need surgery on her shoulder, but right now the head injury is the more pressing concern,” explains the nurse.
The curtain is shoved aside, and Ronnie stands in the opening, panting. “Okay, I’m here. What’s happening?” She leans over to rest her hands on her knees.
The nurse ducks out as I point Ronnie to the empty chair, which she sinks into to catch her breath. “Mom was chasing a car and now she needs surgery.” I figure the simplest explanation is the best. “The real question is, why the hell you were chasing a car, Mom?”
“That doesn’t matter,” she insists. “Just call your dad. Once he gets here, everything is going to be fine.”
I barely manage to stop my eyes from rolling. “Can you hang out here for a minute?” I ask Ronnie. “I’ll be right back. Don’t let them take her to surgery without me.”
Ronnie nods and stands up, moving over to Mom’s bedside. She takes her hand and talks quietly with her as I step out past the curtains. Once I’m far enough from Mom’s room that she won’t overhear my conversation, I call Dad. It takes a few attempts, but he finally answers.
“Mom’s in the hospital, where are you?” I say without greeting when he finally picks up.
“She’s not my problem anymore,” says Dad, clearly distracted.
“What do you mean? She’s your wife, not a problem.” This has always been his attitude, but I’ve never heard him come right out and say it before.
“Not for much longer,” says Dad. “I told her I was moving out of the house, and she flipped out. Started running after me. I tell you, it’s flattering, but I can do better.”
My father is leaving? He told my mom he’s leaving her, and she’s back there insisting that he’s going to come to the hospital and be with her? Great. One of my parents is an asshole and the other is delusional. This isn’t news to me, but this is a new level of bullshit, even for them.
“So, just so I’m clear. You told Mom you were leaving her, you got in your car and drove away, Mom tried torun after your car, and she fell and hurt herself badly enough that she needs surgery, and you did … nothing?” Maybe if I spell it out for him he’ll realize what an asshole he is.
“I told her I was done, that means she’s not my problem anymore. Besides, I had a date tonight. Which you disrupted with your constant calling, by the way.” He sounds annoyed. His daughter calls to tell him his wife is in the hospital having surgery, and he’s annoyed because it’s interrupting his date with another woman.
The man is one hell of a piece of work.
“Sorry to bother you,” I bite out, then hang up.
I can’t believe that asshole. Mom dedicates her entire life to taking care of him and meeting all his needs and loving him, and this is how he treats her? She could have had a whole life of her own, a career,friends, but now she’s left with nothing and no one.
Well, she has me, but I clearly haven’t been as supportive as I should have been lately. I silently promise to do better by her.
“Rebecca,” calls Ronnie, peeking out from between the curtains. “They’re here to take your mom to surgery.”
I hurry back over to talk to the doctors, determined to ask all the questions and be the best daughter I can be.
“All right, the surgery was a success,” says the surgeon when they come out to meet me in the waiting room a few hours later. “You’ll be able to see your mom soon. A nurse will come out once she’s been taken back to her room and let you know the number.”
