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He shook his head. “I haven’t seen Livy since and every time I call, my aunt tells me Livy’s busy and hangs up. I tried driving my dad’s car, but I didn’t get very far. I couldn’t…” He sucked in a shaky breath as a tear fell down his cheek. “I couldn’t do it. The inside still smells like the cigars my mom would splurge on for him.”
“Where are you staying?” I had to know if he was safe.
“At the house, but the rent is due soon and my parents were barely scraping by. I got the number of someone to clean their bedroom. That’s where everything happened. I couldn’t go in there. Even being in the house is hard. I keep telling myself I have to get through May then I can leave. I paid the company to clean it up. I keep the door closed now.
“My parents didn’t have life insurance. I had to do something with their… their bodies. I withdrew the little money they had in the bank to cover the cleaner fee and their burials. I couldn’t… I couldn’t even afford headstones for them. They’re in the cemetery with a marker.” Jesus, this poor kid.
I stood. “I’ll be right back.”
His eyes went wide with fear. “Don’t call anyone. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” He tried to stand but I put my hands on his shoulders, gently keeping him seated.
“I’m not calling anyone. I’m going to get a drink and breakfast.” I was afraid if I told him the food was for him, he’d refuse it.
“Oh.” He deflated. “I’ll be here.”
“Please don’t leave.”
After checking in with Autumn, I discharged a patient who was in for a bad stomach virus and was feeling a bit better after we gave them something to help stem the vomiting. They were also given fluids to help with dehydration.
I quickly went to the cafeteria, which wasn’t too far from the ER. I grabbed food for both Cody and me, since I worried he wouldn’t eat if I wasn’t as well. He was still sitting on the chair where I left him when I returned. I slid the door closed and sat the tray on the table between us.
“Take what you want,” I said. “I haven’t eaten yet so I’m joining you.” I ate this morning before I left Xaiden’s.
Once he was done and I was satisfied he had enough food in his stomach, I had to have a serious talk with him. “Cody, I don’t think they’re going to give you custody of your sister. You can’t support yourself, let alone her.” The whole thing made me sick. The poor girl lost her parents and was pulled away from her brother.
“My aunt is a bitch.” He cringed. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You can be candid. I prefer it.” I’d rather him tell me everything than hold back.
“When she came to get Livy and me, that was the first time I’d seen her in years. She was nice in front of the people she needed to like her. She said all the right words so she would get custody of my sister. She even showed a copy of a will stating me and my sister went to her. I had no idea my parents even had a will. They must have done it a long time ago. My mom used to say how my aunt showed she loved us in her own way, which was nonexistent. I think my mom didn’t want to let go of her sister. My grandparents died before I was born. The only family my dad had came into the house and, you know the rest.
“I overheard her talking about the money she was going to try and get for taking care of us. We’re not foster children. The state isn’t going to pay her, but I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to cause problems. Livy was so scared. I have a job, Dr. Dove. It’s at the pizza shop on the corner of Twenty-Sixth and Wood. Once I graduate, I can get more shifts. I’ll have enough to cover rent then. I can earn more so I can get Livy back.”
“If there’s a will and your aunt has custody, I’m not sure what your options are. You’d need a lawyer and probably have to take your aunt to court. If she has a stable income, a home, I hate to say it, the court will probably side with her.” I tried to buffer my words as much as possible.
“She doesn’t even work. Her husband is some asshole who makes a lot of money. She came to pick us up in an expensive car.”
I dragged my fingers through my hair. The more he told me, the more I knew he wouldn’t be able to get custody of his sister. He might not like his aunt, but it sounded like she could afford to care for his sister. Unless there were complaints of abuse, I doubted anyone was going to step in.
“If you’d like, when I get done with my shift this afternoon, I can drive you to see your sister.”
Cody pushed the tray away, and stood, fire lighting his eyes. “I don’t want your charity. I want Livy back.”
I stayed in the chair, hoping to convey I wasn’t a threat in any way. “I want to help you.”
“Then tell me what to do to get Livy back.”
“I’m not sure if you can, at least right now.”
“Thanks for nothing,” he spit out and turned.
“Cody, wait.” I reached for him, gripping his wrist carefully. “Stay and talk to me. We’ll figure something out.” I didn’t know how but I worried if I let him walk away, he’d do something reckless.
He easily shook me off and strode to the door, opening it. “I’m not your problem. I came to you for advice. You did your job. Or maybe you didn’t. My mom’s gone.”
His words hit me just as hard as if he would have punched me in the chest. I rocked back in the chair, trying to suck in air. I couldn’t save his mom. In the back of my mind, I knew I did everything I could to try to keep her alive.
It wasn’t the first time I’d been on the receiving end of grief-filled words. When I had to tell a patient’s family I couldn’t save their loved one, there were a few who blamed me for not doing enough. It hurt every time. But there was something about Cody’s words that made them ten times worse, made them hit me harder. Maybe it was because he was still a child himself. Or maybe it was because there really wasn’t anything I could do to help him get custody of his sister and I hated not being able to help.
