AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Ryan. Let them come out with their swords so I can use their swords to stab them.”
As I hand him his glass, we both toast to it. Then he puts the glass down and leaves my office. There’s nothing to discuss at the moment, but as Ryan said, there will be, as soon as George and Jorge have the dirt they will try and find or even invent to take the matter to court.
Let them take me to court. I'm not scared of being in a battle with them. I've been in one my whole life and I've always come on top.
1 Diego are you ready?
38
Leticia
I’m exhausted, because I feel as if I can’t let Abuela out of my sight for a second, especially after the incident during the festivos. No one in this house attended the next day. The only thing we could do was wait for Monday so she could see her doctor.
He did some blood tests and took urine samples before giving us the bad news. He didn’t wait five days for the results, he said it was best to get the results as soon as possible. There’s only one thing it could mean, and that’s bad news. We’re sitting in his office, or rather Mamá and Papá are in the doc’s office while I’m standing behind them unable to sit down.
Jose, Cristina’s older brother, is with Abuela outside, keeping her company. Ever since she ran into the street naked at the festivos, no one can leave her alone, not even in the bathroom. My cousin has taken over the running of the bar, but not because my parents want to retire, but because looking after Abuela has become a full-time job.
Dr. Pastor reads the results on his computer, and we all wait for the verdict.
“The dementia is even worse, because she has a urine infection.”
“A urine infection. Okay, not bad. She can take antibiotics for that,” Mamá says with relief as she squeezes Papá’s hand tight.
He shakes his head. “Yes, she can take antibiotics and you must have her on it for the next seven days, but this doesn’t mean that her dementia will get better.”
“What does it mean?” I ask, thinking I need to know the whole story, so we know exactly what we’re dealing with.
“It means that the antibiotics will make the urine infection better but not her mind. Her dementia is only going to get worse.”
“Por favor no dices este1,” Mamá says as she sobs in the arms of Papá. I realize now, the real reason Mamá never told me. She’s in denial about what is going to happen to Abuela. I remember watching David with his abuela running away one day as their car pulled out of their drive. She thought they had kidnapped her and she wanted to be as far away from them as possible.
Voices are raised, tears are cried, as the doctor runs through the options and tells us what we have to face in the forthcoming days, weeks, and months. Mamá springs up and then it is as if she can’t take it anymore. She leaves the doctor’s office with tears in her eyes.
My phone is ringing one minute and messages are coming through the next. I know it’s Diego. His associate came by and I signed the divorce papers and as he was the witness. I can’t think of anything but mi abuela and I’ve been avoiding talking to him since. It’s as if emotionally I can’t handle missing him and having mi abuela like this at the same time.
I can’t leave, I won’t as I fight back the tears and leave Dr. Pastor’s office and thank him for his time. A hysterical Mamá leaves and a comforting Papá swiftly follows, leaving me to turnoff my phone just so that I can get the prescription from Dr. Pastor and make sure Abuela starts taking it today.
He smiles as he tells me to take the health card from Mamá so that I can get the prescription. Then he wishes me luck. I need it. I leave his office knowing that my family needs me more than ever right now. No more can I think about going to university or even back to New York. I must stay here and help out wherever they need me.
“Your mom and dad have gone in the car. We’ll take my car with Abuela,” Jose says.
“But I need her medical card to get her antibiotics,” I snap, thinking Mamá is being really selfish. We need to be strong for Abuela and our emotions shouldn’t be involved in it.
“Well, you know your mamá, she’s a drama queen. Anyway did the doctor confirm what I already suspect?”
I shake my head, because I have no idea what Abuela is talking about.
“The baby.”
Jose pulls a face. “I told Abuela that we’re coming to the hospital to see if you’re pregnant.”
What? All of us?
The craziness of this situation is that no one bothered to think about Abuela and what she’s thinking.
I hug her, and she pats me on the back. “It’s okay. I’ve always wanted to be a great-grandma. I’m so excited. I know you’re pregnant, I can feel it.”
She can feel nothing, because there is no baby as she pats my stomach. I was in a coma for over a week, and on medication after leaving Japan, and the only time we’ve had sex recently is last week.
