Chapter 2

I arrive at the hospital to find my father was intubated in the middle of the night. Finding the charge nurse, I demand to know what happened. “He stopped breathing around midnight. We called your brother.”

I nodded and quickly called my brother, James. “Ellie, I’m at work. This isn’t a good time.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the respirator?” I demand.

“They needed it to save his life. I need to go, we will talk about this later.” James hangs up the phone.

I sigh and wait for the doctor. Once the doctor arrives, I ask about my dad, “Is he going to be okay? How long can he stay on this machine? What about dialysis?”

“Slow down, Ms. Davidson. We are doing everything we can for your father. He wasn’t able to breathe on his own, so we are assisting him with a respirator. We will keep him monitored, don’t worry. The machine can last weeks or months, and dialysis isn’t a problem with it.”

I relax, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t prepared to find him like this.”

“Were you not called? I have in the notes that the family was notified.”

I nod, “James was called, he didn’t tell me.”

“Medical decisions can be made by you two together. If we need to call you, we can,” the doctor offers.

I shake my head, “Sarah will have a fit if we switch to me being the primary. I would rather my dad get the treatment he needs in an emergency instead of calling everyone until a unanimous decision is made.”

The doctor nods in understanding, then says, “You’re a good daughter.”

I smile and the doctor leaves. I don’t know if my dad can hear me, but I tell him about leaving for work.

The more time that passes, the angrier I become at my brother. Why does he always leave me out of the conversations he has with the doctor? I send him a message about any updates the doctors tell me.

Being upset makes the day drag. By the end of the day, I’m exhausted.

Over the next few days, things with my dad don’t change. I begin to worry, but the doctor assures me that the pneumonia is improving.

Each time I see Ben or Thomas, I give them a polite wave. Ben reminds me of a grandfather. He makes it sound like every simple task you do is the most amazing thing on the planet. Some might find it patronizing, but I think he genuinely wants people to be proud of themselves.

At work I’m finishing up some last minute tasks when my boss calls me into his office. I sit across from Mr. Glen. “Elanor, you worked for me for several years, with the belief you would become a CPA.”

I nod, “Yes. Because of my dad’s health, school is taking longer than I planned. I should be done in a year.”

Mr. Glen nods, “That offer can no longer stand. I’ve kept a position open for you the last two years. I split this job with the secretary to give you a job. I’m sorry, but I cannot continue to make the associates work more and the secretary make less just so you can have a job. I think it is time we part ways. I will give you a good reference.”

My heart drops and tears pool in my eyes, “Mr. Glen, I can do the secretarial job too.”

He shakes his head, “No, you can’t. You are constantly fifteen minutes late and you leave right at four. I know it is to talk with your father’s doctors, but we cannot continue like this.” Mr. Glen lets out a sigh, “You worked full-time so you can apply for unemployment. Maybe this will give you a chance to finish school and take your licensing exam.”

Not able to find the words to say, I only manage to mumble an, “Okay.”

Mr. Glen is in his early sixties. He always wears tweed sweater jackets and plan button up shirts. We shake hands and I clean out my desk.

Tonight, for the first time, I don’t go by the hospital, but straight home.