Goodtale
I've bought Mom a premium membership card at Juniper Group, which includes an all-inclusive medical screening every year.
This year, her back has been giving her trouble, so she comes to Heston a bit earlier than usual.
But when we walk up to the front desk at Juniper Hospital, the receptionist tells us that the coverage has already been redeemed.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but this card was swiped three months ago at our pet center," she explains. "Your coverage is completely maxed out."
Mom stares at her, frozen for a few seconds as if she has misheard. Then, she quietly says, "That's fine. I'll just pay out of pocket."
It costs 398 dollars for the basic package, and it doesn't even include a bone density scan.
When I get home that evening, she has made pasta for dinner. The hospital receipt sits on the table.
I ask her how the checkup went, and she shrugs it off. "It went well. There just seems to be a glitch in their system."
Later, I find out that the person who used the card is my boyfriend, Brandon Kaiser.
He's taken it to Juniper Pet Center to cover a top-of-the-line vet exam for Goldie, the cat belonging to his childhood sweetheart, Alana Sutton.
When I confront him and ask why he didn't bother to tell me, he just leans against the kitchen island, sipping a club soda. He doesn't even look up.
"Your mom wasn't even in town yet," he mutters. "The cat needed urgent care, so I just used it."
"That card belonged to my mom," I say.
He gives a careless shrug. "Big deal. I'll just buy you a replacement later, alright?
Just then, Mom walks out of the kitchen with a plate of crisp, freshly sliced apples and sets them down right next to my hand.
She's heard every single word of our conversation. Yet, she doesn't say a word. She just turns right back around and heads into the kitchen to finish the dishes.
As I look down at that plate of apples, a wave of clarity washes over me. I don't want him to replace the card anymore.