“Yes?”
She motioned me closer. “There’s a note in the computer that says a billing specialist would like to speak with you. One floor down.”
My stomach dropped about two floors. “Oh. Ok.”
I slowly walked to the elevator, my feet like lead. I felt too frozen to even try to take the stairs.
The waiting room to see the “billing specialist” was fairly empty. Only one old man sat in a chair, leaning down with his chin to his chest, his skin grey in the fluorescent lights. They had to wake him up to call him back, then it was my turn.
The billing specialist lady was actually very nice. We owed a lot of money. I was listed as a responsible party. My brother-in-law’s heath plan had been terminated when he quit his job. Had we filed to get COBRA? No? Too expensive? Was I aware that only part of the treatment was covered byMedicaid? Cherry County Hospital was a private hospital; did I understand that if we were unable to pay we would need to seek treatment elsewhere?
The questions went on. I signed some things. She had a dish of hard cinnamon candies wrapped in red cellophane on her desk. I hated those candies. Maybe I would never eat cinnamon again.
When I went back upstairs to get Cassie, I was still numb. Cassie was finished, and sitting in the waiting room. She was asleep, her chin down on her chest, her olive skin grey under the lights.
“Can I get a wheelchair?” I asked the lady at the desk softly, and she nodded and picked up the phone.
∞
Cassie wouldn’t tell me what the doctor had said. Nothing. It was not my business, she informed me. But I could tell from the way she was holding her mouth that something had happened.
I went in to the NGS that afternoon, but I wasn’t even really aware of what I was doing. I rang up one item three times, and the customer had been super angry. “I’m sorry,” I told her, “I’m really sorry.”
Chapter 4
Luke texted me the next day.
Luke Sure it’s ok for me to catch a ride with you on Saturday?
Me Of course! No problem![it had taken me about ten minutes to come up with that sparkling comeback]
LukeWhat time are you leaving?
MeAbout 5:30.
MeAM[in case he was confused]
LukeGreat, I’ll meet you at your house. Thanks
MeSee you then.
My witty repartee was sadly lacking.
The sleepless night I spent after Cassie’s doctor visit, tossing and turning, was not conducive to conversational genius. Charlie didn’t have swim on Wednesday after school and we took a walk together on the cold beach, skipping rocks, looking for Petoskey stones and sea glass. It was very calming to look at Lake Michigan, the grey blue waves rhythmically rolling onto the sand, whitecaps foaming just offshore. Things would be ok. And no matter what, everything marched on, just like the waves. Loretta had told me that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,hope.
In the car on the way to swim on Thursday, Charlie asked me if we were going to the team dinner. “We’re supposed to dress up,” he told me. “Like fancy, you know?”
“Hmmm.” I had missed this fascinating tidbit of info.
“I was thinking I should wear a tie.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“A purple tie,” he expanded. I glanced at him in the rearview mirror. His face was totally serious. “I look really good in purple.”
I choked back a laugh. “Pal, you’re my favorite.”
“Your favorite what?”
