“A nursing home,” Chris chimed in. “I don’t think so. I already told the other doctor I wasn’t interested. You and I both know she’ll be in the bed all day and they won’t do shit for her. At least if she’s home we’ll know for sure when physical therapy is showing up.”
Chris was starting to stress over the situation. He had been counting on Robbie being around for the conversation. He was getting tired of always having to deal with his mom on his own when he wasn’t an only child. He loved her more than anything, but some help would be nice. And on top of that he was the one who would have to figure out how he was going to get time with his daughter this summer. Vivian never wanted to do anything to make the custody arrangements work.
“Not a nursing home. There are a few facilities specifically for rehabilitation,” the doctor explained. The one I would most like to see her go to is great. There’s an assisted living right across the street, so their goal is to at least get the patients well enough to go there. I’ll see if the hospital social worker can work her magic. There are a few other places, but they are a little far from here, so we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Chris scrubbed his hand down his face. He never imagined he’d be finding a nursing home for his mom. She needed help, but she was stubborn and independent and didn’t like admitting just how much help she needed. Sure, the doctor kept emphasizing that these were rehabilitation facilities, but it was the same thing as far as Chris was concerned.
“What did I miss?” His brother stood in the doorway looking like a scruffier version of Chris. They both had green eyes and shared the same hair color, Robbie just had more of it.
Mrs. Ramirez’s eyes lit up as she looked past Chris to her other son. Of course they did. He was always too busy working to be bothered with his mom, but he was welcomed home like the Prodigal Son when he did show up.
“Everything, as usual,” Chris answered once Robbie made his way to his side.
“I got here when I could, you know that.” He leaned over to give his mom a kiss and a hug. “Hey, Mama. What are you doing in here?”
Their mother hugged him back before holding him at a distance to get a better look at him. “I’m so happy you’re here. They want to put me in a home.”
Robbie quickly turned to pin him with a fierce glare. Of course, he would have a problem with a plan that he didn’t have any part in making since he wasn’t there. Chris would do anything for his brother, but it was getting harder and harder for him to keep his mouth shut.
“Bro, you can have something to say when you are the one spending hours taking care of Mom. We aren’t putting her into a home. She can’t be by herself right now and she needs physical therapy. She’s going into a rehabilitation facility,” Chris explained as calmly as he was able, considering the simmering anger that was brewing within him.
“It’s the same shit, man.”
Suddenly Chris was on the doctor’s side. He had shared the same misgivings at first, but facts were facts. “Are you going to be the one to take off work so you can stay with her twenty-four, seven? And are you going to keep track of her physical therapy sessions and make sure they are showing up when they are supposed to?”
“Boys,” Mrs. Ramirez spoke up. “I’m right here, and there’s nothing wrong with my ears. Stop your fighting.”
“We aren’t fighting, Mom,” Robbie interrupted.
“I’m speaking.” She didn’t continue until everyone, including the uncomfortable looking doctor, gave her their attention. “I might be old, but I haven’t lost my mind. I can decide what’s best for me and I agree the rehabilitation facility is best. Maybe if I had more help, I wouldn’t have ended up on the sidewalk with a broken hip.”
“Mom!” Chris said slightly louder than intended. “I told you I’d take the trash out if you left it for me. I can’t be more than one place at a time.”
“I know, Christian. But it shouldn’t be you all the time. I know you do the best you can and I’m thankful.”
Chris was relieved that his mom was aware of how lopsided their share of taking care of her had been over the years. “Exactly. Robbie needs to do his part.”
“Bruh. I got here when I could.”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s better for me to go to a place where I don’t have to worry about you coming to help me when you were already doing so much to help me. I’d just end up doing things I have no business trying to do. I want to go to this place for a while. And then when I’m as good as new I’ll come back home.”
Chris didn’t have the heart to tell her how unlikely it was for someone to be discharged home from a place like that when they weren’t completely self-sufficient. She would need to surpass where she had been before her accident. He used one of Mallory’s cleansing breaths to stop himself from going down that rabbit hole. He got snippy when he was stressed, and his mom didn’t need that from him.
“I think that’s for the best,” the doctor commented. “I have a few more patients to see. Please have the nurse page me if youneed anything. In the meantime, I’ll make sure the social worker gets started.”
Chris watched in silence as the doctor left the room. Optimism was important, but he wasn’t capable of faking enthusiasm on such little sleep with so much on his mind. He needed to make a quick exit, and the twinge of guilt wasn’t as sharp knowing his brother was there. As soon as he had the opportunity, he’d make his escape.
“I still don’t like it,” Robbie said as they watched the doctor leave the room.
“Well,” Chris began, barely containing his irritation, “until you come up with a plan that involves you doing more than showing up a few days a month, I suggest we go with what the doctor suggested.”
Robbie sighed and shook his head in frustration. “I know what you and the doctor are saying is right, I just don’t like it. Mom should be in her house.”
“I’m still right here,” their mom reminded them. “Pretty sure what I say should count for something.”
Chris needed out. It was hard enough accepting what needed to happen, without getting pushback from his brother. He had to remind himself that he’d had more time to come to terms with things than Robbie had.
“Okay mom, I’m going to get going. Spend time with Robbie; I need to get some sleep.”
