I respond with my location andThank you.
You okay?
Not really.
OK. Be there soon.
It’s only then that I notice the missed call, and the voice mail. A 212 number. I hit the arrow to play it.
“Hi, Cleo, it’s Mark Germaine.” His voice is deep and warm. Comforting. “Could you call me back when you get a moment? I’d love to see if there’s anything we can do to support you.” He hesitates, clears his throat. “Ruth and I have been thinking so much about you and your mom … I’m sure you know how much she means to us.”
I was so busy obsessing that my mom had no Facebook friends, I forgot about all her work friends. She is beloved at her law firm—weddings and baby showers and birthdays, she’s included in all of them. And my mom’s law firm is one of the biggest and most powerful in the entire world—yes, I want Blair, Stevenson’s help, immediately.
When I dial Mark’s number, it goes straight to voice mail. “I—It’s Cleo McHugh. I do need help finding my mom. Can you call me back? Please.”
REDDIT
2/5/2024
The Xytek MDL Action? HELP!
TeresaB.1987
My two-year-old has severe neurologic damage as a result of complications from my taking Xytek while I was pregnant. We have a doctor willing to testify. And I met with a lawyer who said we have a good case. The medication was only supposed to relieve my symptoms. It wasn’t even necessary. But my doctor figured, Hey, why not if it’s safe? My daughter has had so many problems: asthma, a heart defect, cognitive delays. I know they’re from Xytek. I know it. Even if my lawyer says it may be hard to prove. Anyway, I got a call from somebody, somebody anonymous, saying that Darden is threatening people who sue and that I should be careful. My husband thinks it was somebody at Darden. But he also thinks our lawyer is greedy and full of shit and we’d be better off being guaranteed some kind of settlement than joining the MDL. But I’m not even in it for the money. I want justice for my daughter. Anybody out there gotten a similar call? Thanks!
Lenny12654
Listen to your husband. All these lawyers are only in it for themselves.
RebeccaCartwright
I’m not a member of the MDL. Because it was my husband who died taking Xytek and not a baby. He was a marathon runner and a fireman.He was only thirty-five. I have three kids under five and I have no way to support them. I have a GoFundMe that I’ll link to. He had life insurance, but not enough for us to survive on. I don’t know about the differences in the amount of money, but I recommend joining the MDL. I sure would if I could. Always better not to have to go it alone.
NYCMaMa
Don’t reach out to Darden asking for a settlement. Join the MDL as soon as possible. Going public and staying on the record as a claimant is the only way to be sure that you’re safe. Otherwise, they’ll have a reason to come after you. These people are dangerous.
TeresaB.1987
Dangerous? Okay, now you’re kind of scaring me.
NYCMaMa
You should be scared. We all should be. Darden will stop at nothing to protect itself. Nothing. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
Katrina
FOUR DAYS BEFORE
Chocolate truffles.
I’d gotten them as a gift from a grateful client—back when Vosges opened their first New York store, a client sent me a box of their truffles in an elegant purple box that was fancier than the one my engagement ring had come in. Cleo had been there when I opened the box, oohing and aahing. She was seven at the time and had a major sweet tooth; I’d nicknamed her “Snack Attack,” which always made her giggle.
“Can I have them?” she’d asked. And the answer with Cleo was almost always yes—anything she wanted, anything I could give her. Often to make up for the things I worried I wasn’t giving her—affection, warmth, hugs.
But I was headed out to a work dinner, already dressed and with my makeup on, and the evening babysitter had already arrived, because Aidan was away. It was late for chocolate, and some of the truffles might have had liquor in them. I didn’t have time to check properly. I might not have been a champion cuddler, but I didalwayscarefully read labels.
“Not tonight. Tomorrow, sweetheart,” I’d said, kissing her head.
