“But you aren’t doing that since you don’t see him.”
“I was hoping these flowers would bring him out of hiding,” I said.
“Can I give you some advice? Woman to woman?”
“Sure,” I said.
“You’re his nurse. His licensed physician. If he isn’t listening to you, he’s technically a danger to himself, right?”
“I guess. Technically he could be,” I said.
“So, if he’s a danger to himself and he’s not capable of residing in his own home, you could technically admit him to a hospital. Right?”
“I’m not admitting him anywhere, Emilia. He doesn’t need a straitjacket. He needs help.”
“I’m not telling you to admit him, Grace. All I’m telling you is to… you know… give him his options.”
“You mean hang the hospital over his head to get him out of his room,” I said. “That sounds like a dirty tactic. I don’t want to use something like that.”
“Well what’s he giving you? Besides heart attacks.”
I took the vase from Emilia’s hands and set it on the table near the window. She was right. I was technically his part of his physician team. And if he was doing something to himself I didn’t agree with, I had the capability of stepping in on his behalf and doing what was necessary. But I didn’t want to admit him to a hospital. I knew recuperating in his own home was the best choice for a man like him. Especially if he was developing some sort of phobia regarding people seeing him in his wheelchair.
I didn’t want to put him through anymore turmoil.
But I was desperate.
“So you think I should threaten him with admission to the hospital to get him to follow my guidelines,” I said.
“I think that if the man isn’t eating or bathing properly, then he’s a danger to himself as well as his recuperation. Which I know isn’t what you want,” Emilia said.
“When did you get so smart?”
“How long have you been questioning this fact?”
I smiled and embraced my friend. It had been wonderful, seeing her during all of her drop offs. Flowers were everywhere. They were in the kitchen and up against the windows of the living room. A couple of fresh vases were in Hayden’s room. I was able to sneak them in there while he had been bathing. His penthouse home smelled of delicious, decadent scents.
But they weren’t drawing him out of his room, or even making him easier to live with.
“It’s just a thought. You don’t have to do it. But remember, you have the final say here. Not him,” Emilia said.
“Thanks,” I said with a smile. “I’ll remember that.”
“And I’ll take these wilting flowers and go press them. Did you know there’s a market for that sort of thing?”
“I would’ve never dreamed,” I said with a grin.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“Maybe a little bit.”
“I really do miss you and your ideas at the shop,” she said.
“And if things keep going as well as they are now with Mr. Lowell, I’ll be right back there after he’s recuperated.”
The two of us giggled as I escorted her to the door.
“Don’t let him take away something you love, Grace.”