I pull up my sleeve and glance at my watch. “I don’t have time to negotiate, Douglas. How many zeros?”
“It’s not about money,” he says again, but I don’t believe him.
“I was on my way to the airport when you called.” I shove my wallet back inside my purse. They probably want to charge me an arm and a leg for more sensors and alarms. “We can continue this conversation when I return.” I lean to one side and grab my soggy shoes. “I have to go, or I’ll miss my flight.”
“I don’t think you understand. Patricia has already been discharged.”
“What? You’ve got to be kidding.” That means I have only a month to come up with a solution that doesn’t involve Mother driving me crazy again. Impossible. They have to reverse their decision. I slide my foot into one pump and stand. “Mother, promise Douglas you won’t spoon anymore.”
She continues to stare at the clock. “I’m having dinner with Earl.”
“Mom!” I limp in front of her so she has to look at me, and I say firmly, “Promise you’ll control your passionate nature.”
“No one will believe that!” She laughs. “That’s for sure!”
“If you’ll sign here.”
I turn to Douglas and say, as politely as possible, “When I brought her here, I told you that she wanders at night.” I wave the pump in my hand at the papers on his desk. “You wrote it down and assured me that the staff would watch out for her.”
“This happened during the day, when it’s more difficult to watch every patient.”
“I don’t give a damn.”
Mom sucks in a scandalized breath. “Lou Ann!”
“Damn isn’t a swear word. How long was my mother missing before she was found in bed with that old guy?”
“A long time,” admits the ruby-lipped troublemaker.
“I don’t need your help, Mom.” I point my pump in her general direction and return to the desk. “Who was responsible for watching her?”
“Every one of our staff members is dedicated to the care and welfare of our clients.” He thumbs through his papers. “Here’s the admission agreement you signed last year.”
Okay. They’re not taking her back, and I need to think fast. Legally, they have to give me thirty days’ written notice that they’re discharging her, and I need to find an alternative memory care facility. Even if I weren’t traveling, that’s hardly enough time. I can’t just drop her off someplace because they have an open bed. No matter how tempting, I can’t do that to my mother. “I’ll need more than thirty days.” I have to be in LA tomorrow morning. My tour is sold out. I have to leave now.
“Perhaps I haven’t been clear. She must vacate today.”
It takes a few moments for that information to penetrate my skull. When it does, my mouth drops.
“I’ve included several brochures of qualified memory care facilities in her discharge packet.” He looks at Mother. “We’re sorry it’s come to this.”
“It’s okay, Doug.”
No. It’s not! I want to yell at him for being an asshole, but I’ve learned that yelling and name-calling ends all conversation and gives men an excuse to call you hysterical. “Not as sorry as I am. You lost track of my mother, and you don’t even know how long she was missing.” I take a breath and intend to calmly demand at least thirty days, but Douglas says something that I wish he hadn’t. Th
e one thing that never fails to ignite my anger.
“Some things fall through the cracks.”
Those words hit my forehead and shoot through my brain. I lean forward and point my Louboutin at his chest. “My mother does not fall through the cracks.” For so many years, I was invisible. A nobody. Someone who fell through the cracks. “My mother is not so insignificant that she falls through any cracks, you asshole.”
“Lou Ann!”
Douglas stands and looks at me from across his desk. “This conversation is going nowhere.”
Without both heels, I am considerably shorter, but nothing intimidates me, especially when someone dismisses me or my mother. I do, however, lower my pump. “Legally you have to give me at least thirty days.”
He picks up a piece of paper and reads it to me. “This is section seven of the admission agreement titled ‘Terms and Termination Rights of Care Provider,’ that you signed. Paragraph three, subsection b: ‘If the resident exhibits behavior or actions that repeatedly and substantially interfere with the rights, health, safety, or well-being of other residents and staff, and the facility has tried prudent and reasonable interventions, the contract may be found breached and may result in the resident’s discharge and order to vacate. If the resident is found in violation of 7.03 (b), this agreement may be enforced without notice or arbitration.’?”