Still, it didn’t sound like him.
“I’m sorry that happened,” I said. “He hasn’t tried anything like that with me.”
“It happened right around the time that his sister died.” She laughed a little and tapped at her chin with a single purple-painted nail. “I assume he told you about that?”
“A little bit.”
“Gruesome story. Fucked up, really.”
“What happened?” I heard his part, but I wanted her to tell me the stuff he left out.
“I only know pieces, so if you want the full story, you have to ask him. But apparently, she married this real abusive guy, and she hid the abuse for years, until one day she tried to leave him and he murdered her for it. Gavin took it really hard, you know? I think it really messed him up.”
I nodded slowly. “He talked like they were close.”
“Yeah, I think they were. She was really young, a lot younger than him, and he sort of raised her, right? I think his parents are dead.”
“I can’t even imagine.” I stared at my mother than let out a rueful laugh. “Well, maybe I can.”
Fiona was quiet for a second. The room filled with the sound of beeping machines.
“Listen, sweetie,” Fiona said, voice soft. “I need to talk to you about your mother.”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
“I’m sure you don’t, but you have to listen. Can you listen for a second, okay?”
“Go ahead.”
She took a breath. “It’s about her money.”
I looked back at her, surprised. I figured she was about to tell me that mom would never, ever wake up, or that she was going to die, or that she had brain damage—but money had never occurred to me. “What about it?”
“She doesn’t have insurance.” She spoke softly, words gentle but firm. “You know that, right?”
“I didn’t… we never talked about it.” I frowned a little, shaking my head. “She had a job.”
“Was it full-time?”
I groaned. “No, she went part-time a year ago when she started having back pain and my hours at the restaurant picked up. Oh, my god, I didn’t know that meant she lost her insurance.”
Fiona gave me a pitying look and I wanted to get up and scream. “I’m sorry, hon. I don’t know what the hospital’s going to do, but you should start thinking about it. There are other places she can go, there are at-home care solutions, and a lot of it is state funded. We can figure this out for you.”
I spread my hands out. “I don’t have money. What the hell am I going to do? She’s in a freaking coma. I can’t… I can’t take her out of this.”
“I’m so sorry. I know Gavin’s working on this.”
I chewed my cheek, biting down hard enough to make it hurt to keep myself from crying. “What can he do?”
“I’m not sure, honestly. Maybe something, since you two are married now.”
I let out a laugh. “Married to a doctor and still poor.”
“He’ll help you. I know I have a past with him, but he’s a good person. Losing his sister messed him up, but I think he’s trying.”
I looked back at my mother. “I don’t have a lot of experience with good guys. Dated a few bastards and assholes over the years and none of it ever lasted. It was just me and my mom for a real long time, except when my piece of crap dad decided to show up and ruin things for a few days, or weeks, or months, or however long he stuck around.”
“What was he like? Your dad?”
I shook my head. “He could be funny, but he was an addict. Everything was about his addiction, no matter what.”
“I’m sorry. None of this is fair.”
I snorted and smiled at her. “No, it’s really not.”
She walked over and took my hand. She squeezed it, smiled again, and bent down to hug me. I returned her hug, a little surprised, and it felt good—a small gesture, a little bit of normal human kindness in a place where normal human kindness was somehow turned into a commodity.
The glass door slid open again. Fiona pulled back as Gavin came into the room. He looked between us and I wiped my tears away.
“I can guess what you two were talking about,” he said.
“I thought I’d break the news to her.” Fiona gave him a smile then slipped past and out into the hall. “See you later, Erica.”
I waved a she disappeared back to her station. Gavin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You okay?”
“I think so. Will the hospital kick her out?”
“No, they won’t.” He knelt down next to me. “I won’t let them.”
“What can you do about it?”
“Well, the main administrator, the woman that makes all these decisions—she’s going to let your mom stay for a little while longer.”
“That’s good, but temporary.”