Chapter 8: The Second Prescription
Dad called Melissa back immediately.
She didn't answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“She's hiding something,” Grandma whispered.
Dad lowered the answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“She's hiding something,” Grandma whispered.
Dad lowered the phone.
“I know.””
He looked at me, then toward the doctor, who had returned to check phone.
“I know.””
He looked at me, then toward the doctor, who had returned to check my progress.
“I'm not going to question her in front of Jaden my progress.
“I'm not going to question her in front of Jaden any further tonight,” Dad said.
“But I need to understand whether there's another medication any further tonight,” Dad said.
“But I need to understand whether there's another medication issue we haven't identified.””
The doctor nodded.
“That is reasonable. We'll make sure Jaden's issue we haven't identified.””
The doctor nodded.
“That is reasonable. We'll make sure Jaden's treatment plan is based on verified medical information. Any concerns about missing or altered medication should be documented and treatment plan is based on verified medical information. Any concerns about missing or altered medication should be documented and addressed through the appropriate channels.””
Dad thanked him.
Then he asked Nurse Patel to help him contact the pharmacy through the proper process addressed through the appropriate channels.””
Dad thanked him.
Then he asked Nurse Patel to help him contact the pharmacy through the proper process.
She explained that the pharmacy could confirm the prescription, the pickup details, and any documented communications.
She explained that the pharmacy could confirm the prescription, the pickup details, and any documented communications it was authorized to share.
Dad agreed to request those records.
While they worked it was authorized to share.
Dad agreed to request those records.
While they worked, Grandma stayed beside me.
She asked whether I wanted water.
She adjusted my pillow.
She told me, Grandma stayed beside me.
She asked whether I wanted water.
She adjusted my pillow.
She told me that my favorite blanket was still at her house and that she would bring it if the hospital allowed that my favorite blanket was still at her house and that she would bring it if the hospital allowed it.
She didn't ask me to stop talking about Melissa.
She didn't tell me that everything would it.
She didn't ask me to stop talking about Melissa.
She didn't tell me that everything would be fine.
She simply stayed.
That made it easier to speak.
“Grandma?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Do you think Melissa hates me be fine.
She simply stayed.
That made it easier to speak.
“Grandma?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Do you think Melissa hates me?””
Her hands stopped moving.
She looked at me for a long moment.
“I don't know what Melissa feels inside,”?””
Her hands stopped moving.
She looked at me for a long moment.
“I don't know what Melissa feels inside,” she said carefully.
“But I know that what she did was dangerous, and it was wrong.””
I she said carefully.
“But I know that what she did was dangerous, and it was wrong.””
I stared at the blanket.
“Sometimes she was nice.””
“I believe you.””
“She helped me with homework.””
“I stared at the blanket.
“Sometimes she was nice.””
“I believe you.””
“She helped me with homework.””
“I know.””
“And she bought me presents.””
Grandma nodded.
“People can do kind things and still make harmful choices know.””
“And she bought me presents.””
Grandma nodded.
“People can do kind things and still make harmful choices. The kind things don't erase the harm.””
I thought about that.
It was a difficult. The kind things don't erase the harm.””
I thought about that.
It was a difficult idea.
I had always imagined that people were either good or bad, safe or idea.
I had always imagined that people were either good or bad, safe or unsafe.
But Melissa had never been cruel every minute of every day unsafe.
But Melissa had never been cruel every minute of every day.
That was part of what made it so confusing.
Grandma gently squeezed my hand.
“You don't.
That was part of what made it so confusing.
Grandma gently squeezed my hand.
“You don't have to decide what kind of person she is tonight. You only have to let the adults responsible for your safety handle this have to decide what kind of person she is tonight. You only have to let the adults responsible for your safety handle this properly.””
Across the room, Dad was speaking quietly with Nurse Patel.
Then his phone buzzed.
properly.””
Across the room, Dad was speaking quietly with Nurse Patel.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message had arrived from Melissa.
*I can explain the second prescription. But you need toA message had arrived from Melissa.
I can explain the second prescription. But you need to promise not to overreact.
Dad read it without responding.
He typed a short promise not to overreact.*
Dad read it without responding.
He typed a short reply.
*I will listen to the facts. I won't make reply.
I will listen to the facts. I won't make promises before I know what happened.
Her answer came a few promises before I know what happened.*
Her answer came a few minutes later.
The first prescription wasn't the one I was worried about.
Dad minutes later.
The first prescription wasn't the one I was worried about.
Dad looked up.
“What first prescription?”” Grandma asked.
He showed her the message.
She shook her looked up.
“What first prescription?”” Grandma asked.
He showed her the message.
She shook her head.
“I don't understand.””
Neither did I.
Dad returned to the conversation.
*Which prescription head.
“I don't understand.””
Neither did I.
Dad returned to the conversation.
Which prescription are you talking about?
Melissa responded:
The one from September.
Dad stared at the screen.
He looked toward are you talking about?*
Melissa responded:
The one from September.
Dad stared at the screen.
He looked toward Nurse Patel.
“Can the pharmacy confirm whether there was another prescription in September?””
“They may be able to verify the dispensing history once the Nurse Patel.
“Can the pharmacy confirm whether there was another prescription in September?””
“They may be able to verify the dispensing history once the appropriate authorization is in place,” she replied.
“Your son's prescribing clinician can also help appropriate authorization is in place,” she replied.
“Your son's prescribing clinician can also help clarify which prescription was active at that time.””
Dad nodded.
He didn't want guesses.
He wanted records.
clarify which prescription was active at that time.””
Dad nodded.
He didn't want guesses.
He wanted records.
The doctor arranged for the relevant medication history to be reviewed as part of the care and safety planning.
While they waitedThe doctor arranged for the relevant medication history to be reviewed as part of the care and safety planning.
While they waited, Dad searched his own messages.
He found an exchange from September 12.
He had asked Melissa whether she had collected, Dad searched his own messages.
He found an exchange from September 12.
He had asked Melissa whether she had collected my replacement EpiPen.
She had replied:
*All taken care of. You don't my replacement EpiPen.
She had replied:
All taken care of. You don't need to worry about it.
At the time, Dad had been working a long shift.
He had need to worry about it.*
At the time, Dad had been working a long shift.
He had trusted her answer.
He had gone home that evening, seen me watching television, and asked whether I had everything I trusted her answer.
He had gone home that evening, seen me watching television, and asked whether I had everything I needed for school.
I had said yes.
He had believed both of us were safe.
Now he read the message as though it belonged to needed for school.
I had said yes.
He had believed both of us were safe.
Now he read the message as though it belonged to another family.
“Did you actually pick it up on September 12?”” he asked Melissa.
Her response took several another family.
“Did you actually pick it up on September 12?”” he asked Melissa.
Her response took several minutes.
I thought I did.
Dad closed his eyes.
He typed:
*You told me it was taken care minutes.
I thought I did.
Dad closed his eyes.
He typed:
You told me it was taken care of.
I was going to take care of it.
That's not of.
I was going to take care of it.
That's not the same thing.
No answer followed.
Grandma sat very still.
Then she said, “Daniel, do you remember when I offered to the same thing.*
No answer followed.
Grandma sat very still.
Then she said, “Daniel, do you remember when I offered to pick up Jaden's medication in September?””
Dad looked at her.
“You did?””
“Yes. Melissa told pick up Jaden's medication in September?””
Dad looked at her.
“You did?””
“Yes. Melissa told me she had already handled it.””
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Did she me she had already handled it.””
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Did she say anything about the prescription being wrong?””
“No.””
“Did she say anything about the pharmacy?””
Grandma thought carefully.
“She said there was a problem with the paperwork, but that it was being sorted out.””
Dad leaned against the wall.
The details were beginning to overlap.
say anything about the prescription being wrong?””
“No.””
“Did she say anything about the pharmacy?””
Grandma thought carefully.
“She said there was a problem with the paperwork, but that it was being sorted out.””
Dad leaned against the wall.
The details were beginning to overlap.
A medication pickup inA medication pickup in September.
A missing pouch in October.
A message asking Grandma to remember something she might never have witnessed.
And now a second prescription Melissa had apparently been worried about.
Dad looked September.
A missing pouch in October.
A message asking Grandma to remember something she might never have witnessed.
And now a second prescription Melissa had apparently been worried about.
Dad looked at his phone again.
“I'm calling her.””
This time, Melissa answered.
“Daniel, please don't turn this into a bigger issue than it needs to be.””
He kept his voice steady.
“What was the September prescription?””
“It was a replacement.””
“For what?””
“The E at his phone again.
“I'm calling her.””
This time, Melissa answered.
“Daniel, please don't turn this into a bigger issue than it needs to be.””
He kept his voice steady.
“What was the September prescription?””
“It was a replacement.””
“For what?””
“The EpiPen.””
“Why was itpiPen.””
“Why was it replaced?””
She hesitated.
“Because I thought the first one wasn't right.””
Dad stared at the wall.
“You told me the pharmacy had handled everything.””
“I thought they had.””
“Did you collect the medication?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did you tell your mother you collected it?””
Melissa went silent.
Dad continued.
“Did you tell her to confirm a replaced?””
She hesitated.
“Because I thought the first one wasn't right.””
Dad stared at the wall.
“You told me the pharmacy had handled everything.””
“I thought they had.””
“Did you collect the medication?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did you tell your mother you collected it?””
Melissa went silent.
Dad continued.
“Did you tell her to confirm a pickup she hadn't seen?””
“I didn't ask her to lie!””
“Then pickup she hadn't seen?””
“I didn't ask her to lie!””
“Then why did you tell her what to say if someone asked?””
“Because I knew you would react like why did you tell her what to say if someone asked?””
“Because I knew you would react like this!””
“Like what?””
“Like I had deliberately done something terrible!””
Dad's expression tightened this!””
“Like what?””
“Like I had deliberately done something terrible!””
Dad's expression tightened.
“Melissa, I'm trying.
“Melissa, I'm trying to determine whether my son had the medication his doctor prescribed. This is not about protecting your feelings.””
She began speaking quickly.
“The September prescription was complicated. The pharmacy said there might be an issue with the label. I didn't want to give Jaden something if I to determine whether my son had the medication his doctor prescribed. This is not about protecting your feelings.””
She began speaking quickly.
“The September prescription was complicated. The pharmacy said there might be an issue with the label. I didn't want to give Jaden something if I wasn't certain it was correct.””
Dad interrupted.
“Did you contact the prescribing clinician?””
“No.””
“The pharmacy?””
“I spoke wasn't certain it was correct.””
Dad interrupted.
“Did you contact the prescribing clinician?””
“No.””
“The pharmacy?””
“I spoke to someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did you tell me there was a problem?””
“No.””
“Did you make sure Jaden had an to someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did you tell me there was a problem?””
“No.””
“Did you make sure Jaden had an appropriate replacement?””
Silence.
Dad closed his eyes.
When he opened them appropriate replacement?””
Silence.
Dad closed his eyes.
When he opened them, his voice was almost a whisper.
“Did you?””
Melissa started crying.
“I was going to.””
He ended, his voice was almost a whisper.
“Did you?””
Melissa started crying.
“I was going to.””
He ended the call.
Not because he had all the answers.
Because he had heard enough to know that the call.
Not because he had all the answers.
Because he had heard enough to know that the situation needed to be handled carefully, with medical professionals and accurate records—not another the situation needed to be handled carefully, with medical professionals and accurate records—not another emotional argument in which the facts changed every few minutes.
He sat beside emotional argument in which the facts changed every few minutes.
He sat beside me.
“Buddy, I need you to tell me something. Do you remember whether you had your E me.
“Buddy, I need you to tell me something. Do you remember whether you had your EpiPen in September?””
I thought hard.
“I remember looking for it before a school trippiPen in September?””
I thought hard.
“I remember looking for it before a school trip.””
His head lifted.
“What school trip?””
“The science museum.””
I remembered.””
His head lifted.
“What school trip?””
“The science museum.””
I remembered standing near the front door with my backpack open.
Melissa had been searching through the kitchen standing near the front door with my backpack open.
Melissa had been searching through the kitchen drawers.
She had told me to stop fussing.
I had asked whether my medication drawers.
She had told me to stop fussing.
I had asked whether my medication was in the bag.
She said she would check later.
“Did you go on the was in the bag.
She said she would check later.
“Did you go on the trip without it?”” Dad asked.
“I don't know. I think the teacher had something trip without it?”” Dad asked.
“I don't know. I think the teacher had something at school.””
Dad's expression tightened.
“Did anyone tell you that?””
I nodded slowly.
at school.””
Dad's expression tightened.
“Did anyone tell you that?””
I nodded slowly.
“My teacher said the nurse was checking.””
Nurse Patel made a note.
“We can review“My teacher said the nurse was checking.””
Nurse Patel made a note.
“We can review the school trip records,” she said.
“We should establish what medication was documented as available that day the school trip records,” she said.
“We should establish what medication was documented as available that day rather than rely on uncertain memories.””
Dad thanked her.
Then he took my hand.
rather than rely on uncertain memories.””
Dad thanked her.
Then he took my hand.
“That's what we're going to do. We're going to find the facts.””
For the next hour, the adults“That's what we're going to do. We're going to find the facts.””
For the next hour, the adults gathered information.
No one declared Melissa guilty of anything beyond what the evidence established gathered information.
No one declared Melissa guilty of anything beyond what the evidence established.
No one guessed at the missing details.
But the records raised serious questions that could no longer be dismissed as.
No one guessed at the missing details.
But the records raised serious questions that could no longer be dismissed as a single misunderstanding.
Eventually, Dad's phone rang again.
This time a single misunderstanding.
Eventually, Dad's phone rang again.
This time, it was the pharmacy.
He answered and listened.
His face changed slowly.
First confusion, it was the pharmacy.
He answered and listened.
His face changed slowly.
First confusion.
Then disbelief.
Finally, a deep, exhausted anger.
When the call ended, Grandma asked, “.
Then disbelief.
Finally, a deep, exhausted anger.
When the call ended, Grandma asked, “What did they say?””
Dad looked at her.
“The September prescription was filled.””
Grandma pressed aWhat did they say?””
Dad looked at her.
“The September prescription was filled.””
Grandma pressed a hand to her chest.
“And?””
He swallowed.
“The pharmacy has a record of it being collected.””
“By hand to her chest.
“And?””
He swallowed.
“The pharmacy has a record of it being collected.””
“By whom?””
Dad looked down at the information he had written.
Then he raised his eyes toward the closed door.
“Melissa.””
whom?””
Dad looked down at the information he had written.
Then he raised his eyes toward the closed door.
“Melissa.””
The room went silent.
Dad had proof that she collected the September medication.
But he stillThe room went silent.
Dad had proof that she collected the September medication.
But he still didn't know why she had told him there was a problem.
He still didn't know why she had didn't know why she had told him there was a problem.
He still didn't know why she had asked Grandma to remember the pickup.
And he still didn't know what had happened to the medication after Melissa took asked Grandma to remember the pickup.
And he still didn't know what had happened to the medication after Melissa took possession of it.
Then another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph.
It showed a possession of it.
Then another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph.
It showed a small medication pouch on a kitchen counter.
Dad recognized the counter immediately.
small medication pouch on a kitchen counter.
Dad recognized the counter immediately.
It was ours.
And beside the pouch was a handwritten note bearing Melissa's handwriting.
Five words.
*Don't putIt was ours.
And beside the pouch was a handwritten note bearing Melissa's handwriting.
May you like
Five words.
Don't put this in his bag.
