Chapter 7: Grandma K## Chapter 7: Grandma Knew Before Anyone Else
Dad readnew Before Anyone Else
Dad read Grandma's message again.
Then he called her.
She answered before Grandma's message again.
Then he called her.
She answered before the first ring had finished.
“Daniel? Is Jaden all right?””
the first ring had finished.
“Daniel? Is Jaden all right?””
“He's stable. The doctors are monitoring him.””
“Oh, thank goodness.””
Her voice trembled with“He's stable. The doctors are monitoring him.””
“Oh, thank goodness.””
Her voice trembled with relief, but Dad didn't immediately respond.
“Mom relief, but Dad didn't immediately respond.
“Mom, Melissa told you she was going to keep his EpiPen away from him?””
There was a pause.
“Yes.””
Dad, Melissa told you she was going to keep his EpiPen away from him?””
There was a pause.
“Yes.””
Dad lowered his eyes.
“When?””
“This morning.””
“What exactly did she tell you lowered his eyes.
“When?””
“This morning.””
“What exactly did she tell you?””
Grandma exhaled shakily.
“She called me after you left for work. She said Jaden?””
Grandma exhaled shakily.
“She called me after you left for work. She said Jaden was becoming too anxious about his allergies and that she wanted to teach him not to was becoming too anxious about his allergies and that she wanted to teach him not to depend on his medication so much.””
Dad's fingers tightened around the phone.
“She depend on his medication so much.””
Dad's fingers tightened around the phone.
“She actually used those words?””
“Not exactly. She said he needed to learn that actually used those words?””
“Not exactly. She said he needed to learn that he couldn't carry emergency medicine everywhere and expect everyone to accommodate him.””
I he couldn't carry emergency medicine everywhere and expect everyone to accommodate him.””
I watched my father turn toward the window.
For a moment, he didn't look watched my father turn toward the window.
For a moment, he didn't look like the man who had confronted Melissa in the emergency room.
He looked like someone trying to understand how a situation like the man who had confronted Melissa in the emergency room.
He looked like someone trying to understand how a situation so terrible could have started with a conversation he had never known about.
“What did you so terrible could have started with a conversation he had never known about.
“What did you tell her?”” he asked.
“I told her that wasn't her decision to make.””
“And then?””
“She tell her?”” he asked.
“I told her that wasn't her decision to make.””
“And then?””
“She said I was interfering in your marriage.””
Dad closed his eyes.
Grandma continued, her voice growing firmer.
“I reminded said I was interfering in your marriage.””
Dad closed his eyes.
Grandma continued, her voice growing firmer.
“I reminded her that Jaden has a serious allergy and that his doctor prescribed that medication for a reason. I told her her that Jaden has a serious allergy and that his doctor prescribed that medication for a reason. I told her to give it back immediately and call you.””
“Did she say she would?””
“She said she would handle it.””
Dad stared at to give it back immediately and call you.””
“Did she say she would?””
“She said she would handle it.””
Dad stared at the floor.
“And you didn't call me?””
“I thought she might listen the floor.
“And you didn't call me?””
“I thought she might listen. I didn't want to create a fight between you two if she corrected. I didn't want to create a fight between you two if she corrected the situation.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Mom, she didn't the situation.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Mom, she didn't correct it.””
“I know.””
“She took the medication out of his backpack. He had a correct it.””
“I know.””
“She took the medication out of his backpack. He had a reaction at school. He's in the hospital.””
“I know, Daniel.””
Her voice broke.
reaction at school. He's in the hospital.””
“I know, Daniel.””
Her voice broke.
“I am so sorry.””
Dad sat down.
I could see the exhaustion catching“I am so sorry.””
Dad sat down.
I could see the exhaustion catching up with him.
“Did she tell you why she thought Jaden didn't need it up with him.
“Did she tell you why she thought Jaden didn't need it?””
“She said he was too dependent on it. She said he used his allergies to get attention.””
My father's expression hardened.
?””
“She said he was too dependent on it. She said he used his allergies to get attention.””
My father's expression hardened.
“He nearly died today.””
“I know.””
Grandma was“He nearly died today.””
“I know.””
Grandma was crying now.
“I should have called you.””
For several seconds, Dad crying now.
“I should have called you.””
For several seconds, Dad said nothing.
Then he answered quietly.
“Yes. You should have.””
The words hurt her said nothing.
Then he answered quietly.
“Yes. You should have.””
The words hurt her.
I could hear it in the sudden silence.
But Dad didn't take them.
I could hear it in the sudden silence.
But Dad didn't take them back.
He had spent the entire day learning how many adults had known pieces of the truth while he back.
He had spent the entire day learning how many adults had known pieces of the truth while he remained unaware.
He couldn't afford to pretend remained unaware.
He couldn't afford to pretend that good intentions were enough anymore.
“Mom,” he continued, “I need you to tell me everything she said. Even if you think it sounds insignificant.””
“I will.””
“Has she ever talked to you about removing his medication before?””
“No.””
“Has she ever asked you to keep something about Jaden from me?””
Grandma hesitated.
Dad sat stra that good intentions were enough anymore.
“Mom,” he continued, “I need you to tell me everything she said. Even if you think it sounds insignificant.””
“I will.””
“Has she ever talked to you about removing his medication before?””
“No.””
“Has she ever asked you to keep something about Jaden from me?””
Grandma hesitated.
Dad sat straighter.
“What is it?””
“There was something last monthighter.
“What is it?””
“There was something last month.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
“She asked whether Jaden could stay with me for a few days while you were working.””
“That isn't unusual.””
“No. But she said she needed some time to get the house back under control.””
Dad looked toward me.
“What did she mean by that?””
“I don't know. I asked her whether you two were having problems. She said you were tired of being responsible for everything.””
My chest tightened.
That was almost exactly what Melissa had told me.
Dad's face went pale.
“Did she say I was tired of Jaden?””
“She didn't say it quite like that.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
“She asked whether Jaden could stay with me for a few days while you were working.””
“That isn't unusual.””
“No. But she said she needed some time to get the house back under control.””
Dad looked toward me.
“What did she mean by that?””
“I don't know. I asked her whether you two were having problems. She said you were tired of being responsible for everything.””
My chest tightened.
That was almost exactly what Melissa had told me.
Dad's face went pale.
“Did she say I was tired of Jaden?””
“She didn't say it quite like that.””
“But she suggested it.””
Grandma didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
Dad ended the.””
“But she suggested it.””
Grandma didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
Dad ended the call after promising to speak with her again once the doctors had finished evaluating me.
Then he sat call after promising to speak with her again once the doctors had finished evaluating me.
Then he sat beside my bed.
I watched him struggle to find the right words.
“Is Grandma mad at beside my bed.
I watched him struggle to find the right words.
“Is Grandma mad at me?”” I asked.
His head lifted immediately.
“No, buddy. She's worried about you.””
“Did she know Melissa took my medication?””
“She me?”” I asked.
His head lifted immediately.
“No, buddy. She's worried about you.””
“Did she know Melissa took my medication?””
“She knew Melissa was planning to keep it away from you. She told her not to.””
I looked down at my knew Melissa was planning to keep it away from you. She told her not to.””
I looked down at my hands.
“Why didn't she tell you?””
Dad took a long breath.
“She thought Melissa might change her mind. hands.
“Why didn't she tell you?””
Dad took a long breath.
“She thought Melissa might change her mind. She made a mistake by not calling me.””
I nodded slowly She made a mistake by not calling me.””
I nodded slowly.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
Grandma had always been kind to.
I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
Grandma had always been kind to me.
She baked cookies I could safely eat after checking the ingredients.
She kept a list of foods my doctor had told us to avoid.
When we me.
She baked cookies I could safely eat after checking the ingredients.
She kept a list of foods my doctor had told us to avoid.
When we visited her house, she put my medication pouch beside the front door so nobody would forget it.
The idea that she had known something dangerous was happening and hadn't told Dad made my stomach visited her house, she put my medication pouch beside the front door so nobody would forget it.
The idea that she had known something dangerous was happening and hadn't told Dad made my stomach hurt.
“Is she going to come here?”” I asked.
“If you want her to.””
I thought about it.
Then I nodded.
Dad called her back.
She arrived less than an hour later, carrying nothing but her handbag and a folded sweater hurt.
“Is she going to come here?”” I asked.
“If you want her to.””
I thought about it.
Then I nodded.
Dad called her back.
She arrived less than an hour later, carrying nothing but her handbag and a folded sweater.
The moment she saw me, she hurried to my bedside.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
She stopped.
The moment she saw me, she hurried to my bedside.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
She stopped herself before touching me, checking first whether she would disturb herself before touching me, checking first whether she would disturb the IV.
Then she bent down and kissed my forehead.
“I am so sorry.””
I looked at the IV.
Then she bent down and kissed my forehead.
“I am so sorry.””
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell Dad?””
Her face crumpled.
“Because I thought I could convince Melissa her.
“Why didn't you tell Dad?””
Her face crumpled.
“Because I thought I could convince Melissa to do the right thing without making things worse.””
“But she didn't.””
“No, sweetheart. She to do the right thing without making things worse.””
“But she didn't.””
“No, sweetheart. She didn't.””
Grandma pulled a chair beside my bed.
“I should have called him. I should have made didn't.””
Grandma pulled a chair beside my bed.
“I should have called him. I should have made sure you were safe instead of assuming another adult would do what was right.””
I didn't know sure you were safe instead of assuming another adult would do what was right.””
I didn't know what to say.
She wiped her eyes.
“You don't have to forgive me right now.””
That surprised what to say.
She wiped her eyes.
“You don't have to forgive me right now.””
That surprised me.
Melissa always wanted me to stop being upset as quickly as possible.
Grandma wasn't asking me to make her me.
Melissa always wanted me to stop being upset as quickly as possible.
Grandma wasn't asking me to make her feel better.
She was admitting that she had failed to act.
Dad stood by the window, listening.
After a few moments, he asked, “Mom, is there anything else I need to know?””
Grandma looked at him.
feel better.
She was admitting that she had failed to act.
Dad stood by the window, listening.
After a few moments, he asked, “Mom, is there anything else I need to know?””
Grandma looked at him.
She seemed to be deciding whether to speak.
Then she reached intoShe seemed to be deciding whether to speak.
Then she reached into her handbag and took out her phone.
“There is something Melissa told me that I didn't understand until today.””
Dad came closer.
“What?””
Grandma opened a message her handbag and took out her phone.
“There is something Melissa told me that I didn't understand until today.””
Dad came closer.
“What?””
Grandma opened a message thread.
“Last week, she asked me whether I knew how long a thread.
“Last week, she asked me whether I knew how long a pharmacy kept records of prescription pickups.””
Dad stared at her.
“Why?””
“She said she was trying pharmacy kept records of prescription pickups.””
Dad stared at her.
“Why?””
“She said she was trying to correct a mistake in Jaden's medication records.””
My father's face became unreadable to correct a mistake in Jaden's medication records.””
My father's face became unreadable.
“Did she say what mistake?””
“She said there had been confusion about when his prescription was collected.””
Dad looked toward the.
“Did she say what mistake?””
“She said there had been confusion about when his prescription was collected.””
Dad looked toward the blue pouch resting in the hospital's medication area.
Today's pickup label.
The correct dosage.
The record showing blue pouch resting in the hospital's medication area.
Today's pickup label.
The correct dosage.
The record showing 8:12 AM.
Then he looked back at Grandma.
“Did she ask anything else?””
Grandma scrolled 8:12 AM.
Then he looked back at Grandma.
“Did she ask anything else?””
Grandma scrolled through the messages.
“Yes.””
She turned the phone toward him.
Melissa had sent another message two days through the messages.
“Yes.””
She turned the phone toward him.
Melissa had sent another message two days later.
It read:
*If anyone asks about the old medication, just tell them you remember later.
It read:
If anyone asks about the old medication, just tell them you remember me picking it up. I don't want Daniel turning this into another argument.
me picking it up. I don't want Daniel turning this into another argument.*
Dad read the words slowly.
Then he read them again.
“Old medication?”” he whispered.
Grandma nodded.
Dad read the words slowly.
Then he read them again.
“Old medication?”” he whispered.
Grandma nodded.
“I didn't understand what she meant. I thought she was talking about a prescription that had been replaced.””
Dad looked at me“I didn't understand what she meant. I thought she was talking about a prescription that had been replaced.””
Dad looked at me.
I could see the question forming in his mind.
If Melissa had.
I could see the question forming in his mind.
If Melissa had been worried about today's prescription, why had she been talking about old medication days earlier?
And why had she asked Grandma to confirm something been worried about today's prescription, why had she been talking about old medication days earlier?
And why had she asked Grandma to confirm something she might not have witnessed?
Dad took out his phone and photographed the message with Grandma's permission.
He didn't she might not have witnessed?
Dad took out his phone and photographed the message with Grandma's permission.
He didn't accuse Melissa of anything else.
Not yet.
Instead, he asked Grandma to preserve the original conversation accuse Melissa of anything else.
Not yet.
Instead, he asked Grandma to preserve the original conversation and agreed that they would provide relevant information to the appropriate people if necessary.
and agreed that they would provide relevant information to the appropriate people if necessary.
Then he returned to my bedside.
“I'm going to find outThen he returned to my bedside.
“I'm going to find out what happened,” he said.
I believed him.
But just as what happened,” he said.
I believed him.
But just as he reached for my hand, his phone rang again.
The caller ID showed Melissa's name.
Dad answered on speaker because his hands were occupied with my blanket.
“Daniel,” she said, her voice strained, “we need he reached for my hand, his phone rang again.
The caller ID showed Melissa's name.
Dad answered on speaker because his hands were occupied with my blanket.
“Daniel,” she said, her voice strained, “we need to talk before you make any decisions.””
“About what?””
“About our family.””
He looked at me, then to talk before you make any decisions.””
“About what?””
“About our family.””
He looked at me, then at Grandma.
“I'm listening.””
Melissa took a breath.
“There are things you don't know about the medication.””
Dad went completely at Grandma.
“I'm listening.””
Melissa took a breath.
“There are things you don't know about the medication.””
Dad went completely still.
“What things?””
“I can't explain over the phone.””
“Then explain now.””
still.
“What things?””
“I can't explain over the phone.””
“Then explain now.””
She hesitated.
Finally, she said something that made Grandma cover her mouth.
“Jaden wasn't theShe hesitated.
Finally, she said something that made Grandma cover her mouth.
“Jaden wasn't the only reason I took that pouch.””
My father gripped the phone.
“What only reason I took that pouch.””
My father gripped the phone.
“What does that mean, Melissa?””
But she had already ended the call.
And for the does that mean, Melissa?””
May you like
But she had already ended the call.
And for the first time, Dad looked genuinely afraid of what the next answer first time, Dad looked genuinely afraid of what the next answer might reveal.
