I Left Him by Text, and He Kept Paying for My Father's Care novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Behavioral Review

The incident report was one page, typed, and dated last Saturday.

It said Martin Doyle had struck an aide with a food tray and shouted threats at the night staff.

"That never happened," the director said.

She stood behind her desk holding the page by one corner.

"Then why is it in his file?" I asked.

"Because it came to me from the foundation that owns this building, with an instruction to log it." Her mouth tightened. "Gordon Garvey sits on its board. I was told a behavioral review is routine."

"Was it routine for the last forty residents?"

"No."

"Will you sign it?"

"I already did." She put her face in her free hand. "I'm sorry. I have eighty-one residents and a mortgage on my own house."

I did not say anything cruel.

I wanted to, and I held it, because she had kept a green folder for two years and shown it to me anyway.

"Put a note on it," I said. "Say it was entered under instruction. Date the note today."

She looked up.

"That could cost me my job."

"It could save Dad's bed."

She wrote the note.

Willa came through the lobby doors while she was writing it, in a puffy coat, with her bob blown sideways.

"I heard," she said. "I'll tell anyone who asks. I was here Saturday. Your dad was playing checkers with a man who cheats."

"The one in the green sweater," I said.

"He cheats."

It was the first time I had smiled all day.

Dad was in the sunroom with a blanket across his knees.

He saw me, and his whole face opened.

"Hannie."

He had not called me that in a year.

I knelt in front of the chair and took his hands.

"Hi, Dad."

"You look tired. You work too many nights."

"I know."

"That boy of Gordon's." He frowned, hunting for it. "He did something stupid."

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