The Arrangement

Chapter 11

AnnaLeigh

I was a block away from the hospital when I got Greyson's message that he was still at the restaurant and wouldnt be able to meet me. While I knew I shouldnt be disappointed, I was. It just was always hard to see our dad in the hospital but it was even harder when I had to see him all alone.

After fixing Christain's car last night, I had made myself pasta and watched a movie in the living room. But I hadnt seen him in the penthouse at all. He must of been holed up in his bedroom or out for the night because I still hadnt seen him by the time I left this morning for my errands.

Now it was early afternoon as I walked through the revolving doors, instantly hit with hospital smell - a mix between antiseptic and sorrow. I got into the elevator with two nurses who looked to be around my age. They were both joking around with each other. I nodded at them, wishing I could be as carefree as they seemed. As I headed out of the elevator my heart was heavy in my chest. I wasnt sure what I was about to see snd was mentally preparing myself for the worst.

I followed the signs in the hallway down a corridor, through another set of doors and into a waiting room. I approached the reception desk.

"Hello." I say, hoping my tone sounded cheery. Maybe if I was optimistic enough it would rub off in reality. "Im here to visit my dad, John Maguire."

"Ah, John. What a sweetheart. He is in room eight twenty. Follow the hallway down all the way until you turn right." The nurse says pointing behind her. "And then he is the first door on the right."

"Thank You." I say and I start for the hallway. And continue toward his room. I push the door open a crack and peek my head in. I could feel the color ftom my face drain almost immediately.

He looked more pale, even more frail than the last time I had seen him in the hospital. His eyes were closed and he was connected to so many different wires and tubes that I couldnt make sense of what was what. I took a step inside.

"Dad?"

His eyes fluttered for a second before opening. He turned his head towards me and the faintest smile appeared on his face.

"There's my girl." He says, his voice is hoarse.

"Hi." I say, willing my tears not to come as I hurry over to the bed. I wrap my arms around him and give him a hug as gingerly as I could. "How are you doing?"

"Me? Im dandy." He rasps out. "Tell me about you."

I smile looking down at him. Somehow, even though all the illness, all the weakness, his eyes still managed to hold onto their mischief. I squeeze his hand and then reached for a glass of water on the beside table. I brought the straw to his lips and he took a sip gratefully.

"How was the wedding?" He was trying to sound casual but his voice was thick with emotion. I could tell how much it tore him up that he wasnt able to be there for it.

"It was a dull thing, really." I say, trying to keep my tone light. "Too stuffy for your taste. You would of been trying to get out of there."

"AnnaLeigh..."

"We will talk about it more next time." I assure him. "For now, focus on getting better."

He smiles at me. "I love you."

I lean over and kiss his cheek. "I love you too dad."

He clears his thoart, "But seriously, about your husband - "

There was a knock at the door. I breathe a sigh of relief. I really didnt want to have that conversation right now. Not when he looked so frail.

A handsome middle aged man carrying a case file walks inside the room, a smile on his face.

"Dr. Walker." My dad says, his words warm.

"Hey, big guy." The doctor says. "You got your ladies visiting you already?"

"Only my daughter."

"Hi." I offer my hand to him. "Im AnnaLeigh."

He shakes my hand. "Mark Walker. I have been on your dad's case since he turned back up here." He explains.

He smiles at dad, "He is quite an icon around these halls. Not to mention he seems to get anything the minute he asks for it."

I laugh. "Sounds like him."

I watch as the doctor bends down to check his vitals and thrn he waves to my dad. But stops when he gets to the door and turns back to look at me.

"Can I talk to you in the hall for a second, AnnaLeigh?" He asks.

"Oh, of course." I respond. "Be right back." I say to my dad.

As soon as Dr. Walker closes the door to my dad's room and walks me farther down the hallway, I knew something was wrong. His face had changed, it was no longer offering the carefree, easygoing expression he had worn earlier. Something darker clouded his eyes.

"AnnaLeigh, I just want to make sure you are up to date on everything with your father. Your brothers were here last night but there has been a few more changes."

"Okay."

"You know we took him out of the coma yesterday and he has been responding well. But he is not eating by himself yet and his ALS...its progressing."

I just stare back at him, not knowing what to say.

He continues on, "Rapidly progressing. We could try to fight each of the symptoms individually but the efforts eould be shallow rather than preventive. There is no way of stopping them from coming back or worsening. So the typical next step...is to make sure he is as comfortable as possible..."

I couldnt believe what I was hearing. I knew what that meant. That meant giving up. Dr. Walker saw my expression and quickly continued talking before I could say something.

"But there is something I want to bring up to you. It is a trial treatment. It is a combination of medication and daily rehabilitation practices, all of which can be done in the hospital. There is not any precedence for this treatment though, AnnaLeigh. I want to make you understand there are risks. It is not even on the market yet."

"So you are saying its...its the trial treatment or ...nothing?"

He looked down at me, his eyes full of sympathy and gave a quick but very certain nod. "It is a hard decision. I didnt mention it to your brothers last night because I wanted to see what the first twenty four hours out of the coma would be like for him. So what I recommend is that the three of you discuss all of this. And decide what you are comfortable with."

"Okay." I say, nodding to myself. My brothers. They would help me figure out the right move.

"Oh and AnnaLeigh?"

"Yes?"

"The trial treatment...because it is so new and so involved, it comes with a pretty big price tag. And if it works out for your dad it could be upward of a year at a thousand dollars a day."

The words stopped having meaning for me. A thousand dollars a day. But then I thought of Mr. Cartwright and Christain. I had made the arrangement for a reason.

It was one an by the time I got home. I was exhausted as I was riding the elevator up to the penthouse, when I heard the music pulsating through the walls. As I opened the front door I had to cover my ears it was so loud. I began walking to my room when suddenly the music stops. I turn around and there was Christain. He was wearing dark jeans and a white button down shirt. His face was covered in stubble and his eyes were bloodshot. He had defiently been partying. I thought of the difference in days we must of had. While I had been dealing with thd possibilty of losing my dad, Christain had been drinking having a good time.

"There is my wife." He says. I see him eyeing my old navy sweater and scruffed converses.

"Hi Christain." I say, trying to keep my distance. But then the doctors words rang out in my head. A trial treatment. A thousand dollars a day.

My exhausted mind was spinning. Maybe it would be best if I asked Christain first so he wouldnt get mad about me going around his back to his dad. Maybe he would have a heart for once. Yes, I thought. This is a good idea.

Christain was in the kitchen pouring himself a drink when I followed him and stood across the island.

"There is something I want to ask you." I say, hoping my voice had a morsel of confidence to it.

"What?" He says, taking a sip.

"My dad...he is..."

"Hey wife. Too much talking for tonight." And begins to walk away from me towards the living room.

I follow behind him. "If you just let me..."

"Shut up." He stops and turns to me. "How much clearer do I need to be? I just want some peace and quiet."

Forget it, I think. And I turn ftom him and head back towards my room. Just wanting to get away from him.

"Hey." He calls after me. But I keep on walking. But then I can hear him running after me and feel a hand on my elbow. Before I can do anything, he has me cornered against the wall.

"Hey." He says, softer. "You are my wife, you know that right?"

"I know Christain."

"So dont walk away from me."

"Okay." I try to move out of his grasp but he holds on. Our eyes our locked on one another.

"You know...." He leans in even closer.

"Christain, Im going to bed." I say firmly and this time I force my way out of his grasp. And I head to my room without looking back. But I can still feel his eyes on me.

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