Blemished Love - Season 1 - Episode 51

Episode 5 years ago

Blemished Love - Season 1 - Episode 51

Apparently Dane was found on the outskirts of town alone in his own pool of blood. His car was parked next to his body. The guys that brought him in alerted the police on their arrival. Since there was no eye witness they had no idea how he got shot three times in the same knee and his whole body severely torn apart.


‘How long has he been like that?’ Melisa asked Michelle who was standing with her at the ICU.
‘He was brought here around twelve in the afternoon, we tried our best but I’m not so sure if he would wake up.’
‘But you said he needs the amputation so the blood flow could release the pressure on the other leg.’
‘That’s the idea but it’s still a gamble. You know how these things work Lisa.’
Melisa sighed heavily. ‘But I don’t understand why he came to hand over the Medical Power of Attorney form last night.’
‘You would have to ask him that when he wakes up.’
‘When he wakes up Michelle.’ Melisa said sadly reminding Michelle Dane might never wake up.
‘Mr. Reed here probably knew what he got himself into because the nurses said he was in a hurry to leave so he could attend to his sleepy daughter in the car after getting himself checked.’
It dawned on Melisa, if Dane was there all afternoon he might have left Shirley at school. She gasped and remembered everyone would have called her if Shirley was not home yet.
‘Yeah Shirley.’ He came for her to spend the weekend with him.’ Melisa remembered the events from last night.
‘I think whoever he fought with really messed him up.’
‘Help me understand what tests he had done.’ Melisa asked curiously.
‘He checked his blood pressure and handed the Medical Power of Attorney form over claiming he might be back.’
‘Did you see him when he came here?’ Melisa was so lost at that moment.
‘No, I didn’t even know you two knew each other until I saw the file when I needed to contact his family.’
‘You shouldn’t have called me. I can’t do this to him Michelle.’
‘Okay, I see Grissel’s name on the form as well. Isn’t that your brother’s wife?’
‘Yes, and she’s going to be a tough one to crack.’ Melisa hissed.
‘Then make that choice for him. Forget the rules and I could just tell the board you were off duty in case it came up.’
‘Why would he put me in this tough situation?’ Melisa asked glancing at him sleeping comfortably.
‘Lisa, he knew you are the only one capable of making the right decision for him.’
‘You think I’m capable of signing off on a surgery that would render him disabled.’
‘I don’t know about that but I can see whatever history you have with this guy makes him trust you.’
‘I love him Michelle.’ She said without any denials.
‘I figured that out earlier when you saw his file.’
‘But he hurt me hence whatever decision I might make now may not be justified.’
‘You still love him and to me that alone makes whatever decision you make justified.’



Melisa stared at her and knew she was making a lot of sense. ‘How he got my signature and that of Grissel is what I don’t understand.’
‘That doesn’t matter right now. You can sort that out with him when he’s out of the theatre.’
‘I know that, but I’m still not qualified to do that because I work in this hospital.’
Lisa stared at Dane in the ICU and then back to Michelle.
‘We are running out of time.’ Michelle muttered to her.
‘Michelle don’t push it. This document isn’t legal.’
‘What about his parents?’
‘How long do we have before surgery?’ Melisa asked ignoring her question about the Reed family.
‘Thirty minutes but before that we need to run some tests first.’ Michelle said checking her wrist watch.
‘Alright.’ Melisa replied calmly walking away from her. Michelle followed just to make sure she was okay.
***
Tom could hardly sleep. He was awake all night watching his pregnant wife snore into the lonely night. Because of Grissel he had to change their bed to a bigger one when she started occupying the whole bed.
He was still wondering how to sleep on the small space available when their bedroom door opened.


‘Are you guys decent?’ Shirley asked faintly rubbing her eyes in the dark.
‘Shirley?’ Tom called out turning on the bed side light.
‘Uncle Tom, I had a bad dream again.’
‘Really, come here.’ He signaled her to come closer while gently adjusting Grissel so Shirley could have a space in between them on the bed.
‘Mommy.’ Shirley called and kept rubbing her eyes.


‘Your mom won’t here you now.’ Tom reached out to her and placed his laps.
In no time she fell asleep on his laps so he positioned her on the bed next to her mom hoping Grissel wouldn’t kick her in the face.
Tom watched mother and daughter sleep soundly. His phone vibrated at that moment and he checked to be sure it wasn’t anyone so important.


When he saw Melisa’s name on his phone, he panicked checking the time which was half past eleven.


He didn’t want to waste time as it was unusual for her sister to call her that late at night.


Tom answered the call quickly. ‘Are you okay? I’ve been trying to call you all-night about Shirley.’


‘Is Shirley okay?’ She instantly asked.
‘Yes, I brought her home but Da…..’


Melisa started to sob. ‘D is dying.’ She told her brother in between her sobs.
‘What are you talking about?’ Tom asked jumping out of bed.
‘He w..as shot and n..eeds su..rgery.’ She sobbed through her words.
‘Shot. How. When. Why?’ Tom asked all the necessary questions while moving away from mother and daughter.
‘I don’t have answers but I need Grissel’s consent for the surgery.’
‘Grissel.’ He raised his voice without knowing. And for some reason Grissel heard him and woke up.
‘Tom?’


He withdrew the phone from his ear and turned around.
‘Yes, go back to bed.’
‘Okay, but what are you doing in that corner.’ She asked raising herself up and switching on the main light.
‘Emmm, nothing. Just talking to Lisa.’
‘Lisa.’ She mentioned then Shirley turned beside her. She didn’t see her earlier.
‘Yes, Shirley had a bad dream.’ Tom realized she didn’t notice her in the room and it was a perfect moment to distract her from asking further questions.
‘Okay that explains why she’s here.’
‘Yeah, can you go back to sleep.’ Tom said walking out of the room.
‘Wait, you’ve explained why Shirley is here but not why Lisa called.’


Tom heard Melisa’s voice faintly over the phone asking him to hand over the phone to Grissel on top of her voice.
‘Just one of our usual talks.’
‘Tom, don’t lie to me. Is it Reed?’ She probably figured it out.


Tom knew his wife is smart and if he keeps lying at that moment she might flare up.
‘I think so.’ He replied walking back to her by the bed.
‘Is Lisa still on the line?’
He nodded and handed the phone to her when he got to her end. Tom watched her closely while she was just quiet on the phone with Melisa.


‘Grissel did you hear all that I said?’ Melisa wasn’t sure if she was still listening to her because Grissel hasn’t said a word.
She sighed furiously which scared Tom. ‘So the amputation would let him live?’
‘Yes, it’s still a gamble but I know the doctors would do their best.’
‘How did he get my signature again?’ She asked instead of giving her consent.
‘I have no idea Grissel, but we need you to give us the go ahead.’
‘No, you don’t need me Lisa.’
‘What are you implying?’
‘Leave him to die, I guess.’ She said angrily.


Tom snatched the phone angrily from her and gave her a scornful look. He knew she was going to say something like that after what happened last night with Shirley.
‘Listen to me Lisa, do whatever you think is necessary. I would be there soon.’ He said quickly and hanged up. Tom glanced at his wife who just relaxed against the bed post unconcerned.


He dialed Stella’s number which was not reachable. Tom hit his leg so hard on the floor.
‘What do you even care if Reed lives or dies?’ Grissel asked him.
‘You are right, I don’t care but his daughter lives with me and I won’t spend the rest of my life trying to explain to Shirley her mom didn’t care if her dad lived or died.’ He angrily said and scrolled through his contacts.


Grissel hissed and turned to Shirley who was comfortably sleeping.


Tom settled on Austin. ‘Dude, let me talk to Stella.’ He said immediately with a serious tone.


‘What makes you think she’s with me?’ Austin had no idea Tom knew about them.
‘Not now Austin. Just tell her to call Lisa.’
‘Lisa? But it’s late Tom.’
‘Yes, her brother is with Lisa at the Seattle Hospital.’


Tom said and heard Stella’s voice from the background. He quickly hanged up so Austin could handle the rest.


He rushed to his wardrobe and slipped on a shirt and trouser. Tom checked his foot and realized he was in his flip flops. He shrugged and headed towards the door.
‘Where are you going?’ She asked faintly.
‘I think you know where.’ He replied.
‘Nobody needs you there Tom.’
‘In case you forgot, Lisa is my sister.’
‘And what does that have to do with looking after your pregnant wife.’
‘I would pretend I didn’t hear that Grissel.’ He said and turned around to leave.
‘If you walk out of that door, don’t come back.’ She weakly said.
‘You are so insensitive.’ He slowly said in order not to wake up Shirley.
‘Why can’t you all allow Reed to pay for his sins?’ Grissel murmured.
Tom didn’t want to raise his voice because of Shirley. He turned the door knob and then paused,
‘You know, I now get why Dane treated you the way he did.’ He said angrily while Grissel suddenly went mute.


Tom walked out on her. Grissel took another sad look at her daughter and wiped her face when there was no tears.

***

Stella and Austin got to the hospital to keep Melisa Company. Dane had been taken to the theatre over an hour ago.
‘You made the right decision Lisa.’ Stella was encouraging her when the police came in. They had been waiting all morning just to talk to Dane and when they heard Melisa knew him they decided to question her.