nurse ’s station.
Where is my dad Lizzy? ” I ask the nurse on call. She knows me quite well.
“ Hi there, lucky girl. Your dad was moved to another room. Everything ok?” She says looking over her selection of donuts someone brought in.
“ Where? What room? Why was he switched?” I ask, getting nervous. Maybe his health took a turn for the worse. Oh God please not that.
“ No no no… Some man came into see him yesterday, right after you left in fact. I guess he knows quite a few important people. So you dad is getting private care now.” She says looking up from her computer screen.
“ WHAT, I can’t afford that, and his insurance doesn’t pay for that luxury either.” I try to say without screaming as I feel an anxiety attack coming up to put me in full throttle craziness.
I get the info on his new assigned room and take myself down to a different floor. I walk out of the elevator and my mouth dropped.
“Holy Shit.” I whispered. This place smells nice, which is a shock. The rooms all have like real front doors on them. Including small mailboxes on the wall, the doors have peep holes, door knockers and a door bell? There is some mix up here.
I woman comes over and asks if I need help finding someone. I tell her who I am and my father ’s name and she gets all excited for some strange reason.
“ Emma, it’s so nice to meet you. You father arrived here this morning. What a doll he is too.” She says as she does a pretend clap with her hands without making the clapping noise. Ok, clearly this one drinks on the job is the first thing I think of. Yeah I am sure they had a damn parade for my father’s arrival. Geez. “Ok, so can you point in the direction for me? I am pretty sure this is some huge mistake and I am afraid this this place,” I say looking around flying my hands in the air all over,” “I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful. But we can’t afford this. And his supplemental won’t cover something this nice.” I finish and she is looking at me like I only speak like the Charlie Brown teacher on those classic holiday cartoons.
“ Ok, well my name is Diane. And your father is most certainly in the right place. He knows some pretty important people Ms. Evans, I mean Emma.” She quickly corrects herself since I only introduced myself as Emma.
“ Now, John is his personal nurse and assistant. He is here for ten hour shifts. After which when he leaves and your father needs anything we have round the clock nurses here. Three meals are served a day. In his suite or in the dining room, which ever he chooses.” Diane the delusional nurse person explains to me.
“ His suite?” I ask.
“ Yep. We don’t under staff on this floor either. There is one nurse per two guests here. And we are funded by private insurance only.” She explains.
“ Yeah, well that is where the problem comes in. He has only Medicare and supplemental and that’s it. We can’t afford this.” I explain.
“ Well, your father’s important friends have already cleared up his entire bill with our facility. And this is under a new private health insurance company that requires him no out of pocket expense. The balance before he came to this floor was also taken care of as well.” She says. “Now your father is in suite #114. Here is your key. Your father, you, John and our staff are the only ones allowed to keep a set of keys. John was hired by your father’s new private insurance company as well and is being paid through that company as well. So you have nothing to worry about. John was also privately interviewed as well as had taken all necessary tests and back ground checks to ensure your fathers safety and wellness is concern while he is staying with us here.” She finishes.
I take the key, not having anything more to say to Diane, I think I will find out the rest of this story my dad.
I get to his door, laughing, I know Diane said John was taking care of his needs today until 7pm, so I