Page 54 of Starting Back
Since whatever I’d had with Kristina, I’d felt lost. Making it a point not to settle down was my lifelong MO, but it just seemed wrong now. A woman I hardly knew grounded me in a way that I’d fought against since I was a teenager, and when she left, and I was back to being the loner I always was, it didn’t seem so natural anymore—if it ever was.
In truth, I hated it. I hated the daily solitude without anything or anyone to look forward to—only drifting from day to day without a purpose beyond work. Even if I wasn’t meant to keep her, Kristina showed me that living a solitary life wasn’t working if I wanted tohavea life.
My parents wouldn’t have wanted this. They’d hate the thought of me always alone and would want me to take care of my family like they’d wanted to take care of me but didn’t get the chance.
It was the quickest and most final decision I’d made in decades. This was where I belonged, and my next move would finally be a permanent one.
We all turned to a soft knock at the door.
“Hi, Mr. Reyes. How are you feeling?” The doctor, I supposed, came up to my uncle’s bed, squeezing the wrist tío could still move.
He was tall and lanky and appeared to be young, younger than Gabe and me, at least. His wide smile, brightened by the contrast of his dark skin, seemed to make my uncle relax. Tío Joe’s shoulders softened before he managed a shaky nod.
“Good. And how are you feeling, Mrs. Reyes?”
“Good, my nephew is here.”
“I’m more or less forgotten now,” Gabe joked as he leaned against the wall. I could only nod, still bothered by my aunt’s faint whisper of a voice.
I’d only spoken to her last week. How fast was her condition progressing? Maybe the stress of my uncle’s stroke was making it worse.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Walker.” He extended his hand. “I’m the attending neurologist on staff.”
“I’m Leo. The nephew.” I mustered a smile for my aunt’s sake and took his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. Gabe, would you mind stepping outside with me for just a moment?” Dr. Walker asked my cousin.
Gabe motioned for me to follow him.
“I don’t think it’s going to be news that Mr. Reyes will probably need extensive therapy. He was strong before the stroke, so that should work in his favor, but my recommendation is a rehab facility where he can get the most therapy and round-the-clock care.”
“I figured that.” Gabe rubbed his eyes. “There’s one a couple of exits away that we were hoping could accept him for therapy.”
I didn’t like the way the doctor’s mouth flattened to a line when he nodded.
“Mrs. Reyes isn’t my patient, but even after therapy, your father is going to need additional care, and your mother appears to need therapy of her own. Have you ever thought of an assisted living facility for them both in the long-term?”
“Eventually, yes. But there aren’t any close by. My wife and I did some research, and the only one we found with both the rehab my father would need and assisted living for them both is near Albany.”
“That is actually the one I was going to suggest. I’m hopeful your father will make a great recovery, but it’s going to be a long time. And if your mother’s illness progresses, that’s a lot for a family to deal with.”
“Albany is two hours away. I can’t go back and forth like I’d need to. Even if they’re being taken care of, I wouldn’t want them alone all the time.”
“What if they had family close by?” I asked.
Gabe squinted at me. “Most of our family is still in New York City. Washington Heights isn’t close.”
“What ifIwas close by? Nothing is keeping me in Florida. I can transfer anywhere.” I glanced back at the doctor. “This is the best solution for them both, right?”
“I believe so, yes. They’d both get the care they needed, and you wouldn’t have to worry about them living alone.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Wait,” Gabe said, holding up his hand. “Let’s think about this for more than a minute.”
“Of course,” Dr. Walker said. “I want to keep Mr. Reyes here for the next four days so I can determine the rehabilitation he needs. You have time to consider it or even visit the facility if you’d like. I have a few patients there and I visit once per week, so I can vouch that it’s a great place and my patients have thrived there. Let me know if you have any questions.”
I waited for the doctor to head back into my uncle’s room before I turned to Gabe.
