Chapter 9 - MONICA CANCELS THE VISITSRachel scheduled another visit for Monday.
Monica canceled it Sunday night.
Gavin did not know.
Tyler did because he heard the call.
“Yes,” Monica said quietly from the kitchen.
“We won’t need Monday.”
Pause.
“No, please cancel Wednesday too.”
Tyler stood in the hallway.
Monica continued.
“Family scheduling conflict.”
She hung up.
Tyler backed away before she saw him.
That night he wrote:
Sunday 8:11 p.m. Mom canceled Nurse Rachel Monday and Wednesday.
Monday came.
No nurse.
Gavin left before seven.
Monica told him Rachel had rescheduled.
Tuesday, Tyler asked:
“When’s Nurse Rachel coming?”
“Friday.”
“You canceled her.”
Monica stopped slicing vegetables.
“What?”
“I heard you.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You need to stop listening to adult conversations.”
“Why’d you cancel?”
“I said scheduling.”
“You lied to Dad.”
Monica put the knife down.
“Tyler.”
His stomach tightened.
She walked closer.
“You are creating problems you don’t understand.”
“I understand Grandma.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
Monica stared at him.
Then toward the living room.
Beatrice was sitting ten feet away.
“Your grandmother needs peace.”
“She needs Nurse Rachel.”
“She needs you to stop making everything dramatic.”
Tyler’s fists tightened.
“You’re the one making it bad.”
“Go upstairs.”
“No.”
Monica’s face hardened.
“Do not make me ask again.”
Tyler looked at Beatrice.
She gave him a tiny movement of her hand.
Go.
He understood.
He went upstairs.
But he did not stop.
He found Rachel’s business card inside the kitchen drawer where Monica kept medical information.
He copied the phone number into his notebook.
He did not call.
He was ten.
Calling an adult nurse secretly felt enormous.
But knowing the number made him feel less powerless.
That evening Gavin came home.
“How was Mom?”
Monica answered:
“Fine.”
Tyler looked at Beatrice.
Her water glass was untouched on the side table.
He checked the clock.
6:03.
In his notebook later:
Dad asked how Grandma was.
Mom said fine.
Grandma squeezed YES when I asked if she was thirsty.
Tyler paused.
May you like
Then added:
Dad still doesn’t know.
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