page38 (1/1)

“Well, Mr Winters, it looks like you’ve gained eight pounds, you haven’t attendedto send you to our dietician for soot to take better care of yourself I absolutely do not recomo to six rehab sessions and I’ll reevaluate in teeks,” she said

“Um, excuse me,” I said “I like the idea of the dietician We’ll do that But—I wondered if you had any resources in the hospital for cardiac rehab patients who have a drinking probleo to his sessions when he’s got the headache and indigestion, he has everyout all the booze in the house, believe me”

“You can’t make him quit,” she said, not unkindly, “there’s no one sneakier than an addict I’ll have the nurse give you the contact info for the Al-Anon group that meets on Tuesdays But, Mr Winters, this seems to be the root of the problem,” she said

“A man can’t have a drink every now and then? This is a bunch of bullshit,” he said

“It isn’t only the drinking,” she said “It’s the fact that your daughter can’t do this for you You have to take initiative and be responsible for your oellness If you want to live, you’re going to quit drinking and go on a regimen of low impact exercise and a diet You have to do this yourself So if you make up your mind to do it, I’ll see you in teeks to discuss your recovery and possible return to work I suggest strongly that you consider your options, because if you continue as you are, there isn’t a great deal I can do for you if you’re not willing to help yourself,” she said sternly

I wanted to stand up and cheer and applaud I also wanted to cry, because I didn’t like facing the fact that I couldn’t control this Nothing I did, no ar dinners I cooked or appointments I went to, could save him I didn’t have that power He had to save himself, had to want to try He was a pain in the butt, but he wasI had left to my mom I bit my lips and escorted him out He muttered all the way to the car about how ‘uppity’ that doctor was to talk to him like that

“It’s her job She’s trying to help you get well,” I said

“She doesn’t knohat she’s talking about She should go get her a husband and leave the doctoring to a man,” he said

I gripped the steering wheel unnecessarily tight and let it go I wasn’t going to change him I had tried I reached back for ht need a snack after the doctor”

“No, put it back,” he said querulously

“I know you didn’t like what she said But we have a shot atthe next teeks count You could be back behind the counter before you know it,” I said encouragingly

“I know, I know I just wish Ryan would take some time at the lumberyard I could relax and focus onme to,” he said

“Dad,” I said as evenly as I could “I showed you the nu our receipts, and the yard is doing better than it has in like three years You may think Ryan is the answer, but the fact is, the lu well That’s the proble to do with the yard And really, it bothersit up”

“My little girl shouldn’t be working so hard It’s my son’s place to take over the business and run it well and make me proud I’m sure you’ve done the best you can You’re a fish out of water I used to tell yourthat it would only confuse her Leave that to theflowers and finding you a husband If yourto school, I would’ve set you up working at Langford’s nursery for a while until you got married and settled down You would’ve been better off But there was no reasoning with that wo

“She knehat I needed She listened,” I said, choking up “And if you would listen to your doctor or to me or anyone, you wouldn’t be in such bad shape! You want to talk about worry? Try working at the lu ho out you wouldn’t even get on the bus to go to therapy! I can’t do this for you, so please, please try harder,” I said, ood job at the lu toddler all the time You don’t even have to appreciate what I do Just take care of yourself That’s all”