Timothy - 48. Chapter 48

The rest of the week, I worked on the agreement. Friday, walking home, “I would like to go home on Sunday. Dad has contacted a lawyer, and I need to review the Ann Marie file with him.”

“We have dinner with Mom, Dad, and Gramps on Saturday. I think Gramps may have a surprise for you.”

“What kind of surprise and why for me? I haven’t done anything.”

“I think he wants to reward you for the agreement.”

“There is nothing special in the agreement.”

“Tim, Gramps now owns 10 percent of Key Industries. Instead of an upfront payment and then royalties, you offered the stock deal as an option.”

“I just did my job.” I got a hug and a kiss.

Later at dinner, “Stephen, what are you thinking. I’ve been talking, and you were somewhere else.”

“You said you won’t take money from Gramps, but would you take a basement renovation.”

“What do you mean, the basement is finished.”

“You remember talking about moving our equipment to the basement? Well, before we could do that, we would need to renovate the basement to protect the electronics.”

“I’ll think about it. I don’t want to money for doing my job, and my salary pays me for doing my job.”

“People get bonuses. Considered this a bonus.”

“NO,” I knew that the staff recognized my relationship to Gramps, and for that reason, I have worked hard to prove I deserved the position I had. A bonus or recognition for doing my job provides a basis for gossiping, which demoralizes the rest of the department employees.

Saturday’s dinner was my favorite, roast beef. Mom just smiled as I took my first bite. Stephen must have said something to Gramps, and the Key Industries resolution never came up in our conversations.

“Do you think we could get your mother to cook for us every night? We could stop after work?”

“No! For you, I’ll ask her to teach me how to cook a roast of beef.”

I smiled as I kissed him. I knew that Stephen would do anything I asked, just as I would do anything he asked. That evening, we didn’t need to ask anything. We just knew.

Sunday morning, I called Dad and told him we were driving down. I wanted to talk with the lawyer Dad had found to meet with Ann Marie.

“Tim, where are we going to stay?”

“I’m not sure. If Mom is still acting strange, we can stay at that motel, and it’ll be only for one night.”

Arriving, Dad met us. Walking into the house, Mom, Aunt Clara, Eva, and John were sitting around the table. The only one missing was Randy.

“Where is Randy?”

“He’s at the farm. He’ll be here in an hour.”

“Tim, we want to talk with you.”

“I see. Okay, let’s talk.” I felt Stephen’s hand on my shoulder as if to say, “I’m here.”

John started, “Tim, I have run all of the tests I can. There is nothing medically wrong with Ann Marie, and I believe the problem is psychotic. The hospital isn’t equipped to handle a psychotic patient.”

“Tim, we believe it would be best if you were out of the picture.”

“Eva, you agree with this?”

“Tim, we can’t do anything for her.”

“Well, I can. I hoped that if someone explained what I was doing was in her best interest, she might be more accepting. Now, I’ll commit her to an institution that can deal with her psychotic behavior. I will make the arrangements and have her removed from the hospital as soon as possible. John, please keep her sedated and mail her medical bill to my home. Let’s go, Stephen.”

Stephen and I left the room. Eva grabbed me by my arm as we walked out of the door. “Tim, don’t go.”

“Eva, you and John did what you could. Now I’ll do what I think is best for her.”

“Stephen, let’s go to the farm and see Randy. Then we will drive home.” I was mad at myself more than my family, and I should have had her committed when she ranted and raved.

“Tim, you tried your best. Let’s hope being in a place where they specialize in mental illness will help her.”

Arriving at the farm, Randy was loading a basket of vegetables in his car when he saw us.

“I was getting ready to bring these vegetables to you at home.”

“You still can if you put them in the trunk of my car.”

“Aren’t you going to be staying?”

“No, we are driving home tonight. Where are the Parkers?”

“They flew out to Mrs. Parker’s sisters, and they want a look at the house they bought.”

“You are here alone?”

“Yes, it’s more peaceful.”

“If you get bored, drive up.”

Stephen and I hugged him, thanking him for the vegetables. I heard the phone ring. “Bye, Randy”

Stephen took the first turn at driving. I took a nap, and at the halfway mark, I took over.

Arriving home, the phone was ringing. “Let it ring, and the answering machine will handle it.

We showered and went to bed.

In the morning, I checked the answering machine. There were four messages on the machine. “Stephen, come and listen.” I pushed the play button, the first message was from Eva, “Tim, come back so we can discuss the next steps. John has some ideas.” The second message was from Randy, “Tim, that was Eva. She wants you to call her.” The third message was from Dad, “Tim, I’m sorry. I should have told you. Call me when you can,” The fourth message was from Mom. You are no better than your sister. You won’t listen. I saw her and she told me what you did and said to her. How can you do this to your sister?”

I looked at Stephen. He had tears in his eyes as he reached and pushed the erase button. I felt his arms around me as he pulled me close. “Tim, I’m sorry, but I believe in you, and most importantly, I love you. When this is all over, and the day will come when it will be all over, you will be vindicated, and they will be embarrassed for not believing in you and supporting you.”

Walking to work, holding Stephen’s hand, I no longer cared what others thought. I loved Stephen, and that was all that counted.

At lunch, I called the Medical School at a nearby University. I asked for a meeting with someone familiar with family psychotic behavior on their medical staff. They transferred me to the office of Dr. Adam Richards. I asked the secretary who answered for an appointment, and she said she would check his schedule and call me back.

She called me back later in the day, and we agreed on the coming Friday at 2 PM. I told Stephen, and he said he would go with me.

Thursday, arriving home, Randy’s car was parked in front of the house. Looking at the house, Randy was sitting on the steps, John and Eva were seated on the porch swing.

As soon as we opened the gate, Randy was there, he hugged Stephen, and then he hugged me, “Sorry Tim, they asked me to drive them here,”

“It’s okay, Randy,” as I ruffled his hair.