Breaking the Cycle (8 page)

“Max,” she breathed. “There have been a lot of doctors with a lot of diagnoses of what it could be. None of them were right. Thank you, Mark, for everything you’ve done. I just don’t think this is it.” She stood and strode silently from the office, leaving the baffled men behind.

Mark held true to his word, and within twenty-four hours, Chloe was scheduled with Dr. Nicholson on Monday. The first item of business on Max’s agenda when he arrived home was to share the website Mark had showed him with Liz. Not even a Cubs win could pull her away from the information. Liz was elated. Max understood. She wanted nothing more than to see her daughter live a normal life. Truthfully, he wanted the exact same thing.

The only one not excited for the appointment was Chloe. She was moody. She was sullen. And every day that passed until their trip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, her disposition grew worse. Max frowned at her grouchiness. He couldn’t understand. If he felt healthy for the first time in twenty years, he would be shouting from the rooftops.

Time crawled by, but Monday finally arrived. Max jumped out of bed, tugging a shirt over his head and stepping into his shorts. He slipped down the hall until he was able to poke his head into Chloe’s room. “Up and at ’em, sleepyhead! We have quite the drive.”

The only sign of Chloe was the human-shaped lump hidden beneath the downy thick comforter. Max grinned as he strode over to the bed and ripped the covers free, leaving Chloe exposed in her baby doll tee and boxers. She snarled as she fought to find the cotton sheets.

“Are you guys coming?” Liz called from downstairs.

“As soon as I drag Chloe out of bed,” Max shouted back. He turned to the woman curled up on the mattress. “Come on, baby. We can’t be late.”

“Why can’t you guys leave me alone?” Chloe pouted.

“Because we want you to feel better. We love you, Chloe. Why are you so dead set on not going?”

Chloe stared at him, looking dumbfounded for a moment, before she visibly shook herself to her senses.

She heard me say I love her. Good.

She sighed. “I’m tired of getting my hopes up. There’s always a doctor who thinks they can fix me. They couldn’t. I doubt this one can. I’m just broken.”

Max sat on the bed beside her. “We should at least try, don’t you think? It would be horrible if you walked away and this is the doctor who can help you. If you really are broken and can’t be fixed, it won’t change how I feel. I don’t want this for me. I want this for you. So, come on. Get up and get dressed. If you aren’t ready in five minutes, I’ll come up and dress you myself.”

Winking at her, he flashed her a sinful grin. Then he rose and left the room, closing the door behind him. He couldn’t stop smiling as he jogged down the steps. He would never forget the awestruck look on her face at his playful threat.

Max helped Liz program the GPS with the Mayo Clinic address as he watched the clock. Four minutes. He briefly imagined the battle that would ensue if he was forced to make good on his threat.
Not that I would mind. I would get the chance to hold her in my arms.
He turned as the stairs creaked.

Chloe slowly descended, dressed in a baby blue T-shirt and jean shorts. Her purse was slung over her shoulder. “Let’s go,” she sighed.

Max wheeled Liz out to the car and helped her into the passenger seat. He lifted the wheelchair into the trunk as Chloe climbed into the backseat. Slipping into the driver’s seat, he secured the GPS to the front window then fired up the ignition.

The hour and a half drive was silent except for the radio playing classic rock and the purr of the engine. Max could feel the tension around him. They were all anxious for the visit. Would it be Chloe’s miracle or a colossal waste of time?

Max glanced at the rearview mirror at Chloe and smiled. His heart skipped a beat when she returned the gesture. Then, he glanced at Liz beside him, catching her knowing look. She reached over and patted his arm gently as she chuckled.

It didn’t take much for Max to find the Mayo Clinic. Once they arrived in Rochester, he no longer needed the GPS. The medical complex sprawled throughout the downtown area. Following the directions Mark had given to him, he maneuvered the car into the parking garage and found an empty handicap spot.

After hanging Liz’s temporary handicap permit on his rearview mirror, he stepped out then turned and offered his hand to help Chloe. Together, they retrieved Liz’s wheelchair from the trunk and helped her into the seat.

Max occasionally glanced at the scrawled instructions as he guided the two women through the clinic building to gastroenterology. He looked up at Chloe, watching her wrench her hands together nervously. Liz must have seen it also because she reached out and took her daughter’s hand, holding it comfortingly as Max pushed the wheelchair through the corridors.

They found the correct waiting room with minutes to spare. Chloe steeled her shoulders back as she stepped up to the receptionist desk. Max sighed as she deflated when the plump, friendly blonde handed her a pile of papers to complete that was nearly an inch thick. Chloe shuffled to the waiting area with the papers and pen in hand. He followed with Liz as Chloe plopped into a chair.

Chloe had barely made it through the first page when her name was called. She stood hesitantly. Max could see her hand shake. Liz spoke softly, “Honey, do you want us to stay out here?”

“No, come with me. Please. Both of you.”

The nurse smiled brightly as they approached. She led them to a small alcove to take Chloe’s height, weight, temperature, and blood pressure. The nurse nodded quietly in approval at the blood pressure, temperature, and height, her tied-back, auburn curls and bright green eyes echoing in agreement. But as Chloe stepped down from the scale, her cheeriness faded. She scribbled down a few notes then instructed them to follow her.

Chloe’s face fell as she shuffled along. “I guess I didn’t realize I was overweight.”

“Chloe, baby. You’re not overweight,” Max breathed, his voice low and nearly dangerous. “I saw the number. You’re very underweight.” Chloe met his deep blue eyes with alarm. He continued, “Baby, we’ve got to find a way to fix this. Now. I’m terrified what will happen to you if we don’t.”

The nurse escorted them to an examination room and ushered them inside. She deposited the chart outside the door, telling them the doctor would be in to see them in just a moment. Chloe lifted herself up on the table as Max took one of the two available chairs. Liz maneuvered her wheelchair out of the way of the door, next to Max.

It felt like they waited forever in silence. Max glanced down at this watch. It had only been ten minutes. They heard a scuffle at the door before the knob turned. A tall, well-built man in a white medical coat stepped in as he studied the file in his hand. His sandy brown hair lay back in soft waves. He glanced up at the occupants of the room with warm brown eyes.

Max eyed the doctor warily. Max turned toward Chloe, catching her wide-eyed look at Dr. Nicholson. He barely detected her flinching.
Men terrify her. How is she going to react to him?

“Hi, I’m Chad Nicholson. You must be Chloe,” the doctor addressed. He reached out to shake her hand. She offered it to him timidly. He then spun slowly to Max and Liz. “And you must be Max. Mark told me everything you’ve done for him.”

Max slowly stretched from his seat and squared his shoulders as he offered Chad his hand. “All good, I hope,” he responded.

“Absolutely. Mark really respects you. And Liz? It’s nice to meet you.”

Liz shook his hand emphatically. Max grinned. It certainly seemed that Liz was quite entranced with the young doctor.

Chad took another look at the file. “Chloe, I did some additional research on Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. With the notes Mark sent me, I really do think this is what you have.”

“Can you cure me?” she asked quietly.

“Unfortunately, no. However, there are medications out there that can keep your episodes under control.”

“So, you can write me a prescription, and I can go?”

“It’s not that easy. We have to run tests to eliminate other causes of your vomiting. We’ll start with an X-ray with barium and go from there.”

Chloe frowned. “X-ray with barium?”

“Yes. We’ll have you drink some barium, and then trace it through your system. If that test comes out negative, we’ll start scheduling the others. I’ll see about getting you in the next day or two. All right?”

“Sure.”

“I’m going to do a quick exam.”

Chloe lay back on the exam table obediently as Chad donned a pair of gloves.

Max stood as the doctor pulled up her T-shirt to just below her bra and pulled her shorts to just about her panties. He thumbed toward the door. “I’m going to step outside,” he volunteered.

Chloe smiled at him. “It’s all right. Sit.”

Max sat back down in his chair nervously then stared at the wall as Chad gently poked against the soft flesh of Chloe’s belly. Then, he tugged her clothes back to where they belonged. He followed his exam with several questions to clarify what Mark had already told him. He closed the chart and looked up at Chloe. “Everything seems good. Let me go get that test scheduled.”

Chad stepped out of the room briefly. Five minutes hadn’t passed before he returned with an appointment card for her to return on Friday.

The silent ride to the hospital was replaced with a lively one on the way home. They stopped briefly for lunch. The atmosphere buzzed with hope. Even Chloe’s smile was bright at the possibility of an answer.

Chloe bounced out of the car to retrieve the mail as Max helped Liz into the house. He settled Liz next to her favorite recliner.

“Do you need help into the chair?” he asked.

“I’m good for now,” Liz answered. “I might go get a snack.”

“Sounds good.”

Chloe strode in after them and handed the bundle of letters to her mom. Liz took the top envelope on the pile and tore it open. The color drained from her face as she scanned it. Without a word, she grabbed her phone and wheeled herself to the kitchen.

Max and Chloe exchanged puzzled looks as they heard her shouting. It was suddenly quiet. After several minutes, she rolled slowly back to the living room. She dropped the letter on the coffee table and turned away.

“Mom, what is it?” Chloe asked.

“The hospital bill,” Liz gasped out as tears filled her eyes. “My insurance covered nothing since it was the trucker’s fault. But the trucking company didn’t pay anything either since they say he wasn’t at fault. The bill is six figures. The hospital wants payment in full in thirty days. I can’t continue my physical therapy until I pay.”

Chloe snatched up the bill to study it. Max read the mind-blowing numbers over her shoulder. “Maybe you can set up a payment plan,” Max volunteered. After he said it even he realized his words were ridiculous.

“Max, the payments would be over a thousand dollars a month. I’m not working. We can’t pay all our bills and this on Chloe’s income. Chloe and I are going to have to figure out something else.” She forced a smile on her face. “I think I would like some time alone with my daughter. If you don’t mind.”

He stared at her dumbfounded for several moments. “Yeah. Sure. I have to go to the gym for a bit. Will you both be all right? I’ll keep thinking of solutions while I’m gone. I promise.”

Liz looked at Chloe. Chloe slumped onto the couch. “Yes, we will. I think we need some alone time. Just the two of us.”

“All right. I’ll be right back.” He pulled open the front door and slipped outside.

Max was positive he wasn’t gone for more than a couple hours. He just had one quick meeting with Jack then wrote a couple training schedules. He was puzzled to find a petite mousy haired woman in a suit leaving when he returned home. “Hello,” he greeted uneasily.

“Hello. You must be Max.” She offered a well-manicured hand to him. “Liz told me about you. I’m Sandy, a friend of hers.”

Max shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. What brings you by?”

“I’m in real estate. Liz asked me to stop by to discuss putting the house on the market. I had some space in my schedule so I came over. She’s hoping to sell before the bank forecloses. I didn’t realize she was behind payments.”

“Sell?”

“Yep. I have a young couple who would love this house. I think it will go quick. Well, I have an appointment. Nice to meet you.” She flew off to her car before Max could ask anything more.

He rushed up the stairs and stormed inside. “You’re selling the house?” he demanded.

“Yes,” Liz answered, her voice trembling as she spoke. “I already took a second mortgage out to pay for Chloe’s medical bills. What we get won’t even matter.”

Max glanced around the living room, finding Liz alone. “Where’s Chloe?”

“Upstairs in her room. She isn’t happy with the decision, either. But she understands what has to happen.”

“And when you sell it? What happens then?”

Liz forced a smile on her face. “You seem pretty close with your friend Rico. Maybe you can stay with him in your apartment.”

“I don’t mean me. I mean you and Chloe. If you can’t afford this house payment, can you afford rent?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“So, you’ll be homeless.”

“No. We have some friends we can move in with for the meantime.”

“No. I won’t let that happen.”

Liz sighed. “Max, I want to leave it alone for tonight. I’m done talking. I’m exhausted and in no mood to eat. I’m going to bed. Would you fix something for you and Chloe?” Without waiting for an answer, she wheeled herself to her room, closing the door behind her.

Max balled his fists at his sides. There was no way he would allow Chloe or Liz to be without a home. If he had anything to say about it, they would have this one. He hopped up the stairs, glancing into Chloe’s room. She was curled in a ball on her bed. By the shudder of her small frame, he could tell she was crying.

He stepped into his bedroom and dug in the top drawer of his dresser. Opening the bank book at the bottom, he scanned it then smiled. It wasn’t the answer. But at least it was a start.