Fanny Luis and Melissa watched with bated breath as the doctor attended to Lisa Bake and gave a pitiable wary nod afterwards.
Earlier the doctor had reminded them about the artificial oxygen which gave Lisa Bake life being exhausted and the need to replace it
Fanny’s jaw sagged as he gazed upon the uncertain face of the doctor, “What is it, doctor? Fanny queried and shared a nervous glance between Lisa and the doctor’s restless, uncertain face, “Talk to me doctor. What happened?” he asked yet further and shot a quarrelsome gaze at him.
Melissa swallowed hard as she caught hold of the troublesome looks on the face of the doctor. She knew something had gone wrong and she had wanted to tell her father about the chances of saving Lisa Bake.
When the doctor sat down and pointed their attention to a seat, Melissa sat down while Fanny remained standing and hounded the doctor with tons of questions about Lisa Bake. Although he knew the money was the problem yet he wanted to know if there was another means the doctor could be of help.
After failing to make him sit down, the doctor finally stated, “Lisa Bake is on the verge of kicking the bucket if you don’t get the money. I just want to inform you that she got into complete coma. All the while she had been in partial coma. The more you delay the money the more she deteriorates.”
Melissa placed her head on the desk in frustration while Fanny raised his gaze at the ceiling and stroked his hair. From the moment he saw the yellow-brown eyed doctor raise a brow upon tending to Lisa Bake, Fanny knew the worse was about to hit them.
With anticipating gaze and anxiety hanging in his eyes the doctor asked, “Did you come with the money? Once he saw the haze of disappointment on the face of Fanny he intoned, “The hospital has done their own bit of support for you, Fanny Luis. We don’t usually do this even if you be destitute. At this juncture. The hospital expects your family to own up to the responsibility of Lisa Bake,” the doctor leaned forward and sounded even more emphatic, “She is dying slowly. Are you going to fold your arms and watch your mother perish because of half a million dollars?”
A heavy sob sounded close by; Melissa was at it again. Fanny patted her on the shoulders as he dared to explain the precarious situation they found themselves.
“Doctor, please save my mother, I promise to pay up as soon as she is whole again. I don’t want her to die.”
The doctor interposed, “Fanny Luis, things don’t work that way. The hospital has done more than enough for you, even more than any other patient. For the sake of your mother, the hospital has gone out of their way to go against their protocol…”
Fanny interposed, “I understand doctor. I appreciate so much for the much the hospital has done for us.” He peered at the doctor, “Please I beg of you save her life, I will pay the bills later…”
The doctor pulled back and widened his gaze at him in a menacing manner, “If we could do it for any other patient not you, Fanny Luis. Do you think we don’t know your personality in Rio Hondo? You are a Croesus, the richest man in Rio Hondo. Are you not the chairman of the Fanny Group? Why are you pretending you are not wealthy anymore?”
While the doctor spoke, Fanny lowered his gaze and felt warm tears smear his eyes. He dared to speak but his trembling lips failed him. He managed to say some words regardless, “I used to be all you just mentioned but not anymore. The Fanny Group has shut down. I have lost my net worth. Brian Patrick has spelled Christmas on our ass. That boy has got guts and power…”
He sniffed heavily and lowered his gaze in shame, “Doctor, i…I don’t want to reminisce on past glory. We are faced with the greatest of storm right now and I don’t want us to talk about my downfall.” He snorted, “What matters most right now is my mother’s life. I need to save her life…”
“Fanny Luis!” doctor called coldly and shot his pitiable looks at him, “What happens to you? Initially when I heard it was your mother who was hospitalized, I thought money wouldn’t be a problem because everyone in Rio Hondo knows you as the richest mogul. I don’t even want to mention your son-in law, Brian Patrick who is the world richest man now…”
“Doctor! Doctor!” Fanny interrupted and grinned hugely as he stared at Melissa, “Please can we forget about Brian Patrick. I don’t want us to discus him right now. It is along story which I wouldn’t want us to discuss…”
Melissa interposed, “Yes doctor my father is right.” She bit her lower lip and sniffed back tears, “What matters now is the health of my granny. We don’t want to lose her.”
“Yes of course,” the doctor shook his head firmly, “And for you to save her life you need money.” He opened his palms, “Where is the half a million dollars? That is the only factor that can save her life now. Blood cancer at stage four and in between chemo is not an ailment you should toil with, Fanny.” The doctor said in an emphatic tone, “I am sorry to tell you this bad news.”
Once the doctor mentioned that, Fanny and Melissa raised an anxious brow and widened their gaze at him.
The doctor smacked his lips, tapped his fingers on the desk severally before sounding, “Lisa Bake has one month to live. I would advise you to provide the money for her survival.”
Furiously Melissa stood on her feet and walked away.
“Melissa” Fanny called, “Where are you off to?”
“To provide the money, father. I have to figure it out! There is a way!”