Episode 48 - Power of AttorneyGordon approached his mother’s hospital room like he was going to a board meeting. His mobile phone was grafted to his ear as usual as he cursed his personal assistant about a property deal that hadn’t gone quite to plan. He hung up before she broke down and cried.He stormed into Nan’s room and stood at the end of her bed, surveying her chart as if he knew what it meant. She was snoring softly. ‘Mother,’ he said abruptly. Nan jolted awake and squinted at him. For a few moments she thought she was dreaming that her only son was standing before her. She rubbed her eyes with gnarled fists. ‘Gordon?’ she said tentatively when his image didn’t fade like the apparition she thought he was. ‘How are you, Mother?’ he said and gave her a polite peck on the cheek, his lips barely connecting with her skin. ‘Oh, just a bit of a bother but I’ll be right as rain soon. The doctors say I’m in good nick for an old bird,’ she said smiling. ‘How is Sonia and the babies?’ ‘Fine,’ he replied shortly. ‘I spoke to one of the tenants and she told me about what happened. I told you that you should have sold that place or at least put in the hands of a real estate agency.’ ‘Gordon,’ Nan said slowly, ‘no one could have known that something like this would happen. It was an unfortunate event that I just happened to be a part of.’ ‘Whatever,’ he said, ‘still, you have been hurt and it could have been a lot worse from what I have heard. I want you to move up to Sydney. I can keep an eye on you there.’ Nan sighed. This was a long argument that she and Gordon had been having. He had moved away for his work and she was lucky to see him and her grandchildren once a year. Her ‘babies’ as she called his sons were now adults. ‘Gordon, your father and I built those apartments with the sweat of our brows. You were born there, you grew up there. I’m too old to go moving around and if I have any say in where I’m going to die, I want to die there.’ The old lady’s voice rose a pitch and her eyes filled. She coughed and wiped the tears away. She reached for a drink of water and winced at the pain in her hip. ‘See?’ Gordon rebuked, ‘You can’t even get yourself a glass of water. How are you supposed to survive when you leave here?’ ‘I’ll manage,’ Nan shot back. She was now getting angry at him and herself for being so helpless. ‘Who will take care of you, Mother? I can’t be here all the time.’ ‘I never asked you to Gordon. Nor would I expect it. I’ve arranged a friend to take care of me.’ ‘Who?’ Gordon demanded. Nan paused before replying, ‘Fran,’ she eventually said. ‘Fran? You haven’t seen her for nearly 20 years have you?’ he asked dubiously. Nan coughed and seemed uncomfortable. ‘Her husband died last year. She needs someone to care for.’ Gordon shrugged and dismissed it. ‘If I have to Mother,’ he threatened, ‘I’ll get power of attorney.’ Nan knew he was playing his trump card. He had hinted at taking over all her assets but this was the first time he had said it so brazenly. She looked at him squarely,her false teeth gritted together. ‘You just try, Gordon. You just try.’ to be continued... |