Absolution(94)

Tom closed the glossy brochure and put it down, picking up the booklet that accompanied it.

“Well?” Callum prompted. “What do you think?”

Tom took his glasses off and ran a hand down his face. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? What don’t you know?”

“It all looks great, don’t get me wrong – it looks incredible actually – amazing work they’re doing here. Where did you hear about this again?”

“I found it online. Then I called the hospital and asked if they knew anything about it. They said it’s legit.” He leaned forward. “It works, Tom, the program works. They can get her walking again.”

Tom looked skeptical and Callum sat back in his chair.

“Well, not walking – they can’t repair the damage, obviously – but they can get her walking with braces and crutches, full time. It’s a whole new life, no more chair.”

Tom glanced down at the glossy brochure in front of him and Callum followed his gaze. A man standing in braces stared back at them, as if reinforcing his words.

“This is the hope she’s been looking for, I know it is.”

Tom stared at the brochure a moment longer and sighed, putting his glasses back on. “With all this research you’ve done, did you find out if her insurance will cover it?”

Callum shook his head. “That’s the tricky part. But I can cover it myself – with a little help.”

“How in hell are you gonna do that? This is a lot of money, son.”

“I’ve got a buyer for the van. With that, and my savings, I’ve already got most of it. I just need to see the bank for the balance.”

“A bank loan?” Tom frowned, and Callum could read his mind.

He silently dared him to talk him out of it, eyeballing him across the table.

“We need living expenses for the duration, for the both of us. She’s not going through this alone.”

“Look, I don’t think –“

“Don’t say it,” Callum warned, his voice trembling as he fought back tears. “Don’t you dare say it. I’m doing this for one reason and one only – she needs it. She told me she wanted to get better, she said it was for Jack.” The name stuck in his throat, as did the idea, but they were Ally’s words, not his. “And then Pavlovic pulled the rug out from under her and all hell broke loose. Well this is ‘getting better’ – this is as good as it gets for her. The health benefits are huge. Read it – see? And not just physically, but psychologically too.”

“I can see that,” Tom said, as Callum barreled ahead.

“I’m tired of waiting for the counseling to make a difference. We’re losing her Tom, we need to do something and we need to do it now, before it’s too late.”

“I agree. But don’t go to the bank for that money, let me pay for half the total,” Tom insisted, taking his glasses off and laying them down on the table in front of him. “I want to help too. That way, you’re not totally tapped out and you don’t have a bank loan hanging over your head.”

“Wow,” Callum exhaled loudly. “Wow. Okay. Thanks.”

“Did you really think I’d veto this? I know she needs something and maybe this is it. Who knows, but we sure as hell have to try,” Tom mumbled, leaning back in his chair and staring at the paperwork in front of him again. “I do have a couple of concerns, though.”

“What?”

“Firstly, this program – it’s a long way from home. I’m not sure she’ll agree to be away for so long. Second – well, do you think she’ll let us pay for it? Do you think she’ll even want to do this, with the way she’s been lately?”

The questions were the same ones Callum had been asking himself. “I know it’s a long way from home, that’s why I’m gonna go with her. It’ll be just like when she was in rehab.”

“And how are you gonna manage that?”

“I’ll talk to them at work, see if I can take a leave of absence. If not… well, I guess I’ll have to quit. I’m not leaving her alone all the way out there – not after what happened. If she goes, I go too.”

Tom regarded him carefully over the table and Callum prepared himself for the onslaught. But to his surprise, it never came.

“That’s a big commitment you’re making. You’re putting your life on hold.”