Chapter 4 - Someone Canceled It
Natalie put the call on speaker.
Her oncologist, Dr. Priya Shah, sounded confused.
“Our office received a cancellation request yesterday afternoon. The caller stated you were transferring care to New Horizons Oncology in Providence.”
Natalie shook her head.
“I’ve never heard of them.”
Ethan looked at Allison.
Allison looked offended before anyone accused her.
Dr. Shah continued.
“The caller verified your date of birth, address, insurance ID, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.”
Natalie’s face drained.
“Who called?”
“The note says an authorized family representative.”
Ethan’s voice sharpened.
“Name?”
A pause.
“Your sister.”
Allison stood.
“That is not what happened.”
Natalie stared at her.
“You canceled my treatment?”
“I was moving it.”
“Without telling me?”
“New Horizons has private suites. I was trying to get you better care.”
Dr. Shah interrupted.
“Mrs. Grant, New Horizons is not a hospital. It is an integrative wellness clinic. It does not administer the protocol Natalie needs.”
Silence.
Ethan looked at Allison.
“You canceled chemotherapy for vitamins and massage?”
“Allison,” Natalie whispered.
Allison’s voice rose.
“Do you know what chemotherapy does to people? Mom was sick for two years after treatment.”
“Mom had pancreatic cancer,” Natalie said. “This is different.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Ethan laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Everybody keeps protecting Natalie by making decisions behind her back.”
Allison turned on him.
“At least I was here.”
“So was I. I just wasn’t told.”
Dr. Shah rescheduled Natalie’s treatment for 7:00 the next morning.
Then she asked Natalie to confirm who was authorized to make medical decisions.
Natalie looked at Ethan.
Then at Allison.
“I want the proxy revoked.”
Allison’s expression snapped.
“Natalie.”
“I said revoked.”
“You’re emotional.”
“My cancer does not make me stupid.”
The nurse brought in a hospital social worker and forms.
Allison moved toward the bed.
“We should discuss this privately.”
Ethan stepped aside.
For once, Natalie did not.
“No. We’re done discussing my life privately.”
Allison’s eyes went cold.
That was the first moment Ethan realized this was not only about two sisters disagreeing.
Something else was underneath.
The social worker asked for Allison’s copy of the healthcare proxy.
Allison handed it over reluctantly.
The woman studied the signature.
Then the witness line.
“Who is Patricia Grant?”
“Our aunt,” Allison said.
Natalie frowned.
“Aunt Patricia died eleven months ago.”
Nobody moved.
The social worker looked again.
“This document was signed three weeks ago.”
Allison’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Ethan walked to the door.
“Call hospital security.”
Allison grabbed her purse.
“You’re insane.”
Ethan looked at Natalie.
“Do you recognize the signature as yours?”
Natalie stared at it.
Slowly, she shook her head.
“No.”
Allison ran.
She shoved past the nurse, hit the hallway, and disappeared around the corner.
Hospital security was already coming from the elevators.
Ethan turned back toward the bed.
Natalie was crying silently.
He took one step toward her.
She held up a hand.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
“I believed her.”
Ethan swallowed.
“About me?”
“About everything.”
Then the nurse who had been reviewing Natalie’s chart looked up from the computer.
“Mrs. Cole, did you authorize a beneficiary change on your life insurance last month?”
Natalie stared at her.
“What beneficiary change?”
— — —
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