The Other Family by Nyhan Loretta

Author:Nyhan, Loretta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

“We can’t afford this.”

Matt, Kylie, and I were sitting in my car in front of the wellness center. It was raining, the moisture bunching up the leaves and making Chicago hell on earth for mold allergy sufferers. Still, the majesty of the center was evident. And intimidating. I could see why Matt gazed at it suspiciously, grinding his teeth.

“Dr. Indigo is in the back,” I said. “Her office is a little down-to-earth. Well, down-to-earth mother.”

We made a run for it, the three of us huffing and puffing, though we hadn’t run far. It always seems more taxing on the body to run in the rain. Shaking off the freezing drops, we followed the impossibly gorgeous receptionist up the old wood staircase, and Matt stared at me when I kicked at the door.

“Is that necessary?” he asked.

“It sticks,” Kylie said. “No biggie.”

She didn’t appear to have any lasting anxiety from our last visit, or at least she didn’t show it. I had no idea what Dr. Indigo had in mind for today, but I secretly hoped it wouldn’t be too way out there—Matt didn’t have the patience for it.

We paused at her office door. Dr. Indigo sat at her desk, motionless.

“Why are you hesitating?” she said. “Come in.”

We sat down quickly.

Dr. Indigo shook Matt’s hand. “You’re here to check up on me?” she asked, but there was a touch of humor in her question.

Matt cleared his throat. “Actually, yes. You’re a board-certified allergist?”

She pointed to some framed documents on the wall. “Have a look.”

Much to my embarrassment, Matt actually did. He scrutinized each of her diplomas and certifications, and then, when he was finally satisfied, took his seat.

“What I would like to know,” he said, “is what you’re doing to address Kylie’s peanut allergy. That would seem like the place to start, right? With what we know for sure?”

“I agree,” Dr. Indigo said.

“I thought you did desensitization therapy,” I added, both emboldened by Matt’s questions, and still haunted by the cafeteria incident. “Is Kylie a candidate? Can we get her started?”

I’d contacted the few doctors who administered the therapy in the Midwest—all had waiting lists of well over a year, and many of them were still conducting trials, meaning Kylie might get a placebo, unbeknownst to us. It was one reason I’d come to Dr. Indigo—when I called to set up the first appointment, the receptionist wouldn’t tell me if she had a wait list. I figured it was worth the chance to see if she’d take Kylie on.

“I’ve already started Kylie on the therapy,” Dr. Indigo said.

“What?” Matt shouted. “Without our knowledge? That’s illegal!”

Dr. Indigo smiled. “I already began her therapy. I’ve yet to start the exposure. I would need your permission for that. And you’d need mine. I take very few patients in this area. I wanted to get to know your daughter, your level of commitment, and I needed to study her blood work again. After evaluating all of that, I’ll decide when it’s time we begin the exposure.

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