Chapter 12
"How long has your mother been using drugs?" He phrased the question in a different way.
The girls sat in their chairs, stunned at what the doctor just asked.
"What?"
"What?"
"What?"
"I need to know how long your mother has been using drugs."
"How dare you? She's a physician and as First Lady has given many speeches on the anti-drug themes. How could you think she's using them?" Liz was indignant that he would even ask that question.
"Blood tests don't lie."
The girls looked at each other in shock.
Ellie spoke first. "What the hell does that mean?"
"I mean, because of this unexpected coma, I had more blood work drawn for a drug screen. There were very high levels of cocaine in her system. Enough to shut down her lungs and send her into a coma. She's lucky she was in the hospital when it happened. She would have died otherwise. Please tell me the truth. I can't help her without knowing the facts. She needs help. How long has she been using cocaine?"
The girls couldn't respond. The thought of their mother using drugs, any drug, was just too horrible to even think about. Not their mother. She was a physician. The First Lady of the United States. No, it was just too incomprehensible what the doctor was saying.
Finally, Zoey spoke. "That is so ridiculous. There has to be a different explanation for the lab results."
"As I said earlier, blood tests don't lie. Denial is not going to help your mother. If you can't or won't tell me, I'll have to ask your father. He's around her much more and should know."
Liz spoke up quickly. "Listen, he just woke up himself. He's had two cardiac arrests in the past twenty-four hours, plus experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning. He can't be placed under any more stress that he already has. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mrs. Westin. I understand what you're saying. But I have a professional responsibility to my patient. And that means getting her some help. But first, I have to know the details. Your mother denies it, you three deny it. Your mother has at least twelve more hours on the ventilator until the cocaine has been processed through her system. Her lung muscles won't function because of the cocaine for at least that long. Please try to understand my position. I have to get more information to plan her care and recovery. Your father will be able to give that to me. I really have no other choice but to ask him directly."
Liz looked at her sisters for their thoughts. Both Ellie and Zoey shrugged their shoulders, as if to say there was no other way.
Liz turned back to Dr. Harris. "I guess we can't stop you. But please consult with his doctor before you talk with him."
"Of course. I won't do anything his physician doesn't agree with."
Dr. Harris left. Liz, Ellie, and Zoey stayed just where they were. Each of them was trying to process what they had just been told.
But it didn't make any sense.