Year Three
tw: hospital mention, allergy / allergic reaction, weight loss mention
"I can't believe you! I told you—I told you! And you didn't listen! You never listen to me!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Sorry isn't going to fix anything! You hurt our little boy!"
"I did!?"
"He can't have nuts!"
"I didn't know!"
"...You didn't know? You didn't know James, your son—the son you so desperately wanted—had an allergy? What else don't you know, then?"
"Oh, don't do this Brooke."
"No, we're going to do this! Because of you, James will be traumatized for life!"
"That's ridiculous! It's not anaphylaxis! It's a mild allergy. Even the doctors said so!"
"Because that's better! 'James, I only hurt you a little bit! But it's okay because you didn't die'."
"Don't put words in my mouth. That's not what I'm saying and you know it."
"No, I don't. I don't know what you're trying to say at all. Only that James doesn't matter to you."
"He's my son! Of course he matters!"
"Then where were you when his daycare had their 'Dinosaurs with Dads' event? Hmm?"
"I was sleeping—I had a long night, Brooke! You know shows don't end until 11 or midnight. And what about you?"
"What about me?"
"You're home all day doing nothing! You could have been watching him!"
"Excuse me, I make sure you have a nice, clean house to come home to and 'relax' in, as you say."
"We have a maid service."
"Do you know how long it takes to vet them?"
"I'm not the one who has a problem with all of them."
"I wouldn't have a problem with them if my husband could keep his eyes in his head."
"Well maybe if you dressed up a little bit I wouldn't be looking at anything else."
"I have a three-year-old crawling all over me all the time! He grabs and pulls and ruins my clothes! If I'm out of his sight for a second he comes and finds me! It never ends! I needed a break from him! So what? You never see him! And the first thing you do when you're actually home is push him away and let him eat anything he wants!"
"I said I was sorry!"
"Don't tell me. Tell James. Tell James how sorry you are for hurting him. Tell your son how sorry you are for never being there for him."
"I'm working. Someone has to provide for this family!"
"And you provided the vehicle that sent him to the hospital. You're Father of the Year, like you've always wanted. Congratulations."
"...Forget it. I'll see you at home."
"Mommy, I'm itchy."
"I know, James, I know. But everything will be better soon, okay? Mommy will make it better. Mommy knows what you need to be healthy. Your daddy doesn't. Okay? Mommy will take care of you. From now on, I'll be in charge and make sure nothing hurts you ever again."
"Okay. Thank you. I love you, Mommy."
"...Excuse me, James says he's still itchy. Shouldn't he be feeling better by now?"
"Mrs. Diamond, as I've explained before—"
"Then you need to explain it again. Maybe using better words this time since you imply that I don't seem to understand my baby boy is suffering."
"...It will take some time for the antihistamines to go through his system but they're doing their job and he'll be good as new."
"Good as new. Really? James has just gone through a traumatic experience and you think he'll be the same after this? You think he'll just be able to forget? Like he wasn't harmed?"
"It's just an expression, Mrs. Diamond. With the right support, I only meant—"
"I knew what you meant. And it's okay. Because I'll be here for him and be all the support he needs. ...Oh and nurse? While you're here, I'd like to discuss James' weight loss options."
