Chapter 10
Ten
I sobel stepped from the elevator. She had a meeting with Emma Coltrane’s parents and mom’s boyfriend and dad’s girlfriend to discuss their feelings about Emma. Both Brad and Larson appeared worried when she insisted on being dropped off at her car.
As she entered her office, she saw Kathy already set up a tray of fruit and water bottles. She would serve anyone who wanted coffee, tea or cocoa.
Isobel pointed to a comfortable armchair in the small seating area in her office. Thomas Coltrane sat stiffly on the chair, his face etched with worry.
“Mr. Coltrane, I understand this is a difficult time for you. I need to ask you a few questions about Emma.”
Thomas blew out a breath. “Of course. Anything to help my daughter.” His voice cracked.
“I've been informed that Emma's cancer has relapsed. Can you tell me about her current treatment plan?”
He spoke slowly, “Emma's been undergoing chemotherapy. It is more grueling than her first round. The drugs are more toxic with some miserable side effects, but they have other drugs to mitigate them. The doctors have assured her the cancer is curable. It's hard on her, partially because she’s anticipating the worst. And how lonely it is. Only her best friends are coming around, and she’s missing out on school events and family events. Julia and I are doing everything we can to support her.”
Isobel’s eyebrow rose. “Julia, your girlfriend?”
“Yes, Julia Bennett. She's been a rock for both of us. We’ve been together for five years. We want to make sure Emma gets through this, whatever it takes.”
“I've heard there have been some disagreements between you and your ex-wife, Eleanor, regarding Emma's treatment. Can you elaborate on that?”
“Disagreements. That’s a civilized word.” Thomas Coltrane tensed. “Eleanor... Eleanor thinks the treatment is too harsh on Emma. She wants to try alternative methods, or even stop treatment altogether. I think... I think she wants to start a new life with Andrew, her boyfriend, and she's scared Emma's illness will make that difficult.”
Isobel pursed her lips. “That's a serious concern. Do you have any evidence to support this?”
“No concrete evidence, but I've seen how distant she's become. She leaves Emma home alone often when Andrew takes her to his adult club. She used to be so involved in Emma's care, never missed an appointment, but now it feels like she's pulling away. I take Emma to most of her appointments because Eleanor is always busy. She's more focused on her new relationship than on our daughter's health. And she blames it on the treatment being too harsh, that she can’t bear it. I can’t bear it either. To see your child burn with fever or vomit. The rings under her eyes. But it has an end date. And the doctors tell us it’s survivable. I’d cut an arm off if the doctor said it would help her get through it.”
“And how does Emma feel about all this?” Isobel leaned toward him.
Her father sighed deeply. “She wants to get better. But she wishes it wasn’t painful. She's afraid. She also wants her mother and me to stop fighting with each other. I think she wants to trust us to make the right decisions for her, but, like I said, she's scared too. I include her in the doctor discussions even when her mom doesn’t want to. She needs stability and love, not conflict. Unfortunately, the conflict is why we are here.” He looked at his hands.
Isobel nodded. Her father understood Emma. “It's essential that Emma feels supported and that her health remains the priority. I'll be speaking with Eleanor as well. In the meantime, ensure Emma feels secure and loved. We need to navigate this situation carefully.” She paused. “I will also arrange a discussion between you and Eleanor separately with Emma, her doctors and her guardian ad litem.”
Thomas nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Everhart. “All I want is for Emma to have the best chance at beating this. But if the doctors feel the treatment isn’t working, I want my little girl to be comfortable.”
“We're here to help. We'll make sure Emma gets the appropriate care she needs.”
Thomas nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Isobel stood up, offering a reassuring smile before walking him to the waiting room. She called on his girlfriend next.
After discussing things with Julia, Isobel felt she was on the same page as Thomas. Both understood the commitment to treatment and Emma. She waited for the waiting room to clear, not wanting the estranged parents to meet there. Soon she heard the hidden bell in the mat ping.
Isobel stood up, pressed her blouse smooth and went out to greet Emma’s mother.
Eleanor Coltrane sat nervously on a chair, fidgeting with her hands.
“Mrs. Coltrane, thank you for speaking with me. I understand this is a challenging time for everyone involved. I have a few questions about your daughter, Emma.”
Slightly agitated, she answered, “Yes, of course. Anything for Emma.”
“I've been informed that Emma's cancer has relapsed. Can you tell me about your perspective on her current treatment plan?”
Eleanor looked away. “Well, the chemotherapy... it's so harsh on her. She's so young, and I just don't know if it's the right thing for her anymore. I mean, it's... it's just so much.”
“I've also been told there are some disagreements between you and Mr. Coltrane regarding her treatment. Can you elaborate on that?”
Her voice shook, “Thomas is so focused on the chemo, but there are other ways, less harmful ways to treat her cancer. I've been reading about alternative treatments, things that might be easier on Emma.” She paused. “But Thomas won't listen.”
Isobel had read up on Emma’s mother’s proposed alternative treatments. They all had been debunked. Following them would be a guaranteed death sentence.
“It's important to consider all options, but we need to ensure Emma's health is the priority. Are you aware that the medical community, including the alternative medical community, are not in favor of the treatments you are looking at?”
Eleanor sucked on her lip. “Thomas and the doctors told me. But they don’t know everything.”
“How has this situation affected your new relationship with Andrew?”
She startled. “Andrew? Well, he... he supports me, of course. He wants what's best for Emma too. But...”
Isobel sensed her hesitation. “Eleanor, it's essential to be honest here. Is there a concern that continuing Emma's treatment might affect your relationship with Andrew?”
Eleanor struggled to maintain her composure. “It's not that simple. Andrew and I, we've... we've been planning our future together. And, yes, Emma's illness... it complicates things. But I love my daughter. I just want what's best for her.”
“Your love for Emma is clear. However, her health and well-being must come first. How does Emma feel about her treatment and your involvement?”
“She's so brave, but she's scared. She doesn't understand why we're not all on the same page.”
“It's crucial for Emma to feel supported by both of her parents. We need to find a way to prioritize Emma's care while addressing your and Thomas’s concerns.”
Her mother dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “I understand. I just... I don't want to lose Andrew over this, but I can't lose Emma either.”
“Eleanor, is Andrew pressuring you in any way?” Isobel asked.
“Pressuring? No,” she whispered.
“Thomas tells me you leave Emma alone at night to go out. Is that true?”
Eleanor looked down at her feet. “Yes, but Andrew says it’s necessary.”
“We'll work together to find the best solution for Emma. Thank you for your honesty, Eleanor.” Isobel walked her to the waiting room.
Isobel called Andrew into her office and pointed to a chair. “Please, sit down.”
Andrew glanced at his watch, his expression tight with impatience. “I don’t have much time, Doc. Let’s make this quick.”
Isobel folded her hands calmly in her lap. “I’ll get straight to the point, then. Eleanor has mentioned you’ve had difficulty balancing your time between her and Emma.”
His face darkened, a sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Difficulty? That’s putting it mildly. Eleanor’s always torn between me and her sick kid, and, frankly, it’s exhausting.”
Isobel raised an eyebrow. “Exhausting for you, or for Eleanor?”
Andrew’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes. He leaned forward, his voice lowering with menace. “You ask a lot of questions, little girl. But if you want an answer: both. But especially for me. I didn’t sign up to play nursemaid to her dying daughter.”
Isobel held his gaze, refusing to flinch. “Emma is a child, Andrew. She’s Eleanor’s daughter. That responsibility comes with the relationship.”
His frustration flared, and his voice rose. “And that’s the damn problem. Eleanor’s constantly distracted, always worried about Emma. I’m invisible half the time. Honestly, it’d be better if...” he trailed off, his tone icy.
Isobel’s eyes narrowed, her voice growing cold. “If what, Andrew?”
He smirked, leaning back in his chair, his tone now cruel and calculated. “If Emma wasn’t around. If she... passed away. Then Eleanor could finally focus on me. On us. Without all this... baggage.”
A chill settled over the room. Isobel leaned back in her chair, her expression hardening as her words sliced through the tension. “Do you hear yourself, Andrew? Emma is not baggage. She’s a child—sick and suffering. Your lack of empathy is alarming.”
Andrew’s smile turned bitter as he grew defensive. “I’m just being realistic. Eleanor’s torn between two worlds, and it’s not fair to me. Or her. That chemo isn’t going to save Emma; it’s just delaying the inevitable.”
“What’s not fair,” Isobel said, her voice sharp, “is your attitude. If you really cared about Eleanor, you’d support her through this. Not wish away her child.”
Andrew stood abruptly, his towering frame looming over her desk. His eyes glinted dangerously as he spat, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this. But Eleanor needs to make a choice, and fast. I’m not playing second to a dying kid forever. And I certainly won’t have some high-and-mighty doctor telling me how to run my life.”
Isobel stood as well, her small frame projecting unwavering defiance. “Then maybe you should reconsider your place in her life. Eleanor deserves someone who can be strong for her and Emma—not someone who sees them as burdens.”
Andrew’s expression darkened further, his jaw clenched. He yanked the notepad from her hands and tossed it toward her desk, his lips curling into a smirk. “You know what? You could use a good paddling to fix that attitude of yours,” he muttered under his breath, his tone thick with disdain. He turned, slamming the door on his way out, the sound echoing through the room.
Isobel stood still, his venomous words hanging in the air.
She sat back down, putting together her thoughts. She had to write her response to the judge. After the interviews, she had little choice. She’d recommend custody to be transferred fully to Emma’s father as long as Eleanor remained in her current relationship, to be revisited if that changed. Even if Emma’s treatment wasn’t too harsh, any time she had to be in Andrew’s presence was dangerous.
As she was thinking, she looked down at her hands. Her left hand was bleeding where her notepad had torn the skin on her palm. “Shit.” She grabbed some tissues to blot the blood.
Kathy ran into her office the minute Eleanor and Andrew left and spied the blood soaking through the tissues. “What did he do to you?” She grabbed her hand.
“I’m fine. He pulled my pad out of my hand. The coils got me.” Isobel shook her head. “I’m going to dictate my preliminary report, and then I need to go home for the day. Could you make an appointment for me to meet with Emma, her father, her guardian ad litem, and her doctors as soon as possible?”
Kathy nodded. “I’ll have it here and locked in the file cabinet when you come in tomorrow.”
Isobel dictated her report and sent the recording to the dictation company. Kathy would send a courier to pick it up in three hours. After locking up her office, she headed to her car.
Her eyes went wide when she found Brad leaning against the driver’s door, flashing her a bright grin. “C’mon, I’m taking you out to dinner—no work talk.”