Reality Check 6

"Come on, Tommy boy," ordered his wife Montana, a tall, slim, blonde bombshell with a Marilyn Monroe innocence about her. "Stop kidding around, Sweetie! It is time to go see the nurse for your blood work." 

Tommy and Montana were one of two couples who lived together in the retirement home. Tommy had been diagnosed with dementia several years earlier. He usually responded in a positive way, when she kidded around with him. This morning was different, as he was belligerent from the moment they awakened. 

"You keep on acting like that, Tommy and I will have you in a locked ward in a nursing home, so fast!" she thought to herself. "I know that I cannot do that, as I will wind up in court immediately."

Montana sat on the edge of the bed quietly, and waited patiently, while he dressed himself. She was extremely angry with him because of his increasing belligerence and stubbornness, but she knew from past experience that any expression of anger on her part, was totally wasted on him. In fact, it had been for a very long time.

"We can go listen to the canary down by the nursing station," she suggested, whistling softly to him, as she combed his thinning hair. "You look so nice!" she said, giving him a gentle hug. He no longer hugged her back. "Let's go!"

Moments later, Tommy had forgotten that she mentioned blood work.

"I never should have said blood work this morning," she thought to herself. "That was really dumb!"

"I am just a dumb blonde, but blondes have all the fun! Right Tommy?"

Tommy smiled and nodded, as if in agreement.

"I must remember never mention blood work to him again. Maybe that is what upset him and why he has been so ornery this morning?" she thought to herself.

Having married a much older man did have some advantages, because Tommy was very well to do. She stood to gain a sizable inheritance when he passed away, that is if his son and ex-wife did not dispute her entitlement to it. That was the reason she moved into the retirement home with him. She was determined to stay right at his side, for however long it took, and then she would be able to do whatever she wanted with the rest of her own life. She knew that every dream she had in life could come into reality, once she received her inheritance. 

What Montana had not bargained for was his dementia.

"I get so angry that I could kill him sometimes," she thought to herself. "I can think about it, but I cannot do it because life is sacred, and no one ever has the right to take anyone else's life."

Tommy stood in the open doorway, waiting for her. She took his hand and squeezed it, as they headed for the elevator.

Downstairs, Tommy sat down beside the cage and took delight in the canary's singing. The nurse spotted them and immediately came out of her office to take his blood. Tommy was so busy listening to the canary that he did not even seem to notice what she was doing.

"You look so wonderful today, Montana," said the nurse with a smile."Tommy, you are looking great too!"

"Thanks," replied Montana, as watched Tommy's face light up. Nowadays, life with him was not a lot of fun. She had nothing better to do all day than to look after him and do her makeup, hair and nails, while he slept.

"The doctor will be in at ten, if you want to come back then."

"Great," replied Montana. "Book us in."

"The doctor may want to do a reality check on you both," thought the nurse. "Montana looks too perfect today, but I can see by the expression on her face, something is amiss."

What the nurse did not tell Montana was that Tommy's son had called her, after talking to the doctor. He was in the process of making arrangements to have his father admitted to a locked ward on the Psychiatric ward of the local hospital. From there, he would go into a nursing home. 

The final decision would be made by his doctor. The son had legal documents to enforce it, if necessary. Jumping the gun, so to speak, he was in control of his father's estate, or at least thought he was.