“Maybe we could spend some time together soon? Talk?” Marin asks.
“I would like that,” Trisha answers, giving her sister’s hand a squeeze.
“Good.” Marin turns toward Ranee, her voice gentler, kinder than before. “Why did you call us here? Is there news on his condition?”
“No,” Ranee begins, just as David enters. “Ah, here is the gentleman I was waiting for. Dr. Ford.”
“Good to see everyone,” David says, offering them a smile.
“Thank you for meeting with us.” Ranee glances around. “Sonya is not here yet. I wonder if we could wait just a few minutes? She said she would be here.”
There are nods and murmurs of agreement.
“Where is Raj?” Ranee asks Marin.
“He’s waiting downstairs.” Marin glances at Gia, who is staring at the floor. Ranee understands immediately—Raj drove them to the hospital to be with his daughter. “Since you only asked me and Gia to the meeting, he wanted to give us privacy.”
Ranee nods. “That was kind of him.”
Just as the room falls silent, Sonya bursts in, harried. “Sorry I’m late,” she murmurs, her gaze encompassing the room. When her eyes fall on David, she visibly tenses. Ranee turns toward the doctor, who has locked eyes with her youngest. Startled, Ranee turns back toward Sonya who, in seconds, has shuttered her outward emotions, as if refusing to reveal any more. “It looks like everyone is here.”
“Yes,” Ranee murmurs, tucking away this new revelation for later. “I asked everyone to meet here so we can move forward with your father’s situation.”
“I don’t understand,” Sonya says, speaking for everyone. “Has there been a change?” She automatically turns toward David before seeming to catch herself.
“I want to remove the life support,” Ranee answers. “Let him go.”
The room falls silent, each of her daughters obviously lost in her own thoughts, her own memories. Ranee watches them carefully, the three women she bore and raised. How many mistakes she has made, how many wrong turns, her only excuse being she didn’t know which way was the right one. This would not rectify that, would not make the past disappear, but it might give them a chance to begin again.
“Why now, Mumji?” asks Gia, the first one to break the silence.
“So we can heal, Beti. Together,” Ranee answers, trying not to reveal too much in front of the doctor. “What do you think?” She knows Gia loved her Dada. He gave her what he failed to offer anyone else—unconditional love.
“Yes,” Marin answers before Gia can. “If it’s a decision to be made, then I say yes.” Her voice is strong, sure.
“Yes,” Trisha murmurs, her answer barely audible. “If there’s any part of him that can hear us, he has to know it’s time.”
Sonya slips her hand into Trisha’s. “I agree.” Ranee doesn’t ask on which point; it doesn’t matter. She has given her vote—they are unanimous.
“Doctor, please tell us what is the next step.”
Before David can answer, explain how to take away the life of someone who had taken so much, Gia speaks up. “I vote no,” she calls out, willing everyone to hear her. “I don’t want him to die.”
“Gia,” Marin starts, but her daughter refuses to listen.
“He’s my grandfather. He’s a good man. I love him so much,” she cries. “Why is everyone so ready to do this? He could still come out of it. We could have him back, and then everything will be fine again.”
Ranee sits next to Brent, staring at his stillness. Marin took Gia home, her outburst leaving the decision in limbo. Trisha gave Ranee a hug, telling her she would speak to her later. Sonya simply left, David watching her the whole time.
“It’s hard for families to make this kind of decision,” explains David, the only one left. “If there’s anything I can do . . .” he begins, but Ranee interrupts him, facing him across the expanse of the bed.