Chapter 4
Her first day had gone went well. Kelsey had attended the afternoon briefing; only this time she was keeping an eye on Danny from her seat. Everything seemed to be falling into place, and
then Leo appeared in her doorway shortly before seven.
"Do you have a minute?"
"Sure. Come on in."
Leo walked in and sat down across from her.
"The office looks great."
"Thanks. What can I do for you?"
"Well, I need a favor."
"What is it?"
"I need you to testify at a Congressional Hearing," Leo stated matter-of-factly.
"Excuse me?"
"I need you…"
"I heard that part, but why me?"
"Because the issue is right up your alley."
"That being?"
"A tax cut for the primary caregivers of terminally ill patients."
Kelsey looked over at Leo as if he had a third eye growing in the middle of his forehead.
"Who's introducing the bill?"
"LeMure."
"Evelyn, huh? I'm surprised she didn't approach me herself," she commented.
"She will be. I just wanted to give you the heads up."
"Leo, you know how strongly I feel about this issue, but I don't know if I'm the person who should be speaking out on this."
"You're exactly the person we need to speak out on this issue. Kelsey, you live everyday with the fact that your mother is going to die. And you have chosen to take care of her in your own
home for however long she may have. Terminally ill patients should have a choice as to how they want to spend their final days and if this administration can ease that burden on the families.
Then that's what we need to do."
Kelsey paused letting Leo's words sink in.
"All right, I'll do it."
"Good. Toby is going to help you prepare," Leo explained.
"You've already asked him?"
"Yeah."
"Before you asked me to testify?" she asked.
Leo stared at her and then smiled. "I knew you wouldn't say no."
Kelsey laughed.
"When do I testify?" she inquired.
"End of next week."
"That's not much time, but I'll be ready."
"Thanks," replied Leo who then left the office.
Once he was gone, Kelsey put her head on the desk and began to contemplate all the ways she could resign her job. Just then the phone rang.
"Hello? Hi, mom…no, everything's fine. Leo was just here and wait until you hear this…"