![]() ![]() His shoulders were rigid, his foot tapping restlessly on the plush rug. On closer inspection, I could see how exhausted he truly was. Setting our drinks down on the coffee table, he readjusted the blanket that was covering my feet until it was all the way up to my neck before settling down on the floor beside the couch. "With you?" I teased, smiling warmly at the sight of my walking home on legs. ![]() I just…I went for it."Īrching my neck, I watched Kyle approach the couch with a mug of steaming coffee in one hand and a tumbler of amber liquid in the other. After that night, I had tunnel vision when it came to Lee. "It was my wake up call – or my rude awakening. "Obviously, I loved her long before that," he added. He sighed and scratched his jaw, thinking back. "Probably long after it occurred," he replied. ![]() "We remember the important things, too," he reminded her. "Keep going." Settling back on the couch, Kyle smirked. "David Gray’s Say Hello and Wave Goodbye," Kyle shot back without hesitation. “Name the first song you and Lee ever danced to?” You won't be able to hide this from him for much longer." Carter, you really need to think hard about what you're –" I won't risk their lives and futures for mine. What if that happened to them? Say I take a kidney from one of my sons and then he's in a car wreck or worse? Needing a kidney and not having one because his mother took it from him? No. I am fully aware of how quickly life can change for the worst. One moment in time took my health from me. In the blink of an eye, I was thrown into this position. Your husband isn't a match, but you have six biological children. "If they were tested, we could narrow it down significantly. "I will not ask my children to do that for me." ![]() "No," I bit out, unable to stop the tears from streaking down my cheeks. It won't be long until hospital admission is your only option. "Have you told your husband?" he asked gently. "I see." Frozen, I clutched the phone tightly in my hand. "With a successful transplant? Your whole life. "How much time do I have?" I croaked out. "So, that's the only way?" I whispered, barely breathing. We will continue with the dialysis and wait." He paused before adding, "And pray." "And I have no intention of losing a patient so young. "You are forty-six years old," he reminded me. "My boys, Cash and Casey –" A sniffle escaped me and I groaned. "It's just –" I had to stop and drag in a calming breath before I could continue. "Please try not to stress," he cut me off and said. "I was a lot younger then," I strangled out. "You've been here before," he continued, tone gentle and coaxing. I held in the scream that threatened to tear from my throat and nodded. "We've been running tests and adjusting your treatment for over eighteen months now, Mrs. "It's more common in transplant patients than you'd think," he replied. There was a long stretch of silence before my doctor sighed heavily down the line. "Is there any chance you could be wrong?" Clenching my eyes shut, I forced my tears to still and not spill out. "Worse," I admitted quietly, keeping the heel of my hand pressed to my brow. He didn’t sound surprised to hear from me and that worried me for reasons only a person in my position could understand. Brady's concerned voice came down the line after two short rings. Swallowing down the little pills with no water, I snatched up my cell and dialed the familiar number that was etched in my memory. When it finally did, I reached for a bottle of meds off my nightstand and quickly flicked the cap open. Breathing labored, I sat on the edge of our bed and dropped my head in my hands, waiting for the wave of dizziness to dissipate. I waited until Kyle had left the room before throwing off the covers and rolling myself into a sitting position. ![]()
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