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This had to be tough on Lia for other reasons, too. Whitney knew Lia had been a huge source of support for Wes’s first wife, Kelli, when she was sick with cancer. Lia had spent a lot of time in Blue Moon Bay back then at Kelli’s bedside. She hadn’t been a bone marrow match for Kelli, and Whitney knew Lia was really hoping she could be a match this time.
The doctor entered the room a few minutes later, and Lia woke the others. “Do you want us to leave?” she asked Whitney.
Whitney shook her head. “Please stay.” She never knew what kind of news to expect from Dr. Forester, and either way, she could use the support. The four of them stared at the doctor expectantly.
Dr. Forester smiled. “So…I have some good news.”
Oh, thank God!
Whitney’s heart soared, and she swallowed hard. “We have a match?” she said, barely more than a whisper.
Dr. Forester nodded and then turned to Lia. “Ready to do this?”
Tears rimmed Lia’s eyes. Her knees seemed to give way slightly in relief and she sat on the edge of the bed. She smiled and squeezed Whitney’s hand. “Let’s do it.”
In matching hospital gowns hours later, Lia and Whitney held hands as they were prepped for the procedure. IVs were injected, and they were briefed on the process.
“You sure?” Whitney asked Lia. This was such a big sacrifice her friend was making, and as much as she knew she needed this, it felt like such a big ask.
“There was never any question. I got you,” Lia said.
And for the first time in a long time, Whitney let go of the need to be in control, and she let her friend try to save her life.
…
The love of his life was getting a bone marrow transplant.
In the hospital cafeteria, Trent wrapped shaky hands around a coffee cup, the contents long ago having gone cold. He didn’t want to add any unnecessary stress to Whitney by going to see her, but he needed to be there in the hospital. Close by. He couldn’t do anything. But just being there felt like the smallest thing he could do. He couldn’t think about or focus on anything else. All he could do was sit and wait and pray.
He ran a hand through his hair and checked his watch. Jess had texted to say Lia and Whitney had been prepped right away and were going in for the transfer an hour ago. He wasn’t sure how long it would take, but he’d stay there all day. And all night.
“Hi.” Jess’s voice next to him made him glance up. “Thought you’d be here.”
“I didn’t want to come up…”
She nodded her understanding as she sat. “She’s going to be okay, and then the two of you can work this out.”
He swallowed hard. He desperately wanted to try to work things out, but did Whitney? Would this result in her wanting to try again or would it only solidify her claims that they weren’t right together? He knew she worried about not being able to give him the family he wanted. Would he be able to convince her that it didn’t matter? Would she give him that chance?
He should be the one next to her during all of this, but he also knew he needed to give her the space she’d asked for even when it left him with a huge hole in his chest.
“I’m glad she’s allowed you and Sarah and Lia to be here for her,” he said, squeezing his cousin’s hand. That was a huge step toward progress for Whitney. It also told him just how terrified she must be, and that made his chest ache even more.
“We’re all here for you. We’re rooting for you both,” Jess said gently.
He nodded, not trusting his voice to speak.
They sat in silence for a while, both lost in their own thoughts, drawing comfort from each other as they waited.
He had almost summoned the nerve to tell his cousin about Eddie when Jess’s cell chimed with a new text message. She reached for it quickly and read. Her face held a look of relief as she glanced up at him. “It’s Sarah. They’re out. The transfer went great.”
He released a sigh of relief. “What now?”
“More waiting and hoping for the best.”
Seemed these days, that’s all he could do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
