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Chapter Sixteen
Richard
It was Logan Henderson. I didn’t know him, but I knew his younger brother Dean, and called in a favor, to obtain some more information regarding Chance’s diagnoses. Unfortunately, Tyler hadn’t exaggerated. If anything, I had learned from Logan how hard Tyler had fought and searched for anything to save his son. And yet he still showed up to work every day.
I had asked Logan to let me know if there was anything Tyler needed. I wasn’t prepared for a call saying Chance had slipped into a coma and been rushed to the hospital.
When Tyler said they had no idea how long his son had left, I was thinking months, maybe a year. This wasn’t even two weeks. I’d never met Chance, or even known of his existence until recently, but I wished there was something I could do.
There is.
“Logan, I don’t care how much it costs, you make sure everything has been done to save him,” I said.
“Richard, if there was, I’d have already suggested it. When he came to us, it was already too far gone. If we were to operate now, he’d be in a vegetative state for the remainder of his life.”
I wouldn’t want that for anyone. “Do me one favor. I know I could just reach out to the hospital, but I want this to be anonymous.”
Logan said firmly, “I’ve already told you more than I should.”
“It’s not personal information. I want to pay all his medical expenses. I don’t care how much, just make it happen and tell me what I owe.” It might be a lot, but it still didn’t feel like enough.
“I can do that. From what I know, it’s a substantial amount. The hospital is usually good about working on a payment plan, but Tyler would never be able to pay this off, not in his lifetime.”
“Thanks for the call, Logan.”
“I wish it could’ve been different news,” he said.
I ended the call and leaned back on my leather chair. The last time I spoke to Tyler was in this office. I had been so ready to terminate his employment. If he hadn’t broken down, shared what his family was facing, I wouldn’t be able to help him now.
I’ve always been focused on one thing; my business. Whether it be Tyler’s news or meeting Joyelle, I knew something within me was changing. It didn’t mean I wasn’t taking work seriously - I did. People counted on me. But I wasn’t locking myself away in these four walls 24/7 like I had been.
Right now, I couldn’t be productive even if I wanted to work. Chance wasn’t my child, my family or even someone I knew, yet the seriousness of his condition hurt my heart. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to be alone tonight.
Picking up my cell phone, I thought about calling Clark and asking him to meet me for a drink. But it wasn’t alcohol I wanted. I needed…Joyelle.
Dialing her number, I waited as it rang several times. Maybe she’d gone to bed, as it was getting late and she said she starts her day early. I ended the call and was about to put my phone in my pocket when it rang. Her name on the caller ID was just what I needed.
“Sorry, hope I didn’t wake you,” I said.
“No. I was just doing dreaded paperwork. What’s up?” Joyelle asked.
“I need to see you,” I said.
She paused for a moment and then asked, “Do you want me to come to Boston?”
Her serious response made me second-guess myself. There was no way my emotional state had come through in my voice. I was very good at hiding any sort of feelings. “It’s late. I don’t want you driving all the way here.”
Joyelle said, “That’s a pretty chauvinistic comment.”
For a moment, I forgot who I was talking to - ‘Miss I Can Take Care of Myself’. But whether she could handle herself or not, I couldn’t allow her to take the risk.
“And what if your car breaks down on the way?” I said.
“I travel with tools. I’d fix it. I’d just get to your house with more grease on my hands than I wanted.”
“Let me guess, you’re a mechanic, too?”
“Technically, no, but I can fix most things. It’s the electronics that trip me up. So now do you feel better about my coming to you?”
