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I quickly brushed the errant tear away. I’d been unable to stop it.
Dylan
I could see fear in Remi’s eyes.
Even though Rory’s grandparents were on their way into the hospital, if one of them didn’t match, we’d be back to just the donor database. I’d been Googling and only one in four people who test will ever be called to donate, so I took that as about a 25% chance for finding one.
Once again, I found myself so thankful that Remi was here and healthy, but I prayed that Rory would get the same outcome. Now that we found her grandparents on her mother’s side, I was concerned how Remi would take it if we weren’t allowed to foster and hopefully adopt Rory. Spending just a little time with her, I was also smitten with the little girl. She was. Precious. I had been shocked at the change in her appearance, but Remi told me that her face and body were puffy from the steroids they administer to help counter the effects of the chemo drugs.
I’d knew about Remi’s cancer battle, but in the last couple of months, I’d learned way more than I ever wanted to know about cancer. But, like Chase and Teagan, and my parents, I would be donating to St. Jude’s for the rest of my life. The people were so wonderful, and they truly cared about each, and every, child under their care.
“Have you thought about that now that we found the family, they might take custody?” I asked.
Remi and I had gone down to the cafeteria for some coffee while we waited for the Wagner’s to arrive, and only left the room after Rory fell asleep. I’d been here for just one day, Remi had spent most of the time with the little girl, only leaving her to make rounds for other children she had been visiting. I stayed with her whenever Remi was out of the room. It had been a nerve-racking fifteen hours waiting for that call to come in. I was thankful it was so fast, and it gave cred to the grandparents. They must be good people to drop everything to try and help a child they never knew existed.
Remi nodded. “Yes, but I just want her to survive. I hope they would agree to let us see her.”
I set the Styrofoam cup holding my coffee on the table and reached for her hand. “I’m sure they will. You’ve been there for her this entire time, and they will see how much you love her,” I said.
“I think you’re also falling in love with her,” she observed. “Am I wrong?”
“No. You can read me like a book. I’m still stunned that her mother could have left her. She’s sweet.”
“I’m trying to be more empathetic toward that woman. It’s not easy, but if she’s an addict and she brought Rory to an ER, the staff would have called the police, so she gets credit for that. Rory was covered in bruises, and we know now they were caused from the leukemia, but she could be charged with a crime if there are suspicious injuries, and the hospital or staff members could be held accountable if they neglect to report them to CPS.”
“It’s gonna be okay, babe.” I tried to reassure her. There were so many layers to this and even though fostering and adoption were now in question, the priority was Rory’s health. I knew Remi so well. She was elated that the little one’s grandparents had been found and they were willing to help, but there was an underlying sadness about not having Rory as a permanent part of her life.
She would be such an amazing mother. The primal instincts in my DNA thrilled at the prospect that she would have my children. I hadn’t ever thought about it with any other woman I’d ever been with. In fact, my concern was making sure they didn’t get pregnant. But with Remi, it was different. There were years of school, and then residence in front of her and maybe the research fellowship at St. Jude. I doubted we’d have children anytime soon. We were both very young to start a family, but if we were blessed enough to adopt Rory, I’d move heaven and earth to make it work.
“I’m so worried about Rory.” A crinkle appeared above her nose as worry filled her eyes. “I can’t believe my mother did this for three years. It’s so stressful!” She ran a hand through her long hair. “God… I wish I would have put my hair up.”
“Well, you’ve been in the same clothes for more than twenty-four hours. You’re bound to feel like you need to clean up.”
“Gee, thanks,” she said with a sigh.
I smiled and cocked my head. “Hey, I didn’t say you were ugly or smelled bad,” I defended myself, trying to inject some humor. “I think you’re gorgeous. You’re just worried.”
“I’m just so glad I didn’t take classes this summer. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to juggle that with being her for Rory.”
I scooted my chair closer so I could speak in a lower tone and lay a comforting hand on her knee. “Well, if we’re lucky enough to get her, we can hire a nanny to help, and I’m sure our moms will do as much as they can. I worry about you.”
Remi’s hand covered mine warmly. “I’m okay. It’s much better now that you’re here. Thank you for surprising me.”
“I am happy to be here.” I leaned in and kissed her slowly on the mouth.
In the middle of it, her phone, which was sitting on top of the table, began to ring. She grabbed it and answered quickly. “Hello? Yes. Yes, ma’am. We’ll be right there.” She ended the call. “They’re here!”
She jumped up and I gathered both of our coffee cups and deposited them in the bin on our way out of the cafeteria. Our hands threaded together in the elevator and as walked out of it and into the lobby.
Looking around; there were a several people in the lobby, but there was a couple, late middle age, maybe sixty or sixty-five, another woman about the same age and a younger one with long blonde hair, standing a few feet in front of the information desk, all of them looking around in search of something.
The man spotted us walking quickly toward them and touched his wife on the sleeve of her light blue dress and pointing in our direction. She quickly turned, her eyes widening but filling with tears. “Remi?” she asked, reaching out both of her hands.
Remi let go of mine and took hers. “Yes! I’m so glad to see you.” The two women hugged, and I glanced at the man. He had thinning hair that was dusted with silver and the woman had a short haircut. While her face showed age and worry, her hair was blonde and curly. I’d never seen Rory with a full head of hair, but what I saw was blonde with curls.
Both women were crying as I reached out to the man. “You must be Bill. I’m Dylan.”
“Yes,” he said. His voice was gruff, and he was dressed in worn jeans, T-shirt and a red, base-ball type hat with the words “Somerville Farm Supply” embroidered on the front. He took my hand and shook it. “This is my sister-in-law, Nancy and niece, Elizabeth.”
