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“Nice to meet you all.”
“Everyone calls me Bethy,” the younger girl supplied. I guessed that she was around the same age as Remi and me.
“We apologize,” Josie Wagner said. “We didn’t know our daughter had a little girl. She hasn’t talked to us in four years.”
“Wow. I’m so sorry,” I said.
“I’m sorry, I tried to contact our daughter, but her phone has been disconnected.”
I sighed, knowing that now it was one less chance for Rory.
“It’s okay. Thank you for trying,” Remi told her.
“Can we see Rory now?” Mrs. Wagner asked, wiping away her tears with a tissue she pulled out of her purse, then offered a second to Remi, who took it gratefully.
Remi wiped her tears. “Yes, but let’s make sure to tell the nurse you are there to test for a marrow match. Then she can call the doctor and get the orders in process.”
“Of course, dear. Thank you so much for caring this much about our granddaughter.”
Remi laughed lightly. “You can’t help but love her when you meet her, you’ll see. But she is on meds that make her puff up so she’s not quite herself, and her hair has fallen out from the chemo.” She gestured toward the information desk to get them badges. “These are the grandparents of Rory—” she paused. “Wagner, in room 1082.” She looked at me and I knew what she was thinking. This was the first time we could know Rory’s last name. We didn’t know if her father even knew about her, but now, maybe we could find him, too.”
“Only two or three of you can go up at once,” the woman at the desk informed us. “And you have to wear masks.”
In our haste, even Remi and I had forgotten our masks after our coffee break. We all took them out of the box the receptionist indicated on the counter and put them on.
“Remi, you take Bill and Josie up first, and I’ll wait here with Nancy and Bethy.” I knew she’d want to introduce them to Rory first. I wished I could have been in the room to see her reaction, but rules were rules. I understood we had to be careful of infection.”
“Okay,” Remi turned and gave me a quick hug. “Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
As the three walked away toward the elevator bay, I turned to the other two women. “Would you like anything to eat or drink? There is a cafeteria, and it might be more comfortable than waiting here.”
“Not to state the obvious, but I can’t believe my cousin would do this,” Bethy huffed. I could hear the anger in her voice.
“Bethy,” her mother reprimanded.
“Well? I can’t! I hope she never comes back.”
“You don’t know her circumstances. God wouldn’t want us to be judgmental,” Nancy replied putting her hand on her daughter’s forearm.
“Maybe not, but I can’t understand, I just can’t!” Emotions elevated her voice, and it echoed through the high ceilings of the lobby.
I didn’t know if I should interject, but as we started toward the cafeteria, I couldn’t help it. “We felt the same way. Rory is so sweet, we struggled in the same way. Especially, Remi. She’s been with Rory for a couple of months because she is a volunteer at St. Jude and she’s going to medical school to be a childhood oncologist.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Nancy exclaimed. “Really? Josie mentioned on the way here that Remi is a survivor of the same type of leukemia, but nothing about her becoming a doctor.”
“Yes, she is, and it has inspired her career path. She went through the treatments Rory is suffering now, and they have a great bond.”
“Are you her boyfriend?” Bethy asked as we entered the cafeteria.
“We’re engaged.” It was the first time I’d actually said it aloud and it felt good.
“What’s the process?” Nancy wanted to know.
“I didn’t know Remi when she was sick, but from what I’ve learned you just get a blood test, then if one of you matches, Rory will be radiated to kill her bone marrow—”
“Oh my God!” Bethy exclaimed. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
