“That’s a fine memorial,” Tom said. “Thank all three of you.”
Emily gazed at Ryan’s smiling picture. “This is a lovely memorial, and it means so much to Tom and me. Hopefully, we’ll get to visit the school and see this,” she said, smiling at the Nashes.
Tom turned to Polly. “Do you have a music class?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered politely. “I’m learning to play the violin and I take piano lessons. I like my books and I like my piano lessons,” she said, smiling.
“She has lots of friends at school, too,” Becky added.
“Have you ever been on a ranch?” Tom asked.
Polly shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
“Want to see the barn and the horses?”
She looked at her parents. “I think that’s a yes,” her dad said and stood. “I’ll go with you and we’ll look a little.” He held out his hand and Polly took it. It reminded Emily of how she used to hold Ryan’s hand, and she felt a tug on her heart.
Tom walked out with them, sounding friendly and cheerful, telling Polly about the ranch, but Emily wondered what his cheer was costing him.
“She’s a sweet little girl,” Becky said. “And I can’t say enough how thankful we are—you’ve given our little girl life,” she said, getting tears in her eyes. “That memorial is just a token gesture. We’re looking into a college scholarship. Whatever we do, you’ll be notified. We wanted to come here to show our gratitude in person.”
“We’re thrilled that Ryan’s heart is giving her life,” Emily said.
“I pray for you and your husband every day, and I give thanks that we are blessed to have our little girl. We just owe all of that to you and your husband.”
“It’s a miracle of science, and I’m thrilled we could help. Polly seems so sweet and bright.”
Emily sat and talked to Becky until the others came back, Polly skipping ahead of the men. Emily’s heart clutched again as she watched her.
After Polly told her mother about the three horses she had seen, Becky looked over Polly’s head at Emily. “We have a lot of miles and should go, but before we do, would you like to feel her heartbeat? We’ve talked to her about it and she knows where she got her heart and she’s happy for you to feel it beating.”
Emily stood and crossed the room. “Is it all right if I touch you, Polly?”
Polly smiled and nodded. Emily put her hand on Polly’s chest and felt the steady beat of the heart that had given life to her son. For an instant she experienced a renewed tie to her child. Tears filled her eyes.
Emily turned away, wiping at her tears. “Tom,” she said. He stood close, and she took his hand and placed it on Polly’s small chest.
“That’s part of Ryan,” he whispered and turned away. Becky wiped her eyes, too.
“We can never tell you what your gift has meant to us except that our Polly wouldn’t be here with us today if it hadn’t been for your Ryan. We’re sorry for your loss. We are so grateful for your gift of life for Polly.”
Emily looked into Polly’s hazel eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Polly, thank you. You share a special tie with our little baby. Thank you.” Emily moved away.
She and Tom went out with the Nashes to see them off. Standing on the drive waving as they drove off, Emily knew they would not see each other again.
Without waiting for Tom, she turned and went inside, walking to the kitchen to get a drink of water. She put her head in her hands and cried.
When she felt composed, she went back to the formal living room but found it empty. She walked out to the porch, but Tom was nowhere around. She looked at the guest cottage down the drive and saw no sign of him, but she suspected he was already there and she wouldn’t see him again today. She had seen Tom’s tears and knew he would be hurting badly.
Once again, she thought about her losses—of her son and her husband, the only man she had ever loved or ever would love. But he was as lost to her as Ryan. Next would come the divorce, and then she didn’t know if she would ever see him again.
She felt as if she was losing him for the second time, but this time, it would be permanent. She went to the bedroom where she was staying.
Soon Tom would be out of her life. She would have to make her own life.
She walked through the house to go upstairs and movement caught her eye. She realized Tom was outside in the back. He was standing on the patio, looking at the pool or the yard or something beyond him. She went out.
“I thought you had gone home.”