Just then a nurse came through the door and checked on the other patient in the first bed. Then she came around the curtain that separated the beds.
“She’s had a real good night so far, Ms. Wells. Ate most of her dinner, too.” The nurse checked her IV bag.
“That’s great, Mary. Any nausea?”
“Some, but that’s to be expected. Is this our donor?” Mary asked.
Angel turned to Cole. “Yes. He’s the one.”
“It’s a good day. A real good day,” Mary said. “We’re all real glad you’re here, sir.”
She headed out the door.
Angel sat on the bed next to her daughter. “Melissa, this is a friend of Mommy’s. He came all the way from California just to see you.”
Melissa’s wide eyes looked over at him.
Cole looked at his daughter. “Hi, sweetie.”
She just stared at him.
“I hope you feel better real soon, okay?” he said, reaching down to rub her little hand.
She nodded, and her eyes looked sleepy.
Angel reached down and kissed her forehead. She dropped off to sleep. Angel sat with her, rubbing her hand over the soft hair on top of Melissa’s head.
Cole could see the love she felt. He looked again at the sick little girl lying in the bed. His daughter. His eyes started to fill with tears. He walked out of the room.
There were fifteen more minutes until visiting hours were over, and Angel stayed with Melissa until they were up. Then she stepped quietly out of the room.
Cole was leaning against the wall, just outside the door.
“You okay?” she asked. He looked over at her, and she saw the torment in his eyes. He shook his head.
“I don’t know what I expected. She looks so weak and helpless.”
“The leukemia is in remission from the chemotherapy. That’s why she’s okay to have the transplant now. But part of the conditioning or preparative regime for the transplant is that she has had to go through several days of chemo to make room for new marrow. The dosages are stronger, and they are really kicking her little butt. She’s really weak right now, and it’s also making her irritable and nauseated. The catheter you saw? It’s the central venous line they inserted into a vein in her chest just above her heart to administer her meds and blood, if they need to. Tomorrow the marrow will be infused intravenously just like blood, right there in her room.”
He stared at her, amazed. “How do you do it?”
She shrugged. “I do what I have to. I don’t have a choice. I’m all she’s got.”
“No.” Cole shook his head. “Not anymore.”
Angel lost it then. She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Her face crumpled. He pulled her into his arms.
“Not anymore,” she choked out, her face buried in his chest.
***
They drove back to the house. Neither one of them said much on the way. Angel pulled into the drive and parked. She turned the engine off and sat.
Cole looked over at her.
“I just want you to know how much I appreciate you doing this for her,” she said, reaching over and touching his hand.
He looked down at their hands. “Of course. She’s my daughter.”
She nodded. “I know. But there are men who wouldn’t have.”
He raised his eyes to hers. “I’d have done it for you, even if she wasn’t mine.”
She closed her eyes, and then turned and got out.
He followed her inside.
“Come on.” She led him into the kitchen. “Sit.”
He sat. A minute later she set a piece of pie and a glass of milk in front of him.
“Thanks.” He looked up at her.
She got her own and sat next to him.
He took a bite and looked over at her. “Not bad,” he commented.
She smiled, a suspicious look in her eye. “Did Natalie tell you I made this?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t. She did.”