The Deadline (The Friessens: A New Beginning)

by Lorhainne Eckhart

  “Andy,” Neil added with warning. “You and Laura need to go up.”

  “I don’t want to see either of you here again. If I do, I’m calling security!” Andy shouted. He set his hand around Laura and moved her to the elevator, jabbing the button again until the doors opened. They stepped inside, and before the doors slid closed, Andy watched his cousin speaking to Tyler and his mother. No one looked happy.

  Chapter 28

  Andy couldn’t believe it as Doctor Siegel motioned him out of the Gabriel’s room. George Parnell was not a match. The results had just come in. Andy wanted to throw something, anything, across the room. He was just glad Laura had left with Candy to take the babies home. It gave him time to figure some things out with Neil, but he felt his world and his cozy family life crashing down around him.

  “We’re running out of time, Andy,” Siegel said. “I just tested after this last round of chemo, and we don’t need to do another one, but we’ve destroyed his immune system, so everyone needs to be gowned up. The babies can’t come here anymore, either. This is crucial. We’re working under a deadline, and there’s no suitable match in the donor bank.”

  Neil was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his green sweater. He turned and looked at the activity down the hall, then back at Andy and the doctor.

  Andy set his hands on the back of his head. “There was also Tyler’s mother. Was she tested?” he asked. He looked to the doctor, who shook his head. “I guess I burned that bridge.”

  “Possibly, but I’ll talk to her,” Neil said, continuing to survey the hall. “If she’s the loving, caring grandmother she insists she is, then she’d jump in, wouldn’t she?”

  “That leaves Laura’s mother and her brothers,” Andy said.

  “Make the calls. Get them all tested. We don’t have time to sit around for much longer,” Siegel said.

  “What if none of them are a match, then what?” Andy asked. He didn’t know how much more he could take before he lost it and started acting like the crazed madman he was beginning to feel he was.

  “We’re not there yet, so let’s not go there, okay?” the doctor said. He took them both in for a long moment before he left them standing outside Gabriel’s room. A nurse stepped out of the room shortly after, closing the door behind her and posting a sign that read, “Isolation.”

  “Gown up now before you go in,” she said. “Gowns are here. Put the soiled ones there. Wash your hands, too.” She pointed to a cart outside the door with stacked gowns and a bin for the soiled ones.

  “What’s next, do you think?” Andy said, sagging against the wall and wiping his face. He was so tired. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since this started. “I’ve worked a lot of deals in business and time-crunched a lot of deadlines, but this…something comes at us every time we turn around.”

  Neil paced in front of Andy. “I got you a lawyer, one of the best in family law. She’s on it now, but she did say that in order for you to adopt Gabriel, the legal father has to be deceased, have given up parental rights, or have abandoned the child. Since the first two don’t apply, she’s working with the last. It’ll be hard to prove, with Laura being so young, and Tyler, too, when it happened. The judges could be very forgiving, considering Laura didn’t push it and let Tyler know he had a son.”

  “You have to be kidding me!” Andy said. “He shut the door in her face. If that’s not telling a chick to get lost and that you’ve abandoned them, I don’t know what is.”

  “She knows. She’s using that,” Neil said.

  “She…so this is a woman lawyer?” Andy said. He wasn’t sure about that. For some reason, he’d always thought sharp lawyers were men.

  “Yeah, I got you the best. It’s quite a process. There’s a social worker who does a home study, investigates your background. Gives you that nice, warm, tingly feeling, doesn’t it?”

  “Seriously, she told you all that?” Andy was a little surprised at all the hoops he would have to jump through.

  “I knew most of this anyway. With Candy…you know we can’t have kids. I’ve been checking out our options for a while.” Neil looked away, as if he’d shared too much.

  “I hope it works out for you, Neil. You’ll make a great father to a kid who needs one.” Andy pushed away from the wall. “So what’s she going to do in the meantime for us, since it’s not likely adoption is going to happen overnight?”

  “No, it’s not. In the meantime, we have to save Gabriel’s life. I’ll talk to Tyler’s mom—you get Laura’s brothers and mother.”

  Andy watched as Neil walked away. He turned into the lounge, sifting through the numbers on his cell phone, stopping on a missed text from Laura’s brother.

  How’s my nephew? How’s my sister?

  Andy texted back: Gabriel’s not good. Need your help.

  He waited a minute, and the phone pinged.

  Whatever you need, I’ll do it. Say hi to Laura.

  Andy messaged back and then phoned the doctor, who answered on the first ring. “Can you arrange another test at the same hospital for two more from Laura’s family, her brothers?”

  “Absolutely, just make sure the parents have given their signed consent for the boys,” the doctor said.

  “All right,” Andy replied, knowing he should feel guilty for his omission. Whatever repercussions came from this, he’d deal with them at another time. If Brian or Chad was a match, he’d move heaven and earth to make sure they got the sample.

  Chapter 29

  “They have a match? Are you kidding me?” Laura was walking in circles in her kitchen, Candy gesturing excitedly in the background. She had a light baby blanket tossed over her shoulder and was burping Jeremy. “Oh my God, Andy!”

  His deep chuckle on the other end of the phone was torture, because she wished he could be here so she could throw her arms around his shoulders, hugging him and kissing him and just breathing him in.

  “You did it, Andy,” she said. She was getting all choked up, and she hadn’t pictured this moment, what it would feel like. Everything had happened so fast, and even though this was what they wanted, it still felt as if it had come out of left field “So who’s the match?”

  “It’s Brian,” Andy replied.

  Laura glanced out the kitchen window at the pickup pulling in front of the house. She looked to the counter and took in the sight of the coffee pot, still filled with day-old coffee. “I’m stunned. I can’t believe Mom came around, Andy. I never would have believed it. How did you talk her into it? I mean, my mother is one of the hardest, most opinionated, stubborn people I’ve met. She’d rather go to the grave with a mistake than ever admit she was wrong,” she said. When Andy didn’t answer, Laura had an awful feeling she wouldn’t like what she was about to hear. “Andy?”

  He sighed on the other end. “She doesn’t know. Just let me handle it,” he said. He sounded frustrated.

  “How’s Gabriel doing?” she asked, still thinking of what to do, wondering if he was right that she should just let him handle it. She also couldn’t help but wonder how he thought he was going to get around her mother.

  “He’s getting through it. He’s one tough little kid. I can see how he’s fighting to hold it together, and he’s doing better than most grownups, but it’s rough. I just keep telling him it’s okay, it’s almost over, and he just nods. I’m not about to let him down. You understand?”

  “I love you, Andy. Whatever you have to do, you do it,” she said, and she hoped he understood. He was going against her mother, and that wasn’t good. To Laura, Sue Parnell was a stranger, and for the first time, Laura understood who her true family was: Andy, Gabriel, and the twins. They were her family, and they were all she’d dreamed of having, in an odd sort of way—just not like this.

  She held the disconnected phone and realized Candy was at the door, talking to someone. She set the phone down and strode out until she spotted Kim.

  “Hi, Kim, how are you?” she asked. For the first time, she wa
s genuinely happy to see her. Maybe she’d finally gotten a handle on that jealous streak of hers.

  Kim seemed a little surprised by her reaction but then offered a bright smile in return.

  “Kim was just asking how Gabriel’s doing,” Candy said. “Maybe you want to share?”

  Candy had such a lovely voice, and she was becoming more comfortable with the babies every day. She was a true friend, and she was family, too. If Laura could have had a sister, she would’ve wanted her to be like Candy.

  “We have a donor match. Andy just called,” Laura said. Her voice held some hesitation, and she wondered if either woman had picked it up. She’d love to have a word with Candy alone, and she wondered if Candy could see her guarded expression.

  “That’s wonderful, Laura,” Kim said. “That’s such good news. You must be relieved, as I understand that was the hardest part for you.”

  “Yeah, I am…now we just need to hope the transplant works and that my little boy stays in remission, cancer free.”

  It was such a long road to recovery, but she felt they were standing at a crossroads now, and Andy would do everything in his power to see that they kept going. God help whoever might stand in their way. This was maybe the first time Laura had ever been glad her husband was who he was.

  “Well, my prayers are with you. I just wanted to stop by and see if there was anything I could do. Ladystar is doing well, though. She’s developed quite the friendship with my twelve-year-old Paint.” Kim glanced over at Jeremy, propped on Candy’s shoulder. “Hey there, you cutie-pie.” She rubbed his back, and Laura didn’t miss the longing look in her eyes. It was very sad and lonely, and then she stepped back. “Well, I should get going.” She pulled open the door.

  “Kim, I don’t know what Andy and I would have done if you hadn’t offered to look after Ladystar. I know he’ll be happy to hear she’s doing well,” Laura said.

  Kim just nodded and stepped out, closing the door.

  “You don’t have to be worried about her, you know,” Candy said as she wandered into the living room. Laura followed.

  “I know,” she replied. “It just took me a while to figure it out. Andy is…” She stopped and sighed, glancing away, but by the way Candy watched her with a knowing look, Laura knew she understood what she was trying to say. “He’s so difficult, arrogant, and strong willed. I didn’t think he’d ever let me in. He’s so proud, and I know he’ll never give in. I knew he cared for us, but to know he loves me and that he’s trying…I can be so insecure and stupid sometimes. When I met Kim, she was together and strong and capable. She could handle anything Andy could, and I felt incompetent.”

  “She’s not as together as you think,” Candy said. “None of us are, Laura. We all have our fears and things that hold us back. You just have to understand that some are better at hiding it. I also guarantee you that Kim may envy you and feel mighty self-conscious around you, as well.”

  Well, that had her stumped. Laura had never believed anyone could envy her.

  “You can see it in her eyes,” Candy said. “You have a husband who loves you so much he’d do anything, including walk through fire, for you and your children. You have three amazing kids, and I didn’t miss the longing when she looked at Jeremy. You have a beautiful home, this land, and you don’t have to worry anymore about how to keep a roof over your head and pay the bills.” Candy gave her an odd look and shrugged.

  Laura swallowed. She wondered how much Candy knew of her background.

  “I’ve been close to where you were,” Candy said. “When I met Neil, I had a lot of pride, so I understand. Sometimes we don’t know how to count our blessings.”

  Laura considered what Candy was saying. She had never stopped to appreciate all the good things in her life. “I guess with what happened to Gabriel, I didn’t even realize I’ve always seen the negative in things, wondering whether they could get any worse. Instead, I should be thankful Gabriel’s alive, that he has Andy, who loves him as if he were his own, and he’s going to beat this.”

  “Good girl. You just hold on to that,” Candy said, and Jeremy picked that moment to spit up.

  “Oh, sorry! Here, let me get him cleaned up.” Laura went to reach for him.

  “No, I’ve got him. Besides, he’s not as scary as I thought he’d be. I’m kind of having fun. Neil was right—just don’t tell him, please. I don’t want his head to swell more than it already has,” Candy said as she cuddled Jeremy. As she took him down the hall to his room, she whispered all kinds of things that had him cooing. Laura hoped that Candy and Neil would be lucky enough to find a child to love.

  Chapter 30

  It had come to the point that Andy could make the trips back and forth to the hospital in his sleep. After a week of holding his child, worrying, getting through each day, and fighting his bone-tired weariness, he had to remind himself there was a light at the end of the tunnel. There was a lot riding on this transplant, and he shoved all the gigantic hurdles that kept flooding his mind away. He didn’t have the luxury of allowing himself to get dragged down into any of these details.

  He knew he’d done some things that could land him in a lot of hot water. Brian had texted him after the bone marrow aspiration was taken from his hip, and Andy had made sure a driver was waiting to take him home after the procedure. It had been tricky, with all the lying and sneaking around, but Sue Parnell wasn’t about to offer consent, and Brian, after several long conversations with Andy, had convinced him that telling his dad was the same as inviting his mother in to put a stop to everything, so Andy had gone along with a seventeen-year-old who was determined to play the hero.

  Since Doctor Siegel had made all the arrangements and Andy had ensured the medical costs were covered, no one had questioned the fact that Brian was a minor. Five days ago, Andy had looked Doctor Siegel in the eye when he asked if Brian was over eighteen, and he’d said yes. Of course, the doctor had been ecstatic, reminding Andy that good things happen and the ideal age for a transplant donor was between eighteen and twenty-four. He had also reminded Andy that over seventy percent of those waiting for a transplant never got the right match.

  Andy wasn’t proud of what he’d done, but he also wasn’t about to hire a lawyer and wait for a court date over this, as the legal process could be dragged out until it was too late. Even though Brian had said he would do anything, Andy somehow didn’t think Brian understood the emotional shit he might have had to go through in court, further dividing his family. This way was better, easier, so why did he feel as if something bad was coming his way?

  “You ready?” Neil slid his hand over Andy’s shoulder from where he stood outside Gabriel’s room, taking a minute and just watching the hall as if waiting for something he couldn’t explain.

  “Wish they’d hurry up and get this done,” he said, feeling a little choked up. He blew out a breath roughly. “How’s he doing in there?”

  “Laura’s reading to him. He’s doing better than you.” Neil grabbed a spot right beside him and leaned against the wall.

  “I can’t shake this feeling, Neil, that something’s going to go wrong, like maybe I’m paying for every bad thing I’ve done.”

  “Hey, don’t start looking for trouble. You did what you had to. Don’t start getting all noble on me now.” He tapped Andy on the arm. “Hey, look, there’s the doctor.”

  Doctor Siegel was wearing light green scrubs and was approaching fast. He stopped at the nurses’ station, grabbing a chart and flipping through it. Whatever he was reading, he seemed satisfied, and he continued over to Andy. “We’re ready to get going,” he said. “They’ll bring him down, and one of you can come down with him, but not into where we do the procedure. It won’t take long, so take a breath, go get some coffee. You’ve come this far, and this is a good match.” He patted Andy’s shoulder.

  Andy glanced over at Neil when the doctor walked away. “Okay, maybe you’re right,” he said. “I’m just tired, so I see problems around every corner.”


  “Listen,” Neil said. “Tonight, I’ll stay with Gabriel. You go home with Laura and get a good night’s sleep. You’ve been here day and night since Gabriel got sick.”

  Right about now, Andy wished he could think as clearly as Neil. He could use some sleep, but he didn’t want to leave Gabriel, and he’d seen the way it tore Laura up, having to leave him every night. “All right, you’re on,” he said. “If Gabriel is doing good after the transplant, I’ll go home tonight. Thanks, Neil.”

  Two gowned-up orderlies and a nurse went into Gabriel’s room. Andy and Neil both grabbed a gown and followed. Laura was sitting on the bed with Gabriel, and she locked eyes with Andy.

  “Okay, Mister Gabriel, we’re going to take you down,” one of the nurses said. She had a grandmotherly way about her, and she was the nurse Gabriel really liked.

  Laura slid off the bed. “Can I go down with him?”

  “You can walk down with him, but you can’t stay while we do the procedure,” the nurse said.

  For the first time, Andy didn’t want to be the one walking him down. He needed to be watching, standing guard to make sure this whole thing happened, and then he could relax. He couldn’t tell Laura, so he stepped to the foot of the bed and touched Gabriel’s leg. “Hey, bud, we’re almost there. They’re going to take you down and make you all better, just like we talked about.”

  “So then I can come home?” Gabriel said in a hopeful voice.

  “Then you can come home,” Andy said. He’d make sure of it.

  Andy waited with Neil in Gabriel’s room after they’d taken his boy down, and he let out a breath he’d didn’t know he’d been holding, releasing the knots in his back and shoulders. Neil phoned Candy, and Andy noticed the big grin plastered on his face as he spoke to his wife.

  When he hung up, he was still grinning. “The twins are good,” Neil said. “Candy is having so much fun with them. I knew she’d come around. She was so nervous and worried about breaking them at first. She’s never held a baby.”