She grabbed the phone. “Doctor Casey, good morning. You’re calling early.”
“I’m sorry to wake you, Emilia, but you wanted to know if…there were any changes.”
“What is it?”
“She’s in the hospital, and I’m not sure how much we can do for her.”
“I’ll come right away.” Emilia leapt out of bed.
Hawke was already up. “What happened? Why did the doctor call?”
“It’s Asha. She’s in the hospital with an infection,” Emilia said. “She won’t be able to survive a prolonged recovery.”
Hawke was beside her. He put his hands on her shoulders then frowned. “That sounds bad. Do you think Asha will make it?”
Emilia choked up. “I just don’t know.” She rifled through the closet and grabbed the first item she found to wear. “I have to see her, let her know…” Tears filled her eyes. “Tell her something that’s encouraging. She’s a child, but she knows that she’s very ill.”
“I’m going with you.” Hawke was in jeans and a shirt. “I’ll drive.”
Emilia didn’t argue. It would be better to have Hawke with her. She didn’t know what was ahead and dreaded the outcome. As soon as she was in the Jeep, she called the lab to leave a message for Mac that she wouldn’t be in that morning due to an emergency.
The drive to the hospital seemed interminably long. The doctor wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t urgent. There wasn’t a moment to waste. Emilia felt so helpless showing up without the precious medicine—yet that couldn’t be helped.
Hawke drove without talking or asking questions. Emilia was grateful for that. When the hospital came into view, she expelled a breath. Until she talked to the doctor, there was no way to know the full nature of Asha’s condition.
The children’s hospital was a massive stone and concrete building. It was otherwise fairly nondescript, and inside had the sterile feel that all medical institutions were known for. There was some color on the walls and youthful murals to make it more friendly to the sick children.
Emilia knew her way around, since she’d visited before. It wasn’t the first crisis that had required emergency care, but the doctor’s tone had suggested it was worse this time. She had a bond with the doctor, a woman who was willing to go above and beyond, to save the life of a child.
With the parents’ approval, Doctor Casey had agreed to administer the new medicine once it was ready. The entire process of obtaining legal authority to go ahead—plus the parents and doctor agreeing to the untested treatment—were major hurdles.
Emilia spotted the doctor at the nurses’ station. Doctor Casey was in her late thirties, so had a more innovative approach to medicine than some. Her straight brown hair dusted the collar of her white coat, and she had a stethoscope around her neck.
When Emilia approached, the doctor looked up from her clipboard. “Thank you for coming. Let’s go in here to talk.” She went to a room with empty beds then paused.
“This is Hawke; he’s a close friend and has been helping me.” The doctor seemed to understand, and Emilia knew that she trusted her judgment.
“Asha was brought in very early this morning,” the doctor said. “The infection came on strong, and I’m trying to get it under control.”
“How is she?” Emilia said, and held her breath.
The doctor shook her head. “There’s only so much I can do for her, as you know. We’re keeping the fever down and giving her something for the discomfort. But I just don’t know. I’m not sure how much her small body can endure.”
Hawke said, “For this type of disease, is a bone marrow transplant possible?” He must have remembered the disease from when Emilia’s sister had been diagnosed, so long ago. Even then, he’d been a close friend and cared enough to understand what was happening.
The doctor held the clipboard to her chest. She spoke in a professional tone, but her brown eyes revealed sadness. “I’m afraid not. For this disease, which is rare in children, there is no cure.” She looked at Emilia. “I’m limited in what I can do for her, and then it comes down to making her as comfortable as possible.”
The question didn’t need to be asked. “I’m frustrated that the FDA approval hasn’t come through yet,” Emilia said. “We should have had an answer by now.”
“I saw the media splash in the scientific communities. I don’t see how the agency could have missed it.” When Emilia didn’t respond, Doctor Casey said, “Do you think that has caused a delay?”
“It could have,” Emilia said. “The agency would want to check it out before giving approval, if the media stirred doubts. My boss sent a supplemental report after the public accusations but hasn’t received a reply—not even an acknowledgment that the follow-up report was received.”
Doctor Casey sighed. “I don’t know…we might be out of time here.”
Emilia just looked at her.
“Do you have any idea how long she has?” Hawke said.
“It’s difficult to predict,” Doctor Casey said. “She could last another week or so, if we can control the infection. Or…she might not last through another night.”
Emilia swallowed hard. “May I see her?”
“Yes, of course,” Doctor Casey said. “She’s been asking for you.”
Emilia’s heart was breaking. She took Hawke down the hall to the waiting room. “I want to let her parents know that I’m here, and you can meet them.”
There were several people in the waiting room, reading magazines or drinking coffee from Styrofoam cups. A middle-aged couple rose and came over. The woman was petite, with blond hair and blue eyes. Her husband, a tall man with dark hair, had his arm around her.
“Suzanne…Mark.” The couple managed a tight smile, though they were obviously worried. Emilia hugged each of them. “I’m so sorry to hear about the sudden infection.” Then she motioned with her hand. “This is my good friend Hawke.”
Hawke shook hands with Mark then nodded at his wife. “I’m here to offer any support I’m able to. I can only imagine what you must be going through.”
“Is she awake? Would it be all right if we visit?” Emilia said. “I promise we won’t stay long.”
“Please do,” Suzanne said. “She’s been asking for you. You’re so good to her, and you’ll brighten her spirits. The nurse asked us to wait while she checked her vitals and did a couple of tests. But you can probably go in now.”
Emilia squeezed her hand. “I am doing all I can to get the medicine for her.” She didn’t know what else to say.
Suzanne hugged her. “I know you are. We haven’t lost hope.” The pleading look in her eyes ripped Emilia apart.
At the door to the room, Hawke said, “You go in first. I’ll let you talk with her. I have one quick thing to do, then I’ll be in.”
Emilia went in to find Asha reading a picture book. The room looked so lonely, all monitors and wires. Asha tossed the book aside and opened her arms. “Emilia!”
She looked so tiny in the bed, thin and frail from her disease. Her sky-blue eyes widened at the sight of her visitor. Her skin was pale with red splotches, likely from the fever.
“Asha!” Emilia rushed over and gave her a big hug, taking care to be gentle.
“I like that you call me that.”
“It’s because you’re special,” Emilia said. “Am I interrupting your reading?”
Asha laughed. “No, I can read anytime. The nurse was poking at me for a while, but she left. Mommy and Daddy said that you might be too busy to visit.”
“Of course not,” Emilia said. “There isn’t anything that can keep me from you. I came as soon as your doctor called to tell me that you aren’t feeling well.”
“I’m better now,” Asha said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m always better when you visit me. Sometimes my friends don’t play with me, because I can’t do the stuff they can.”
“That’s because you are a very special girl,” Emilia said. “May I join you?”
Asha giggl
ed. “Sure, it’s a big bed.”
The bed sagged when Emilia sat down; she took Asha’s hand. “I heard you had a rough night.”
“It’s happened before,” Asha said. “I’m used to it.” The young girl was so brave and had endured more than she should have by the age of six.
“You’re strong; I know that.” Emilia squeezed her hand. “I want you to get better.”
Asha frowned, and a tiny wrinkle formed in her forehead. “I’m not so sure. My parents seem sadder than they usually do. And the doctor is more serious.”
“You are a very smart little girl,” Emilia said. “But don’t let them fool you. They worry because they love you. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get better.”
“Mommy says that you’re still trying to get medicine for me,” Asha said. “Will it make me well?”
“That’s the idea, sweetheart. I want to bring it to you more than anything,” Emilia said. “I have to get permission, and I’m working on it.”
“Don’t those people know how sick I am?”
“Yes, they do.” Emilia held back tears, as she didn’t want to add to Asha’s concern. “I’ve made it very clear that I intend to bring you the medicine the instant I’m allowed to, and that it’s very, very important.”
Asha looked at her with trust that could only be found in a child’s eyes. “You’re my friend. I know you will make them say it’s okay.”
Then the door opened, and Hawke stepped in. Asha’s eyes widened. “You aren’t dressed like a doctor.”
Emilia smiled. “This is Hawke. He’s a good friend of mine. We were friends when we were still in school like you are.”
“Hello, Hawke.” Asha’s eyes went to what he had in his hand. “You play with dolls?”
Hawke laughed. “Certainly not.” He walked over to the bed. “But I found this beauty in the gift shop downstairs, and she was very lonely. She needs a friend, so I thought maybe you could help her out.”
Asha beamed. “She’s for me?” She held her arms out, and Hawke gave her the doll. It was a soft fabric doll with yellow rag hair and a pink dress with green flowers. “I love her!”
Hawke looked at the young girl, and his eyes were moist. Emilia took his hand. “What’s the doll’s name?”
Asha smiled. “It’s right here on the tag. It says Dotty. I like that name.” She hugged the doll to her chest. “It’s not as good as Asha, but she’s special too.”
“Yes, she most certainly is.” Emilia stayed for a while to keep Asha company. It had to be awful to be so young and be in a hospital bed.
Hawke talked to Asha about all kinds of things, from favorite ice cream flavors to riding a carousel. He appeared to enjoy teasing, playing, and making her giggle. “I like your friend, Hawke. He makes me laugh,” Asha said.
The nurse came in to give Asha a pill. “How are you feeling, honey?”
“I have a doll,” Asha said, lifting Dotty for the nurse to see.
“She’s beautiful.” The nurse checked Asha’s pulse, then said to Emilia, “She’ll need to rest for a while now.”
Emilia kissed Asha’s cheek, then Dotty’s. “You girls take care of yourselves.”
“Will you come back to see me?”
“You can count on it,” Emilia said.
“Bye, Hawke. You can come back too.”
“I’d be honored,” Hawke said, then patted her leg. “And I’ll need to check on Dotty.”
Asha grinned. “I’ll take care of her. You don’t have to worry.”
Emilia left and walked down the hallway with Hawke’s arm around her. She wanted to sob, yet held back her tears. If Asha could be so brave, she certainly wasn’t going to break down.
It had touched her heart to see Hawke interact with Asha, and it struck her that he would make a wonderful father. She marveled at his goodness and his thoughtfulness in bringing Asha a gift. Whatever he may think of himself, Emilia had seen his true self.
She tried to push aside thoughts of marrying Hawke and having a family. He hadn’t proposed and wasn’t likely to. She wasn’t sure how long he’d be around. And if he did make any commitment to her, she’d be terrified that it would end.
Hurtful memories of her broken engagement filled her thoughts. And though she didn’t care about that anymore, a more horrible thought came to mind. She had recovered from the breakup with a man she hadn’t truly loved.
If Hawke made a vow of love, she wouldn’t turn away—yet what if the same thing happened? What if she welcomed love with open arms, only to be crushed? And if this time it was Hawke…
Emilia wouldn’t be able to take it. To have Hawke only to lose him would destroy her. She would be devastated and unable to keep her heart in one piece. That just couldn’t be allowed to happen. It was unlikely anyway, since Hawke had been firm about not wanting a permanent relationship.
Once outside, Hawke took her hand. “Are you okay? I know that was rough for you.”
Emilia leaned against him, then he put his arms around her. “I can’t accept that Asha might not make it. I have to do something.” She looked into Hawke’s stormy blue eyes. “But I just don’t know what.” She couldn’t let Asha die. There had to be a way—yet time was running out.
Chapter 14
Emilia didn’t arrive at the lab until after lunch. She briefed her boss on the situation, and he agreed to contact the FDA—although he didn’t know what good it would do. There was no way to put pressure on the organization. He’d already stressed that time was of the essence.
When she told Grigori, he looked as grim as she felt. “We have a chance to save a life,” he said. “Isn’t that what we’re here for?”
The question only made her feel more helpless. It was impossible dealing with an amorphous government entity—it wasn’t real, didn’t have a heart. Waiting was torture, and further delay could have a high price.
Yet Doctor Casey couldn’t proceed until the lab had successfully lobbied for approval. A drug act passed in the eighties encouraged the development of medicines for rare diseases. It allowed seven years of exclusivity for drugs that treated a rare disease—meaning one that affected less than two hundred thousand people.
Previously, pharmaceutical companies wouldn’t allocate resources to the development of such a drug, because of limited financial gain. The FDA approval of a rare treatment was a completely different matter, since a priority review voucher came with any such approval.
That was considered the golden ticket in the pharmaceutical world, as it provided financial incentive to develop a drug that may only help a few, but it also provided the opportunity to fast-track a different drug for the masses—one with potential for big profits.
With financial gain as incentive, Emilia had thought the approval process would be quicker. Surely, the pharmaceutical companies would snap up a chance to develop drugs under the umbrella of a voucher. She’d heard of such vouchers selling for over three hundred million dollars.
The financial rewards of such things didn’t interest her, but those incentives were important. It was a method to gain support for cures of rare diseases, a way to save lives. And in this case, it could be the way to rescue Asha before her disease wiped out any hope of living past childhood.
Emilia had other tasks in the lab, so there was no lack of work. Yet it was Asha’s project that had captured her heart and soul. During the afternoon, she repeated tests, affirming what she already knew. Once the government gave the green light, the medicine had a very good chance of saving the little girl’s life.
That night Hawke worked late, as client demands were high in his business. He was a key part of his team and had already spent too much time away. Yet he assured her of his ongoing attention to her situation, that she had the support and expertise of Black Swan.
By midweek, the situation took a turn for the worse. The wire services had picked up the story from social media. The false news spread like wildfire, creating another setback. It was clear that someone was making eve
ry effort to block her success.
The news services ended each report with one question: should the project be halted? Emilia was irate, due to the underhanded tactic of using children as leverage. Asha’s identity wasn’t publicly known, so one disaster was avoided—since there were no photos of her.
But the reporters hadn’t been held back by such trivial matters. Instead, photos of other innocent, unnamed children were flashed on the screen, implying that allowing a dangerous medicine to be tested risked young lives.
Emilia hadn’t heard from Hawke that day, which wasn’t unusual. He was busy and there wasn’t much he could do about the ruthlessness of the media. She sent a text to let him know that she’d see him at home later. That had a nice sound to it.
She was getting too used to the living arrangements, but she’d better not assume that would continue. It was an issue for her, but she’d have to consider it later. There were other, more important things that required her attention.
Tia agreed to have dinner with her. The habit of going out to a Saturday breakfast wouldn’t work, because the weekends were for Hawke—a development that Tia was in favor of. It was only Wednesday, so it would be convenient to meet after work. It would be good to have a chance to talk with someone who understood the situation.
Emilia met Tia at the same sports bar as before. It was one of their favorites, and the waterfront was easy to get to. Emilia arrived first and got a table, then ordered the rum drinks. She was stressed, and unsure that the alcohol would chill her out.
Tia arrived in a fitted peach suit with a string of pearls around her neck. Her black hair fell in waves over her shoulders. She strode over, confidently balanced in her white heels. After dumping her purse on the table, she took a seat.
“Meetings today?” Emilia said.
“What gave me away? Although I do like this suit, and don’t have that much chance to wear it.”
“It looks especially good with the bronze eye shadow.”
Tia lifted her glass. “Thanks for ordering for me. I’m ready for this.” She took a sip.
Hawke Page 12