“I thought this was behind us, but it appears it’s not,” Nora sighed. “Cindy,” Nora said as she surprised herself by putting her hand on Cindy’s shoulder, “the mistakes you and my husband made hurt me…they still hurt me…but don’t think that I don’t know it took a lot of courage for you to come here.”
“I know I’m not in the position to be asking you for any favors,” Cindy replied as her breath quickened nervously.
“You don’t have to ask,” Nora shook her head. She glanced at her husband. “He’s your son, Randy,” she said, her lips quivering. “If you can turn your back on him, you’re not the man I think you are.”
“And if I accept responsibility for him…is there still a chance for us?” Randy hesitated as if testing the words. “I can’t do this without you.”
“Good,” Nora sighed. “Because I need you, Randy. I have neither the energy nor the desire to fight with you. Grant’s sick …he’s really sick, and I don’t know what to do for him. I need you by my side. It’s how we have gotten through everything, Randy. It’s how we will get through our son’s illness, and it’s how…” Nora’s voice trailed off. She looked up, her mind resolute. “And it’s how we will get through raising our new baby.”
Nora reached for Cindy’s hand. “Come-on, you’ve been on your feet too long. You’re swelling up and probably starving too. We will get you somewhere comfortable to prop up and have a decent meal.”
Randy witnessed the manufactured yet genuine, upbeat enthusiasm so typical of the precious woman he loved. No matter how tired she was, she was always doing things for others, soldiering on no matter the circumstances, putting others’ needs ahead of her own. In this case, he knew that everything she was doing, she was doing for him.
When Randy was forced to reveal his news to Grant, Grant listened, then turned and vomited into the designated tray by his side.
“I love this kid right here; that was my sentiment too,” Joanna nodded.
Too sick to care, Grant looked at his father with weak eyes.
“There’s one more thing,” Randy said, his eyes falling on Joanna, Emily and Hailey, knowing that this last part would be news to them too.
Nora smiled as she attended to Grant, wiping his face with a damp cloth.
“Grant, we had the baby tested,” Randy said, strong emotions welling up in him. “He is a perfect match.”
“What?” Grant asked, stunned.
“Are you serious?” Joanna exclaimed.
“He’s a match?” Hailey cried as she reached for Grant’s hand. “Oh, Sweetheart, I can’t believe this!”
Grant looked as though he would throw up again. “I don’t want anything from Cindy,” he moaned, taking a clean bath cloth from his mother and draping it over his face.
“Grant,” Hailey sighed, “we aren’t talking birthday cards or Christmas presents here! We’re talking about saving your life! I don’t care who, what, when or why…no questions asked…all that matters is that you have the transplant you need…”
“I’m not in remission,” Grant gulped.
“But when you’re ready,” Emily shook her head. “Grant, this is great news!”
“We’ll find another donor,” Grant replied softly.
“Grant, this baby is your little brother,” Randy sighed.
“Sweetie, I know this is a lot of information to process,” Nora said, rubbing Grant’s arm, “but this is wonderful news! We can talk about it later when you aren’t feeling so nauseous.”
“Mom,” Grant insisted, “don’t do it…don’t defend him!”
“Shh,” Nora shook her head as she held Grant’s hand. “Grant, I want you to listen to me,” she said confidently. “This is okay with me…Mama is fine…this is great news!”
“No,” Grant shook his head on the verge of tears. “It can’t be okay because that’s like saying that what Dad did was okay.”
“No,” Nora shook her head empathetically. “Grant what Daddy did was wrong, and it hurt all of us so badly, but a part of loving someone is learning how to forgive. I have forgiven him, and now I’m asking you to do the same.”
Nora turned and reached for Randy’s hand. She glanced at Grant, smiled, and turned back to meet Randy’s eyes with a serious gaze before continuing. “I know God didn’t intend for you to be unfaithful to your marriage and hurt your family, but, ever since it happened, I have prayed that He would help me forgive you. He knows that I need you, and I think this miracle He has given us is a sign that we can make it through this.”
Under his breath, Grant whispered the scripture that came to mind. “‘For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’”
Hailey gently kissed Grant’s cheek.
“I’m really gonna have a little brother, huh?” Grant shook his head. “That just doesn’t seem possible.”
“Yeah,” Randy nodded as he stroked the top of Grant’s head. “You have a little brother, Grant; he’s a miracle, a blessing; he’s the perfect match we have prayed for, and, as soon as we can, we are going to replace your bad cells with his good ones…”
Grant raised his eyes to look at his father. “It won’t hurt him, will it?” he asked softly.
Nora shook her head as tears filled her eyes once again. “He won’t feel a thing, Baby,” she cried. “The doctors will be able to get everything they need from his umbilical cord the second he’s born.”
“So they won’t have to poke him with a bunch of needles, do a bunch of biopsies, spinal taps or anything on my account?” Grant clarified.
“No,” Randy shook his head as he patted Grant’s shoulder. “They promised us they would save all the fun stuff for you, Trooper.”
There was a long silence as Grant took a moment to take everything in.
“What ya thinkin’?” Nora asked as she caressed Grant’s arm.
“I’ve always been the little brother; I’ve never had one,” Grant smiled.
