Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“I want to be clear,” she said, her tablet pressed against her chest. “The next phase of testing is crucial, especially given Brynn’s antibody situation.” She glanced at me and continued, her tone cautiously optimistic. “But parents are often the best matches for a live donor other than twins, so I’m very hopeful.”
Knight asked more questions, but the clinical language washed over me. Though I’d tried my best to understand everything going on, I didn’t have a medical background, and I’d been so busy trying to give Brynn everything she needed or wanted, especially my time, I hadn’t picked up as much as I should have at this stage.
“We’ll schedule the additional testing for first thing tomorrow morning,” Dr. Patel said. “Mr. Leahy, I’ll need you here by seven AM. Try to get some rest tonight, both of you.” She glanced between us, her expression softening. “I know this is a lot to process. Do you have any questions for me right now?”
Knight looked at me, deferring to my experience with Brynn’s medical journey. I wanted to bark out a bitter laugh. I had so many fucking questions I didn’t know where to begin, but none of them were the sort Dr. Patel could answer. Most of them centered on the “why” of this whole thing. Why my Brynn? Why did something so simple as strep throat go so horribly wrong? I shook my head. “Not right now. Thank you, Dr. Patel.”
She nodded and walked away, her white coat billowing behind her. Knight and I stood in momentary silence. Our earlier confrontation remained unresolved, but alongside it now grew something else. A tendril of cautious hope.
Knight shifted slightly, not letting me go. I didn’t want him to and loathed the fact I needed to get back to Brynn. I wanted to stay in this little cocoon for just a few minutes longer. Then I immediately felt horrible. Brynn needed me. She was just a kid, despite her quick intelligence and resilience.
“We should tell Brynn, baby.”
“Yes.” My voice came out barely above a whisper. I cleared my throat before dropping my hands from his shirt and stepping back. “Just… let’s not build it up too much. I don’t want her disappointed if something goes wrong.”
He nodded, understanding without needing explanation. “I’ve got your back.”
I glanced up at him, studying the face that had once been as familiar as my own. The tattooed skin, the hardened eyes, the new lines that spoke of years I hadn’t witnessed. And yet, beneath it all, glimpses of my Rhys.
“This doesn’t fix everything between us,” I said quietly, needing to establish that boundary before we walked back into that room together.
“I know.” His response came without hesitation. “I’m not expecting it to.” He’d dropped his arms to his sides when I’d stepped away from him. I stared at the ink-covered, vein-roped, muscular arms bared by his short sleeves. I needed to remember this wasn’t my Rhys. This was Knight.
Some of the tension drained from my shoulders. “We need to work together. For Brynn.” I didn’t know if I spoke to him or myself. As much as I needed him here, as much as I wanted him with us, I had to remember we were both different people now.
“Anything for Brynn.” The conviction in his voice matched the feeling in my chest, this fierce, protective love that had defined my existence for eleven years and was only just beginning to shape his.
“Ada seems good with her,” Knight said as we approached Brynn’s room. “They hit it off.”
“She’s always had a way about her. I’m glad she came.”
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Ada’s my rock. She’s also the reason I found you.”
We paused outside Brynn’s door. Through the small window, I could see them still engrossed in conversation, Ada laughing at something Brynn said. My daughter’s face looked more animated than it had in months.
Knight’s hand hesitated near the door handle, his gaze meeting mine. “Ready?”
In this moment, standing outside our daughter’s hospital room, we found a fragile truce in the shared hope that Knight’s body contained exactly what Brynn needed to survive.
“I’m ready,” I said, and together we stepped inside Brynn’s hospital room.
Chapter Five
Knight
I shifted the backpack strap on my shoulder as I approached Brynn’s hospital room, the weight of the board games inside pulling against my shoulder. My gut tightened with each step. Games seemed like a pathetic peace offering after eleven years of absence, but I needed something to bridge the Grand Canyon-size gap between us. Through the small window in the door, I spotted her sitting up in bed, her midnight-blue hair a stark contrast against the sterile white pillow. Ada sat in a chair beside her, and both were reading silently. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.