Nathan pulled her close. “No, you don’t. You hold on as long as you can.”
She pushed back. “Nathan, we both know that isn’t helping him. You were right with Daniel. Children don’t always know. They don’t want to hurt us by leaving. You’ve been right about all of it. About Brian being disappointed in me because I made Cody my whole life. He’s just a little boy. He never deserved such a big burden.”
“Kerri.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I have to tell him. If I don’t, he’ll just suffer more. And for what? Because I’m too weak and selfish to do the right thing? I’m better than that and he deserves more than that.”
“God, I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she told him. “Talk about bad timing.”
He nodded, then took her hand. “Whatever you want to do.”
She led the way back to her son’s room. Outside, in the hallway, she dug deep for strength, for faith. She let the love wash over her, straightening her spine and giving her the words that needed to be said. Then she walked inside.
But Cody wasn’t alone. Dr. Wallace stood beside him, injecting several vials into the IV hookup.
“It’s the enzymes,” he said as he worked frantically. “I knew it was there. They’re like a switch we’ll turn off. We had the solution yesterday, but there was a mistake in the equation. I realized that this morning. I dreamed about it. When I awoke, I knew what was wrong.”
He handed Kerri the empty vials. “It is time to pray. We’ll know in twenty-four hours if I’m right. The progression of the disease should stop by then. Then we work on strengthening his body again. A long journey, but a hopeful one. If we can make it through the next day.”
THE SUMMER SUN WARMED the air. Nathan waited in the open foyer of the Portland, Oregon, residential facility. If he ignored the bars across the windows, he could almost convince himself he was in a four-star hotel.
It had been two weeks since Frankie had arrived here. Two weeks with only brief reports telling him she was doing better. But he hadn’t spoken to her and now, as the far door opened, he braced himself.
For a moment, he nearly didn’t recognize her. Gone was the long, dark hair and the haunted eyes. Instead a petite young woman with short hair and flushed cheeks walked toward him. The frumpy, ill-fitting clothes had been replaced by a pretty summer dress. Even more unexpected…she was smiling.
“You look shocked,” she said as she approached. “It’s the haircut, isn’t it? I told them to warn you. There’s a beauty salon here, along with a boutique. It’s very upscale. I guess if you’re going to be crazy, it’s best to be rich. I should warn you, I’ve been charging up a storm. You’re probably going to have to cut me off to teach me a lesson.”
“Frankie?”
“Want me to start counting to prove it?”
Impulsively, he reached for her, then stopped himself. Her smile twisted slightly as she took a little step to the side.
“I can’t hug yet,” she told him, tucking her hands behind her. “I want to, but the touching thing is still weird. The drugs are helping, though. The doctors would say it’s more about the therapy, but I like the pills. They’re easier. Swallowing is a whole lot faster than cognitive behavior therapy.”
“I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. “I didn’t know what to expect.”
“The good news is I’m not frothing at the mouth.”
This was the sister he remembered. The bright, funny girl who had her whole life in front of her.
“You want to go for a walk?” he asked. “Do they let you outside?”
“On a leash.” She smiled tentatively. “Yes, I’d like to go for a walk.”
They went out into the sunshine.
“It’s pretty here,” she said. “I thought it would be horrible, but it isn’t.”
“I’m glad. I was worried.”
“Don’t be. It’s helping. I can feel it. I’m still not where I need to be, but I get flashes of hope.”
He wanted her to promise that she would be all right. He wanted to know he hadn’t lost her forever.
“Hope’s a good thing,” he said.
She paused by a long row of roses. “Nathan, I’m really sorry about what I did. I never meant to hurt your friend. What I did was so horrible.”
“Don’t,” he told her. “It’s my fault. You were right about everything. I did take the easy way out. I left you to handle the worst experience of your life by yourself. You were so young. I should have been there for you and I wasn’t. I’m ashamed of myself. I would give anything to go back and change that.”
She nodded slowly without looking at him. “Me, too. I have a lot of anger built up inside. I’m just starting to look at it. Damn therapy.” She raised her head. “I don’t blame you. Not really. You got out and I don’t regret that. One of us should have escaped.”
“I wish it had been you.”
“I doubt I would have made billions.”
“It’s not about the money.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you said that. I’ll keep shopping.”
Her humor only made him feel worse. “I want to fix things.”
“As you don’t have a professional degree, I don’t see that happening. Being there helps. Telling me you want us to have a relationship helps. Time will help.”
“You’re not going to cut me out of your life?” he asked. “It’s what I deserve.”
“That would be the easy way out, big brother. You’re going to be stuck with me forever.”
“I’m glad,” he said, and meant it.
They continued walking along the path.
“How are things going with you?” she asked. “How’s Kerri’s son?”
“Doing well,” Nathan said, still amazed by the boy’s spectacular recovery. “Dr. Wallace found a cure. Cody’s getting stronger by the day. He’ll be out of the hospital tomorrow and should be back in school within a few months. If all goes well, he’ll get a chance at a normal life. He’ll always need to be careful and take medication, but compared with what he’s been through, that’s easy.”
Frankie smiled. “Really? Wow. That’s incredible. You must be…” Her smile faded. “Is it okay? Does it make you sad about Daniel?”
“Sometimes. I wish he could have been saved, too. I miss him.”
“So do I. I always loved him a lot. Paige was another matter. What were you thinking?”
Nathan chuckled. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Men can be such idiots.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“You’re welcome. Kerri seems nice.”
“She is.”
“You going to marry her?”
“If she’ll have me.”
Frankie stopped. “She will. Would you mind waiting until I’m out? So I can come to the wedding?”
“We’d both like that.”
“Good.”
They started walking again. She touched one of the roses. “I’m sorry about the tower.”
“Don’t be.”
“Are you going to appeal?”
“No. I’ll find something else.”
She lightly touched his arm. “I love you, Nathan. Thank you for helping me.”
“I love you, too.” He grimaced. “I keep wanting to apologize for being such a selfish bastard.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. Based on what I’ve told them about you, they’re planning extra sessions.” She smiled.
THE WELCOME HOME BANNER was the size of an aircraft carrier. Kerri had ordered a big cake with the sweet, sticky frosting that Cody liked so much and later Nathan would pick up fried chicken. There were balloons and streamers and a wrapped box containing a new pair of athletic shoes, the theory being that now Cody could actually walk enough to wear out a pair.
She stood at the top of the porch stairs, waiting for Nathan to arrive so they could go to the hospital to pick up Cody.
It was a perfect day, she thought,
ignoring the light rain and clouds. No matter what happened in the rest of her life, she would always have this moment to get her through. There’d been a miracle. What more could she ask for?
Then the limo pulled up in front of her house and Nathan stepped out. She raced toward him and jumped into his arms.
He pulled her against him and they spun together, laughing, kissing, touching. She never wanted to let go.
“I love you,” he told her.
“I love you more.”
“Not possible.”
“Want to bet?”
He kissed her again, slowly, passionately, lingering, then stared into her eyes.
“Marry me,” he said. “Marry me, Kerri. I love you and Cody and I want us to be together always. Like a family.”
She’d never thought she could be this happy. It was as if she could float up and touch the sky.
“Marry me. I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
“You already do.” She kissed him.
He nipped at her lower lip. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s an absolutely.”
EPILOGUE
THE NEW SPORTS COMPLEX in Songwood boasted a state-of-the-art multipurpose arena, a football field and a baseball stadium. Currently, the youth league team baseball playoffs were in their second-to-last game.
Kerri took the soda Nathan passed her and looked longingly at his grande latte. Unfortunately, she had two months until she was due and the doctor had been very clear about her avoiding caffeine while she was pregnant.
“Did I miss anything?” Nathan asked as he passed her the slice of pizza she’d sent him to get. Her cravings were nothing if not consistent.
“Cody’s up next. I know he’s gonna hit it out of the park.”
Nathan put his arm around her as they both watched the twelve-year-old boy step up to the plate.
He’d grown so much, Kerri thought, delighted and relieved. Thanks to Dr. Wallace’s miracle, her son was living a relatively normal life. He wore braces on his legs at night and still tired more easily than other kids his age, but when compared to where he’d been just three years ago, no one was complaining. Least of all her.
Her life was more than she could have dreamed of. They no longer had to worry about Gilliar’s Disease, and she and Nathan were blissfully happy, married and expecting their first child together. Frankie was going to college and studying social work. She lived in an apartment close to the University of Washington, but frequently spent weekends with them in the big house they’d built on the outskirts of Songwood.
Kerri sucked in her breath as the baseball sailed toward home plate. Cody swung. There was a loud crack, then the ball soared up higher and higher. Cody took off for first base.
Nathan squeezed her hand. “He’s got a home run.” Pride thickened his voice.
Kerri looked at the man who made it clear every day how much he loved both her and Cody, along with the new baby. “I love you,” she whispered.
Nathan smiled at her, then kissed her. “I love you, too. A little more today than yesterday.”
She laughed. “How did I get so lucky?”
“It was just one of those things.”
An accident? she wondered. No. More of a miracle.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1081-7
ACCIDENTALLY YOURS
Copyright © 2008 by Susan Macias Redmond
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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