“We just talked,” Kathleen said. They had entered the volunteer room and she picked up a pencil and scribbled her name on the sign-up sheet. “Back down to Administration,” she said, reading her day’s assignment.
“What did you talk about?” Impatience brimmed in Raina’s voice. “Do we have to pry every word out of you?”
Kathleen backed out of the doorway. “Paint chips.” She grinned, then turned and jogged quickly toward the elevator.
“Paint chips?” Raina and Holly said in unison, looking at each other.
“What’s that mean?” Holly asked.
“I think she’s been sniffing paint,” Raina said crossly while scribbling her name on the sign-up sheet. “She’s doing this deliberately, you know. Keeping us in suspense all day long.”
“Oh, let her keep her little secret another few hours. She’ll come clean when she’s ready,” Holly said. “I’m on Pediatrics today. How about you?”
“They’ve put me in the medical library.” Raina sighed. “Bor-r-r-ring.”
Holly offered a sympathetic expression and hurried off to the pediatric floor. She would get the whole story out of Kathleen on the ride home today if she had to sit on her. She arrived in Pediatrics in time for the morning art program, but before she could get started helping to take children into the playroom, Mrs. Graham signaled her into her office. “Yes, ma’am?” Holly said once she’d stepped through the doorway.
The director went behind her desk and began shuffling papers. “Connie wants you over in the cancer wing. It’s about Ben.”
Holly’s heart skipped a beat. Ben wasn’t scheduled for a treatment that day. “What’s wrong?”
Mrs. Graham looked startled. “Oh, gracious, I didn’t mean to scare you. Ben’s just fine. But his mother is visiting. And she very much wants to meet you.”
* * *
Beth-Ann Keller was small, and though obviously pregnant, thin with light brown hair pulled into a long ponytail and eyes the same pretty blue as Ben’s. She wore a skirt and a blouse that looked long out of fashion, and sat in a wheelchair. Holly introduced herself, and Beth-Ann smiled shyly. “I’ve been wishing to meet you,” she said with a Southern accent. “You’re all Ben talks about. Says he’s your boyfriend.”
Holly grinned self-consciously. “Ben’s a doll, and I really like him, Mrs. Keller. The boyfriend thing is kind of a joke between us.”
“Except for doctors and such, everybody calls me Beth-Ann, so you do too, all right?” She patted her abdomen. “I had to come in for a checkup today and of course to see my little Ben.”
“Is everything all right?” Holly realized it was none of her business and that she shouldn’t have asked, but Beth-Ann nodded.
“I’m still on bed rest, but the new baby’s growing real good. He’s just having a little trouble staying put. Wants to come out and get acquainted before it’s time to. I wanted to say hi and thank you for taking such good care of Ben. It’s real hard leaving him to go through this by himself.”
“I’m glad to do it. Like I said, Ben’s a sweetie.”
“When they told us Ben would have to come back here, I just sat down and cried my heart out. I knew I couldn’t stay with him like the last time…what with the new baby and all. It’s hard enough for my little Ben to have to go through all that chemo, but to do it alone, without his mama with him…well, that was more than his daddy and I could stand.”
Watching Beth-Ann’s face, feeling her desire to be with her son, Holly felt a lump rise into her throat. “He’s been through a lot, but he’s very good about it. Hardly ever cries. I go with him for every treatment. I don’t want him to be alone either.”
“I know. You see, I prayed real hard to the Lord Jesus that he would send my Ben a special angel to watch over him. And he did.” Her smile glowed and Holly felt her face redden.
“I’m no angel,” she said.
“All angels don’t have wings and sit around the throne of heaven,” Beth-Ann said with a practical shake of her head. “Some angels walk around right here on earth and help others. So you’re an angel to Ben’s daddy and me. To my mama too. She came down from Alabama to help out and to take care of me so I can stay in bed mostly. We all think right highly of you.”
Beth-Ann’s lavish praise was embarrassing Holly. “I do it for Ben.”
“He likes the books you read to him, the stories and all. He don’t have many books at home. He’s a smart little boy. Oh, just so you’ll know, I talked with his doctor a while ago and he says that Ben’s responding real nicely to the chemo. He’s thinking he might be able to send him back home next month.”
“Really? That’s great news! I’m so glad you told me. I’ll have to go back to school at the end of August.”
Beth-Ann looked anxious. “You quitting?”
“No way. I’ll still be in the volunteer program, I just don’t know my new hours yet.”
“Then I’m just going to pray to the good Lord that Ben will be well enough to come home before you go back to school. That way, neither one of you will feel like you’re letting the other one down.”
Holly found Beth-Ann’s simple solution heartwarming. Faith like hers put Holly to shame, and she promised herself that she’d pray harder for Ben.
Just then, a heavyset woman came into the waiting room. Beth-Ann called, “Mama, come meet Holly. She’s the one Ben keeps talking about.”
After another round of introductions, Holly said she had to get back to work. Beth-Ann’s mother said that the courtesy van was waiting out front for the two-hour trip back to their home in Crystal River and they should be going. Beth-Ann pushed herself up. “I have to go kiss my boy goodbye.” Her eyes filled.
Knowing Ben would be saddened by his mother’s leaving, Holly said, “Tell him I’ll come by and eat lunch with him. And that I’ll bring him a big piece of chocolate cake.”
“That boy loves chocolate cake,” Beth-Ann’s mother said.
“Will you be able to come back soon?” Holly asked.
“My doctor wants to see me in three weeks, but getting a ride is hard. Just happened to hear that the van was coming today, or we’d have had to take a cab.”
“That’s a costly two-hour ride,” Ben’s grandmother said.
Holly’s heart went out to them.
“Thank you again for watching out for Ben.”
“I have to,” Holly called as they started out the door. “He’s my only boyfriend.”
On the ride home, Kathleen told her friends her bedroom story about Carson. Since she didn’t think she’d be able to convey the underlying message about sex, she decided to leave it out and only emphasize the part about repainting her walls.
“So now he’s your decorator?” Raina asked.
“No, but I thought it was the safest thing to talk about alone with him in my bedroom.”
“What did you decide?” Holly asked.
“I’m thinking lime green.”
Holly launched into a description of her meeting with Ben’s mother, and Kathleen felt relieved. She truly hadn’t wanted a grilling about Carson and didn’t want input from either Holly or Raina about being cautious before kicking it up to the next level. If there is a next level, she reminded herself. With less than a month to go before school started and with the two of them attending different schools, she had no way of knowing whether Carson would remain interested in her. Especially when Stephanie attended Bryce Academy, same as Carson.
Kathleen arrived home to find Mary Ellen feeling depressed and weepy. Remembering how much her mother had enjoyed the meal with Carson, she asked, “Why don’t we go out for dinner tonight, Mom? Nothing fancy.”
“I’m tired. I don’t feel like it.”
Kathleen felt the weight of her mother’s depression closing in on her, dispelling her happier mood. “You know, Mom, you might feel better if you got out more. Your doctor wants you to check out the MS support group. I’ll be glad to take you sometime. You might like it.”
“Please don’t tell me what I need. I feel lousy and I’m in no mood for a lecture.”
Kathleen’s feelings were hurt. “I didn’t mean to lecture you. It’s just that you seemed to have a good time the other night when Carson came over. I just thought—”
“Stop.” Mary Ellen looked on the verge of tears. “I—I can’t take this right now. I know you mean well, but you have no idea how difficult it is for me to just get up every day.”
“I work in a hospital, remember? I see people checking in a whole lot worse off than you are,” Kathleen said, feeling her temper rise. “I know you have problems, but sometimes it just doesn’t seem like you’re interested in helping yourself.”
Mary Ellen’s face crumpled. “I don’t need this, Kathleen. I really don’t.”
Kathleen watched her mother back up her chair and start toward the living-room door. It infuriated her when her mother wouldn’t talk to her. Lately, it seemed that every time she challenged her, Mary Ellen ran away. “Why can’t we ever talk? Why can’t you try to change things for yourself? Maybe you feel bad all the time because you don’t do anything anymore.” Kathleen yelled after her but she was talking to empty space now because her mother had fled. Kathleen was furious. How could Mary Ellen have reduced her into a screaming shrew so quickly? That wasn’t the way she wanted to be. Not when just minutes before, she’d been so happy. She went to her room, slammed the door and was looking for something to throw when her cell phone rang. She dumped her purse on the bed, found her phone and saw Carson’s number.
“Hi,” she said, with forced cheerfulness.
“Hi yourself. You sound out of breath.”
“Just rushing around my room. What’s up?”
“The grand duke and duchess of the Kiefer manor have requested an audience with the two of us.”
“Who? What are you talking about?”
He blew out a deep breath. “My parents want you to come to the house for dinner next Saturday night. And they won’t take no for an answer.”
seventeen
THE DINNER WITH the two Dr. Kiefers and Carson was all Kathleen talked about in the car ride to the hospital the next day with her friends. “This is huge,” Kathleen said. “It makes the country club dinner look like a walk in the park.”
“I don’t see why,” Raina said. “You go, you eat—”
“I get grilled.”
“Why do you think they’re going to grill you? What have you done to get on their radar?”
“Yeah,” Holly interjected. “Raina eats at our house all the time and we don’t grill her.”
Kathleen let out an exasperated snort. “Why would they? The two of you have been friends for years. They already know all there is to know.” She was sitting in the backseat and caught Raina’s eye in the rearview mirror. “You two are just poking fun at me, aren’t you?”
“Serves you right.” Raina didn’t deny the charge. “After you going all mysterious on us yesterday about you and Carson in your bedroom.”
“This is major serious! I need some support!”
Raina glanced over at Holly. “Should we help her?”
“I guess,” Holly said with an exaggerated sigh. She looked over her shoulder. “How can we support you, girlfriend?”
“I don’t have anything to wear. In fact, what should I wear?”
“Carson’s seen the sundress, but his parents haven’t,” Raina said.
Holly made a face. “She can’t wear the same dress twice for him. You wouldn’t. I remember that you’d dated Hunter a month before you ever cycled through in the same outfit.”
“Not that he noticed. This calls for serious shopping. Summer clothes are on big discounts, so you should be able to afford something new.”
Kathleen knew that Raina was right. She needed to find something eye-popping for herself, and finding it on sale wouldn’t break her savings bank. “I’ll do it. When?”
“I’m free this afternoon,” Raina said.
“Me too,” Holly added.
“What if we can’t find anything?”
“Then you can go in your birthday suit. That will be a dinner they’ll long remember,” Raina teased.
“Have no fear,” Holly said, crooking her arm to make a muscle. “Mighty Holly is here. We’ll get you dressed for the ball, Cinderella.”
“Some ball,” Kathleen groused. “I’ll probably throw up from sheer nerves.”
“Which will once again make it a meal no one will forget,” Raina said with a wry grin.
As soon as they’d left the hospital that evening, Raina drove Kathleen and Holly to the mall. With Holly leading the charge through several teen-friendly stores, Kathleen was outfitted in no time with a pretty, short flouncy skirt and a mod retro top. Holly also insisted that Kathleen buy sandals with heels—“but not too high,” Holly cautioned—and some new jewelry to complement the look. They stopped at a makeup emporium and Raina discovered the perfect shade of lip gloss for Kathleen. A spritzer of a new patchouli-scented perfume completed Kathleen’s budget buying spree.
She insisted on treating to milk shakes and fries in the food court. Once they sat down, she said, “Thanks for your help. I don’t feel so panicked anymore. I’m still nervous, mind you, but not freaked.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Raina said, dipping a fry into a blob of ketchup.
“All right,” Holly said, reaching into the oversized bag that she used as a purse, “now it’s time for both of you to do a favor for me.” She pulled out a file folder and extracted a few pieces of paper.
“What do you want?” Kathleen asked.
“Your blood,” Holly said with a grin.
“Are they having a blood drive at the hospital?” Raina asked. “They do every now and again, you know.”
“Not for a blood drive, but a blood sample for registering yourself with the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.” Holly leaned forward, her milk shake forgotten. “I talked to Connie and some man with the organ donor program the other day. Do you know how many people are desperate for organs and die waiting for a transplant?”
“Now you want my liver too?” Raina asked.
“This is serious. Lots of patients with blood cancers can be helped with a simple bone marrow transplant. The problem is finding a donor who’s compatible. So the bone marrow registry is a way for hospitals all over the country to document potential compatible donors.”
“Hold it,” Kathleen said, feeling squeamish. “You asked for blood. Marrow comes from inside the bones.”
“True. But the marrow makes red blood cells, and that’s what a lot of blood cancers attack. So a transplant can fix someone’s marrow and get them well again. Think about Ben.”
“Would new bone marrow fix him?”
“I don’t know,” Holly said. “All I know is if I thought I could save him by donating some of my bone marrow, I’d do it in a heartbeat. If you could save someone’s life by donating some of your marrow cells—cells that us healthy people produce by the zillions—wouldn’t you?”
Raina and Kathleen traded glances. “Well, since you put it that way,” Raina said.
Holly beamed at them. “Good. Then here are some forms. Because we’re still minors, we have to have our parents’ permission, which shouldn’t be too hard to get. And because it’s such a good cause, even my parents signed the form!” She feigned shock. “So when you have a little free time, go down to the lab at the hospital, turn in the form and let the tech draw some blood. They’ll do the appropriate tests and enter the results into the national registry. That’s all there is to it. Simple, huh?”
“Except for the needle part,” Kathleen said. “I hate needles.”
“Don’t be a baby. It’ll be over in a few seconds,” Holly insisted. “I think it would be so cool to get a call someday telling me I could save somebody’s life.”
“What are the odds?”
“Unfortunately, pretty low, according to the man from donor services,” Holly admitted.
>
“Ben has parents,” Raina said. “I’d think they’d be more compatible than complete strangers in some registry.”
Holly took a long drink of her chocolate shake. “Actually, if he ever needs a transplant, his soon-to-be-born sibling probably would be the best match. Something about DNA from both parents instead of only one. I’m not sure of the genetics, but a donor has to have a specific number of matching factors before a transplant can work.”
Kathleen poked Holly’s arm. “You could pass a quiz about this BMT business.”
“I listened to what the man was saying, that’s all.” Holly reached over to Raina’s bag of fries. “You going to eat those?”
“Help yourself,” Raina said. “All this talk about blood is making the ketchup look disgusting.”
Kathleen groaned and pushed herself away from the food, but Holly drenched the remaining fries in the red sauce and made a production of eating every last one.
The dining room in Carson’s home reminded Kathleen of a great hall in a castle. The walls were hand-painted with murals of Spanish courtyards, mosaic-tiled fountains, and blooming flower beds. The furniture was large, dark and imposing. Silver candelabras and vases of fresh flowers graced the table’s wood surface, set with yellow linen placemats and napkins, ivory-colored bone china dishes, sparkling crystal and ornate silverware. “I told Mom we’d rather have pizza in the kitchen,” Carson said, sounding apologetic, “but she said no.”
Carson’s parents had met Kathleen at the front door when he brought her into the foyer. The Drs. Kiefer were an impressive pair, each for different reasons. Christopher Kiefer had a commanding air of self-assurance, salt-and-pepper hair, and electric blue eyes. Kathleen saw instantly where Carson had gotten his good looks. Teresa Kiefer was petite with stylish, short black hair and eyes of deep chocolate brown. She smiled frequently, laughed often and after a few minutes of conversation, Kathleen saw where Carson had gotten his easy charm. They both had the beautiful, well-cared-for hands of surgeons. She thought them a handsome couple.
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