Death by Donation

by Sarah Hualde

  Flora patted Enoch. The baby boy curled closer to his mother’s neck and murmured in his sleep. “Ivy, you’re 17. You have loads of time.”

  Ivy’s skin grew clammy. She hated it when older people said that to her. Didn’t they get it? Sure, typically someone her age had decades yet to live. But girls her age didn’t normally have little ones of their own. Ivy might have many years to live but she wasn’t living for herself anymore. She refused to waste Scout’s life trying to find the meaning of her own.

  Suddenly Ivy felt horribly alone, though surrounded by several people who loved her. She missed her Mema. She missed her mother. She missed Emily, her mixed-up friend. She longed for somebody, anybody, who understood her to show up and tell her everything was going to be alright. Instead, she had two thirty-somethings commenting on Ivy’s youth and potential.

  They cared, she knew, but they didn’t get it. They didn’t feel the weight and pressure on her shoulders the same way a family member might. Ivy’s throat thickened. She drank a sip of her coffee to push down tears that fought to run.

  Lydia watched Ivy’s expressions fluctuate. She puzzled over the teen but kept her comments to herself.

  “Anyway,” Ivy said when she regained control of her voice. “Checking out the blood bank is a good start.”

  “Sure it is.” Flora agreed. “I wonder what they’ll have you do.”

  Just then the diner doorbell chimed and in walked Bill Barnaby and Ines Justice. Bill beamed. His eyes glistened and twinkled from happy tears. He led Ines over to the occupied corner booth with his arm around her waist.

  “Ivy,” he chuckled. “I’m very sorry to do this to you. But extraordinary events have unfolded. I’m wondering if we can postpone our meeting until tomorrow. You see, I...we... I have news.” Bill looked to Ines for support. She offered it with a lingering smile of pride. “I want to share it with you all. But not now. Tonight. Please accept my invitation. Ines and I are hosting a party at 3 Alarm. Tamas agreed to close down early and let us have a private party. It starts at 8 if the weather holds.” Bill stopped to take a huge inhale. In his excitement, he’d forgotten to breathe.

  Ines tittered. “Bring your families. We’ll have coffee, tea, and dessert for everyone. Will we see you there?”

  The entire table nodded. They were beyond surprised. Not a single mother wanted to miss out on hearing Bill Barnaby’s news. They watched with saucer-eyed expressions as Ines and Bill walked back to the library.

  A man at a booth for two slapped down his newspaper and exited behind the happy pair. His rush surprised Lydia. Was it her imagination or was he purposely keeping his distance while trailing Ines and Bill? Nah. She was only being nosy, just like Ivy had said.

  “Oh,” Flora said. “Kat’s going to hate that she missed this.” Ivy and Lydia grunted in agreement.

  Chapter 5

  The party was massive. The entire library staff, all the bloodmobile workers, even half the elementary school faculty showed up. Everyone strove their best not to appear too curious. Outwardly the crowd mingled over coffee and pastries. On the inside, they awaited the grand announcement.

  Bill and Ines didn’t make them wait long. Standing before the cruller display, with an arm around Ines’ waist, Bill Barnaby started his speech. “I’ve only been in this marvelous town for two years. No time at all compared to the rest of you. Normally, any tightly knit group, such as Honey Pot, tends to avoid outsiders. But not this amazing town. This community pulled me into its arms. They made me a part of this quirky, small-town family and for that, I’m extremely thankful.”

  “No problem Bill!” Hobo Joe hooted and was followed by several people cheering similar encouragement.

  Ines kissed Bill on the cheek. The professor blushed and pushed his glasses further up onto his face. “And then, I met this miracle. Ines the wonder. Ines the beautiful.” His bride to be beamed. Pink happiness flooded her cheeks. “But, as many of you know, I’ve always been on the lookout for my birth family. I’ve searched for many years. Sent hundreds of letters. Received several of them back, return to sender. I’d given up hope. Between you all and this fabulous woman beside me, I was filled and warmed. And then, finally, I got a call. A remarkably memorable call.” Bill paused, as he sorted his emotions. He whispered something to Ines. She squeezed his hand.

  Lydia stirred in her seat. Ivy struggled to keep Scout from chortling and disturbing Mr. Barnaby’s speech. Flora served herself an empty spoon instead of the center of her chocolate croissant, as she’d intended.

  “I have a brother!” The crowd surged in a communal exhale of surprise. “Not only a brother, but a twin. Let me introduce you to Mr. Jake Cloverdale. I know you’ll embrace him just as warmly as you’ve embraced me.”

  Bill extended his hand to his left. A bald-headed man rose to his feet turned and waved at the crowd. Again they howled with joy. “Please, help me celebrate my lost and found brother.”

  Jake Cloverdale walked slowly to Bill. Bill released Ines and flung his arms around his brother. They embraced just as Lydia had witnessed earlier that day. After a still moment, both men turned to face the party. Jake waved to the group.

  “Nice to meet you all,” he said.

  It was striking how much the men resembled one another. It took the room a moment to absorb the news and clap uproariously in celebration. Everyone cheered and shouted. The party continued. Only one attendee appeared less than enthusiastic about the reunion. It drew Lydia’s attention. With his head down and arms crossed, she couldn’t place the townie and spent the evening wondering who the party pooper might be.

  ✽✽✽

  Ivy tucked Scout into bed with Lydia right behind her. “That certainly was big news. No wonder Professor Barnaby rescheduled.”

  Lydia leaned over and kissed the sleeping Scout before leading Ivy to the living room. “Didn’t he know Jake was coming?”

  Ivy shrugged. “He said he got a phone call. But who knows if Jake was sure he’d be allowed to join the Mobile Team.”

  “But Bill already knew DonateLife would be here all weekend. Jake must’ve been his connection to keep it here that long.”

  “It’s possible.” Ivy turned on the TV. She turned the volume down and idly flipped through channels.

  “It’s just strange. Bill made an appointment with you the very day his brother is coming to town,” Lydia said.

  “I guess,” Ivy didn’t turn to face Lydia. She yawned and stretched. “But he’s making it up to me. Jake and Bill said it’s cool if I hang out with them tomorrow, at the Mobile. I can’t do anything major. Just hand out juice and crackers. But I’ll get to see what it feels like. Possibly get a couple of new references.”

  “Yes, that’ll be good. The lab opens at 11?”

  “Nope, eight on Saturdays.”

  “Okay, well I’m heading to bed. Goodnight.”

  “Night.” Ivy didn’t look up from the flashing screen. She still hadn’t found a show to watch.

  “Come get me...”

  “If I need anything. I know. Thanks.”

  Lydia caught herself before she uttered a ritual I love you, to Ivy. Just as she’d done to Joan. She trudged up the stairs. What if she did say I love you to Ivy? Would it be inappropriate? Would it freak the young mother out and break the bond they’d been growing? Did she really love her? Just like a daughter?

  Lydia lay in her bed, heavy with thoughts and unable to sleep. She was still awake when the first wave of thunder shook the house. Lydia unplugged her phone and reset her alarm. If the power went out again, she didn’t want to miss her wake up call.

  ✽✽✽

  Ivy looked cute in her borrowed scrubs. Flora lent her an old pair from her younger doula days. Lydia watched Ivy secure her hair in a messy mock French twist and take a drink of water. Joan sent pictures of her wearing a similar look. Scrubs, bun, and a bottle of water. Lydia wiped away unshed steamy tears before they blurred her ability to drive. She parked in front of the library and escorted Iv
y to the mobile.

  “Ma’am,” a young male voice sounded behind them. “That spot is for drop off only. You’ll need to move your car before the library opens.” Ivy and Lydia turned in unison. The young man walking toward them stopped short and stared at Ivy. “I saw you at the party last night. I didn’t realize you were part of the mobile team?”

  Ivy giggled softly. “I’m not. Not really. I’m just observing for the day.”

  The boy shuffled his feet but didn’t move any closer. His eyes never left Ivy’s face. Lydia tried not to smile. He’d obviously noticed Ivy’s scrubby cuteness, as well. The two youths stared at each other dumbly. Lydia interjected. “You must be Ines’ nephew. Brant?”

  He shuddered but didn’t turn to look at Lydia. Ivy blushed as she tried to avert her eyes. “It’s Grant, actually. But yes, I’m Grant Justice. Nice to meet you?” He held out his hand to Ivy.

  She shook it. “I’m Ivy. And this is Lydia.”

  “Lydia, the mystery solver?”

  “Nope, just Lydia,” Lydia said.

  “Not according to my Aunt. Hey, maybe you can help me figure something out? Auntie Ines has a secret admirer. He lurks around us whenever we’re in town. I suspect she knows who it is, but she won’t tell me.”

  Lydia noticed Grant pulled himself out of his reverie to politely shake her hand and finally make eye contact. Baby Scout gurgled at him and he shook her hand too. “This is Scout.” In her periphery, Lydia noted Ivy’s shoulders tightened. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m just dropping Ivy off and then I’ll be on my way. I promise to be gone before the library opens.”

  “Great, thanks,” Grant said to Lydia before returning his focus to Ivy. “Well, see you later.”

  “Bye,” Lydia said. Grant spun and hurried back into the library. Ivy heaved and turned back toward the van.

  “Let’s go suck some blood,” she joked. Ivy hustled faster than needed and knocked on the mobile unit door before Lydia caught up with her.

  “Hey, it’s Ivy.” Jake Cloverdale opened the door and stepped out, leaping over the small staircase. His dark blue scrubs matched Ivy’s. “Come on over here and I’ll show you what you’ll be doing.” Ivy kissed Scout’s hand before following Jake to the makeshift tent and a plastic folding table.

  A man and a woman wearing the same scrub design stepped out to the van. “So that’s Ivy.” The woman said, “Are you her mom?” She held out her hand to Lydia.

  “Not exactly.”

  “And who is this little chubby bunny,” the man cooed at Scout. Scout flirted and babbled at him. “Oh, she’s a sweetie. She reminds me of my little baby back home.”

  The woman interjected, “That must be Sprout.”

  “Scout,” Lydia corrected. She was shocked by how much these crew members knew already.

  “Bill’s told us all about you guys. You’re Lydia. I’m Maddie and this is Lou.” Both strangers waved at Scout, who waved back. “We’ll take good care of your mommy. Don’t worry little one.”

  Maddie’s sing-song voice grated on Lydia’s hearing. The woman was definitely a heavy smoker and didn’t pull off sweetness when she spoke.

  Before Lydia was forced to make an awkward conversation, Bill strode up to the group. Dressed in his normal attire, he stood out among the sea of scrubs. He greeted everyone warmly. “I intend on staying here, all day. Just in case Ivy needs me,” he said, more to Lydia than anyone else nearby.

  “And to visit with your brother,” Lydia said.

  “That too.” Bill’s pride over his brother poured into every word he spoke.

  Maddie crossed her arms and leaned against the RV. She looked at Bill and then at Jake and back repeatedly. “Man, if it weren’t for your glasses I’d never be able to tell you two apart. Imagine being separated at birth. Not even knowing the other one exists and then- BAM! - 40 some years down the line you find each other. It’s like a movie.”

  Lou agreed. “Yeah, well this movie’s got to get going. Time to work. It was nice to meet you Lydia and you too, Baby Scout. Come visit us at lunch, will you?” Lou disappeared into the unit with Maddie waving farewell and joining him.

  Lydia had an entire morning to enjoy, just her and Scout. She was determined to make the most of it.

  First stop, 3 Alarm and then home.

  ✽✽✽

  Ivy handed her seventeenth carton of juice to Pastor Dean’s wife, Janice. Though in a heavy coat, the woman was pale and shivering. The three-sided fabric tent kept out the damp, dewy episodes of drizzle but it was no match for the lazy breeze. Just looking at Janice made Ivy colder. She wished she’d brought a quilt. Ivy didn’t realize she would be outside the entire morning.

  Bill noticed the suffering volunteer and kept her supplied with hot chocolate as best he could. Ivy didn’t seek him out for these treats. She didn’t want to interrupt his together time with Jake.

  Jake’s first duty of the morning had kept him near the recovery tent. He signed in donating citizens and freed them from their resting period. After an hour the employees shifted. Jake went inside, checking vitals and recording detailed information. Bill wasn’t allowed inside the private consult room. He sat with Ivy.

  “What’s it like, suddenly having a brother you didn’t know existed?” Ivy tidied up the tent. Moving kept the chill away.

  Bill was slow to respond. “It’s unexplainable. But I did know Jake existed. I’ve known for about two years, now. Before coming to Honey Pot I hired one of those DNA ancestry finders, TreeLinks. The results were slow. Eventually, I received a few leads. I sent off requests for meet-ups but all went unanswered. Until two weeks ago.”

  Ivy sipped hot chocolate from a carafe and took a seat next to the Professor. “That must have been a surprise.”

  Bill nodded. “At first I was in shock and doubted it was true. Ines called TreeLinks and they guaranteed the connection. Apparently, it’s not unusual for relatives to be hesitant to meet up.”

  “I can understand. Not all my relations are worth knowing. But still, I’d jump at the chance to find one that is. To connect with someone who understands me and where I’ve been.”

  Bill smiled. “That’s what I thought, too.” His gaze tracked to the mobile unit. “It’s great. But odd. Yes, Jake and I are connected. I can feel it in my skin. Part of me was missing and now it’s found. But blood doesn’t make a family. Not always. And even though we look identical our lives have been anything but.”

  “You must feel so lucky to have connected with your identical twin,”

  Bill leaned forward and adjusted his glasses. Ivy felt his eye contact. It was urgent, direct, yet encouraging. Ivy didn’t squirm away from the focus. “Let’s make this clear, Ivy. Luck has nothing at all to do with it. Not one iota. Not with you getting this opportunity. Not with Ines and I bumping into each other and falling in love. Not with Jake coming to town.

  “Luck is a lie. A scapegoat for those without hope. All of this has been precisely selected and approved ahead of time. Call it Providence; I call it God’s perfect path. But never call it luck. Luck robs us of the beauty of being so divinely loved that every detail has been accounted for.” Bill smiled and in a rare moment of physical compassion patted the top of Ivy’s hand.

  Hope faded from Ivy’s young face. Her own path wasn’t covered in clover. It held pain and fear. She didn’t want to equate God’s love with the dark places. Ivy shuddered.

  “Oh, don’t worry.” Bill patted her hand once more, with three professional taps of concern. “Time will change things for the better. I don’t regret a single rejection letter. Each one led me closer to Jake. Although things are awkward and strained, eventually a true relationship will develop. Maybe, one day, Jake and I will be as close as typical brothers. Perhaps we’ll only grow into good friends. Either way, I’m blessed to have this opportunity and I plan on taking full advantage of it.” Beneath his blue light blocking spectacles, Bill’s eyes sparkled. His joy was infectious.

  The breeze picked up speed. Icy
cold slivers of air rocketed up Ivy’s back. She shuddered.

  “Uncle Bill?” Ivy recognized that voice. She’d only heard it once but found she’d know it anywhere. She shifted in her seat, crossing one leg on top of the other and then switching them. Grant Justice peeked around the corner of the tent. His eyes met Ivy’s before landing on Bill. “Oh, hello again.” Ivy kept her wave low and nonchalant. She chided herself for her strange behavior. “Uncle Bill, Aunt Ines wants to know if you’ll be taking off for lunch or if she should order in?”

  “I haven’t thought that far.” Bill stood. “I’ll ask Jake, in a minute.” He walked over to the mobile unit leaving Ivy and Grant alone in the makeshift shelter.

  “How’s it going?” Grant inspected the cartons of crackers.

  Ivy shivered. “It’s cold.”

  “Oh yeah, I forgot. I brought this for you. Aunt Ines thought you may be a bit frosty out here.” He handed Ivy a thick cardigan. “It’s her back up sweater.”

  Ivy sprung to her feet. She reached for the jacket as Grant passed it but tripped over her cold toes. Ivy staggered forward and accidentally hit Grant in the stomach. Regaining her balance, Ivy didn’t dare to lock eyes with her assaulted acquaintance. She took the sweater and scuttled back into the tent. “Sorry, I...”

  Grant buried a chuckle. “Not a problem. I’ve been hit harder. Not by a stranger. But my siblings can pack a wallop. I’ve had to train to be prepared for anything.” Ivy felt Grant’s wide smile and forgiving glance but couldn’t bear to look at him.

  “Well, I’m sorry anyway.” She sat down next to the rolling cart of juice and treats.

  “Seriously, don’t mention it.” The door to the mobile unit opened and Lou stepped out. He walked a swaying patron to the tent. “I’ll catch you later.” Grant walked away.