Hope's Toy Chest (10 page)
Chelsea thought
she’d gone all out on decorations at Le’s house but it was nothing compared to what Liz and Jason’s place looked like. The inside of the two story brick home could have been Santa’s workshop. A large tree dominated the foyer with a more moderately sized one in the living room. Garlands and lights were strung around the banister leading upstairs, an entire Christmas village lined the living room bookshelves, and not one but two old fashioned trains circled the base of the tree, letting off a blare of horns every time they passed the main section.
Appetizers
, each one looking more delicious than the last, were spread out across the kitchen bar that separated it from the living room. People gathered around the table, or in the living room talking. Le took her around introducing her to his parents, then to Jason and Brian’s parents. Years ago when Hope had been in the hospital, she’d met Brian, but they reacquainted themselves before Liz dashed in.
“Chelsea, come with me
, I want to show you the rest of the house.” She nodded toward the door and Chelsea followed.
She waited until they climbed the stairs before she laid a hand on Liz’s arm. “I’ve been here before, so why did you want to get me away from everyone?”
“To show you this.” Liz pushed open the door and she stepped closer to see what was inside.
A nursery, done in a pale pink, with white and black accents
, the name
Faith
in fancy letters above an ebony crib. There was a changing table, dresser, and rocker that matched. The crib bedding was black with large white swirls and pink roses; the edges had vibrant pink trim.
“Are you? But I thought—”
“With the cancer treatments I went through as I child, I can’t get pregnant, but we’re adopting. Our beautiful baby girl is due on Valentine’s Day.”
“Le didn’t say anything.” She turned her head to look at her friend. “He doesn’t know. You
r brother doesn’t know.” Shock coated her words.
“No one but Jason knows. We didn’t want to say anything until we were sure.
The birth mother is a nurse’s assistant at the hospital. She’s young, single, and wants to go back to school for her registered nurse’s license. It’s going to be an open adoption, and Faith will know birth mother.” Liz paused and looked back at the nursery. “It’s everything I wanted and finally it’s happening. I never thought I’d be a mother, but Susan is great. She’s allowing me to come to her doctor’s appointments, and I was there when we heard the heartbeat. Oh, Chelsea, it’s more than I could have hoped for.”
“When are you telling your family?”
“When we sit down for dinner. We’ve been holding off until everyone was gathered together. Susan will stop by later on so everyone can meet her and see our baby.” Liz laid her hand on Chelsea’s arm. “I wanted you to know first, because I know what a hard time of year this is for you. I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Oh no
, Liz, don’t worry about me. I’m happy for you.” Memories of expecting Hope resurfaced. She’d never replace Hope in her heart or thoughts but she wondered if Le was interested in having children. They had never talked about it but she hoped he would be willing. She wanted to try again. It was time.
“Are you sure?”
“I am.” Chelsea turned to her. “Actually, I was hoping to get a minute alone with you today because I have some news of my own.”
“
Spill it.” Liz leaned back against the door frame and eyed her.
“Le asked me to marry him and I said yes.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Liz pulled Chelsea into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for the two of you. You do understand what you’re getting into with his career, don’t you?”
“Ye
s. First you’re happy for me, then you follow it with a downer.” She teased. “There was something else. Remember how you wanted me to talk with some of the parents who were having a hard time dealing with their child’s cancer?”
“Yes
, and you turned me down, saying you weren’t ready for that.”
“I am now if you need someone. I spoke with Kelly Cook, Jessica’s mother
, and I think I can do some good. I can meet with parents who are having a hard time, have coffee with them while they’re waiting for the chemo or radiation treatments to be finished. I don’t want the responsibility of your job, I just want to be a friend, someone to listen to them.”
“We’ll get you started right away. What changed your mind?”
“A little bit of this and that, but mostly talking to Kelly and Le. It’s time I move on with my life. Hope will always be a part of me but I have to start living again. I’ve also got to show that brother of yours that there’s more to life than just the hospital.” She paused as she heard voices coming from below. As they passed, she turned back to Liz. “I also want to do more with Hope’s Toy Chest but we can discuss that later. I believe you have some news you need to tell the family.” She winked.
“
Correction, news we
both
need to tell everyone. You’re announcing your engagement too.” Liz slipped her arm through Chelsea’s and headed to the stairs.
“Oh no.
This is your moment, they can find out about the impending wedding soon enough. I only told you because I couldn’t hold it in any longer and I was hoping you’d be my maid of honor.”
“Seriously?”
Chelsea nodded. “You’re my best friend and his sister, there’s no one else more qualified.”
“Oh, this is going to be so much fun.” Liz let go of her arm and bounced down the steps. “Everyone gather around
! There are a few announcements we need to get out of the way before dinner. Le and Chelsea, why don’t you do the honor.”
“What are you talking about?” Le raised an eyebrow
, glancing between both women.
“Sorry
, I couldn’t help myself.” She smiled and held out her hand to him. “Tell everyone so Liz can tell them her good news.” When he came to her, she wrapped her arm around his waist.
With his arm around her
, she snuggled against him, glowing with happiness. Things had a way of working out and eventually she’d found contentment. No, on the contrary; it had found them.
A bar
beque had sounded like a wonderful idea when Kingsley thought of it, but now that the day had arrived all he wanted to do was take his wife up to their room and forget about the last twenty-four hours. Ups and downs were part of a doctor’s life, but when one of the patients he’d been seeing for years came out of remission, only to decline quickly, he began to wonder if things were worth it. With the grill going, he stared out at the green grass, his thoughts transporting him back to the hospital until he heard a familiar little girl’s yell.
“Doctor Mathews!”
He looked to the side of the house to see Jessica sprinting toward him, her mother Kelly only a few steps behind. Six months of remission and she looked like any other child her age. A little skinnier than she should be, but she was up running around and not stuck in some hospital bed. “Jessica, it’s good to see you, my Christmas miracle.” He squatted down to give her a hug.
“It was nice of you to invite us.” Kelly held a large bowl filled with fruit salad. “I know you said not to bring anything but I could
n’t come empty-handed.”
“Thank you, but we’re just glad you could make it.” Chelsea took the bowl and set it on the table.
“I hear you’re doing amazing work at the hospital.” Kelly squeezed Chelsea’s arm. “Parents going through cancer with their children need someone like you to talk to.” She leaned in to whisper, “But don’t forget about your own life.”
“Don’t worry
. For the first time I feel like I’m actually living. Things couldn’t be better.”
“We make time outside of our hospital duties.
” Le smirked, having overheard them. “Well, that and Hope’s Toy Chest. If I don’t stop her she’s going to have the organization spread across the world.”
“
No, for right now I think I’ll keep it home-based. I want my work to be enjoyed by the patients at Cedar Grove Children’s Hospital.” She slipped her arm around Le’s waist.
“
Chelsea is actually putting together a party for the children who are in remission. We had hoped Jessica would be one of our honored guests. She’s truly a miracle and we want to celebrate that.” Le looked down at Chelsea and smiled. She never ceased to amaze him.
“We’d be honored. It would be nice for her to meet other children her own age who have suffered what she has. She’s so small for her age that some of the other children at the park make fun of her.
” Kelly frowned as she looked to Jessica. “My baby has been given a second chance but now she has another battle ahead of her—other kids. I couldn’t protect her from cancer, and there’s little I can do about the other children.”
“Now that she’s healthy, she’ll begin to catch up to her peers. It will take time and she might always be smaller than her classmates but you’ll begin to see the change in her.” He glanced to
Jessica, who was rolling around in the yard like a gymnast. “Sorry, but I still can’t believe her recovery.”
“Me
neither. I keep waking up thinking it was a dream, but when I go down the hall to her bedroom and see her laying there it all comes back to me.” Tears glistened in Kelly’s eyes.
“That gives me another idea.” Chelsea sat her glass of lemonade aside. “Why not start a regular playgroup for the children who are in remission or are well enough to attend? Then children can meet
others their own age who understand what they’ve gone through and why they look different. There’d be no reason to try to hide and the ridicule would be minimal.”
“Where would you hold it?” Le asked.
“I have a friend who owns a daycare facility, Cradles to Crayons. Last year she added a large indoor play area, with climbing structures, slides, and a large ball pit. It would be the perfect place to have it. We’d have it professionally cleaned before each play session to limit the chance of any of the children becoming sick. Maybe do it once a month.”
“Oh
, that would be nice and I know Jessica would just love it,” Kelly exclaimed. “If you need any help I’d be glad to do whatever I can. Something like that would be good not only for the children but for the parents.”
“I’ll get started on it this week and let you know what I can use help with
,” Chelsea said as Kelly’s cell phone chirped to life.
“Sorry
, I have to take this.” Kelly stepped away and brought the phone to her ear.
Le kissed the top of his wife’s head. “You never cease to amaze me.”
“Good. I like keeping you on your toes.” She heard car doors shut around the front of the house announcing Liz’s arrival. She wrapped her arms around him because once Liz arrived with Faith, he would be too preoccupied cuddling that little girl. “Before they get back here there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” He rubbed small circles along her hip.
“Do you want children?”
Children?
His mind raced on how to answer it. Yes, he wanted children, but he knew when he married her it might not be an option. She might not want to have another child after what happened with Hope. As much as he would have liked children of his own, it wasn’t as important as having Chelsea as his wife. He loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, with or without children.
He must have taken longer than she thought he needed to answer because she broke the silence.
“I want to have another child,” she blurted out.
“Really?” He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice.
She nodded. “I love Hope and that won’t change no matter how many children I have. But she’s not here any longer and it’s time for me to move on. We both love children and can offer them the love and home they deserve. I want to have a baby with you.”
“Then we’ll do it because I’ve always wanted children too
. But I didn’t think you wanted another one.” He pulled her around to face him. “I love you, Chelsea Mathews.”
“As I love you
, Kingsley.”
He lowered his head to hers
until he could claim her lips.