Perfect Match (47 page)

She turned to Selena in the passenger seat. “You’re awfully
quiet this morning.”

“Just thinking.”

“Anything special?”

Selena shrugged.

“Want to listen to some music, now that we have a car with a
sound system?”

“If you do.”

Madison opted for riding in silence.

“Trevor and I had an argument.”

“Anything serious?”

Selena took her time answering. “One of the women in his lab
likes him.”

Madison hesitated a moment. She put on her turn signal, and
made her turn. “Does he like her?”

“He says he doesn’t.” She thought a moment. “How can you
tell if a man is lying?”

“Oh, Selena, I guess you can tell after you get to know them
for a while.”

Another pause filled the car.

“Mom, do you have any more dates on your calendar?”

Madison sighed, “I’ve had a few business men hint that
they’re interested, but I’ve been too busy.”

Selena scoffed, “Don’t pick any more losers like the last
two.”

Three more traffic lights in silence.

“If I find out Trevor dates his lab colleague, should I
forgive him?”

Sounding a little exasperated, but relieved to be pulling
into Dr. Hertford’s parking lot, she answered, “I guess…I don’t know…I guess it
depends on how much he means to you.”

Dr. Hertford had examined Selena, read the nurse’s notations,
analyzed the report from her blood work drawn last week, and follow-up charts.
He was seated behind his desk, facing Madison and Selena seated in leather
chairs in front of his desk.

He smiled, “Everything looks excellent. Your progress has
been very smooth. I couldn’t be more pleased. Any concerns either of you have?”

Madison said, “I don’t know if Selena is aware of this or
not, but I’ve noticed that she seems to have unexpected moments of
irritability. That’s usually not like her.”

He looked at Selena. “What do you think?”

She scrunched up her face, as if an unpleasant topic had
been raised. “I guess. I seem to feel out of sorts sometimes.”

He tapped on his desktop computer, scrolling back through
some of the reports. He looked up. “I did notice that your immunosuppressant
medications might be a little high. I had planned to lower that. It is not
unusual to experience some mood swings. Some individuals do, others do not, but
I can give you a mild anti-depressant to smooth things out for you. But otherwise,
Selena, you’re doing fine.” He paused a moment. “Any other questions?”

Selena said, “I want to know who the donor is.”

There was a moment of silence.

Hertford looked at them. “Have the two of you discussed
this?”

Madison said, “First time I’ve heard that from Selena.”

Selena gave her mother a cool look.

Hertford intervened. “To give you some comfort, most
transplant recipients are content without delving into that area.”

Selena said, “That doesn’t bring me any comfort. I want to
meet the donor.”

Madison said, “Why is this all of a sudden an issue,
Selena?”

“I want to thank the donor.”

“The kidney could have come from someone in Alaska. Good
grief.”

“Your mother’s right, organs come from all over the place.
Logistics could be a problem.”

Determined, Selena said, “I want to know who the donor is,
and I want to meet the person.”

Madison said, “The kidney could have come from…from someone
who died or…or some homeless person. What makes you think the donor is even
alive?”

“I’ve had this feeling, and I want to meet the person.

Hertford squirmed in his seat. “Selena, please understand
that we can’t run a healthcare facility on feelings. There are certain policies
and protocols that guide Cobalt.” He paused. “The records show that the donor
in this case was emphatic about remaining anonymous. We try to honor privacy.”

Madison placed her hand on Selena’s arm. “Honey, why not
take your prescription for a few days until you get over this impul—”

“This is not an impulse, and it’s not going away with a
pill. I turned 18 the day before the transplant. I was considered of legal age.
I have a right to know about the donor, and I’ve already called and talked with
a young lawyer with one of the legal-aid groups. They’ll help me.”

She focused her look on Hertford.

“I understand how an institution must function by policies
and protocols, but I’m not an institution. I’m a person and I’ve had to guide
my life through lots of feelings growing up. You’re a highly respected doctor,”
she turned to her mom, “and you’re my mom, can’t the two of you understand how
I might feel?” Her voice cracked, and her chin quivered, “The donor did
something wonderful for me, and I want to thank them in person.” She stood as
if to leave.

Hertford came around the desk, embracing her, like the good
doctor he was. “I understand. You’ve put your feelings very well. You’ve had an
unusually successful transplant.” He stepped back, looking at both of them.
“The one thing I don’t want to see happen is for you to have lots of stress. I
do need your cooperation for the sake of your health.” He waited for a
response.

Selena looked up at him, and nodded.

He looked at Madison who was standing. He said, “I can’t
promise you anything, but do either of you object if I do some inquiring?”

Selena sniffled, “I don’t.”

Madison thought a moment, looking at Selena. “I’m okay with
it, since this is important to her.” But she shook her head, as an
afterthought, saying nothing else.

When Ned drove Roscoe back to the office for lunch, Imogene
handed him a message slip to return a call to Dr. Hertford. He made his way
upstairs to his loft.

Shortly Hertford was on the phone.

“Thanks for returning my call, Roscoe. How’re you feeling
these days?”

“I’m about back to normal. Dr. Frenchwater was pleased at my
progress when I went for my follow-up.”

“Good to hear that.”

“Hesitate to ask this, but I hope you’re glad you accepted
your wife’s bonus offer the night I came to your house?”

Hertford chuckled. “I learned the importance of listening
that night. We all learned some things that night.”

“Yes, we did. I got wind of the shake-up at the hospital.
Heard you and Trevor were the ring leaders.” Roscoe chuckled.

“Well, so much for keeping a meeting secret.” Hertford
paused. “Uh…something else has come up. I met with Selena and her mother this
morning—”

Roscoe cut in, alarm in his voice. “Is Selena okay?”

“Oh, yes, she’s way beyond the norm. So much so she has
expressed that she wants to know who the donor is and wants to meet the donor.”
He paused.

“You know I went to great lengths to remain anonymous?”

“I know. I know. Believe me; I’m on your side.”

“Then…?”

Hertford sighed heavily. “Selena was very adamant. Pointed
out that since she’s now 18, she would seek legal help to pursue it. Her mother
resisted, as I did, but finally agreed that I could ‘inquire.’ So this call is
to inquire to see if you would agree to meet them. I made no promises.”

Roscoe let out a whistling sigh. “Didn’t expect this.” He
paused a moment. “And if I still wish to remain anonymous?”

“Things could get complicated, and you’ll end up not being
anonymous in the end.”

“How so?”

“If Selena does get legal help, and a challenge is raised
with me or the hospital, it will be even more difficult to keep a lid on your
anonymity. Legal proceedings will stir the issue of how the transplant
transpired in the first place. Right now the hospital administrator sees the
wisdom in moving on and quietly making needed changes. But legal actions will
hang all the laundry in the open regardless of who wins.”

“How well I know.”

Roscoe took a long thought. “I’ve never met Selena’s mother.
How did she seem?”

“She’s a very professional business woman, but I could tell
Selena is beginning to challenge her.”

Roscoe chuckled. “I could see that. Selena is a feisty young
woman. Let me think about it overnight. I’ll let you know in the morning. Where
would we meet, if I decide to do this?”

“I’ve used my office in the past.”

Friday

Roscoe had two sleepless nights trying to decide whether to
agree to a meeting with Selena and her mother. He’d “what-iffed” himself into a
frenzy. He played through all the scenarios imagining the outcome.

He wondered if Selena or her mother would be repulsed at the
thoughts of a male donor. Then he began to wonder if he might feel
uncomfortable. He pondered whether Selena or her mother would feel some sense
of obligation to him. He didn’t want that. He’d experienced enough false
obligations through life. He was ready for honest feelings.

Then he wondered how he’d react. He hadn’t dwelt on the
kidney donation he’d made. He’d been so occupied with the excitement of
starting a business that he’d felt a certain detachment from the whole kidney
thing. Since he felt normal, he didn’t feel like he’d given up anything.

It was enough knowing that Selena was doing well. He’d
received a couple of brief emails from her since graduation, and learned that
she’d been busy reorienting herself. But he had missed talking with her and
interacting with her interesting personality.

He’d decided not to meet with them. Everyone should just
move on with life, including Selena. She’d get busier and forget about it, but
then he remembered that Selena was as tenacious combing for information, as a
terrier digging for a buried bone. And Hertford was right about the legal
system having a way of uncovering all kinds of information once attorneys start
prying. Attorneys and Selena? Bad combination.

Roscoe glanced at his watch. He was twenty minutes early for
the four o’clock appointment. He pointed ahead with his right hand. “Next block,
on the right, Medical Associates Building. You can let me out at the right
wing.”

Ned said, “So…you making another doctor call. Glad to see
it’s on a bright sunny afternoon, and at their office, and not at their house.”

“Yeah, beats that stormy night doesn’t it?”

“I still haven’t figured that one out, but I ain’t asking.

Roscoe barely chuckled. “Best not to.”

As Ned turned in the parking lot, he said, as he eyed the
names listed on the huge sign, “Looks like this building is loaded with kidney
doctors. You develop some kind of kidney problem?”

Roscoe cut a quick glance. “No. This building’s got so many
doctors, they can’t list them all. All kinds.”

Ned pulled the truck to a stop. “Okay, give me a call when
you want me to come pick you up. I’m gonna see if I can get a better deal from
one of the suppliers down the street.”

Roscoe got out quickly, relieved not to have to come up with
another cover-up answer. Made him feel too much like how he used to handle
everything in the past, if you can’t come up with the truth, then make up
whatever would work.

Dr. Hertford greeted Roscoe. “Good, you’re early. Let’s go
into my side conference room. I sometimes close myself off in here, when I’m
researching a case.”

Roscoe took one of the chairs facing a round work table
covered with X-rays, charts, and papers. A stethoscope dangled off the table.
Shelves were lined with medical books. Inviting watercolor paintings of
mountains were hung perfectly on the walls. Two windows gave a view of the
western landscape of Asheville. Roscoe thought, I could get used to a room like
this.

Hertford brought him back from his reverie, as he took one
of the other chairs, and asked, “Any second thoughts?”

“No. Maybe this will settle Selena’s curiosity.”

Hertford smiled with full confidence “Good. I’ll let you
remain in here. When Selena and her mother arrive, I’ll ask them if they have
any second thoughts, and go over a few other details with them, and then I’ll
come get you.”

“I’ll enjoy the mountain view.”

Hertford closed the door behind him.

Roscoe sat relaxed, his thoughts bouncing from his business,
to living in Asheville, to his wreck, to his hospital stay, to Selena,
wondering what was going on in her inquisitive mind. He smiled at the thoughts
of her. Finally he’d get to meet her mom.

He glanced at the clock on the wall, barely hearing the tick
as the second hand progressed.

Shortly after four o’clock, he heard the main door to
Hertford’s office open, and then two semi-muffled female voices, as Hertford
greeted them warmly with his folksy, “Come in, come in.” The two female voices
responded to the greeting, but it was hard to hear them clearly. At one point
he recognized Selena’s laugh. He thought there was something slightly familiar
about the other female voice, but he couldn’t place it.

He tuned it out, and resumed looking at the mountain view.

Hertford took his seat behind his desk, slid a couple of
files in front of him, and said, “Any second thoughts?” He looked across his
desk at Selena and her mother.

Selena smiled, and said, “No.”

After a moment, her mom said, sighing, “No, Selena and I
have discussed it thoroughly.” She gave a resigned nod of her head.

Hertford thought a moment, and said, “I’ll ask that question
again in a few moments.”

Selena gave her mom a frosty look.

Hertford continued, “Before I let you meet the donor,” he
gestured toward the closed door, “I want to give you a little background on the
person. We’ve found that helps put a recipient and family members at ease
sometimes.”

Selena nodded.

“We scrutinize carefully the health of transplant
participants. This person has a healthy history, and has had a remarkable
recovery, as you have Selena. The donor is a college graduate, and runs a
business.”