Stronger Than Ever (My Best Friend) (14 page)

“It’s 555-6615. I know she’s my daughter, Kay, and if Jason gets in my way, I will have no other choice but to go to court and petition an emergency blood test. You shouldn’t have lied to
Jason
.
” He hung up the phone.

Staring at the handset, she dialed the doctor’s number and made an appointment for the following day.

***

As she sat waiting in the doctor’s office, all Kay could think of was Jason’s hostility upon hearing about the conversation she’d had with Tommy.

“No, no, no, Kay!”

“Jason, can you at least come with me to the doctor’s office? I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it for the little boy.”

“Kay, I’ll go. I’ll sit and listen to the doctor and my answer is going to be the same.” He stormed off toward the back yard.

The doctor came into the office introduced himself and shook both their hands.

“My name is Doctor Stephen Ford. I’m told you’re here to talk about donating bone marrow for Tomas Jr.”

“
What are the risks to marrow donation?
”
Kay asked.

“I want to assure donor safety, but no medical procedure is risk-free. A small percentage of donors experience a serious complication due to anesthesia or damage to bone, nerve, or muscle tissue in their hip region.” The
y
looked squarely at Kay.
“Who would be donating?”

“My daughter. She’ll soon be five.”

Jason, as he’d promised, listened without saying a word.

“Ma’am, I told Mr. Blake that the only way I would allow a child to donate bone marrow is if there is no adult match. I really wouldn’t recommend a child.”

“Can she be tested just as a precaution, in case they don’t find anyone else? He told me his kids were tested already.”

“His kids haven’t been tested yet, but even if they were a match, there are a lot of legal grounds he would have to go through. He would have to prove that we did everything to find an adult donor.”

“Sir, thank you for your time,” Jason said, standing up and extending his hand to the doctor.

Kay looked aghast at Jason. “But—”

“
There are no buts
, Kay. Angel is not doing this. End of discussion.” He opened the door and walked out.

“I apologize for my husband,” Kay said, looking at the doctor in embarrassment.

“Ma’am, I don’t blame him. You’re asking him to risk his daughter’s health.”

***

How can she even think about putting our daughter’s health in jeopardy
? There were so many other options. Jason had just gotten tested to see if he was a match. He was coming around the corner, when he saw Tommy and who he guessed was Tommy’s wife, and the woman appeared furious. Jason slowed his stride so he could listen.

“Look, I didn’t know,” Tommy told his wife.

“You didn’t know you had another daughter?”

“It was a one-night thing. She didn’t mean anything to me.” He grabbed the woman’s hand. “If she’s a match, she could save his life.

“Then what?”

“I don’t care about that little girl. She’s nothing to me. If she is a match, after the procedures she’ll be out of our lives.”

Jason stalked up to them. “Excuse me.” At that moment he realized the woman was the same one who’d stopped him from beating Tommy up five years ago.

“What do you want?” Tommy asked.

“I’m going to tell you this in the nicest way possible. Angel is not getting tested. Find another way.” He stared him down. “She’s my daughter.”

“Whatever. It’s not your decision, it’s Kay.”

“You think.” He looked over at the woman. “Ma’am, how long have you two been married?”

“We’ve been married six years. Why?”

Son of a bitch. He was married when he was with Kay. She had no idea
.

“Well, my daughter is four. So I guess that means he cheated on you, if she is his.”

The woman stared at Tommy. “You didn’t tell me she was four, you fucking bastard. How could you?” She looked over at Jason.

“Ma’am, I’m so sorry to hear about your son and I hope you find a donor.”

***

Later on that evening, Jason
went
into the house, placed his briefcase on the side table, and walked
toward
the kitchen. “Did you eat?” Kay asked him.

“No, I’m not hungry. Where are the kids?” He opened the refrigerator.

“They’re sleeping. Do you realize what time it is? Where have you been?” She had her hands on her hips.

He grabbed a bottle of water, opened it with a loud crack,
and
started
drinking.

“Jason, I’m talking to you.”

“I had to work late.” He left the kitchen.

She followed him. “Why didn’t you call? I was worried.”

He could see the fear in her eyes. “Sorry. I was consumed with work.” At that moment, Jeremy
began to
cry. Kay
began to
walk
toward the sound
.

“I’ll get him.” She stopped as he
went
past her to Jeremy’s room.

He
stepped
in the room, over to the crib and smil
ed
. “Hey,
boo
bear.” He picked him up and kissed his cheek. “Are you hungry? Yeah, you are. You’re getting so big.” He
walked
out the room.

“I’m taking Angel to get tested,” Kay said without looking at him.

“The hell you are.” Jason snorted, remembering what he’d overheard Tommy say.

“Jason, I’m only testing her. There’s no risk in doing that.”

“So what if she’s a match, then what?”

“If that happens, then we’ll discuss it.”

“I said no.”

“Excuse me, I have no say
?
She can save a little boy’s life
,
”
Kay said.

“Kay, this might sound cruel, but I couldn’t care less. My daughter comes first.”

“How could you say that? What if it was your son?”

“I would never put another child’s life in danger when there are other options. Do you think he cares what happens to Angel?”

“I’m not doing this for him, and yes, I do think he cares. He’s changed.”

He gave her a sarcastic smile. “Really.” He handed her the baby. “He’s hungry.”

Kay took the baby and settled him against her chest.

“Kay, if you go through with this I’ll take you to court.” He
stormed
off to their bedroom.

She looked at Jeremy. “Did he just say he’ll take me to court?”

She
went
into their bedroom. He was already in bed, reading a magazine. She climbed into her side of the bed. “Look, we need to talk.” She leaned into him.

He closed the magazine. “There’s nothing to talk about. I meant what I said.” He turned his body from hers and turned off his nightstand light.

He stormed into Kay’s office and slammed the door. “What the fuck, Kay?” Jason yelled
, moving
toward her desk. “You went behind my back and got her tested.”

She jumped out of her chair. “It’s not want you think. I just got her tested. That’s it.”

“When did you get her tested?” He stared at her.

“It’s been a week.”

He shook his head and laughed. “A week, a fucking week. Right after I told you not to do it.”

“You don’t give me orders. She’s my daughter.”

“Oh, now she’s your daughter, not ours. You sure aren’t acting like a mother.”

She was hurt by his comment. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You went behind my back!”

“You didn’t leave me any other option.”

“You know what I see, you wanted Tommy to finally know Angel was his daughter and you found the right moment to do it!”

“Why do you always think less of me when it comes to him? It’s not my fault you’re insecure.”

“Now I’m fucking insecure.” He stopped, and looked at her. “When you get home today, my shit will be gone.”

“What?”

“I can’t take it anymore. Ever since he came back into our life, all you’ve done is hide things from me. I love you, but I need some space.”

“Jason, look at me.” She grabbed his hands. He stared at her. “You’re going to leave me and the kids.”

“I’ll always be there for the kids and you. You know that, Kay.”

“You need fucking space, then I’ll leave. It’s your house. I’ll move out.” Kay releas
ed
his hands.

“It’s your home. I would never ask you to pull them out of their comfort.”

“Jason, don’t do this,” she said, crying.

“I have to
do this
,
for us.
I’ll call you so we can talk about visitation. If she is a match, I will
find out. The next step will be court.” He turned and walked out.

Kay went back to her desk, sat down, put her face in her hands, and cried.

“Kay, are you okay?” her assistant asked. “Do you want me to reschedule your next appointment?”

She wiped her face. “I’m okay, Miriam. Don’t cancel.”
This too shall pass. Be strong
.

***

“He left me,” she said between tears.

“Are you sure, Kay? Did he say those words
?
”
Sophia said the words calmly from her perch in front of the desk
.

“No, not exactly. He said he needed some space from me.” She
moved her fingers over the keyboard
.

“Well, Kay, what you did was wrong. You went behind his back, knowing how he felt.”

“I see, so you’re on his side now.”

“No, Kay, I’m on your side. But a friend will tell you the truth no matter what.”

“I want you on my side. He thinks I did it because I still have feelings for Tommy, but Sophia, I don’t. Jason is everything to me. It’s a kid’s life we’re talking about.”

“Do you have unresolved feelings for Tommy?” Sophia stared at her.

“Fuck no. Sophia you’re the only other person that knows what he did to me. I don’t have any feelings for him.”

“Did you ever sit back and try to see it his way? The doctor told you they didn’t use all their resources yet. You should have waited and not taken Tommy’s word for it. You already know he lied to you about getting his kids tested. In Jason’s eyes, you chose Tommy over him and Angel.”

“That’s not true. All I did was take her to get tested.”

“What if she’s a match? Then what?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far, but if she’s a match, Jason said he’ll take me to court.”

“He’s going to stop you.”

“Yes.”

“Kay, I know you. You’re hoping Angel is not a match.”

Kay couldn’t look at Sophia because she was right.

“Are you going to just let him go without a fight? Jason is one of the few good men left. That man loves the heck out of you.”

“Sophia, you know me. I’m a strong woman who knows when she has a good thing. No, I’m not going to give up on my husband. If I have to apologize then I will.”

“Kay, I don’t think that’s going to work this time. He’s really hurt.”

“I know. I’ve never seen him this mad at me.”

“I have to go back to work. If you need me, call.” Sophia walked to Kay’s desk and gave her a hug.

“Thank you for coming by.”

***

It had been three weeks since he’d moved out. Never one to procrastinate, he’d packed some clothes and left before she got home that day. He knew if she got there before he left, he would change his mind. He’d been staying at a hotel until John had offered him the use of his old condo. He’d kept it just in case things didn’t work out with Amy.

“I miss her and the kids. I miss just getting up and being able to see the kids. Now I have to wait until it’s my time to see them. It’s killing me. I had to explain to Angel why daddy wasn’t home and that I still loved her and Jeremy.” He looking at John, though he knew the man wouldn’t have any answers.

“Well, dude, go back home. I don’t know what went down between you two, but I know she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

“Every day I drive by the house, wanting to see her. I haven’t seen her since last week. We attended Angel’s pre-school teacher-parent conference and she didn’t even say a word to me.”