Unchained Hearts (Baxter Family Saga) (16 page)

The doctor came out of the room. Dr. Benedict immediately recognized Cass and shook his hand, then explained the situation to him.

“We have the syringe the medics took from the scene, but we have no idea what’s in it. Preliminary tests show it’s not a virus or bacteria and the structure is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

The doctor looked at Kyle. “We’re doing everything we can, but whatever this is went directly into her left kidney and its wreaking havoc with her entire system.”

Brandon leaned against the window and just stared. 

“Dr. Benedict,” Cass said, “can I see the syringe?”

“He pulled the bag from his pocket and looked at it. A set of numbers gave him a clue and pulled out his phone.”

“I’m sorry, doctor,” he said, referring to the use of cell phones in the hospital. “I think I may have something.”

Cass stepped away and dialed. After a few rings, a male voice answered. “Dr. Evigan.”

“Kim, it’s me.”

“Michael...” Dr. Kim Evigan was the man who’d helped him during that dark time when he was Michael Kent. He was the only one who called him by that old name. “What’s wrong?”

Cass filled him in and gave him the number on the syringe. Kim was a neuroscientist and psychiatrist. When he was looking for a head for his research center in Georgia, he was the only name that came to mind.

“Off the top of my head, it may be one of ours. Have the doctor send me Kyle’s data and I’ll get back to you.”

He hung up and Cass gave Kyle’s doctor the message. Within minutes, Kyle’s data was transmitted and not too long after that, Cass got a call.

“Michael, it’s me. It’s a drug we tested named Anaben. It showed some promise, but one of the side effects was that it caused red blood cell apoptosis. She’s going to need a coagulant cocktail and a transfusion. Let me talk to the doctor.”

Cass handed Dr. Benedict the phone and he nodded. “I’ll get it immediately.”

He called for a nurse and gave her the directions for the coagulant and then turned to Cass. 

“You both need to be typed; she’s going to need a transfusion.”

“No need,” Cass announced the doctor. “I’m a perfect match. She’s my daughter.”

Dr. Benedict nodded and ushered him to the next room. The nurse brought in the bag of blood and hooked it up to Kyle’s arm. Brandon was finally let in to her room. He held her hand and closed his eyes in silent prayer. He told Kyle how much he loved her and needed her. The nurses checked her vitals and reported the results to the doctor.

Cass stood outside and looked at his children. After all they had been through, they deserved as much happiness as he and Lila had. Maybe even more. 

Dr. Benedict stood next to Cass. “It looks like it’s working. It’ll take some time, but she may have beaten this thing.”

Cass let out a harsh breath and turned from the window. He didn’t realize he’d stopped breathing through this whole ordeal. He walked in and put his hand on Brandon’s shoulder. His son looked up and Cass gave him a nod. Brandon squeezed and kissed Kyle’s hand, whispering a sincere ‘Thank You.’

EPILOGUE

“It looks like a bean,” Jo declared as she looked at the picture.

“That’s exactly what the doctor said. I wonder what Randy will think.”

“You mean, I saw this before him? Nice!”

She gave Jo the picture and straightened her dress. Her friend Mel had designed the perfect wedding gown before she was put on bed rest. Jo looked at her watch. “It’s almost time.”

“Can you give me a minute?”

“Yeah.” Jo gave her friend one last look and thought how Kyle’s luck finally changed.

The day was perfect, well almost. She looked at the engagement ring. This was the same ring Cass had given her mother. How she wished her mother was here. But at least she had Cass to walk her down the aisle. Ever since that day at the hospital, he’d been nothing but supportive. Over the past three months, she’d gotten the chance to know her father. Even though they had a long way to go, she was glad he was in her life. Taking a deep breath and smoothing her dress once more, she grabbed her bouquet and gave herself one last look in the mirror before walking into her new life. 

At the reception, the bride and the groom were doing their traditional dance, smiling and canoodling. Cass stood in front of the buffet table and looked at Brandon and Kyle, keenly aware of how bittersweet the moment was.
Lila, my love
, he thought.
You should be here. We should have given away our little girl together
. He closed his eyes and pictured his Lila with a smile on her face.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Jillian said.

With a slight smile, he said, “Just wishing for things that can’t be.”

Jillian sighed and thought maybe this was as good a time as any. “Listen, Cass, I may have some news about her case.” Jillian’s emphasis on the word ‘her’ made Cass stand up straight.

“Okay, let’s sit down,” he said as he pulled out a chair for her at the nearest vacant table.

“When we were going through Joan’s papers we had pretty much deciphered her codes, but there was some new stuff.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Joan made references to lawn, grass, and other code words during the last two years...around the time of Virgilia’s accident.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I don’t believe in coincidences.” Jillian looked at her drink and twirled the glass. “Virgilia’s body was too burned to be properly identified by anybody. Around the same time Joan starts using new codes after decades of the same pattern...”

Cass felt a well of hope spring inside him, but he held back. “So you think Lila—”

“I don’t know,” Jillian said. The last thing she needed to do was to give him false hope based on a couple of word variations. “The question needs to be asked...if you want to ask it.”

Cass looked at Brandon and Kyle. This was the happiest day for both of them, but he knew his daughter well enough to know that she wished her mother was there. If there was any chance...

“Let’s ask,” Cass declared.

With that response, she wished him a good evening and left the table. 

Cass walked over to the couple and placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “May I?”

Brandon stepped aside and Cass danced with his daughter. The guests looked at them, some of them murmuring, others smiling.

“Are you happy, Kyle?” he asked her. To him she was the little girl who looked so nervous on the stage before she wowed them at her piano recital.

She nodded. “I know you and Mom never got this.”

“This wasn’t meant for us the first time around.”

“I just want you to know, I’m glad you walked me down the aisle, Dad.”

Cass swallowed hard and relished hearing Kyle call “Dad.” He didn’t dare say anything as he fought back tears of joy. He just kissed her forehead and held his little girl close. He thanked Virgilia silently for making him one of the happiest men in the world. And whatever questions needed to be asked, tomorrow was good enough.