Page 27 of The Cottage on Plum Island
While Harley had known the odds when the doctors had diagnosed Daniel with leukemia in his mind, he never imagined it would come to this. The weight of guilt settled heavily on Harley’s shoulders as he thought about his time away from his son.
The time he spent defending his country to ensure it was a safe place for Daniel to grow up in all suddenly felt like it had been for nothing. The real enemy lies inside a person. Harley swallowed the burning lump stinging his eyes as Angela stopped before a door labeled Doctor Jessica Ainsley - Oncologist.
A twelve-year-old kid shouldn’t need an oncologist! Angela knocked on the door and walked in without being invited.
The doctor was a petite redhead with cool eyes. She stood when they entered, and Angela introduced her to Harley.
“I’m so glad you could get here so quickly, Mr. Donovan,” Doctor Ainsley’s voice was as cool as her eyes.
Harley understood her reserve. Like him, she was also a type of soldier fighting a war against a silent enemy that no military could defend the nation against. Her war was with cancer.
“Can you explain the procedure to us?” Angela asked the doctor as they sat in front of her desk.
Harley was consumed by guilt and worry, and his mind couldn’t think of anything else. He couldn’t help but blame himself for Daniel’s condition, for being away on his assignments while his son suffered. The weight of his choices and their consequences on his family pressed heavily on his shoulders.
As Doctor Ainsley continued to explain the bone marrow extraction procedure, Angela nodded along, her eyes filled with desperation. But Harley couldn’t focus on the details. Instead, memories of the past flooded his thoughts—the times he had missed, the birthdays and holidays he hadn’t been there for.
His mind kept drifting back to Daniel lying in that hospital bed. The guilt gnawed at him, consuming his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had failed his son by not being there when he needed him the most. As the doctor continued to explain the bone marrow extraction procedure, Harley found it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
“Mr. Donovan, are you listening?” Doctor Ainsley’s voice broke through his thoughts.
Harley snapped back to attention and nodded, forcing a smile. “I apologize, doctor. It’s just that my mind is preoccupied with my son’s condition.”
Doctor Ainsley gave him a sympathetic look. “I understand, Mr. Donovan. This is a difficult time for you and your family.”
Angela reached across the desk and took Harley’s hand, offering and drawing comfort. “We’ll get through this together,” she said softly.
Harley squeezed her hand in return, grateful for her support. While he and Angela had barely been able to be in the same room before their divorce, the one they were always united with was Daniel. They ensured their son was their first priority—at least Angela did. Harley was off fighting for his country. He knew there was honor in that as a patriot, but as a father with a sick son, it somehow felt like desertion.
“We can do the procedure as soon as you’re ready, Mr. Donovan.” Doctor Ainsley’s words cut into his thoughts.
Harley blinked at her for a few seconds before realizing they were waiting for his answer.
“I’m ready now,” Harley told them.
“You’ll need to fill out these forms.” Doctor Ainsley put a sheet before him and handed him a pen. “When last did you have anything to eat or drink?”
Harley looked at her and frowned as he tried to remember. “Yesterday, when I returned to Los Angeles from an assignment.”
“What time of day was it, Harley?” Angela asked for verification. “You’re not supposed to have anything to eat or drink since midnight.”
“Then that’s not a problem,” Harley informed them, filling out the form, signing it, and handing it back to the doctor.
The next couple of hours were a blur as Harley’s bone marrow was extracted, and he insisted on recovering in his son’s room.
Six torturous weeks later, Daniel’s blood count was going up. While celebrating that small victory, Harley and Angela knew Daniel’s immune system was still fragile, and he wasn’t out of danger yet. Daniel was still in the hospital during the seventh week as his immune system was still weak. Before anyone entered Daniel’s room they had to put on a mask, gloves, booties, and a disposable sterile gown. The doctor had stressed that if anyone had a slight sniff or headache they werenotto go into Daniel’s room.
As a Navy SEAL, Harley was vaccinated once a year against influenza and he made sure he took vitamins to ensure he didn’t contract anything while Daniel was so sick. Not that it had mattered on that day. Harley was visiting Daniel and they were going through the latest Superman comic book Harley had bought him, discussing his son’s superheroes.
Daniel was an excellent artist and wanted to write his own comic books. He’d started drawing his own at the age of seven. They had been discussing colleges Daniel would like to attend one day when he suddenly began coughing. Within a couple of hours, Daniel was running a high fever. The doctors tried to control the fever, but his system couldn’t fight it.
Twenty-four hours later, Daniel was gone—lost to them forever! Angela and Harley were still in shock when Angela’s family arrived.
“Angela, Harley.” Clair, Angela’s twin sister, rushed toward them. Her voice sounded weird. Gruff and throaty. “What happened?”
Harley didn’t know why he’d even noticed it, as he never had time for Clair and rarely noticed anything about her. She was a spoiled, pampered rich girl who’d gotten in with the wrong crowd to spite her parents. Clair had been in and out of drug rehab facilities since her rebellious teenage years. She may have cleaned up her act, but Harley still didn’t trust or like the woman.
On the other hand, Angela was the more responsible twin—the one her parents had groomed to take over the Wesley clothing manufacturing empire. However, Harley had sensed over the past couple of years since Clair had come back into the family fold that Clair was gunning to take over the business.
