Page 26 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“You broke Mom’s heart so badly that it couldn’t be fixed,” Liam told Andrew. His voice dropped and became flat. “And ours. So, I ask you, why would you ever think we’d help you?”
“Now you get to feel what it’s like to have family turn their back on you!” Jennifer raised her chin defiantly.
“It’s not a good feeling, feeling helpless and alone.” Liam’s tone of voice matched his sisters with an added touch of malice. “To have the last glimmer of hope extinguished as you reach the end of a very dark tunnel.”
Harley watched from the crack in the attic floor, unsure of what had caused this heated argument. He could feel the tension and resentment in the air and wondered what Andrew had asked for that had warranted that kind of reaction from Liam and Jennifer.
“Come on, Liam, let’s get out of here,” Jennifer said.
Harley was about to stand and rush to the attic opening when he saw Jennifer and Liam turn to leave Betty’s room. But Betty stopped them, and Harley remained crouched as he continued spying on them.
“Stop right there!” Betty’s voice boomed, making Jennifer and Liam stop and turn toward her. “I didn’t raise the two of you like this. We help others in need, no matter who they are.”
“Not when they’rehim!“ Liam looked at Andrew Gains as if he was something nasty Liam had stepped in. “He doesn’t deserve our help and had some nerve coming here asking for it.”
“He didn’t come here asking for help for himself,” Betty snapped, looking at her niece and nephew she raised in disappointment. “He came here asking for an innocent fifteen-year-old girl who has done nothing to either of you.”
“Yes, but—“ Jennifer began, but Betty cut her off angrily.
“Did I say you could speak?” Betty glared at Jennifer. “I’m not done.” She pushed herself into a more comfortable position in the bed. “How can the two of you walk out here so coldly without a thought to Molly?” She shook her head. “Especially you, Liam. As a father to a fifteen-year-old daughter, I thought you’d understand. What if it was Lila who needed help?” She hit a nerve with Liam. “I bet if you had to, you’d put that pride in your pocket and go wherever you could to save her.”
“Betty’s right,” Andrew said. “I would never want to disrupt your lives. I know I have no right to ask for your help. But I’m asking anyway. Molly is only fifteen. She deserves a chance to live her life andgo to college.” He rubbed his tired eyes before looking at Jennifer and Liam pleadingly. “And I’ll do anything to get her the help she needs. Including begging the two of you to help her to fight the leukemia.”
Andrew’s words sent Harley’s mind reeling at the mention of his teenage daughter with leukemia. He swallowed as the room whirled around him, and he was suddenly transported back ten years to another time, another place, and another fight against leukemia.
Boston Ten Years Ago
Harley hadn’t had time to change out of his Navy SEALs uniform. When the military plane landed at the base near Boston, he’d hopped in the town car the military had arranged for him and headed to Boston General.
On the way, he played Angela’s message that had come for him a week ago, but he was on assignment repeatedly.
Harley, you have to get here as soon as you can. Daniel’s condition is worsening. Your bloodwork finally came back, and you’re a match. Please, your son needs you now more than ever.
The town car had barely stopped outside the hospital, and Harley was out of the car and rushing to find what room his son was in. Thenurse pointed him in the direction and hadn’t even finished speaking when Harley’s boots pounded down the corridors to find Daniel.
Harley burst through the door of Daniel’s room, his heart pounding in his chest. His eyes immediately landed on the small figure lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to various machines. Daniel’s face was pale, his features drawn with pain. He barely registered his ex-wife sitting in the chair next to their son’s bed.
“Daniel,” Harley breathed, rushing to his son’s side. “I’m here.”
Daniel’s eyes fluttered open, and a weak smile spread across his face. “Dad,” he whispered.
Harley took Daniel’s hand, trying to hold back tears. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to get here,” he said, his voice choked with emotions that he gulped back. “I promise I won’t leave your side again.”
Daniel squeezed his father’s hand, his grip weak but filled with love. “I know you didn’t want to leave,” he said softly. “But I’m glad you’re here now.”
“Harley, at last!” Angela interrupted the tender father-son reunion. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
She stood up from the chair, her eyes glazed with a mix of desperation and hope. Harley tore his gaze away from Daniel to look at Angela, taking in her disheveled appearance and the haunted look in her eyes.
“I’m sorry I only got your message yesterday,” Harley told her and looked at his son, who had drifted off to sleep.
“Doctor Ainsley told me to get her as soon as you arrived,” Angela told him. Her voice was a hushed whisper so as not to wake Daniel. “She’s eager to get the bone marrow extraction procedure done as soon as possible.”
Harley nodded. He stood up from Daniel’s bed, reluctantly letting his son’s hand go. They’d been waiting for nearly a month to find out if Harley was a match for Daniel. He’d been astounded that finding that information out would take that long. Especially when a twelve-year-old’s life depended on it, but the doctors had assured them Daniel would be okay.
Not fine, Harley realized as he followed Angela down the sterile halls, just okay. Daniel had gotten sick at the beginning of the year, three months after his diagnosis. Angela, most of her family, Harley’s family, and he got tested to find a match for Daniel. That was four months ago. It had taken eight weeks for the lab to return without a match, and Harley had to be retested as his DNA sample had been corrupted.
For some reason, Harley’s DNA had to be taken three times before they got a decent sample of his DNA. While the lab was doing its test, Daniel’s condition worsened. Harley hadn’t wanted to go on this lastassignment, but Angela, the doctors, and Daniel had convinced him to go. The lab would take another three weeks to get the results, and Daniel was responding to the chemo treatments.
