Page 68 of Someone Like You
And as the call ended, after her daddy prayed for her surgery in the morning, Maddie lay back on the bed and stared out the window. She had loved being here. But she was going back to Bloomington and one thing was certain, even with how she felt about Dawson.
Maddie could hardly wait.
23
Dawson was there when Maddie woke up. The surgery had been a success and now he moved to the side of her bed to tell her. “You did it.”
Maddie blinked a few times and narrowed her eyes. “Dawson.” Her throat must’ve been dry because it seemed hard for her to speak. “Louise … is she okay?”
“You should see her.” He reached for Maddie’s hand, careful not to disturb the IV line. “Her face is pink. Her new kidney is working fine.” Dawson smiled. Everything about this moment was a victory, the answer they had prayed for.
“Mmm.” Maddie closed her eyes for a brief moment. Then she found Dawson again. “I’m so glad. I want her to live … a long time.”
You, too, Dawson almost said. But he stopped himself. The transplant had been a textbook operation, and now there was no reason to think Maddie wouldn’t have a full, healthy recovery. With his other hand he soothed her hair from her forehead. “You saved your biological mother’s life, Maddie. I can feel God smiling down at you.”
The hint of a grin lifted her lips. “This is … why I was supposed to come here. I believe that.” She stared at him, to the deepest places of his heart. “This … and you, Dawson.”
Her words filled his soul. If only there was a way forthem. He wanted to promise to visit, beg her to try a long distance relationship. But that wouldn’t work. His office was here … and her home was there. Instead he ran his thumb over her hand and sat beside her. “We still have today.”
“Yes.” Her voice was weak. “If only the sun wouldn’t set.”
He stayed with her until the nurse kicked him out. And he came back every day until they released her to go home with Louise and Larry. The doctor had given Maddie permission to fly home to Indiana tomorrow. Her grandfather was coming to take her back.
Dawson couldn’t think about it.
On the morning of her departure, Dawson had important meetings with his father. Big changes ahead, his dad had told him yesterday. Changes that affected Dawson’s future.
But he had to break away to see her, so he left the office. He wouldn’t miss saying goodbye to her, wouldn’t miss seeing Maddie West one more time.
Before she left Portland for good.
On the way to the Quinns’ house, Dawson remembered the crazy circumstances that had led them all to this point. Embryo adoption? Embryos frozen for years without incident?
Dawson had done a little research, and what he learned was staggering. Back when Maddie and her fellow embryos were transferred to the fertility doctor in Bloomington, this sort of situation was unheard of. Only a handful of embryo adoptions had been done in Europe, and it was possible Maddie’s was the first in the United States.
Now, though, there were more than a million babies on ice. One million. Tiny embryos from someone’s leftoverexperience with in vitro fertilization. Souls on ice. To handle the need, a number of clinics had sprung up across the country. Turned out adopting an embryo was neither difficult nor overly expensive. It also wasn’t technically adoption. Legally, embryos were passed from one person to another through a property transfer agreement.
But it definitely raised questions. Questions only God could answer.
Like with Maddie.
Dawson turned onto the Quinns’ street. He didn’t blame Maddie’s Indiana parents anymore. Not after his research. At first it would’ve been easy to believe the pregnancy might have been a natural one. Who was to say whether the baby came from the implanted embryos?
Even after testing had told the story, even after Maddie’s parents had known the truth, none of it would’ve been easy. Especially for a couple desperate for a baby. Telling Maddie at any point would’ve been difficult and complicated.
Anyway, all that was behind them. And Maddie was right. Maybe the whole thing had nothing to do with Maddie meeting him or her biological parents. But about saving Louise Quinn’s life. They would never know this side of heaven.
Up ahead he could see a strange car parked outside the house. Dr. John Baxter, no doubt. Maddie’s grandfather. He had flown in late last night and stayed at a hotel. Maddie had said he’d be there first thing in the morning. Dawson took a quick breath. He didn’t have long. But the change of events at work had given him something he hadn’t had before. Something he held on to as he climbed out of his truck and headed up the walk.
Hope.
AFTER AN HOURat Louise and Larry Quinn’s house, John was ready to leave. Maddie felt tired, and it was time to get her to the airport. She could sleep on the plane.
Louise was propped up on the couch and Larry sat in the chair beside her. For the past half hour they had talked about London, and Larry had showed John pictures of her life. The resemblance between Maddie and London was uncanny.
The two were most certainly sisters.
As they closed the photo album and put it away, John realized he had suffered a loss, too. He would’ve treasured the chance to meet Maddie’s biological sister. To see for himself the similarities and know that Maddie had gotten the chance to know her.
