Page 110 of The Doctor's Truth

The shock hits me in the chest. “For what?”

“For taking such good care of our boy.”

Our boy. The minute he says the words, whatever fortress I had left around my heart is blown apart. I grip his wrist and choke back a sob. He pulls me into his arms and presses the sweetest kiss I’ve ever felt to my forehead.

“I’m going to take care of you,” he says. “Both of you. From here on out. I promise.”

He covers my face in kisses. I feel safe with him. Safer than I deserve.

“What do you need right now?” he asks, and the sincerity in his voice breaks my heart.

“Um…” I bite my lip. “Breakfast did sound nice.”

He lets out a laugh. “Yeah. That I can do.”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, and this time I’m the one who grabs him and kisses his mouth. Jason is strong—oak-tree strong. The kind of strength that has roots. I need him now, more than ever, his ability to ground me, keep me sane.

His pocket starts buzzing. “Sorry,” he says, “it might be the hospital.”

“Take it,” I urge.

Those blue eyes still look apologetic as he lifts his phone to his ear. “Yeah?” He’s quiet for a minute as he listens. “Are you sure? Okay…that’s great news. We’ll be right in.”

My heart is drumming against my rib cage when he hangs up. I put my hands on his thigh and squeeze. “Was it the hospital?”

He nods. A light smile comes over his mouth. “A kidney just came in. It’s a match for Otto.”

For a second, I can’t breathe. “Are you serious? I…thought you said it could take months…?”

“I did.” He frowns, and I can tell there’s something bothering him. But then he turns to me and says, “I’m going to go to the hospital. Check it out.”

“We’ll come with you.” My heart is buzzing. “If it’s good…”

“If this works out…Otto could get a new kidney today.”

I didn’t know if I could feel happiness again. But I feel it now. It soars through my chest, and I fling my arms around Jason and hug him tightly. “Oh my God…oh my God. We’ll get packed. Right now.”

54

Jason

Kenzi, Otto, and Missus P pile into the car. As I drive them to Lighthouse Medical, there are ants under my skin.

I keep it together for Kenzi. She’s happy. And hopeful. And she deserves to be both of those things.

But something about this doesn’t feel right.

“How long does the surgery take?” Kenzi asks from the passenger’s seat.

“Six hours. Maybe more, depending.”

“On complications?”

“On anything. It’s just a delicate procedure.”

“But it’s safe, right?”

She’s asking a million questions, and I reach over to give her thigh a squeeze.

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