Page 168 of Take My Hand

I knew exactly what she meant. As the seconds passed by, the more I was questioning my response. Not telling him to fuck off, but I could have least told him to get my ‘brother’ to contact me. Because surely he couldn’t have expected me to decide there and then.Surely,he’d have known that I’d have to think about it… wouldn’t he?

Maya must have read my mind. “Maybe if his son had asked you’d have felt different.”

“At least then I’d know he really wanted it. Maybe he doesn’t know he asked me.”

“Maybe he doesn’t even know about you,” Maya said, grabbing for my hand. “It might explain why he’s never tried to contact you or asked you for a kidney himself.”

“I wouldn’t put it past Steven to hide my existence. He’s hardly got a good track record where honesty is concerned.” Suddenly, I felt embarrassed for saying no, which made me angrier. I dropped my head into my hands and groaned. “Why the fuck am I feeling guilty about this?”

“You’ve nothing to feel guilty about. You’re entitled to say no, Will.”

“But what if…” My words trailed off as I considered what might happen to the brother I’d never met. “Should I have said yes?”

“No,” Maya protested. “Not if you’re unsure. Besides which, you may not be a match, and,” she said with a sigh, “it’s a dangerous operation, babe.”

I reached up and rubbed a finger gently over her frown, giving her a small smile. “I’d be fine.”

“I’d still worry. And think about Maddy. Would she want you to do it?”

“No, absolutely not,” Maddy said later that evening when I mentioned the transplant. “You don’t even know him, so why should you?”

I didn’t argue because she was right, I didn’t owe Cameron anything, so why should I? I also knew that, like me, Maddy would start to feel guilty and by the end of the night would have probably researched everything to ensure that it was safe for me to say yes.

“And why hasn’t he asked you himself?” She echoed the same question that Maya and I had been tossing back and forth earlier. “If he wanted your kidney, he should have comehere, told you who he was, and asked politely, ‘can I have your kidney?’”

“You dad doesn’t think that his brother knows about him.”

Maddy’s head whipped back and forth between us. “That’s just messed up if it’s true.” She slumped back in her chair. “You really think your dad would do that?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know him, so no idea. What little I do know; I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“What a vile thing to do.” Maddy chewed on her thumbnail, and I knew she was thinking.

“What?” I asked.

“What if he doesn’t really need a kidney and he’s just going to sell yours?”

I burst out laughing, as did Maya, but she quickly stopped as it clearly hurt. Trust Maddy!

“What the hell sort of things do you watch on TV?” I shook my head, still chuckling.

“Hey,” she protested, sitting up straight. “It happens, Dad. People go out for a drink and then wake up in an abandoned multi-story car park on an old operating table with a foot long scar across their back.”

“A foot long?” Maya asked, grinning, but holding her side. “Is that even possible?”

“Are you two doubting me?” Maddy picked her phone up from the arm of the chair and started to tap away at the screen. “I’ll show you.”

“Mads, sweetheart, it’s fine. I believe you, but I’m sure that’s not what Steven is doing.”

“You just said you don’t know him,” she protested, looking up at me through her long lashes as she continued tapping on her phone. “He might be a real weirdo.”

“He might, but I believe that it’s his son who needs the kidney.” From my spot on the end of the sofa, I reached forMaya’s feet and pulled them into my lap, resting my hand on her calf. I just needed to be touching her whenever I could, even if it was only her feet. “I think I’m going to sleep on it and see how if anything miraculous comes to me in the night to help me to decide. I’m sure he’ll be back anyway.”

“Maybe ask to speak to Cameron yourself,” Maya suggested. “Then see how you feel?”

“Yes, do that,” Maddy added and when her eyes narrowed, I knew she was already feeling sorry for my ‘brother’. “But I don’t want you in any danger.”

“If, and it’s a big if, I say yes, then I’ll make sure it’s all completely safe. It won’t be happening in an abandoned multi-story car park.”

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