Page 70 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

“I’d ask if it was Luna, but then you would’ve said unicorn instead of bird.” We both smiled, and I snuggled closer to him. “I don’t know how to thank you for your support, Holt.”

“I’m here, Keltie, for you and Luna. Whatever you need.”

“Speaking of my daughter, she asks about you at least once an hour.”

“Then, I better go let her know I’m here.” Before he released me, he brushed my lips with his. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.”

We walked to Luna’s room together. My father had fallen asleep again, and Luna was watching cartoons with the sound turned low.

“Mr. Holt!” Her face brightened. “Did you see my pictures?” She pointed to several drawings taped to the wall beside her.

“I did,” he said, sitting on the edge of her bed and examining them. “These are amazing. Is this the mountain behind our ranch?”

“Sam gave me crayons. I’m drawing all the places I want to visit when I’m better.”

“That’s a great idea,” Holt said, studying a particularly colorful creation. “And what’s this one?”

“That’s a recording studio,” Luna explained, her voice growing animated. “Mommy told me she used to work in one, and that’s where you make music. I want to see one someday.”

As Holt and Luna discussed her artistic rendition of a mixing board—which looked more like a spaceship’s control panel—Dr. Robbins stuck her head in the room.

“Keltie, if you have another moment,” she said.

While I was reluctant to take Holt away from Luna, I needed his support. “Sweetheart, Mommy needs Mr. Holt’s opinion about something, but we won’t be too long, okay?”

Luna frowned, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. “I thought of somewhere else I want to go. I’ll draw it while you’re gone.”

“I’ve never met anyone with her kind of resilience,” Holt said once we were outside the room.

“Part of it is she’s too young to truly understand what’s going on. It’s my fault for not explaining it better.”

Dr. Robbins put her hand on my arm. “I will help when it comes time to broach specifics with your daughter. Ms. West also offered to be here again tomorrow if needed.”

My eyes filled with tears. “Everyone has been so kind?—”

Holt put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to him. He had no idea how much his strength did for me. How it gave me what I needed to keep going.

“We’ve already discussed Luna’s treatment protocol,” Dr. Robbins said as we settled into the consultation room. “But there’s something important we need to address now.” She rested her arms on the table. “In Luna’s case, a bone marrow transplant might be beneficial.”

My pulse faltered. “A transplant?”

“It’s one of the most successful ways to win the battle against ALL,” she explained. “We’d like to start testing for potential donors as soon as possible, so we have options if we decide to pursue that course.”

“I’ll get tested,” I said immediately.

“Me too,” said Holt.

“Parents are always considered at least half matches, which is good. But we prefer to find a full match if possible.” She hesitated, then asked, “Is Luna’s father available to be tested as well?”

I swallowed hard, avoiding Holt’s gaze. “He’s not in the picture,” I said stiffly.

“I understand,” she said gently. “But if there’s any way to contact him, it could significantly increase Luna’s chances of finding an ideal match.”

I was unable to speak around the knot in my throat. The thought of contacting Remi—who had denied Luna was even his—made me physically ill.

“We’ll get as many people tested as possible,” Holt said, his hand finding mine. “Starting with Keltie and me.”

---