Page 36 of The Wish
‘Represents what you and Dean can’t face: Jesse running out of options.’ Sandy looks into her friend’s eyes with deep concern. ‘Kelly, do you think you’ve become too attached to Jesse?’
‘No!’ Kelly rubs her forehead. ‘Yes . . . Maybe. I don’t know.’
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, Kelly. Would it be better if one of your colleagues could step in with Jesse and navigate her wish? I have to say – I am worried that Jesse’s wish is becoming too much of a focus.’
Kelly’s stomach lurches. She knows what’s at stake. Passing this on to someone else feels like a cop-out, an abdication of her responsibilities. But perhaps Sandy is right: she hasn’t been putting Jesse’s needs first and foremost. ‘No, that’s not necessary, Sandy. I want, no, I need to sort this out and see it through. I owe it to Jesse. I’ll make sure not to let my personal feelings get in the way anymore.’
Sandy nods. ‘OK. I’m here if you need me. You can always run anything past me first. Remember, you can’t do everything on your own. Sometimes you’re going to have to give up control.’
Kelly understands this, but it’s hard. She’s always been independent, always made her own way in the world, without the help of her family. She says goodbye to Sandy and heads out the door. Determined that whatever she does, she must find a way to make Jesse’s wish come true.
She picks up the phone and dials a number. ‘Hi, Mandy, it’s Kelly. As you know, Dean is making the staff stop Alex from seeing Jesse. I need your help to make sure she gets her wish.’
CHAPTER 16
After Kelly leaves the room, Jesse climbs back on Amy’s bed. She feels bad for shouting at her, no one is listening to her, no one – none of the adults, at least – can understand what she is creating with Alex. Why don’t they get it?
‘Don’t worry, Jesse. I’ll fix this for you. You will get your wish,’ Amy says full of confidence.
Jesse bursts out laughing.
‘What’s so funny?’ Amy asks.
‘You. I’m picturing you fixing this for me while lying in bed receiving chemo. You know the drill, just because you’re in remission doesn’t mean you immediately stop the drugs and chucking.’
Amy joins her laughing. ‘All right, so I can’t fix it straight away, but you get me the name of Alex’s company and I’ll fix it.’
‘All I want is a simple wish to help bring my family back together. Something for my family to remember me by. I want them to be a family again. Is that too much to ask?’
As the two girls hug, Ryan and Luke wander in.
‘What’s going on?’ Ryan asks.
‘Amy’s going to tell my dad and Kelly that Alex is coming back, and they can’t say no. Can you imagine my dad’s face when she says that?’ Jesse says giggling.
‘Jesse needs her wish,’ Amy tells the boys.
‘And Jesse is going to get it,’ Ryan says looking at Amy and Luke.
‘Dream team assemble!’
‘We saw your dad and Alex fighting last night,’ Luke tells the girls. ‘It wasn’t pretty.’
‘Oh, groan,’ wails Jesse.
‘Luke, have you got your phone with you?’ Ryan asks.
Luke pulls his phone from his pocket. ‘Yeah, do you want it?’
‘Yes, I do. Now what’s the name of the company Alex works for, Tri something?’
‘TriOptic Studios,’ Jesse says. ‘Why, what are you going to do?’
Ryan searches on Google. Finding what he is looking for he hits ‘call’.
‘Hello, hi, can I talk to whoever is in charge, please?’ the others hear Ryan say. ‘Well, if he’s not around, can I speak to the next person in charge, please?’
‘Good manners,’ Amy whispers.
