Page 7 of Love on the Brain
“We just can’t be one hundred percent certain until we can test the tissue.” Dr. Huntley’s forehead creased with concern. “Because of its grip on the carotid artery and major nerves to his face, it’s only a matter of time before he experiences more severe symptoms. The bottom line is, it needs to be removed, whether it’s cancer or not.”
“Can I see him?” Jane asked. She pushed up from the floor, and Ryan held her as she stood up. “How long until he wakes up?”
“Soon. You can follow me.” The doctor’s gaze darted to Ryan and then to the potted plant, but he didn’t comment on either.
Jane sagged against him as they passed through the secure doors and down the hall to where Noah was recovering. When they reached his bed, she ducked out from under his arms and gripped the bedrail.
He stood back, giving her space. Noah looked like a helpless tiny angel amid all the machines and equipment. The beeps and dings and whirs of the mechanical and electronic indicators suddenly seemed loud to Ryan. Over the years he’d learned to tune them out so they became white noise. But today… Today, they were reminders of how fragile someone he loved was.
Noah was his best friend’s son. He evenlookedlike Casey. Gazing upon the five-year-old’s face, for a moment, Ryan could imagine himself back to that age.
And Jane … she’d been through too much loss already. He’d been with her when she received the call that her mother had been killed. Then through Casey’s cancer, recovery, setback, and death… he hadn’t been there for them as much as he would have liked. He’d listened to Sunny instead of his gut when she said they’d be fine and he needed to worry about himself and his own life.
It hadn’t mattered. Nothing could have saved their marriage, not after she went to such lengths to destroy it.
“What am I going to do, Ryan?”
Jane’s voice was soft, barely audible. He pushed the thoughts of his ex out of his head and trained his eyes on the little boy in the bed. An idea that had been floating around in his most innermost thoughts for weeks surfaced. He inhaled a long breath and let it out slowly, hoping what he planned to offer wasn’t perceived as overstepping or grandstanding.
“Bring him to Austin, Jane. I’ll do it myself.”
CHAPTER3
Jane wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. She turned around slowly. “You can do that?”
He nodded. “I’m sure I can.”
“But … our insurance. Out of network … how does that work?” Her brain went straight to focus on the details and the hurdles. She lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “It’s nice of you to offer, but—”
“No buts. I’ve operated on kids from all over the country. We’ll make it work.”
He sounded so sure, so sincere. She turned back to Noah as he joined her at the bed. “He’s so little, Ryan.” Her voice broke, and she swallowed the lump that had returned in her throat. “I need to go update our family, but I don’t want to leave him.”
“I’ll do it. You stay with Noah.” He squeezed her shoulder and padded out of the room.
The door clicked gently into place, and Jane sank into the armchair next to the bed. She wanted to crawl up onto the mattress beside her baby, hold him in her arms, and tell him everything was going to be okay. Instead, she reached between the rails and took his hand in hers, closed her eyes, and began to pray.
Dear Father in Heaven, please hold my boy secure in your arms and bring him healing. Thank you for sending him a family and team of prayer warriors that love him so much. We can feel their love and Your love. If he wakes up in pain, please minimize it or allow us the ability to minimize it for him…
The door clicked open. Her father’s comforting scent of frankincense, bergamot, and sandalwood cologne comforted her. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey.” Grant Porter stepped up to the bed and gazed upon his grandson. “He looks good.”
Jane’s eyes widened, then she smiled. Her dad was making a joke. “He sure does. Except for all the bandages, wires, needles, and—”
“All necessary gifts to keep him with us.” He slid his hands in his pockets and turned to face her.
Worry etched lines in his face, and Jane thought in that moment he’d never looked so old. He’d be sixty this year, and she never thought he looked his age. Until now.
“Ryan updated us.” There was a bite to his words Jane wasn’t used to hearing. “Whatever happened today is in the past. We plan for the future. Whatever you need to get him to Austin, you let me and Tracy know. This boy has a whole congregation behind him.”
“Dad, I can’t take from the church community members,” Jane said softly. “Not again.”
He sat down on the sofa beside her chair and reached out to tip up her chin. Her eyes latched on his, so much like her own.
“You can. Don’t be prideful or feel guilty about it. They won’t give more than they can. Accept the help, Jane. Tracy is ready to organize everything, just needs the word. Your boy is counting on you.”
“But…” She had to look away. “I have savings.”
