The Color of a Dream by Julianne MacLean

Author:Julianne MacLean [MacLean, Julianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sisters, Twins, adoption, helicopter pilot, transplant, custody battle, organ donor
Published: 2014-02-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-seven

Are you free today? I’d like to talk to you about something.

I rolled over onto my back in bed and texted a reply: Yes, I’m free. What time and where?

I waited a few seconds to see if he would text back right away and he did: You’re up early. Just heading to bed. 2:00?

Sure. Can Ellen join us? I usually take her for a walk in the afternoon.

He texted back a few seconds later: Yes to Ellen joining us. I’ll come to your place at 2:00.

See you then! I replied.

Feeling exhilarated, I set my phone down and got out of bed to fetch Ellen who was standing up in her crib, waiting for me to lift her out.

“Good morning, sunshine!” I said. “Weatherman says it’s going to be a beautiful day.”

I lowered the crib rail. She grabbed hold of her blanket and dragged it with her as I lifted her into my arms.

* * *

For some reason, I chose not to tell Diana about my meeting with Jesse that afternoon. I wanted to find out what he wanted to talk about first.

He knocked on my door at 2:00 on the nose and I invited him in to wait while I put sunscreen on and buckled Ellen into her stroller. He helped me lift her down the steps to the street.

“How was work last night?” I asked as I handed Ellen a sippy cup full of diluted apple juice before adjusting the brim of her sunhat.

“Uneventful,” he replied. “I spent most of the night in the hangar dealing with the engineers. There was a problem with a gearbox.”

“What’s a gearbox?” I asked, gripping the stroller handle and pushing off.

“A very important piece of machinery,” he explained as he fell into step beside me. “It sends power from the engine to the rotors.”

“The rotors are the blades that keep you in the air?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah,” I said. “That does sound important.” We chatted more about his work, reached the end of the street and headed toward the Public Garden.

“You said, in your text, that you wanted to talk to me about something?” I casually asked him.

“Yeah,” he replied, “though it’s nothing specific. It’s just… After meeting you and Ellen yesterday, I can’t stop thinking about your custody case. I’m surprised Rick is doing this. It brought back some memories.”

“Your girlfriend?” I gently said.

He nodded and gestured with his hands. “I want to help you. You said you couldn’t get hold of Rick. What if I called my parents to try and find out where he is? I don’t even know if they’re aware of what’s happening. Or maybe they put him up to this for all I know.”

I gazed up at Jesse with bewilderment. “You said you hadn’t spoken to your parents in ten years. Why would you want to do that for me? You hardly know me.”

Jesse slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans and slid me a glance. “You seem like a nice enough person and I saw how you were with your daughter yesterday.

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