The Nurse's Homecoming by Allie Pleiter

Author:Allie Pleiter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-03-30T17:50:55+00:00

* * *

Bridget felt her heart twist as she took a phone update from Martina three hours later. “They want to keep him overnight. Run more tests. See if they can get the fever to go away.”

“Good thing you packed for it.” Bridget tried to sound encouraging. “I would have run things down for you if you needed.”

“Thanks,” came the weary reply, “but we’re used to this.”

How could anyone grow used to something like that? Disappointment pressed down on Bridget’s shoulders. She’d prayed so hard that the mother and son would come back with an all clear for Matteo, as had all the staff and many of the families. That prayer hadn’t been answered—yet. “We’ll keep on praying for you.”

Bridget heard a door shut. “They talked about it,” Martina said in a whisper Bridget guessed was designed to stay out of Matteo’s hearing. “Even if the bloodwork doesn’t come back with...issues.”

Bridget didn’t have to ask what “it” was. “I’ve put in a call to meet with the registry people tomorrow, Martina. The Busketeers and everyone are just waiting for the word. We’re going to give Matteo and anyone else the best shot we can.”

“Thank you.” The words were thick with a mother’s concern.

“How fast... If they end up needing to... How much time do you have?”

Martina sniffed. “I don’t know. Matteo needs to be in remission for them to do the transplant. They can’t do anything until they actually find a match. There’s an option they can do with Matteo’s own cells if needed, but it doesn’t work like a transplant of healthy cells. It’s so scary, I can’t really understand it. I don’t want us to have to go there. What we need is a match.”

“Keep the faith,” Bridget pleaded. “You said yourself you thought there was a match for him here. Maybe that’s God’s way of letting you know there’s reason to hope. By the time you get back, we’ll probably have the whole thing set up. And, Martina, I’m going to be the first in line to donate.” Bridget hadn’t decided that until just this minute, but it seemed like the best way to put her commitment to the project into action.

There was a pause on the line and Bridget imagined Martina being overcome with gratitude. This must be such a scary time for her, fearing the worst for her son after so much sadness had already visited her life. “You okay?” she asked gently.

“Have you told your dad you’re doing this?”

Bridget had tried not to mention her father’s obstinate disapproval of the camp and the donor drive, but it had crept its way into the conversation at least once. “Don’t you worry about Dad. Or anyone else who might put up a fuss. You’ve got loads of people ready to support you.”

“I hope you can bring him around.”

That’s how big Martina’s heart was—she was concerned for Bridget’s family conflict in the middle of her own crisis. “Like I said, it won’t matter. I hope he does, and I’ll try one more time over the weekend, but I’m ready if he doesn’t.

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