Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
M aggie’s hands shook as she read the printed email for the second time. Several phrases stood out.
Can we please put our differences and hurt feelings aside for the sake of Daniel’s child?
Give her a chance for a normal life…like her siblings.
You know what I’m dealing with. Her autism makes this situation more difficult.
I’ve tried everything else, and trust me, you were the last person I wanted to ask, but I’m desperate…
Will come to you in Captiva if I have to…beg.
Paolo came into the room just as she folded the paper. She wiped the wet from her face and didn’t look at him. Putting the letter in her purse, she turned to him.
“Did Riley give you the extra plate for dinner? She said she made too much.”
“Yeah, I just finished. I’m beat. Today was especially crazy at Sanibellia. That whole delivery of mulch that I was waiting for finally arrived on the same day that two of my employees stayed home sick. Tomorrow will be just as awful. Do you mind if I go to bed early?”
She hugged him. “Of course not. You go ahead. I was thinking of running up to Chelsea’s for a bit anyway.”
“Oh? I’m sure she has lots to tell you about her new beau.”
Maggie smiled. “Yes, you’ve figured us out. Us ladies need a bit of gossip time. Sleep well.”
Paolo went to their bedroom, and Maggie looked out the window. The lights were on in the cottage, so she assumed Kat was back from working. She had planned to talk to her sister about Nolan’s phone call, but now Kat’s problems seemed trivial and not worth her time.
She dialed Chelsea’s number.
“Hey, is everything all right?” Chelsea asked.
“Not really. Can I come over?” Maggie whispered.
“Of course. I’m up. Come over in your pajamas and we’ll have a girls’ sleepover.”
Maggie smiled but knew the days and nights ahead of her would never be the same, and that no pajama party could fix this latest drama.
She left the inn and walked quickly to Chelsea’s house. When she got there, Chelsea was already on her porch.
“What is it? Are the kids all right?”
Maggie shook her head and walked past Chelsea and into the house. When they got inside, she turned to Chelsea and handed her the printed email.
Chelsea’s hand reached for her throat as she read the email.
“Now you see why I’m upset?”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Clearly, the woman isn’t going anywhere. She’ll get on a plane and head down here even if I say no…especially if I say no.”
Chelsea read the letter out loud.
Dear Maggie and family,
I am sorry to bother you all, but I have no choice. I’ve tried everything else, and trust me, you were the last person I wanted to ask, but I’m desperate.
My daughter, Emily, has been battling Lupus nephritis for the last few years. The disease has damaged her kidneys to the point where she will now need a kidney transplant.
She is in the hospital, and thus far, we have been unable to find a donor match. Although she is on the list, that list is very long. It could take years before a match is found, as it is rare to find people with the exact six antigen match…except in the case of siblings.
Can we please put our differences and hurt feelings aside for the sake of Daniel’s child? Give her a chance for a normal life…like her siblings.
You know what I’m dealing with. Her autism makes this situation more difficult.
Emily is my only child. Please consider having her half-siblings tested.
They are all adults, and ultimately it will be their decision whether to help their sister.
I will come to you in Captiva if I have to…beg.
I could have asked your children directly, but felt it was right to speak with you first. Although you and I have never met, I believe we share the same hopes and dreams for our children…Daniel’s children.
I beg you to please get in touch and let me know what your decision is. You can contact me at the following email, and phone number…
“Oh, Maggie, this is horrible for everyone, but mostly for Emily. I remember when she came to Captiva for Christmas. She’s such a lovely young woman.”
Maggie nodded. “With her whole life ahead of her…that is, if we can find a match.”
“Well, of course, you have to tell the kids…right?”
Maggie hated herself at that moment. That she could consider anything but to help her deceased husband’s child made her feel like the worst human being.
“Maggie?” Chelsea waited for an answer.
Maggie started to pace the room.
“The thing is, I have no idea which of my children could even help. If Michael was a match, he’d be a terrible choice given his spleen surgery after being shot. Lauren is about to give birth, so she can’t do it. Christopher has already had so much loss with his amputation. I can’t see him losing a kidney on top of a limb. Sarah has three children who depend on her every moment of every day. She’s already exhausted half the time…and Beth, well, you know my Bethy. If she’s a match, she’d have zero issue with giving up a kidney. She’s just so giving and selfless, but she’s in California at her mother-in-law’s funeral. She’s dealing with so much right now. I just don’t know.”
Chelsea put her hand on Maggie’s arm.
“I know your instinct is to keep this from your kids, to protect them. I’ve known you for a long time Maggie. I know you’ll do the right thing. You couldn’t live with yourself if Emily dies.”
Maggie stared at Chelsea and desperately wanted to disagree with her…but she couldn’t.
It had been a long time since she’d called a family Code Red, but it looked like she had no choice.
Starting tomorrow, she’d get in touch with her children and maybe even a prayer circle that someone would be a match long before her children ever had to make such a sacrifice.
The next morning, Kat came into the kitchen with more energy than she’d had since she arrived on Captiva Island. She was starting to feel like a true islander, and it made her feel special.
“Good morning Riley…Iris. Are there any scones this morning?”
“I’m sorry, no. I guess Maggie didn’t get up early this morning. It happens sometimes. I can make you some scrambled eggs if you’d like,” Riley said.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll just have a muffin and a cup of coffee.”
Maggie slowly stepped into the kitchen and took a cup from the cabinet. Kat could tell that something was wrong.
“Good morning, Maggie.”
Maggie looked at Kat and nodded. “You’re up early. I thought for sure you’d still be in bed.”
“Oh, I’m up early because I thought it would be nice to walk the beach before I go shopping. I need some new clothes. I brought only a few things, but I can tell that I’m going to need a lot more.”
“I hear you got a job,” Maggie said as more of a question than a statement.
Kat nodded “That’s right. I’m only working the lunch shift right now, but after I’ve had some experience, I’ll be working the dinner shift.”
Maggie walked to Kat and bent down. Looking into her eyes, she tried to keep from raising her voice.
“Your husband called me last night. You need to call him, and I mean today…not sometime this week…today. If you want to stay in that cottage for one more night, you’ll do as I ask. I don’t want to talk to you about this again. Call him…today.”
Maggie walked out the back door and across to the carriage house, leaving Kat, with her mouth open, to wonder what was wrong with her sister.
She looked at Riley and Iris and shrugged. “Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
It was the text she never wanted to write. Maggie put her coffee mug down on top of the table and looked at her cellphone. She sent a group text to all five of her children. It simply read
“Family Code Red - It’s not about me or Grandma. We’re fine, but we need a family video ASAP about something important. Get back to me as soon as possible. Love you.”
The second she sent the text, she felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t want any of this for her family, but neither did she want Emily to suffer. Chelsea was right. There was no way Maggie could hold this request back from her children.
Beth would still be sleeping, but Maggie wasn’t surprised when, one-by-one, the rest of her children responded.
“Let’s have this meeting now, Beth can call you later,” said Lauren.
“I’m driving over there right now,” Sarah said.
“I’m here, Mom. I’ll go in to work a little later today,” Christopher answered.
“Same here,” was Michael’s response.
She hadn’t planned it this way, but it made sense to tell everyone this news as soon as possible.
“ Okay. Sarah should be here within the next thirty minutes. Let’s wait for her, and maybe, by then, Beth might even see the text.”
Maggie had one more thing to do before the news broke to everyone…she had to tell Paolo.
She went into the bedroom and opened the blinds. Polo grunted and fussed. “What are you doing? I could use another hour of sleep.”
She sat on the edge of the bed. “This can’t wait. I have to tell you something, and it’s very important. Let me get you a cup of coffee first.”
Maggie went into the kitchen, and she found Paolo leaning against the headboard when she returned.
Handing him the cup, she said, “Here you go.”
“I’m guessing this is bad news if you’re bringing me coffee in bed.”
Maggie nodded. “It’s not good. It seems Emily is fighting for her life in the hospital. She has Lupus, which I don’t know anything about, but it seems the illness can damage kidneys. Anyway, the poor girl is on a donor list. She needs a kidney transplant, and it’s near impossible to get the kind of match they need.”
“How did you find out about this?” he asked.
“Her mother sent me an email yesterday.”
Maggie handed the email to Paolo and he reached for his glasses on the nightstand. He put the glasses on and read the email. The stunned look on his face mirrored Maggie’s feelings. “She’s asking the kids to get tested?”
Maggie nodded. “I’ve got in touch with everyone except Beth. She’s three hours behind us. It’s possible that she’ll see the text shortly and join us on the video. Sarah is on her way.”
Paolo put his coffee cup down on the nightstand. “I’m getting up. I’ve got to get to Sanibellia today for that mulch delivery. I wish I could stay here and be with you all but I’m already behind at work. Will you be all right?”
Maggie sighed. “I don’t think any of us will be all right until this nightmare is over. With Lauren ready to deliver her baby any day, and the potential for one of my kids to donate a kidney, I don’t think I can stay in Florida while all that is going on. No matter what, I promised Lauren that I’d come up to help her after the baby is born. Now, it looks like there’s a chance I’ll have two of my kids in the hospital at the same time.”
Paolo shook his head. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, honey. We don’t know that any of the kids will even be a match. Regardless, everyone will be all right. I’m certain of it…even Emily.”
Maggie nodded, and then hugged Paolo. “I hope you’re right. I’m going to pray for that very thing.”