24. Lacy
24
LACY
T he bottle samples have arrived, and they look great.
“Is this what you had in mind?” Connor asks, and I smile.
“This is exactly what I had in mind,” I confirm, my grin not faltering. Everything in my life seems to be more enjoyable. I’m happier, work is amazing, Mom is doing good, and I haven’t had a nightmare in over a week.
“Lacy. A delivery for you,” our receptionist says, walking in grinning with a large bouquet of flowers. Hudson and his gifts are now legendary in the office. As I stand to grab them from her, I see Connor smirking.
“Well, I will leave you to open your little love note from the doc. Good work on those bottles; they look amazing,” Connor says, standing and walking out, leaving me giddy. Hudson seems to like spoiling me. My fingers move fast as soon as Connor is out the door, eager to see the note, because while the gifts are amazing, his words are what lights me up inside .
I rip open the envelope, looking again at the large bouquet of white roses. He knows I like to pick the fresh roses from the distillery garden, so it is a little odd, but I appreciate it just the same.
As I slide the card out of the envelope, my smile is wide as I read his message, before I gasp and my hands start to shake.
Lacy
I have loved the thrill of the chase, but I’m not playing anymore. You will be mine and I’m coming for you.
These are not from Hudson. Fear consumes my body, my hands trembling harshly as the note falls from my grasp. My eyes water as my breathing escalates, and the room starts to spin. I close my eyes and start to count, trying to calm my frantic breaths, and I grip on to my desk so I don’t fall. It takes me a little while, but slowly it works, and my breathing regulates. As I open my eyes and look down at the flowers on my desk, I swallow the bile that rises, and with my sweaty palms, I grip on to the large heavy bouquet and walk quietly out of my office. No one is around, all of them in meetings, and my pace quickens as I run down the steps of the office and make my way to the back of the distillery to the large trash containers, the ones reserved for our large rubbish items, where no one else will even look.
A feral growl sounds from deep within me as I throw the flowers into the air, tears falling down my cheeks. I pant as I watch the bouquet rise up almost in slow motion for a moment before the flowers fall, landing in the large bin with bits of old barrels and other random building materials, until all that is left is me .
A panting and shaking mess.
I jump from the car and dash inside, frazzled. I’m running late and have been all day. I’ve felt off ever since the flower delivery this morning. My senses are heightened, jumping at every noise. Usually, I can push his messages to the back of my mind, but there was something about the note that was different. More demanding, more threatening. Like he is getting agitated. He probably thought that I would buckle and come back to school immediately, doing everything he’s asking of me. Maybe no one has ever told him no before.
“Oh, there you are, Lacy,” Patti says from the reception desk at the hospital as I push my way inside.
“Sorry!” I cringe, feeling terrible but still not myself.
“It’s fine. Melody is here and is already with your mom,” Patti says, standing, giving me that empathetic smile that I hate, and I walk swiftly to follow her down the hall.
Mom and Melody have had a few calls, and now I finally get to meet the doctor face-to-face. I’m trying to keep myself in check because the flutter of excitement dancing in my chest from the possibility that Melody will be our answer, the one who will save my mom, is hard to tamp down.
“I’ve got it, Patti.” I hear Hudson and turn, seeing him step out from a room at the side, and I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of relief and safety .
“No problem, Doc,” Patti says before turning and walking back to the front desk.
“Hey,” I murmur to him, releasing a heavy breath as my body relaxes.
“Hey, you,” he says, his voice low, then he steps toward me and slides his hand around my waist, pulling me tight. I fall into him, tears already threatening and my hands already shaking. As I wrap my arms around him, I never want him to let me go.
“Lacy? Are you alright?” he asks, clearly concerned because my behavior is off.
“Just… hold me…” is all I get out, and I feel his hold around me tighten. His hands splay across my back, nearly every inch of my front covered and my back protected, and I bury my head in his chest and close my eyes. He rubs my back, his hand moving up and down slowly, and I just breathe.
“It will be fine. Your mom will be fine.” He thinks I’m upset about Mom, and I should be. Guilt riddles me instantly. Here I am, worried about some random flower delivery, when my mom is literally fighting for her life. I clear my throat and pull back a little, looking around, because we are standing right in the middle of the corridor. Anyone can see us.
“Sorry, I’ve just had a big day.” I give him a small grin, and he eyes me warily. He knows that isn’t it, but he doesn’t push, and I’m thankful.
“Besides, should we be this close at your place of employment, Doctor?” I tease as my hand runs up his arm, enjoying the feel of him, my frantic state already soothing the minute his hands touched my body .
“Hmmm, no one around who I can see…” he says before he bends his head and his lips hit mine. The kiss is soft and over too quickly, but it’s enough to rid me of the swirls of anxiety I’ve been feeling all day and the immense fear I experienced this morning. “How are you?” he murmurs as he pulls back slightly, assessing my face.
“I’m good, even better for that amazing discussion we had in your kitchen yesterday. You?” I ask, pushing the topic onto him as I still feel my hands are a little jittery. It’s been a long time since I was thoroughly kissed like that, and I can’t hide my smile.
“Same, but I realize that there are many other rooms in my house I still need to show you,” he says cheekily, and I giggle.
“I look forward to that, Doctor,” I admit. “Do you still want to share a sundae with me on Saturday?”
“I want nothing more, especially if you do that sexy thing with the cherry stem in your mouth.” He winks, quickly pecking me on my lips again. “We better go in. Your mom has been in with Melody for about fifteen minutes. I just had to take a call.”
I nod, and Hudson knocks on the door of the consultation room.
“Enter,” a stern female voice says before Hudson opens the door.
“Lacy’s here,” Hudson says, opening the door wide for me to step through.
I walk in, spotting Mom straightaway, smiling, and I get one in return.
“Sorry, I’m late,” I say as I sweep in and look around. My eyes settle on the woman sitting opposite my mom. I knew she was stunning, seeing her on the video call last week, but in reality, she is almost like Barbie. Blond hair, blue eyes, blinding white teeth, and even though she’s wearing a loose white coat, I’m pretty sure her figure is amazing. The complete opposite of me.
“Hi, I’m Lacy,” I say, extending my hand.
“I’m Doctor Wilkinson. Please take a seat,” she says, and as Hudson closes the door, I sit in the empty seat next to Mom, feeling like I am in the principal's office at school, my hands already fidgeting in my lap. “As I was saying, Veronica, we have discussed this before on our video call, that there are no guarantees. I think we all know this is not a disease we can beat. However, partial remission is a correct diagnosis at this point and full remission is also possible. I would like to do a few more tests to check a few things,” she says, and I frown.
“Of course, Lacy and I know the situation,” Mom says as her hand grabs on to mine. The doctor looks at the movement before her eyes flick to mine.
Hudson pulls a chair up next to me and takes a seat with us and my mom practically beams at him.
“So…” Melody says, and the three of us look at her. “What I would like to do is run some tests, I can see your red blood count is a little low, so a potential transfusion may be needed.”
“Transfusion?” I question, needing clarification, and I feel my mom’s hand grip mine tighter. I take a deep breath, feeling my fight-or-flight starting to develop, so I try to calm my breaths. Then I feel Hudson’s hand grabs my other hand, giving me a squeeze. I see Melody’s eyes flick to the movement, before she looks sharply at Hudson, then her eyes rest back on me.
“What are you thinking?” Hudson asks her, and I look at him, grateful he’s asking the questions as my mind is running and not connecting to many thoughts today.
“Veronica,” Melody says, looking straight at my mom, ignoring Hudson and me. “I think it would be pertinent to run a few more diagnostic tests, because your red blood count isn’t where I like it to be. It can be an indication that there’s possibly some bleeding internally. At this stage, I want to ensure we do everything we can to support you, so we can look at blood transfusions from someone who shares the same blood type as you.”
“I’ll do it. We match. I’ll give her mine,” I say so quickly, my mother looks at me sharply, and Hudson’s grip on my hand hardens.
“Lacy. Giving blood like this is a regular ongoing demand on the body,” Hudson says, eyes full of concern.
“I can do it,” I assure him before looking back at Melody. “I’m fit, young, healthy. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink a lot. I don’t do drugs.”
“Well, we can start the draw down from you almost immediately,” Melody says, smiling, clearly happy with the outcome, before Hudson cuts her off.
“Lacy, we need to talk about this…”
“I want to. I can do this.” My tone turns pleading. I need him to understand.
“Lacy, I don’t want you to put yourself at risk for me,” my mom says, also showing concern.
“There is no risk. Right, Doctor Wilkinson?” I ask, looking back at Melody. She looks from me to Hudson and then back to me again. Her face is set in a scowl, having transformed from her smile, and I notice her gaze once again flicking down at my hand that is clutched tight in Hudson’s grasp. I swallow the slight intimidation and wait for her reply.
“The risk is minimal,” she says with a nod, giving me her approval, albeit stiffly.
“See. No risk. I want to do this for you, Mom.” Squeezing her hand, I hope she understands.
“Hudson?” My mom looks past me to the man on my left, who is holding my other hand so tight that it’s near the point of going numb.
“I would like to check your blood levels,” he says, and my shoulders tighten. I’m not used to people telling me what I can and can’t do. But I take a breath, knowing it comes from a place of worry and my stress levels lower. He cares. He cares for me a lot, and I can see it in his eyes. He’s worried for me, and for the first time in a long time, I’m comforted by the fact that someone is in my corner.
“I can do a full blood workup today, Lacy, as well, that will tell me how best to proceed,” Melody jumps in, and I nod. She’s a professional; she knows what the right and wrong ways are to go about something like this, so if she approves, then that is okay by me.
“Great. Let’s do it,” I agree instantly, wanting to get the ball rolling.
“Are you sure?” Mom asks.
“I’m sure, Mom. You and me always,” I say our little slogan, and she smiles.
“Great. Well, Lacy, let's take a little blood today so we can run some of the tests. I’ll put a rush on it and get those results back in twenty-four hours, and then, assuming we get the all clear, we can take the first donation pretty quickly,” Melody explains, her tone curt but professional. I’m probably reading too much into it, but I get the distinct feeling she doesn’t like me.
“How soon after does the transfusion happen for Mom?” I ask, feeling excited that this is happening. For too long, we’ve been just going back and forth for basic treatments, feeling like we’re getting nowhere, and now we have a solid plan moving forward, which makes me feel more positive.
“I will assess her tests as well, but if it’s what I am thinking, we will get a few donations from you initially, and then I think what’s best is for your mom to go into the hospital for a few days to take in the transfusion. Because it’s her first one and she can have some around-the-clock care. Williamstown will be more than equipped to proceed with both the donation from you and the transfusion for your mom. Hudson, you can manage those appointments for Veronica and Lacy, can’t you?” she says, looking at Hudson, and I see him still frowning.
“Sure, we can handle all that locally.” He nods once, not seeming too keen on any of this. I squeeze his hand in mine, and he looks at me quickly. When he gives me a small, sad smile, my heart thuds. I feel an overwhelming sense of connectedness to him, and I know he feels it too. I like him taking care of things for me. It’s new, and I thought I would hate it, but having him here, wanting his opinion and taking care of me in the small ways he already has, is something that I’m coming to terms with and something that I realize that I not only cherish but also crave.
“Great. Well, I believe we are done. Lacy, let's grab some blood, and I can run those tests for you. Less worry for our local doctor here.” She smiles, but I feel a slight hint of sarcasm in her tone directed at Hudson. I ignore it. Mom’s health is the main thing and is all that matters.