Chapter 37
By the end of the second week in November, it was clear that Danny wasn’t improving, despite having had an increase in his medication. That change of colouring which Nancy thought she had noticed had reverted to a deathly white.
‘The next step,’ said the consultant, who spoke in a tone that made Nancy feel everything was going to be all right, despite the statistics he had just run through, ‘is to find a bone marrow match. I’m afraid that yours and your husband’s aren’t suitable.’
Nancy started up out of her chair. Sam, while squeezing her hand, began to stammer, something she had never heard him do before. ‘But we’re his parents. Why aren’t we suitable?’
The consultant nodded solemnly as though he understood Sam’s disbelief. ‘In my experience, the best matches come from siblings, although even then there’s just no guarantee it will work. However, since Danny doesn’t have any brothers or sisters, we need to spread the net. I believe that both your mothers have offered to be tested, but it is also possible for unrelated donors to be a match. We have a wide network of willing donors, and my staff are currently trying to find a possible pairing.’
They were talking to the consultant in the side room while nearby their respective mothers were sitting on either side of their grandson’s bed, vying for his attention. Usually this provided some sort of light relief for Nancy and Sam, but now, as they left the consultant, Nancy ignored the competing grannies and felt her anger rising. ‘I told you we should have had another baby. I kept saying it wasn’t right for Danny to be an only child. But oh no. You wouldn’t have it, would you? You hadn’t even wanted Danny. In fact, you even suggested that I had an abortion.’
‘Stop!’ Sam was white-faced as he tried to put his arms around her. Neatly, she sidestepped away.
‘I was wrong, Nancy. Do you hear me? OK, so I hadn’t felt ready for fatherhood when you got pregnant, but nor do lots of men. I love our little boy.’ His eyes were wet with tears. ‘If anything happens to him, I don’t know how I’ll cope. I really don’t.’
She stood away from him, not wanting to be any closer than she had to be. ‘If anything happens to Danny,’ she said quietly, ‘we’re finished. Do you hear that? Finished. Now why don’t you get back to your precious mother? I’m going outside to get some air.’ Shaking, Nancy took the lift down to the main reception and almost collided with a couple coming in. ‘Mrs Wright! I mean Mrs Carter Wright.’
Nancy wiped away the tears from her eyes as she took in Gemma Merryfield and, gracious, Mr Balls, the head of Reception.
‘I do hope this is still convenient,’ said Gemma, unobtrusively handing her a tissue which appeared as though by magic from the young woman’s handbag. ‘We can go away if you like.’
Too late, Nancy remembered that Gemma had texted to see if she and Mr Balls could visit as representatives from Puddleducks and the school. ‘Of course.’ She blew her nose on the tissue. ‘I’ve just come down to get some air, that’s all. But do go up. My husband is on the ward and also my mother and his mother.’
Gemma seemed to hesitate. ‘Maybe it might be best if we came back another time, when Danny doesn’t have so many visitors.’
‘No, really, it’s fine.’ It would probably help to lessen the tension around Danny’s bed, thought Nancy. ‘I’ll be up shortly. I just need a break.’
Joe gave her a kind, caring look; the sort, she thought bitterly, that her own husband ought to give her. ‘Why don’t I get you a cup of coffee over the road? We can catch up with Gemma in a few minutes.’
‘Actually, Joe, I’ll stay with Mrs Carter Wright.’
‘No. Please.’ Why did everyone have to argue about the slightest thing? ‘You go up, Mrs Merryfield. I just know that Danny would love to see you, and you’ll be able to meet my husband too.’