Page 86 of Close Match

“Why’s that?”

“Because even though it was for personal use, we were still making an unofficial audiobook of a rented production. We were essentially licensing our copy of the production. I had to bring Mom’s attorneys in at that point.” Bemused, I tack on, “She never once protested.”

“I should hope not.” He’s angry. “How…”

“She was my mother,” I answer. “Do I continue to punish her? No. Do I love her less because she was ill? No. Instead of being an adult, when I had to deal with thinking about a parent being ill, I just had to do it before I hit school.” His sharp inhalation of breath soothes me. “It’s just what my life was, Monty. So many have so much worse.”

“They’re not you.” The simplicity of his words do more than any more flattery ever will. They undo me. Stepping closer, I’m both gratified and terrified when he sweeps me into his arms and carries me back to his bed. Quickly pulling the blanket away, I shiver under his concerned perusal. But he unties the sheet at his waist, draping first that, then the blanket over me before sliding in next to me.

“Hold me while we sleep,” I murmur, so drained after telling him my truths I don’t realize he’s nowhere near the lethargy I am.

“As long as you’ll let me,” he promises. Trusting that, trusting him, I roll to my side within the cradle of his arms as the pink makes a more valiant effort to push away the black of the night.

I never realize Monty doesn’t sleep a wink.

Forty-Nine

Montague

December

“Dr. Spellman, I would like for you to meet Evangeline Brogan.” Mom and I sit back as Ev introduces Linnie to the doctor who’s kept him healthy the last few years. It’s been just a few weeks since Dad and Linnie talked about his illness. Thanksgiving Day has come and past. We had a hysterical time watching Mom drool over Linnie’s brother-in-law on FaceTime while Linnie, Bristol, Ev, and I laughed in the background. Ev invited Bristol and Simon down for Christmas. And barring any complications with the baby, they accepted.

Linnie demanded to come with us to Ev’s monthly checkup with Dr. Spellman. “Listen to me right now, Everett Parrish,” she demanded with her hands on her hips. “Like it or not, I am at least as half as stubborn as you are.”

His lips thinned.

“Your doctor wanted you to find a donor for a reason.”

“Yes, but…”

“Likely to increase your chances at living, gee, I don’t know, beyond the next few years?” she yelled at him.

Ev had the good grace to blush. “So, we go in. I get tested. What’s the worst he says—no? We’re no worse off than where we are now. But Ev.” Linnie dropped to her knees in front of him. “What if your doctor says yes? What if we’re close enough of a match for me to help you?”

Ev lifted a trembling hand to her hair. “You’d do that for me?”

“Without question.” And that settled it.

“An honor, Ms. Brogan. Truly. I saw you perform on Broadway years ago.”

“Thank you,” Linnie says demurely, but I see the way she’s pursing her lips. I can almost hear her thoughts; we’ve become so in tune with each other. Flattery? At a time like this?

“This is an honor, indeed. Are you visiting the Parrishes?” Spellman sits down on the edge of his desk and gestures for all of us to as well.

Linnie defers to Ev, who reaches over and takes her hand to give it a brief squeeze. “Actually, Linnie has a much greater significance than that in our lives.”

Spellman says, “Oh?” before crossing his arms over his chest.

Clearing his throat, Ev admits, “This isn’t easy to say…”

Spellman jerks back. “Ms. Brogan, if you tell me you’re pregnant with Mr. Parrish’s child, I’ve already discussed with him the chances of cord blood producing the cells he needs are going to be less effective than…”

“Ew!” Linnie exclaims. “Seriously?” She twists in her seat with a disgruntled sneer. When we were in bed last night, I told her that Spellman was a hell of a doctor but had the social skills of a petrified turd. I burst out laughing, remembering her saying, “Oh, he can’t be that bad.” Mom shakes her head at our antics.

“Doctor,” Ev placates while shooting me a look filled with retribution, “we have reason to believe Evangeline—Linnie—will be a close match.”

He looks down his superior nose at Ev. “Oh? What makes you think so?”