Page 91 of The Wish

Kelly, Dean and Mandy follow Christine and Sandy into a nearby office.

They sit in silence for a moment. Mandy reaches out and takes Dean’s hand as they steel themselves for whatever news they are about to hear.

Christine takes the lead. ‘I’m sorry to take you away from Jesse but there’s something I need to discuss with you.’

‘What is it?’ Dean asks, annoyed at not being with his daughter, and wanting to hear whatever awful news this is quickly.

‘The donor register, I mean, the bone marrow register, a new donor has come on it—’

‘What are you saying?’ Mandy interrupts.

‘It’s not a great match, it’s probably not even a good match, but—’

‘Christine, what are you saying?’ Mandy again interrupts. This is almost too much to bear. Are they about to get a reprieve?

‘Ordinarily I wouldn’t suggest this. Do you remember that we didn’t attempt the transplant from Sam until Jesse was strong enough to take it, and she’s far from that right now . . .’

‘Doctor, are you saying there’s a possible donor out there? Someone who matches Jesse?’ Dean asks, his voice rising.

‘Yes, but . . .’

‘No buts, there are no buts, please, I beg you to do it. Oh God, Dean, our little girl, our Jesse . . .’ Mandy blurts, close to hysteria.

‘Mandy, please slow down and listen to what I’m saying to you, this is very important. It’s not a great match but the markers are there, and the donor is willing, but I must tell you of the risks—’

‘We don’t care about that, what choice do we have?’ Dean asks.

‘You’re right. I agree with you. There’s no other option but to give this a try. But you have to be aware that if it doesn’t work then it might hasten the end for Jesse,’ Christine tells them.

Sandy interjects. ‘If we’re all in agreement, shall I start prepping Jesse?’

‘Yes, straight away. What can I do, what can we do?’ Mandy asks.

‘Say goodbye to Jesse. I’m so sorry to have to say that to you, but you need to be aware of the possibility that this is the last time you’ll see her alive. Her chances of survival, and the transplant taking, are slim,’ Christine tells them.

‘How long have we got?’ Dean asks.

‘I have a theatre waiting and the donor is prepped. Fifteen minutes,’ Christine says sympathetically.

Mandy throws herself into Christine’s arms and Dean hugs Kelly who has been standing with them listening to the conversation, numb with hope. She fights back tears. Breaking free from Dean, Kelly tells him to go and be with Jesse and Sam.

Dean grabs Mandy in a strong embrace, they each wipe the other’s tears before rushing back into Jesse’s room. Christine and Sandy walk off, planning the upcoming procedure. Kelly stands alone, looking lost. Shaking herself, she takes her phonefrom her pocket and punches in numbers. Pacing up and down she stares at the phone.

‘Come on, Alex, pick up, pick up.’

The line disconnects, she redials, it rings on and goes to voicemail.

‘Alex, where are you, please phone me straight away, it’s about Jesse. I have news for you, ring me, ring me. Oh, it’s Kelly, by the way.’

It’s late. Kelly is curled up on her sofa, wrapped in a blanket, her companion, the television, is off, its black screen adding to her sense of despair, a box of tissues beside her. She jumps when her phone rings.

‘Hello,’ she says.

‘It’s Alex. You were trying to get hold of me?’

His voice is strangely muffled.

Sitting up, knocking the tissues flying, Kelly yells into the phone. ‘Where have you been? I’ve been calling for hours!’