My silence was my reply.

“Exactly. So, you have to listen to me, and do this. I understand that you have met someone. Sydney, is it?”

I gazed at him.

“It’s my job to know, if that’s what you’re wondering. Now, for Sydney’s sake, leave the country for a little while. I’ll give you call when the coast is clear. Oh, and I’ve made sure the money you send to the hospital go through as charity, so don’t worry about that.”

The money, my money. It didn’t matter to me that Sydney was over our relationship. I was still holding up my end of the deal. It was only fair. Her brother didn’t deserve to get caught up in my mess.

I gave him a nod, my eyes full of gratitude. “Thank you. I will follow your advice. Hell, my plane is still warm, so…”

I got a new glass and poured myself another drink.

I had to tell her before I left. I owed her that.

Chapter 20

Sydney

Three weeks had passed since that night at the hospital. In that time, Declan and I had spent hours talking, catching up. I told him about Owen, everything there was to tell, the good and the bad.

He was getting better, too. It took a week for the infection to retreat and for Declan to get some of his strength back, but once he was feeling well enough to walk on his own, they transferred him to the hospital in Zion. The doctors there had ran every test there was to run in record time, and got Declan into their latest experimental program. Chemotherapy and drugs were still on the menu, but this time the effects were apparent. He had even put some weight on, which caused a new wave of banter between him and I.

I went back to work, but I visited Declan almost every day, spending some nights at the hospital with him, even though he asked me not to. “That’s out of question, Declan,” I would say.

The bills were paid the moment they arrived, but in that time, I had not heard from Owen once. I knew he was paying them, and even though I broke our deal I was thankful. He didn’t have to do that. I wasn’t his problem anymore.

But I missed him.

I hated to admit it, after everything, but I did. I truly missed him. And it hurt. So many times I wanted to reach out, to apologize, to say thank you for helping with Declan. But I didn’t even have his number.

+++

After a few weeks of treatment, I drove to Zion to meet with the head of the clinic, who was going to update me on Declan’s well-being. I arrived there just after six and went straight to the doctor’s office, nervous, as if I was walking into an exam.

“Happy to see you Miss Rogers,” the woman said, when I stepped inside. “I’ve been looking forward to this day!”

I couldn’t hold back the smile. “I assume it’s good news then?” I sat down across from her.

“Very much so! Your brother is a tough cookie, I’ll tell you that much! There’s almost no trace of the infection that we could find in his lungs. He can breathe and speak normally, and he does that every time the nurses are around!” They giggled, and she continued, “The cancer is still there, and we have to continue treating him until we see a positive tendency.”

“How much longer will that take?” I asked.

“Impossible to say, I’m afraid. We are doing everything we can, but there is only so much we can do. It can take a couple more weeks, or it can take a year. I don’t want to alarm you, but you must be ready for the long haul.”

“Oh, I’ve been preparing for that our whole lives.”

The doctor offered a sympathetic smile. “What I can guarantee is that the treatment can make things better, but I can’t promise it will cure your brother. I wish I could say that.”

“I know. It’s okay. Thank you. We will keep fighting. Like you said, Declan is a tough cookie, and he makes me tough. We’ll get through it.”

“I know you will, Sydney, and we’re here for you.” When I began to get up, she added, “Do say hi to your brother from me when you are delivering the news, okay?”

“Will do.” I smiled, and left the office. I felt like I could fly! It wasn’t a knockout victory, but I felt they were half-way there. The Bon Jovi song popped into my head, and I went down the hallway humming the melody and mouthing the words. This was something, real progress. And it was all thanks to Owen.

I walked into Declan’s room with a huge smile on my face. Declan was watching TV, sitting in my bed.

“Have you talked to Dr. Morrison?” he asked.

Tags: Nicole Elliot Romance
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