Protecting Olivia

CHAPTER ONE

LIVY

Eleven years later

I glance at the small alarm clock next to me and sigh as it clicks over to 4:05 am. I haven't had a wink of sleep and I know there is no point in even trying now. Slowly sitting up in bed, I slip my feet out from under the covers and place them on the cool floorboards.

Looking over to the other side of the bed, I watch the gentle rise and fall of Matthew's chest. The moonlight seeping through the small opening in the curtains shines over his face, holding more colour now after his last lot of dialysis. His dark blonde hair falls over his forehead and I instinctively reach out to push it out of his eyes.

He looks so much like his father. The thought sends a stabbing pain to my chest and I push the thought away. Matthew is my world, I love him to death, but thinking of his father always leaves a bad taste in my mouth and an ache in my chest that I wish would just go away.

I watch Matthew sleep for a couple more minutes, his small body, smaller than most boys his age, barely taking up any room in the queen size bed we are sharing for the night. He looks so peaceful. In this moment you would never think that he was sick, that he could be taken from the world much too soon, right now he is just a ten year old boy, healthy and free. At least for the next two weeks before his body will require dialysis again.

I frown at the thought before turning away and standing up from the bed. Grabbing my bag from the end of the bed, I walk towards the bathroom and turn on the shower. Stripping off my clothes, I place my hand under the running water to check the temperature before stepping in and allowing the water to rush over me.

I'm nervous for what's to come. Moving to the other side of the country on the very slim chance it could save Matthews life, leaving everything and everyone we know, is a daunting thought. But what choice do I have?

After a long shower being lost in my thoughts of whats to come, I turn off the water and step out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around my body, I open my bag and pull out the clothes I plan to wear today.

It's nothing fashionable, just some comfortable yoga pants and a loose fitting top for the flight ahead of us.

When I walk into the kitchen, the light is already on and Mia is sitting at the kitchen table, coffee in hand with another full cup next to her.

"You're up early." I say as I pad towards the empty chair and pick up the full cup of coffee.

"My best friend is moving across the country today. I couldn't sleep." She pouts and I sigh as I place the cup down on the table and turn towards her.

"I know..." I say as I look at her glassy hazel eyes. I don't know what else to say, Mia has been my rock since I was five years old. She has stood by me through everything, held my hand when I was scared, stayed by my side when Ethan broke my heart, convinced her parents to let me stay with them when my parents kicked me out. She was in the delivery room when Matthew was born and has been our greatest support when he first got sick.

"Are you sure about this?" she whispers, though she already knows the answer.

"I have to try Mia..." she nods her head and bites her lip.

"There's a chance he might not even live in Perth, or Western Australia for that matter." She states and I nod my head. The only clue I have of Ethan's whereabouts is from an online tabloid from the USA that had his sister Kate splashed across the webpage. It said she was from Perth. I knew how close they were. I can't imagine that he wouldn't have kept her near him.

"Even if he is there, you may never find him. Perth's a big place." I nod my head again. I'd looked him up, scoured online and called every E Collins in the phone book. He couldn't be found.

"Even if you do find him..." she begins before letting out a long sigh and grabbing onto my hand that rests on the table. "He may not be a match." She whispers.

I nod my head again. Matthew is O positive. I'm A positive. Matthew needs someone with O type blood to give him the organ he so desperately needs.

Mia squeezes my hand before stating her last doubt. "Even if he is a match, he may refuse to donate." She tells me and I nod my head again, swallowing the lump in my throat.

The Ethan I thought I knew, before he just disappeared from my life, wouldn't hesitate in giving his own son a kidney. He wouldn't have hesitated in giving a stranger his kidney. But that man never existed. That man was a figment of my imagination. The real Ethan was a player, someone who never cared about me, who had his fun and left without a word.

I suck in a breath and square my shoulders.

"If he refuses, I'll drug him and take his kidney myself."  I tell her. "Leave him to wake up in a bathtub full of ice." Mia giggles and squeezes my hand.

"If it comes to that, let me know, I'll fly straight over and help." I laugh and shake my head. As a constable with the Queensland Police, I know she would never do such a thing. But as my best friend and sister, she'd be front and centre to get me what we need.

"In all seriousness though," she states as the smile falls from her face and she looks at me with concern. "You need to prepare yourself for what might happen if you find him... he could be married with kids for all we know."

I ignore the pain in my chest, I've grown used to the constant ache and random stabbing to my heart when it comes to thinking about Ethan. I know it was because I was completely blindsided, I honestly believed he loved me, I honestly believed we had a future together, but it was never going to be. No doubt I was just a good laugh to him with his mates that I'd never met.

I push the thoughts of Ethan out of my head and simply nod in agreement with Mia.

"I pity his wife if he is married." I say, though Mia knows it's only words. Mia knows that no matter how hard I have tried, I haven't been able to shake Ethan from my heart or mind. Mia knows me better than I know myself.

"I have to do this Mia." I tell her. "If there is even the smallest chance that he can save my son, I have to try..." I swallow the lump in my throat at the thought of losing Matthew.

"I know..." Mia's voice is a whispered croak. "I'm going to miss you, both of you, so much." I watch as her eyes well up before I wrap my arms around her.

"We will talk every day." I promise her and she nods her head against my neck.

Before too long, the sun has risen and Matthew and I are heading to the airport, ready to start our new lives.