So Much More (Book One in the Enough Series)

46. Choices

Eden

When I woke up, Lizzie was gone, and the house was quiet. I turned over to check the time and saw it was just after ten in the morning! I also noted that I had several texts, mainly from Reed. I sat up, adjusting my eyes and stretching before opening the app.

I love you, Eden, so fucking much.

Reed had responded to the pictures I sent of Lizzie and me. He had texted this morning as well, just a quick greeting and telling me again that he loved me. He'd be arriving late tonight, after his game in Nashville, and I couldn't wait. I had a few casual texts from Gemma and Brynn and a message from Lila. She let me know that Lizzie had an appointment this morning, and they all had gone. My heart broke for them, and I hoped they would get some promising news.

I snuck in a quick shower and got myself ready for the day before venturing to the kitchen for some breakfast. I found a sticky note on the refrigerator letting me know I could help myself to anything, another sweet gesture from Lila. I located some fruit and yogurt and quickly filled my stomach. I was ready to make some calls and wanted to do so before everyone returned home.

*

"Ms. Gray, the odds of you being a match for another individual who isn't biologically related to you are quite large."

"I understand that. I know the chances are slim. I just wanted to know, ya know, if it's something they can do and would do if I could provide that." I spoke to the hematologist that I had been working with during the stem cell donation process.

"You are in the database now, so you are free to donate to whomever. However, if you do not wish to proceed with the following steps with Ms. Stidham, that's your choice as well. We will need to know soon as you're due in for your physical and further lab work. After that appointment, we will notify Ms. Stidham and her physician, and they will begin preparing her for the transplant."

"Yes, I understand." I nodded as if she could see me.

"It is helpful to know that technically you can donate marrow again after six weeks, but again the chances of you being a match for another individual are rare."

"Thank you; I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I will keep my next appointment for now."

I ended the call and paced about the house. It was a beautiful home, filled with pictures of Reed and his sisters over the years; I enjoyed viewing them as I walked around. I text Reed, sending him my love and good luck wishes for his game this evening. I text Brynn and Gemma, just chit-chat to keep myself busy.

I sat at the dining table after a while, taking care of some work-related things and then reviewing the itinerary for the convention. I was lost in a spreadsheet when I heard voices floating through the house, drawing my attention away from the screen. I saw Allen enter, followed by Marie, Amy, then Lila and Lizzie. They looked less somber than yesterday but still had faces full of worry.

"Hey, there, pretty lady!" Allen smiled, giving me a soft pat on the back.

"Hi. How did everything go?" I asked, hopeful for their sake.

"Oh, lots to unpack, we can discuss in a bit. How about some lunch?" Lila smiled, holding up a bag of take-out.

"How are you?" I asked as Lizzie stood next to me.

"I'm tired, mad, frustrated. All sorts of things, I guess." She shrugged. I closed my laptop. "I'm trying not to think 'why me,' but I can't help it." She added, barely above a whisper.

"Those are all understandable feelings, and the fact that you are so young and can identify those emotions just goes to show how amazing you are." I smiled over at her. I scooted my chair out, preparing to take my work things up to the room. When I turned around, I saw Lila, Allen, and Marie all watching me with soft smiles on their face.

"Everything okay?" I asked, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Yep. Going to serve up some grub, then wait for our boy to get home!" Allen exclaimed happily.

"I'm just going to run this up to the room." I headed up the steps, feeling Lizzie and Amy hot on my heels.

"Are you and my brother going to get married?" Amy asked with a laugh.

"What?!" Her question seemed to come out of nowhere. "No, not any time soon. No." I shook my head.

"He's never had a girlfriend visit like this, and none have ever seemed to fit in with the family like this." She explained. I sat down on the edge of the bed, shrugging in response.

"I, for one, hope that you do. I like you, and I can't wait to see how Reed acts with you." Lizzie giggled.

"I'm going to my room; tell Mom I'll come down for some food in a few." Amy dismissed herself, leaving Lizzie and me to ourselves.

"You ready for some lunch?" I asked, standing and putting my arm around her shoulder.

"Nah. I ate on the way home." She laughed. "I was starving, so Mom let me go ahead. I'm gonna go play with my switch and maybe take a nap."

"Okay, well, I'm here if ya get bored and want some company."

I joined the adults in the dining room, letting them know the girl's plans. They had brought sandwich platters, so I dug in, grabbing all the goodies. It was quiet momentarily as we all were eating. So I decided to break the silence to find out how the appointment had gone.

"So, any good news?" I tread lightly, not wanting to cause an upset.

"To summarize, it's not the worst it could be. The Dr wants to attack her system with that nasty chemo and radiation, then do a transplant of bone marrow to start her system over again essentially." Allen explained, leaning back in his seat. I swallowed hard, trying to figure out how to word my following statement.

"Has Reed mentioned anything going on with my biological mother?"

"Um, no. Not really. Just that she was ill and had come to see you, something like that." Lila shrugged, confused. I nodded, taking a deep breath and then glancing around to make sure the girls weren't near. I didn't want to give Lizzie false hope.

"Long story short, I've been matched as a potential bone marrow donor for her. I've gone through several steps of the process because she, too, has leukemia." I paused, watching their eyes grow wide, a mixture of curiosity and sympathy. "When you told me Lizzie's diagnosis, I, of course, couldn't help but think about that, and well, today, I spoke with the donor center who's guiding me through all of this. The chances are incredibly rare, and I know that you all will probably get tested, but I just want to offer." I sat back, trying to stop the rambling I was doing.

"Are you serious?" Marie asked, mouth wide open in shock.

"Yes, of course. I'm already in the system; it should be easy to check for a potential match. They explained how rare it would be to match with Lizzie considering we aren't family and that I had already matched with my Mother. So it's a long shot, of course, but I just, I feel like I should put it out there that I'm an option too."

"Eden, that is the most selfless, amazing, and kind thing anyone has ever done." Lila sniffled, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall.

"I do have a request, though, if possible?" I winced, worried about how this next part would go over. "I don't want Reed or the girls to know. I don't want to give anyone false hope, especially them. I couldn't take a look in their eyes if they thought I could help, and in the end, I couldn't, ya know?" I let out a sigh. "I also don't want Reed to think I'm doing this because of him or anything like that. It just, well, I'm already in this process, and I like Lizzie; she's a sweet, beautiful girl who deserves all the help that I can offer."

"I'll agree to the request, but I have to ask. What happens to your Mother if you donate to Lizzie?" Allen leaned forward with a serious look.