Chapter 50

JAMES

Today was a whirlwind of emotions—joy and fear tangled together. My beautiful wife had just given birth to our twins, Nora and Owen.

They arrived a bit earlier than we’d anticipated, but they were healthy. That’s all that mattered.

But then there was our little Olivia, about to undergo her transplant. She must be terrified, not fully understanding what’s happening.

We’d told her that once she became a big sister, she’d have a surgery to help her get better. After that, she’d be able to hold her new sibling as much as she wanted.

All Olivia understood was that she was going to be a big sister and that she’d get to hold the baby.

Now, I had to explain to her that she was already a big sister to two little ones—and that it had happened today. I could only imagine Lizzie’s reaction. She was going to lose it.

With Jack striding quickly beside me, we headed to Olivia’s room. Then it dawned on me—I didn’t know which room she was in.

We entered the pediatric ward and I approached the main desk where a young woman was answering calls.

“Hi, could you tell me where Olivia Brown’s room is?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite my fear.

“Sorry sir, I can only give that information to family.”

I rolled my eyes, though I appreciated her diligence. “I’m her father, and this is her grandfather,” I explained, but she raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

“Sorry, sir. I don’t believe you. A father would know where his child’s room is,” she responded, her tone crisp.

~This is ridiculous.~

“Well, I am her father. My name is James Brown,” I insisted, pulling out my wallet to show her my ID and a picture of Liv. “Here.” I handed her my ID and the picture.

But she still shook her head. “I’ll need her mother’s approval,” she maintained.

That was just absurd. “Look, I appreciate you doing your job. But Olivia is my daughter, and you’re not going to disturb my wife who just gave birth to twins.

“Olivia is here to receive a stem cell transplant from her new siblings,” I explained, trying to keep my cool. But I could tell my frustration was showing.

“Oh,” she said, her tone softening. “Olivia Brown, you say?”

I nodded.

“She’s in room 314.”

Without thanking her, I rushed to the room. When I entered, I saw Lizzie, Jim, and Jasmine gathered around Liv’s bed.

“James?” Lizzie asked, her gaze shifting to Jack. “Jack?”

“Hi, Lizzie. How’s our girl doing?” I asked.

“Olivia is being prepped,” she explained. I looked at my little girl, her smile bright, but I could tell she was confused. I glanced at Jasmine, who was giving her an injection.

She gave me a small nod and put the needle away as soon as she was done.

“Daddy?” Olivia asked.

“Hi, princess,” I replied softly.

“Daddy, what’s happening?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

She had every right to be scared. We usually explained everything to her before it happened. But this time, we hadn’t had the chance.

“Well, I have some news,” I told her. I sat down in the chair next to her, and she sat up straighter as I adjusted her pillow.

“Remember we talked about the baby in mommy’s tummy?”

Her face lit up and she nodded. “I’m going to be a big sister soon!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air and bouncing with excitement.

“Well, baby, you are a big sister now,” I told her, my voice filled with pride. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hands.

Jasmine, Lizzie, and Jim smiled at me.

“But there’s more,” I continued. “There was a surprise.”

“I love surprises,” she declared. Yes, she was going to love this surprise.

“You don’t just have one little brother or sister, you have two,” I told her, and she squealed with joy. I covered my ears, she was so loud.

“What?!” Jim, Jasmine, and Lizzie exclaimed in unison.

“We had a hider,” I explained. “It’s a boy and a girl.”

“I have a brother and a sister?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Owen and Nora,” I told her.

“Gigi also had her babies. Two girls. Your grandpa is very happy,” I added.

She looked from me to her grandpa and something clicked. “Will I get that special operation now?” she asked.

“You will, baby. That's what's happening right now. After that, you will see your brother and sister. Okay?” I tried to sound as calm as possible.

“Okay.”

With that, I asked Lizzie and Jim to go to Anna. Olivia had enough people here, and I knew our girls could use the help. Jack and I were here.

They were both superwomen, we knew, but I couldn’t even begin to imagine how exhausted they must be right now.

Liv was already being prepped when we arrived, so she was taken to the OR within the hour. Jack and I donned some scrubs and went into the washing room to clean our hands.

“You okay?” he asked me.

I shook my head honestly. “I just hope this will work. I don’t know if I can handle any more of this,” I confessed, gesturing to the room next to me.

Seeing your kid in there, knowing you can’t do anything to help, is terrifying.

“I understand, son. But Olivia is a fighter, and we have to trust that she’ll pull through this. Jasmine is the best—trust me, I know. Her job put a strain on our marriage,” he admits with a sigh.

This is the first time he’s brought up his marriage to me—I didn’t think he would, especially not now. It’s obvious that it’s a touchy subject for him, and honestly, I can relate.

“But now,” he goes on, pulling me back into the conversation. “I’m thankful that she’s Olivia’s doctor. Because I know she’s the best. If she says this is the path, then this is the path.

“But don’t you dare think this is the end of her treatment. There will be follow-ups, and knowing Jasmine, they’ll be regular even after the cancer is gone,” he reassures me.

That’s exactly what I needed to hear, confirmation that we’re making the right choice. And that this isn’t some miracle cure. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no such thing.

And even when they do find something that works, there’s always a chance it’ll come back.

“Thanks, Jack. That’s exactly what I needed to hear,” I tell him.

“You’re welcome. Now, let’s go see our little munchkin.”

We put on masks and step into the OR. Olivia is lying on her side, prepped for the stem cell transplant.

I can tell she’s frightened, but I also know that if I don’t set some boundaries, she’ll try to climb out of the bed and come to us.

“Hi, princess,” I greet her. She tries to sit up, but I quickly go to her and gently push her back down.

“Sweetie, you need to stay down,” I tell her. “Daddy will be here until you fall asleep, and when you wake up, you’ll be with Momma, okay? But you need to stay in the bed.”

She nods at me as a tear slips from her eye, trickles down her nose, and lands on the bed. I lean over to kiss her, wiping away her tears.

“Time to sleep now, baby girl,” I tell her as the anesthetist adjusts the needle in the IV. He gives me a nod.

“Now, baby girl. Daddy loves you.” I start our bedtime ritual. “Momma loves you too, and Nora loves you and Owen loves you,” I tell her, planting a kiss.

“I love you too, Daddy,” she murmurs with a sleepy smile.

“When you wake up, you’ll be with your baby brother and sister,” Jack tells her.

“Poppa,” she mumbles sleepily.

“Yes, munchkin. Poppa and Gigi love you. After this, you’ll be so much stronger,” he tells her, and my heart clenches.

~What if she isn’t~…~?

~

“I love you too,” she says. And then she succumbs to sleep.

Jasmine enters, her eyes crinkling above her mask in what I assume is a smile. I can’t really tell.

“Don’t worry, James,” she assures me. “This is her best shot, and we have more than enough. After this, we’ll freeze what’s left, just in case. Let’s get her healthy again.”

With one last glance over my shoulder, I leave the OR.

~Jasmine, my daughter’s life is in your hands. Please, make her better.~

~

~She deserves to play and have fun, not a life filled with this.~

~