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Chapter 36
36 Blood is Thicker Than Water
(Winona)
"Dr. Green. Thanks for stopping by. A call would have sufficed." I say as I shake the hand that my daughter's life depends on.
"No, I prefer to discuss this in person."
"Is everything okay with Abby?"
"For now, yes. She's showing strong recovery signs. Her operation is scheduled for Monday morning."
"That soon?" It's Friday now.
"She's strong enough. But Jayden Brennan was not a match. We won't proceed Monday if I don't have a
blood stock for her."
My heart sinks at that news. "No other prospects for donation?" I ask hopefully.
"Not as yet, no, I do believe you have one other blood relative you can ask. Judy Brennan?"
"Yes," I hesitate because I don't want my daughter's life in her hands.
"Winona, I can't operate that soon unless we have the blood. The risk of reinfection and rejection is too. high. Abby might not get through recovery."
"But if she doesn't have the operation on Monday?"
"The deterioration in the walls of her heart will continue. We have bought her some time. She may gain enough wellness and strength in the coming weeks..."
"But she may go downhill as well..." I read between the lines. "I'll talk to Jayden about his mother."
"You seem to have some hesitation. I know you'd do anything for your daughter, why are you worried?"
"Let's just say, Judy has never been a fan of Jayden and I together."
He nods as if he understands a lot more than he's letting on. "It's clear Judy loves Jayden, to a fault. The question is, will she feel the same about her grandchild and want to help if she can?" I nod. "I just wanted a normal life for my miracle baby.
"Maybe I can help. Talk to her."
"Actually, I think you already have." Maybe Judy is more human than she wants everyone to know. She has the same weakness that I do. She'd do anything for her kid. I just need to tap into that.
I know the perfect way. Abby is turning three in three weeks, and I intend to have her well enough to go home for a party. It's worth a shot.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
"Winona! How surprising. To what do I owe the pleasure? Judy says as she walks to the door her butler has opened.
36 Blood in Thicker Than Water
"I need your help."
"You do? Well, today is just full of surprises. Do come in."
I walk in and she ushers me into the reception room. "We'll have tea and a cheese platter." Judy orders her staff and they scatter to follow instructions. "I guess you've heard our good news? Jayden is to be a father. Please, sit." I sit down. "Yes. Jayden did mention his and Ashlyn's good news. That must make you feel better."
She eyes me carefully. "You mentioned you needed my help."
"Judy, my daughter, Abby. She needs a series of operations to try and fix a heart defect she was born with. I've been In the Brennan Wing with her this past week."
"So I hear. You can't be here for money; I know Jayden has the Brennan Wing covered. Which brings me to why?"
She's playing games. She already knows what I'm here for. I can tell.
I take a deep breath and wish I'd brought Phillip or Jayden. But I need to try and build some modicum of trust with her. "Abby is Jayden's daughter."
Judy's poker face is in place. "Go on..."
"Her blood has a rare genetic marker. We're looking for a match so she can undergo her operations without further risk of complications. It may not save her life but it will give us the best chance of not needing a heart transplant." I let the words flow so I don't change my mind.
"Does Jayden know this is his child?"
"Yes, yes of course. His blood wasn't a match for the genetic marker. I'm here to ask you, as a mother, to please get your blood tested." I fight back the tears.
The tea tray and cheese platter is brought in. Judy pours from a fine china teapot into a matching cup and saucer. Her silence is killing me.
"Help yourself to cream and sugar."
"I'm fine, thanks. Will you do this for me, for us? Your grandchild."
She gives me a cold smile. Maybe this was a mistake.
"Yet, you insisted that Phillip was the father."
"I know. I know I did."
"If you loved Jayden as much as you say
you do, why would you keep his child from him like that?"
"Because you threatened me if I was pregnant, you'd take the baby from me. Ashlyn pretty much threatened to kill me as well. I just wanted a normal, stable life for my baby." "Ashlyn threatened you?" Her voice is calm, but I can see surprise in her eyes.
"Yes. And she's done it since I've been back. Honestly, all I want is to raise Abby in peace. Jayden and I
36 Blood is Thicker Than Water
agreed that Phillip would be her father, so I could do just that and so he could go and make a family with Ashlyn."
"Really. How very grown-up of you all."
"I thought you'd be happy. You have what you wanted all along."
"But you don't."
"I do as long as I have Abby well. Are you going to help us or not?"
Judy picks up some cheese and nibbles on it and then sips her tea. "Probably."
"Probably?! This is your flesh and blood, Jayden's first-born child. Surely you can't say no. Jayden would hate you forever. Blood is thicker than water."
"True. But it would be silly of me to not get a few guarantees in exchange for a blood test. And I'm far from silly."
37 Mamma Bear
37 Mamma Bear