A Saint for Life (18 page)

{41}

Christian

I waited in suspense for the results while sitting outside of the exam room. My mind was running endlessly. I knew I should be back by Gabe with Zoe, but I didn’t want her to know what I was doing in case I wasn’t going to be a match good enough. Hopefully my mom was there by now to help out if she needed anything.

“Chris?”

“Yeah.” I lifted my head up, and Dr. Sheehan was standing over me. “Did you get the results?”

“If we do this, you are going to have to rest for two days, which means you won’t be able to play in the game.”

“No, I’m going to do this. It’s just a game.”

“Are you sure? Do you want to call your coach? It’s a pretty big game. Isn’t it the championship game?”

“Yeah, I’ll handle it. Does that mean I’m a match?”

“Yes. You are a match and everything looks like it would be perfect. I can’t even believe it. I don’t know how, but you are.” Dr. Sheehan was muttering. I don’t think she was handling this very well either.

I stood up. “Great, let’s go then. Let’s save his life.”

“Alright then. Tracy, take Mr. Michaels and get him prepped. Tell my staff to meet me in OR 2 for a bone marrow transplant.” She spoke over to the nurse behind the desk handing her paperwork to fill out.

I took a deep breath. On the walk with the nurse, I picked up my phone and called my coach.

“It’s Michaels. I can’t play in the game. Put Smith in instead. He deserves playing time. I’m about to save Gabe’s life. I’ll be watching. Win it for Gabe.”

I left the message on his voicemail.

This was going to work. This had to work. Gabe needed to survive this. He needed to beat this. After everything, he had to. He just had to. I walked into the exam room, where Tracy handed me a hospital gown and started to do a write up.

“Put this on, and I’ll be right back so we can get started shortly.” She spoke as she shut the door behind her.

The events of tonight reminded me of the picture I saw on Zoe’s nightstand. I recognized that little girl in the picture from the chapel that very night. I didn’t even know how to bring it up to Zoe since I found it.

It blows my mind that neither of us had figured it out before. Did Zoe have any suspicions about it? Did she know, and was she also afraid to bring it up? It was honestly hard for me to comprehend.

I’m not sure what I believe right now, if this was all just a coincidence or if God placed us in each other’s lives for a reason. Was I always meant to save Gabe? If James hadn’t  saved her father’s life, would I have even met her? If James didn’t die that night, would I have even gone to Siena? Since James saved her dad’s life, why wouldn’t I be able to save Gabe’s?

I sat here trembling. The many thoughts that flooded my mind brought me to tears. I wanted to tell Zoe about this so bad. I wanted to be with her right now more than anything. Holding her close and rubbing her back, telling her that everything would be okay. Right now she needed me more than ever, and she probably thinks I abandoned her during an incredibly difficult time. But right at this moment, I was in the same position as my brother was several years ago. I had a chance to save Gabe’s life and to save this family.

{42}

Zoe

Some days I think are the worst days of my life. I've had several of those in my lifetime. But right now? Right now tops how I've felt in all of those moments. This has been the most difficult time of my entire life. I constantly worried if Gabe was going to survive this. Was this going to work? The only thing keeping my mind off of Gabe was my recent discovery.

Walking back from the chapel, Emily ran up to me.

“Where have you been? Dr. Sheehan was just looking for you.”

“Is everything okay?” She scared me.

“I don’t know! She said she would check to see if you were back in a minute.” Emily was panicked.

I paced back and forth. Did she have good news? Was it more bad news? I’m not sure I could take any more bad news.

Looking up from my feet, I noticed that Dr. Sheehan was walking straight toward me, and Mrs. Michaels grabbed my hand.

“How is he? Is he okay?”

“There’s been no change in his condition. I’m sorry.”

“That's it?” I was confused.

“No, I have good news.” Dr. Sheehan pulled down her mask and Emily came closer.

“We have a match. We’re pulling Gabe in for surgery now.”

“Oh my God.” I cried hysterically in Mrs. Michaels’ arms, who had also begun crying. Emily stood behind me and rubbed my arm.

“Are you sure this is going to work?”

“I promise you that we're going to do everything we can.”

Before she walked away, I could have sworn I saw a tear fall from her eyes. Knowing Dr. Sheehan cared about Gabe as an individual, as more than just her patient, helped me trust her.

“I’ll go call Janice for you to let her know.” Emily took her phone out of her pocket and walked a few feet away.

“Thank you.”

I sat down to catch my breath, to let this all settle in.

Where was Christian?
I was restless, waiting for him. I needed him right here with me. But there was no sign of him anywhere. He couldn’t have left. Where could he be?

The effects of the alcohol were wearing off, and my anxiety was at its highest. I needed Gabe to fight. I needed him to fight harder than he ever has before. It killed me that I couldn’t do anything for him. In times like these, I needed my parents.

I gently leaned my head on Christian’s mom’s shoulder and held Emily’s hand as she sat down. I was so grateful for them during times like these.

*

A light tapping on my shoulder awoke me from a deep sleep. When Gabe returned from surgery a few hours later, I was glued to his bedside. I must have fallen asleep with my head on his bed.

“Is everything okay?” I was startled.

I looked up, and it was Danielle.

“Zoe, come with me,” she whispered.

“Wait, what? I can’t leave Gabe. He’s not awake yet.”

“He’ll be out for a little while longer. Don’t worry. Everything’s fine, but come with me,” she insisted and walked me down the hallway to the other room. I was still half asleep and my eyes were heavy from all of the crying.

“The donor wants to talk to you.”

My eyes lit up. “Wait, the donor is here, in this hospital? I just thought that they got it from some other hospital.”

“Yes, he’s here. Go ahead, right in there.” She pointed into a room.

I walked in and then walked around the corner. I don’t know how I didn’t know before, but when I saw who was sitting in the bed, I cried again.

“Oh my God!” I ran up to Christian and gave him a kiss.

“Hi, beautiful,” he said with groggy eyes.

“You were a match? I can’t believe it. Oh my God. I can’t. Wait, what? How did this happen?”

“I just hope this works.”

“It will. I will never be able to repay you for this.”

“You don't have to.”

“Yes, I do.”

The tears continued to flow down my cheeks. I didn’t think I could cry anymore, but apparently I still had some tears left.

“I’ve been undergoing tests for weeks. Surprise.” He let out a small smile.

“Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?” I laughed.

“Well, there is one thing. When I was at your house a few weeks ago I saw this picture of you from when you were younger—”

I interrupted him.

“I was just sitting in the chapel with your mom. She showed me a picture of your brother and told me about the day he passed away. Then I realized.”

“How didn't we know before?” His eyes locked on mine.

“It’s unbelievable.”

We sat there in silence for what seemed like a while, taking it all in. I laid by his side and he wrapped his arm tightly around my body. For a while, I forgot about all of the problems that have occurred over the last twenty-four hours.

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Yeah, what do you need?” I responded kindly.

“Can you stand over by the window for a moment and close your eyes?”

“What? Why?”

“Just do what I say, okay?” He demanded.

“What drugs do they have you on?” I laughed but obeyed his orders.

“I can't believe you are missing what could be the biggest game of your career for this.”

“This was more important.” I heard some movement and wanted to look. I was desired to know what he was up to.

“Okay, you can turn around now.”

I spun around and wasn’t expecting him to be right behind me down on his knee.

“Eight years ago, when all hope was lost in the world, when I sat in God’s presence and prayed for a miracle, I prayed for happiness and for a sign that everything would be okay. Then that’s when I saw you.

“It may have taken us eight years to find each other again, but I believe we are right where we are supposed to be. God places people in our lives for a reason. Every moment I am with you, you make me the happiest man on earth.

“I love you with all of my heart. You and Gabe are my whole life now. I can’t picture another day without either of you in it. I want us to be a family. So…”

He opened his fist and held up a beautiful ring. Before he could even ask, I already knew what my answer would be.

“Will you marry me?” He asked and the room looked like it was spinning.  I slowly walked backward until the back of my knees hit the chair behind me.

              “I love you Zoe, I know this seems quick but when you know, you just know.” He placed his hands on my knees.

              “When you know what?” I said through my tears.

              “When you know that you’ve met your soul mate.”

              “I love you. I love you so much.” I wiped the tears away from under my eyes.

              “So is that a yes?”

              “My answer is yes but, only if Gabe says yes.” 

              “I don’t think he will have a problem with being my best man.” Christian said as he laughed and rose up off of his knees so his face was parallel with mine.

              “Me either.”  He kissed me softly and for the first time, I felt complete. 

Epilogue

Gabe

Seven Years Later

Grabbing my permit, I raced down the stairs and through the door, almost forgetting to shut it. Janice was waiting outside in her car. She drove here the minute Chris called us. Now that we lived in a different neighborhood, she couldn’t just walk over anymore.

“I’ll drive! I’ll drive!” I shouted to her, motioning for her to let me in the driver’s seat. I got my permit only a few months back. Chris taught me how to drive, and Zoe promised that once I got my license they would get me a car. That is if I get a job. She’s been driving me nuts to get one.

“No, sir. Not with me, you’re not!” She gripped her hands against the steering wheel.

“Oh, come on! Chris says I’m a good driver!”

“We have to get there now! I am not letting you drive. Maybe on the way back.”

I got in the passenger side of her car, and she backed out of the driveway so fast she almost hit our mailbox.

“Where were they when Chris called?”

“They just got to the hospital. He said they were taken immediately, and they didn’t have to wait. I guess they were picking up flowers so we could bring them to the cemetery later.”

“Oh, that’s right, it’s the third. Oh wow, I can’t believe it’s been fifteen years already. Oh my God, and today of all days!”

“I know! It’s freaky right? How far away from the hospital are we?”

“Only a few more minutes. Did Chris seem nervous?”

“He definitely seemed scared, but heck, I would be too. I hope Zoe is okay!”

“She will be,” Janice reassured me.

Arriving at the hospital, we raced through the doors and to the wing where Christian said they would be. I looked around at my surroundings. Even though it wasn’t the same wing, I was no stranger to this hospital. It’s been about five years since I’ve had to come back here, and it’s all because of Chris. He saved my life.

When the doctors sat down with the three of us and told us I was cancer free, it was the beginning of an entire new life for us. We take a vacation every year around that date to celebrate my good health. Zoe and Christian finally got married two years ago. They were too busy starting their careers to ever plan the wedding she’s always dreamed of. She wanted to wait until she finished med school. She’s a doctor now, and she is going to specialize in pediatrics because of everything that happened with me. Christian started up his own non-profit that raises money for the families of sick children if they can’t afford the treatments. It’s pretty awesome. I help him out sometimes at the fundraisers and tell my story.

“There he is!” I shouted when I spotted Chris walking down the hallway.

“Oh, Chris! How is she?” Janice said greeting him with a hug.

“Follow me. I’ll bring you to her, and you can see for yourself.”

I was nervous. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen Zoe in a hospital bed before. Usually it was me and she was the one sitting at my bedside.

Walking into the room, Chris moved the curtain, revealing the bed Zoe was laying in. She was grinning from ear to ear looking down at her arms.

“This little one didn’t waste any time at all making an appearance in the world,” Chris said as he approached Zoe’s bedside and then reached his arms out.

“It’s a boy! Do you want to meet your new nephew?” Zoe asked me.

Janice walked over to Zoe and gave her a kiss on the forehead. I can’t believe my sister is now a mother to her own child. She’s going to make an amazing mother to her new son, just like she was for me when I was growing up. Chris approached me, and I let him place the baby in my arms.

“Hi there. I’m your Uncle Gabe. What’s his name?” I turned to Chris, but I could hardly take my eyes off of my nephew. He opened his eyes and looked right up at me before letting out a big yawn.

I waited for them to announce his name. Zoe and Chris turned to each other and then back to me and Janice, who was now by my side admiring the new addition to the family.

“Well, we couldn’t think of a more fitting name for this precious angel. Say hi to AJ.” Chris smiled.

“Anderson James.” Zoe reached for Chris’s hand and he leaned down to kiss her.

“Hi, AJ. Happy birthday.” I smiled.