Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance (4 page)

Cass fidgeted on her feet as the doctors and transplant co-ordinator entered the room. Doctor Henning, took her mother’s hands gently in his own.

“It’s time Alice. We need to take Harry to theatre now, to prepare the organs.”

“Do you turn off the machine now?” Cass asked, looking anxiously around the room.

“No. Not yet. We will do that soon, after. Would you like to walk him down to the theatre?”

Cass nodded and they walked beside the gurney as the orderlies began the slow journey to the operating theatre. Her parents walked on either side of  Harry, holding each of his hands in their own. Her father on the right hand side of the bed, his jaw set tightly as he gripped the hand of his son. He spoke to him soothingly as he had done so often when Harry was a small boy. Her mother on the right was silent and staring straight ahead as she rubbed Harry’s knuckles within her two hands. Cass stroked her brothers hair feeling empty and lost. It all seemed so surreal, so final.

As they stopped at the door of Theatre one, they told Harry how much they loved him and how much he would be missed. Cass kissed his face and her tears spilled onto his face and rolled down into his ear. She wiped them away with her fingers and whispered into his ear.

“I love you Harry. I love you so much. I’m sorry-so sorry.”

She put her arm around her dad and pulled him back as he sobbed and cried out for the son he would never get back.

Cass was in awe of her mum’s strength. She watched her take the time to thank each member of the transplant team individually. As she turned to Cass, she nodded and smiled through the haze of unshed tears that welled in her eyes. Proud and elegant even in the face of the greatest adversity.

“His last journey Cass. His grand farewell. My little boy is gone.”

  Doctor Henning nodded towards a member of the team and Cass stood silently as Harry disappeared through the doors. His last and greatest gift still waiting to be given. “If you would like to sit in the family room and relax for a while, we will call you …after the procedure.”

Cass nodded and gave one last look at the door before she turned and walked away.  Her parents followed soon after, the waiting game had begun again in earnest.

Cass paced the room for the two hours it took for Harry’s organs to be removed. She ran over the last two weeks in her mind. Why hadn’t she told Matt to lie down for a while rather than insisting Harry drive him home? All the ‘whys’ and ‘what ifs’ ran over and over in her mind, until she was drained from it all. What did it matter now? Harry was gone.

Mary Ellis, the transplant co-ordinator opened the door of the waiting room and nodded to Brian and Alice.

“You can see him now. It’s all done. All perfect organs. Harry will give new hope and a brand new lease of life to six people. He’s a silent hero.” Cass wondered about the six people and their families who would get good news today. The Ying and Yang of life. Someone dies, someone is reborn. She had never thought of people waiting to receive organs before. People in homes and beds around the world bravely trying to live their lives as best they could. Patiently waiting for the death of another to bring them a precious chance at life.

They followed each other, shuffling slowly along the corridor and into the room where Harry lay. Except it wasn’t Harry anymore. No more beeps from machinery, no more wires and tubes. Just the stillness of death. He was cooler already, the warmth slowly leaving his blood. They held his hands and Cass wondered why her eyes had stopped crying. Maybe there were no more tears left. Just a feeling of being so empty there was nothing in the world that could fill her up.

“He looks so beautiful, so peaceful. But his hair is all wrong,” Brian said, brushing Harry’s hair over to the side. The right side.

“He does dad, he does look peaceful.” And he did. The only marks left on him were a smattering of small purple bruises to his forehead.
Such a little life,
thought Cass.
Such a little life.

Aoife and her family arrived at the Mater hospital in Dublin in just over two hours. They were met by the transplant team who greeted them warmly, having met Aoife many times before. Dr Phillips bent down to Aoife’s wheelchair and spoke to her with affectionate excitement.

“Aoife, this is it. The perfect match. Well, on paper anyway. Still some tests to be done and then we’ll get on our way. Your new lungs are on route from England as we speak. It’s the start of a long road and a winding one. But, we’re here for you Aoife and we’ll do our best to make it as easy as possible.” Aoife grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Thanks Doc, I know you will do right by me.”

Aoife hugged her family one by one. Her younger sister Annie was subdued and teary, the complete opposite of her usual animated personality.

“You’ll be grand Aoife, stay strong. I love you. You know that don’t you? I can’t wait to have you back on your feet and giving hell to the lads. We girls have to stick together.”

“Hey, we’re not that bad!” her brother Darragh chipped in. He bent down to Aoife, and hugged her lightly.

“Love you sis. I’ll be waiting here for you.” He high fived Aoife and winked at her. “Gingers forever.”

“Love you too, Dar. You’re ginger, I’m auburn. Mind mama and daddy for me.”

“I’m actually strawberry blonde,” Darragh muttered loudly enough for them all to hear and moved out of the way to allow Rian in to say his goodbyes..

Aoife watched her brother Rian closely as he put his hand on her knee.

“Don’t you be worryin’ about us Aoife? Worry about yourself for once.”

Aoife looked up, her eyes filled with concern for her big brother Rian. Six foot five and brooding, he cut quite a remarkable figure. She saw two nurses passing by eyeing him up and nudging each other giggling. She worried about him the most. He was too closed in, too insular. She wished he’d lean on the others more. She nodded at him and winked. He squeezed her shoulder lightly.

She smiled as her granny O’Malley pushed through the crowd.

“Now girl, you’re an O’Malley and we are tough as nails. You’ll sail through this and be home in three weeks, please God. You’ve been getting away without doing chores and such for far too long, young lady.”

Aoife grabbed her grandmother’s hand when she heard the old woman’s voice break with emotion.

“Don’t. Not you. The rest of them I can take, but you have to stay strong. For me.”

The old woman wiped the sleeve of her blue cardigan across her eyes roughly.

“You’re right, silly stuff and nonsense. You’re as tough as old boots, Aoife. Don’t let me down now. And you have ‘The Bossman’ looking down on you too. He won’t let anything happen to you.”

Aoife smiled, “That’s more like it.”

She hugged her mama and dad to her chest and gave them both an enthusiastic thumbs up, too choked to speak. She felt her mama squeeze her hand and looked down at it. She marvelled at the beauty of her mama’s hands. Small and soft, those hands had so much love within them. So many strokes and caresses they had given. Never clenched in anger, never raised in frustration. Always loving, always comforting. She rubbed her left hand and raised it to her lips kissing it gently.

“Remember what I said to you earlier, Aoife. This is your time.”

Aoife nodded at her, her forehead creased in a frown. Rory knelt down beside the wheelchair.

“Are you frightened, Aoife?”

His heart broke when she nodded quickly.

“Look at me, Aoife. Don’t be afraid. We’ll be here for you the minute you wake up. We’ll be thinking of you and sending every good intention, when you’re awake and feel better I’ll bring you a cupcake. A homemade one.”  

Aoife laughed. “I’m not twelve years old anymore, Ror.”

“Ah, I know.”

“Will you make one with chocolate frosting?” she asked grinning.

“Sure what else would I make it with? It has to be chocolate you know, or else it’s not a real cupcake.”

She giggled at him and he kissed her softly on each cheek. Rory was the most gentle of them all. He hid it well, only allowing those closest to him to see his vulnerability. Oh he was cut-throat in business, she had witnessed that many times. He was competitive and a natural born winner who didn’t suffer failure or fools gladly. But his soul was pure and good, he was a protector through and through and she loved him fiercely. He released her hand and stepped back to allow the nurse access to the wheelchair. The transplant co-ordinator smiled at them.

“Okay O’Malleys, it’s time to go. Aoife, we’ll take you up to the observation ward first and get you ready to go to theatre. Your family can wait in room three; we’ll be done in a few hours. A nurse will keep you posted on Aoife’s progress."

Granny O’Malley spoke up suddenly.

“Wait! Just one second, please. Everyone hold hands for a little prayer.” Annie and Rian started to groan and grumble and both were thrown a look that immediately silenced them.

“Heathens too. Come on, Annie and Rian.”

Annie and Rian gave each other a grin, but acquiesced all the same.

They formed a small circle around Aoife and held each other’s hands tightly.

“Go ahead mammy,” Gearóid O’Malley said to the older woman, his face pained and drawn.

“Lord, we ask you to protect our Aoife this evening and hold her in the palm of your hand. Bless her and keep her safe from harm. We need her here with us and ask that you make her well again. Your creation is perfection and we love and serve you alone.

We also pray for the soul of the person who so selflessly gave of him or herself. They shall forever be a part of our family. We will think of them often and praise their generosity. You have seen fit to take them from this earthly plain and we ask you to hold them close to you. To give peace to their family and friends. Thank you. Amen.”

A chorus of Amen followed and the family held each other closely as Aoife was led away.

Rory waited until she was through the double doors before he let out his breath. He turned his face towards his dad and smiled. April twenty third, a day they would never forget.

Cass let out a breath as she left the hospital, her face upturned to the spring sunshine. She looked around at the cars, moving in streams up and down the main road. Life continued as if nothing momentous had just happened. Surely there should be some sign, some indication that this beautiful soul had left the earth. She felt like screaming at the sun for shining, at the world for turning, at herself for living. Everything was joyless and empty now. April twenty third, a day they would never forget.