Was it normal to be this excited when you were sitting in a bank and talking to a bunch of high-level advisors? Normally, I would say no. I was never the sit-in-the-bank type. I was the drive-thru-atm type. Or the walk-up-atm type. But I didn't do this. Not before today, at least. 

But today was special. I was thirty weeks pregnant and had officially upgraded to only maternity clothes since all of my jeans and pants refused to close around my distended stomach. I didn't complain this time when I put on the stretchy pants. Because today...today was special. 

"Do you think we should do a college fund, or do a trust fun, too?" 

Ryan flashed me a devilish grin. "Both. Our little girl deserves it." 

I rubbed my belly as I looked at the different options. "For the trust fund, how old should we set the age?" 

"Twenty-one. That way she's fresh out of college. She'll be a grown-up and should hopefully know what she wants to do with her degree." 

"And if she doesn't want to go to college?" 

His face scrunched up in confusion. "What do you mean?" 

"Well, what if she doesn't want to go to school? What if she wants to, I don't know, become a mechanic or be a waitress? Or start a business right out of high school? What if she doesn't want to go to college and follow in the Hale family business?" 

My anxiety started to rise a little when Ryan didn't answer me right away. I could see him processing what I asked. One thing I learned rather quickly when I got involved with Ryan was the family legacy. He's even told me stories about how, if it was up to him, he would have stayed in London when he turned eighteen. He never wanted the 'family business'. He wanted freedom, but he felt like he didn't have a choice. That was something I didn't want for my daughter. 

Finally, he took a deep breath and looked at me seriously. "If she doesn't want to go to college, that'll be her choice. And if she wants to be a mechanic, then we'll make sure she's the best damn mechanic there is. And if she wants to be a waitress, I'll buy her her first goddamn apron." 

My eyes started to water. "Really? You mean that?" 

"Of course I do." He placed his hand on my belly. "I don't want her feeling the same pressure I did while growing up. She'll have the freedom to make her own choices. And if she ends up not going to college, we'll include a clause that it can be used as start-up money for a business of her own. If that's what she wants."

I had never loved my husband more than in that moment. Cupping his face with my hand I whispered, "She is so lucky to have a father like you."

He chuckled before leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, well. We all know I'm going to be a huge push over when she's born. Probably going to give her whatever she wants. She's not even here yet and has me wrapped around her finger."

It was true. And not just by Ryan and myself. Once this little girl was born, she was going to be so incredibly loved by everyone close to us.

***

Sbarro. Chipotle. Subway. Panda Express. 

Those were my four choices for lunch. A yummy barbacoa bowl with all the fixings—including extra sour cream and guac—sounded so good right now. But then again, so did orange chicken and fried rice from Panda Express.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

I was so tired of making decisions. And I was also growing very impatient while waiting for the results to come in regarding the donor match.

They came by our daughters hospital room this morning to let us know that they found a possible match with someone in our circle of friends, but they wouldn't tell us who it was. HIPPA and all that. They had to wait until they knew for sure and speak to that person first.

And all that was going to happen after they ran a few additional tests, they said. Something about the way they said that to us made me nervous. We were originally told that no additional tests would be needed. Now they were.

Why? No point in asking. I knew they wouldn't tell us. Not until needed, at least. But that was okay. Because today was the day we were going to get an answer.

And if that answer turned out to be that nobody we knew was able to donate, they already put her on the donor list. I just hoped, if that was the case, that it wouldn't take too long to find a donor for her.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I reached in to grab it. It was a text.

Jamie: The girls want Chinese if that's cool with you. The boys already ate.

I started typing my reply: Panda Express work?

Jamie: YES! I'll collect orders then send it to you.

While I waited for Jamie to get all of the orders, I walked over to an empty table and took a seat. No reason to stand around like an idiot.

The sound of a baby crying had my head turning to the right. It was just one of those things you did when you became a mother, I guess. If you heard a baby crying, you responded.

I watched as the mom held the baby gently, rocking him back and forth. It took a few minutes before she got him to finally settle down. I understood that fully.

When she noticed me watching, she cast me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. He seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the crib this morning."

"It's no problem," I told her. "Babies cry."

"You aren't lying," she laughed. "My husband had his appendix removed today and is still in recovery, so I brought our son down here to keep him distracted while we wait for him to be moved back to his room."

"Sounds like it was a successful surgery."

"It was," she clarified. "Very. Thank goodness, because I was a nervous wreck."

"I know what you mean. I'm dealing with the same thing right now."

She laid her son back in the stroller. "Oh no. Your husband?"

"My daughter," I said softly. "She needs a liver transplant."

The woman's face fell as she glanced at her sleeping baby. I knew what she was thinking: Thank God my child is healthy.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. May I ask how old she is?"

I didn't want to answer her. But for the life of me, I didn't know why I couldn't stop talking. "She's almost a month old."

Before the woman could say anything back, my phone vibrated with another text message. It was the lunch order from Jamie.

"Sorry," I murmured as I stood up from the chair. "I have to go."

Just as I turned to walk towards Panda Express, the woman called out, "I'll be praying for your daughter."

I've never been the religious type before, but her saying that meant a lot to me. "Thank you."

I headed over to order the food, and thirty minutes later, I had my arms full of Chinese. Surprisingly, I was able to carry it by myself onto the elevator and down the long hallway of the NICU.

Considering everything that was going on, I was surprised I even had an appetite. But on the other hand, I barely ate over the past few days. There was a Jell-O cup here, or a protein shake there, but that was pretty much it.

Besides when Lanie became so stressed and turned into an overbearing mother and would try to force us to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But just like with all of us, it came from love and fear.

When I finally approached my daughter's room, I pushed the door open with my hip.

"Hey, guys. I got the—" I froze. "Dr. Simpson? What are you doing here? Did the results come in?"

A pair of hands took the mountain of food from me. I was so focused on the doctor's presence that I didn't even see who it was. Everyone in the room became a blur. Everyone except the doctor, my baby, and my husband.

Dr. Simpson's expression was unreadable as she stared at me and Ryan. "Yes, Danielle. We were waiting till you got back to hear the news."

News. There was news. But was it good news? Or bad news? I couldn't take anymore bad news right now.

Ryan took my hand and gave it a squeeze. Yeah, he was just as scared as I was.

"We're ready," he said with a steadiness in his voice that I sure as hell didn't have.

Dr. Simpson nodded before clearing her throat to address everyone in the room. "Its seems that only one person was a match. A zero mismatch, to be exact."

I tightened my grip on Ryan's hand. "That's good. Right? Who is it?"

"Cherise Lovette."

***

What do we think about Cherise being the donor? So much happening with the next few chapters!

🖤