Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Chapter Eleven
Denise
“Thank you so much for meeting with me.” I shake Melissa’s hand. It’s been three days since I’ve spoken with Zack. Three days since I held his hand while he bared his soul to me or at least part of his soul. Three days and I can still feel his hand on mine.
That night when I got home, I cried for the man who has to be strong for his boy, a man who had no one to hold his own hand. I cried and did something I’ve never done in a long time; I prayed for him. I prayed for Jack. I’m a doctor, so it’s all clinical for me, and I’m not sure God has all the answers, but at that one moment, I wanted God to just make him better. For it to be a miracle. For the past three days, all I’ve done besides work nonstop was read up on the new meds coming to market. Now I’m sitting in front of Melissa, the woman who holds the key to the drug that can make Jack better. I have to be honest; I would sell my soul to the devil for him.
“No problem,” she says, taking a sip of water from the glass in front of her. “I’ve read the chart, and I’ve shown it to the medical directors, and they agree he’s a great candidate.”
My heart is beating, and I’m trying not to show my hand right away. “When can we start?” I ask her, failing miserably.
“We can send you everything by Monday. It would take twenty-two days for the turnaround. Then it’s a waiting game.”
“That works,” I tell her, my heart beating so hard I think it’s going to burst out of my chest. I’m so excited I feel like Tom Cruise did when he went on Oprah and jumped on her couch.
“The cost is high,” she starts, and I just shake my head.
“Cost isn’t an issue,” I tell her, knowing Zack would sell everything he owned for Jack.
“Perfect. Now, let’s eat. I’m starved,” she says. My legs start bouncing, and I pick up my phone to send a text to Steve with one word.
Monday
I turn my phone down and actually have lunch, or at least I try to, but I speed through it, and Melissa just smiles at me.
“How hard was it for you not to pick up the phone and call your patient?”
I look at her. We have been colleagues since I first started at the hospital. She’s been with me through some dark days, and in the end, we held hands through some of our toughest breaks. Losing a patient is always hard, the worst, and I hold them with me forever, and she knows it.
“My hands got twitchy, and my heart was beating out of my chest.”
“You wear your heart on your sleeve.” She folds her hands over her chest.
“Touché, Melissa. Touché,” I say, raising my hand for the waiter and motioning for the bill.
“Go and make your phone calls. I got this,” she says. I put my napkin on the table, smiling at her while calling Zack. He answers after two rings.
“Hello,” he says, huffing and puffing.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” I ask him as I hear him gulp water.
“No,” he says, “I just got done on the treadmill. What’s up?”
“Are you in town?” I ask him.
“I am. I’m headed home in about five minutes. Sarah isn’t feeling well, and I don’t want her around Jack, so I’m sending her home.”
“Good idea. I have some news I think you’ll want to hear,” I tell him and try to remain calm.
“Do you want me to come in and see you or,” he starts saying, and I hear rustling in the background, “you can come by the house. Jack has done nothing but ask about you for the past three days. If I gave the kid your number, he would have blown up your phone,” he tells me, laughing.
“I’ve always wanted a stalker,” I tell him and then put my hand up to hail a nearby cab. “What’s your address?” I ask him, getting into the cab and giving the guy the address. “I’m on my way. I hope that’s okay. I’m excited,” I tell him.
“I’m on my way now, but Sarah is home,” he tells me, and I hang up the phone with him and call Steve.
“Miracle worker,” he says when he answers the phone.
“I’m on my way over to Zack’s now,” I tell him, and he whistles.
“A house call now?” he asks, laughing.
“Sarah feels sick, and I can’t wait till tomorrow. I’m bursting at the seams to tell him the good news.”
“Any chance we could get Evie into this one?” he asks quietly. “Her numbers aren’t looking so good today.”
“Shit,” I say, closing my eyes. “I’ll have to check with Melissa and see if she can do it free or if the foundation can contribute.”