Lana’s POV While Sally and Marcus had chosen to go to the hotel first, I opted to join Cameron and Andre to visit Kathy at the hospital. I could not keep the thought that Kathy was actually dying out of my head, and the fact that Cameron had been in the know—even met with her—and failed to inform me somehow angered me, but now was not the time to be throwing tantrums. I was here not just because I was curious to know why Kathy asked for me but also to support André. Although we had a lot going on between both of us right now, seeing him break down like that at the news he received had wounded my heart. I hated to admit it, but I had loved this man once, and I could not bear to just watch while he went through something as bad as losing a loved one. He might not have loved her, but he was married to her for some time, and there was actually a time in the past when he thought he did. I glanced out of the window as the car that Cameron’s father had sent to escort us from the airpo
Lana’s POV When I joined Andre and Cameron again after changing into the scrubs, they were both standing in front of Kathy’s bed, where she lay, propped up against pillows. Her eyes were merely sunken holes in her face, and the balls looked up when I entered. A ghost of a smile flitted across her features, and her head nodded subtly. There was a small cord fitted into the holes of her nostrils, which I assumed was the oxygen and probably connected to the life support machine that sustained her life. “Lana,” her small voice filtered across the room. “You are here.” I approached her with slow steps, my heart racing in my chest. I was all too familiar with this scene. It struck a chord deep within me, uncovering long-forgotten memories. Memories that I had tucked deep in the back of my heart brought tears to my eyes. “Hey,” I answered, balancing myself at the edge of her bed. I took her frail hand. Andre was already on the verge of tears, and even now, I could see that he was fi
Lana’s POV Cameron’s eyes darkened considerably at my words, and his arms around my waist tightened, pushing me against the hard walls of his chest until it was almost too hard to breathe. I stifled my laughter. “Should I not care about him?” I arched my brow. “His wife is dying, and don’t forget.” “Don’t remind me.” He growled. “I understand his wife is dying, but from tomorrow on, you will stay by my side and hang only from my hands.” I frowned. “I am not your jacket, Cameron.” “And you are not his jacket either. I hate seeing you too close.” His mouth closed around mine, and his tongue knocked upon my teeth, begging me to open up. My mouth was ever willing, and he slid his tongue swiftly into mine, entangling it with mine. “It’s like someone’s holding my heart and squeezing it.” He said this, pulling himself out of the kiss. “It hurts.” Throwing my arms around his neck, I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. My body responded to him naturally, and the sleep that had fill
Lana’s POV The tension in the air was palpable, but I was determined to salvage us out of this. The doctor worked his jaw, rubbing the spot where Andre had landed the punch. He pushed himself forward in his seat. “First of all,” he started slowly. “I will explain to you what Kathy’s illness is and the point at which it is at now.” He paused, allowing us—Andre, especially—to calm his racing heart and cool down his heat. “I already explained to you all what this disease meant. Her lungs have collapsed, robbing her of the ability to breathe. It is at stage four, and as you saw, she does not have much time left. The only thing that is keeping her is the machine, and as soon as we turn it off, Kathy will no longer be with us.” Pain was evident in his face as he spoke. And again, I had that feeling that he and Kathy might have a relationship that was more than doctor and patient. Who was he to her? Was he a man from her past? Was this why he could accuse us of knowing nothing about he
Lana’s POV Although Cameron was not my husband yet and therefore could not speak for me, my legal adviser was Sally, and she was available. She jumped to her feet, pushing herself forward until she was leaning on the doctor’s desk and peering into his eyes. “And I am her legal adviser.” Sally imputed, glaring daggers at him. “Do I also have no right to say she does not need to come to any conclusions right now because evidently she is not in the right frame of mind?” While Cameron and Sally struggled with the doctor about whether I should or should not take the test, my mind played and replayed the doctor’s words over and over again. My father had never mentioned having any family beside my mother and me, so was there any truth in what this man told us? I glanced at him, the storm in his eyes as he bared down at Sally. Did he have any reason to lie to me? I could think of none. Before today, I had no idea such a person existed in this world, and if not for the fact that Kathy h
Lana’s POV Sally was not leaving my side. Neither was Cameron. None of them was going to let me make this decision on my own, if it came to that. I think it was because they thought I was going to decide to do something as stupid as giving out one of my kidneys. But even I was not that good, I must confess. Don’t get me wrong. It seemed like the right thing to do—perhaps a valiant act on my part—to try and save the life of the woman who might be my sister, but I was no knight in shining armour, brave, and riding a white horse ready to save the day. I was a mother, and before I thought of anything else, I had to think of my children and if it would have any effects on them. Giving out a kidney was risky—at least I knew that much—and maybe the doctor would tell me all about that later because, besides being Kathy’s brother, he was a doctor and his duty was to humanity. Right? Still, I kind of knew that there was plenty of risk involved in doing something like that. My only lung
Lana’s POV The words of the doctor struck a hard spot in my heart. I felt a lot of emotions all at once. First, I felt relieved; perhaps he meant I did not need to donate any of my organs anymore, but then fear gripped me. What did that mean? I caught the thought. Of course not. If Kathy was... I could not even think of the words, but if she were, then he would not be standing here right now looking so composed. Then, was there no need for the transplant again? Had they found another way to keep her alive? His expression betrayed nothing. Most importantly, I was disheartened because I had wanted to take that test not just because I might have a chance at helping Kathy, but because the test would show if we were really related, as the doctor had stated earlier. “What?” I choked out. “Did something happen?” He shook his head, but only then did I see the sadness in his eyes. “Kathy would like to see you,” he informed me. “Just you, Lana. The others will go in after...” he glanc
Lana’s POV His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and his hand shook at the thought of what he was about to do. But he was not the only one trying not to cry; the other doctors were around too, as were some nurses. In their eyes, I could see the tears they tried to hold back. Fred looked at her, and she smiled at him, nodding slowly. Giving him a silent go-ahead to do something, which for him might be the hardest thing he’s ever had to do, he would miss her; that much was evident, but she wanted this. This was not what they were trained to do. They were trained to save, but it seems that this one went beyond saving. Once, a wise man told me that ‘a person should always know when to step back and surrender. Doing that does not mean you give up; it just means that you are mature enough to see the bigger picture’. My only wish as we all stood around her bed, waiting for the final moments of Kathy’s life, was that she had been given the opportunity to know that wise man. Why he had c