And Never Say Goodbye: A Town of Destiny Novel Page 22

  “Cheers!” everyone said, raising their glasses.

  Mallory put the glass to her mouth and pretended to sip the champagne. She looked at Julia with concern. Julia shrugged and gave a small smile, shaking her head. The thought of their announcement of the baby sliced through her, hating to hurt Julia like that. She almost didn’t want to do it, but then she knew what she’d have to offer afterwards.

  As everyone ate, Lawson clinked his glass with a fork, gaining attention.

  Mallory looked up at him as he stood, smiling like an idiot, which made her laugh. He grabbed her hand and stood her next to him. “Mallory and I have some news. She’s having our baby.”

  His parents stood and ran to them, hugging each. “Congrats, Son. That’s wonderful news,” his father said.

  Becky squeezed Mallory. “I knew it. You look ravishing, and I mean more than usual. When?”

  But Mallory’s gaze stayed on Julia who tried to be happy. “March.”

  Craig stood and shook Lawson’s hand. “Congrats, man. Always knew you had it in you but didn’t think you’d beat us.”

  “Hey, Sis. Come give me a hug,” Lawson said, meeting her halfway. He picked her up and swung her. “It’s gonna happen for you…you wait and see.”

  Mallory joined them and hugged Julia.

  After releasing Mallory, she said, “I’m really happy for you guys…I am. It’s just bittersweet. I thought I was pregnant until last night. Just not meant to happen the natural way for us, I guess. Congratulations.” Julia hugged both of them again and then returned to her seat. “Might as well enjoy the champagne.” She guzzled down the rest and poured more. “Cheers.”

  Lawson helped Mallory into her chair and glanced at her, waiting for her to ask.

  Mallory cleared her throat. “Julia, may I have a private word with you?”

  Lawson drew his brows together. “I thought…”

  “I’m not doing it here in case she says no,” she whispered in his ear.

  Julia stood, finishing her drink. “Sure, why not.” She followed Mallory to the Great Room and sat next to her. “What’s up?”

  After Mallory took her hands in hers, she explained everything, offering the impossible, and letting it all sink in. “Would you and Craig be able to do that? You don’t have to say anything now…”

  Julia jumped up and screamed with joy. “Are you fricking kidding me?” She hugged Mallory and danced around.

  Everyone ran in to see what was going on.

  “Darling,” she said, taking Craig’s hand, “Mallory has offered us Scott’s sperm since she’s not using it. How would you feel about that?”

  Becky smiled and walked to Mallory, squeezing her side.

  Rob stood next to Lawson, shock filling his face.

  Craig’s eyes held concern. “I…how would that work?” he asked Mallory.

  “After taking Julia’s eggs to the lab, they’d fertilize them with the sperm and then transfer the embryos to her,” Mallory said.

  Craig ran his hand through his hair. “What about his heart? Wasn’t he sick? Would that affect the baby?”

  Mallory shook her head. “He wasn’t born with it, so it’s not hereditary. A virus attacked his heart in his teens. The baby would be healthy.” She smiled at him. “Scott had brown eyes like yours, now that I think about it.”

  Julia kissed his hands. “I’d rather carry the baby.”

  He nodded. “And it’d be half yours, which I love.”

  Mallory stepped closer. “You’re the only ones I’d offer this to. I know Scott would be proud, and he’d get to go on like he wanted.”

  Craig grinned. “When do we get to create this miracle?”

  Everyone clapped and huddled around them.

  Rob laughed. “I finally get to be a grandpa. I want to be called Papa.”

  Lawson pulled Mallory to him. “My only regret is not hooking up with you years ago. So much wasted time.”

  She laughed. “We weren’t ready then. No regrets. The timing’s perfect.” She snuggled in his arms.

  As they started back to the dining room, Mallory linked her arm through Julia’s. “I’ll text you all the information you’ll need.”

  “If everything works out, we get to be mothers together,” Julia said, squeezing her arm.

  “Luckiest babies ever,” she said, winking.

  “Are you really okay with me carrying your late husband’s child? That won’t seem strange to you?”

  Mallory stopped and slowly shook her head. “I love you guys. Scott and I would be honored for awesome people like you, and I get to see Scott’s child grow up. I will have to let his parents know when you become pregnant, but I think they’ll be fine with it. They just want to see their son live on, like so many of the donor families we see. It’s a privilege, believe me.”

  “Well, good. I feel honored to be part of this. Come on…let’s eat.”

  When Rob sat down, he asked, “So how will this work out at Hope of Life? Do they allow couples to remain together?”

  Mallory said, “It’s being discussed, but we’re not sure what’ll happen.”

  Lawson nodded. “I’ll take my nursing degree to one of the hospitals. It doesn’t matter to me.”

  “You can always come work on my team, Son. It’d be on the recipient end, and I know you’re good.” Rob smiled when Becky patted him on the arm.

  A wide smile formed on Lawson’s face. “That’d be great, Dad. Thanks, but we’ll see how it goes.” He wrapped his arm around Mallory and kissed her cheek.

  Her insides turned to mush at the happiness she witnessed in this man she adored more than anything. Seeing his father finally show pride in his son’s gift, and it was a gift, filled her with joy…and nausea. “Sorry, be right back.” She ran to the bathroom as everyone laughed and clinked glasses.

  Chapter Eighteen

  As the meeting room filled up, Mallory scurried in the back and found two seats—one for her and one for Lawson. He should have been here. His truck was in the lot, but no other sign of him.

  “Hey, Joe. See Lawson?”

  “No, why? Is the baby coming?” He grinned.

  “Not for another six months. Take it easy there.” Her gaze shifted to the room. “I guess he’s here somewhere.” She noticed Lance sitting next to Cora who was flirting heavily with him. Maybe they’ll be the next transplant team couple.

  Joe sat on the other side of her. They were becoming the three Musketeers, it seemed, these days. She didn’t mind, was actually starting to warm up to a lot more of the coordinators. Even David. Poor little, incompetent David who still steered clear of her ever since she trained him that fateful day when it all began for her and Lawson.

  The more she thought about it, she owed this all to him. If he hadn’t been so nervous and ticked her off, Lawson would never have felt bad, would never had shared the case with her that night, and would never be the father of her child.

  So, here’s to David, the incompetent but truly excellent coordinator. She gave him a Joker’s smile when he passed, making him rush down the opposite end. Laughing, she pulled out her phone and tried texting Lawson. Nothing. “Joe, I’ll be right back. I’m getting worried now.”

  “Okey-dokey. Meeting shouldn’t start for another twenty minutes.”

  She started down the hall to only find straggling coordinators, gossiping about some rumor or another. Some things never changed. As she walked farther down to where the nap room was, she heard a door close and Jennifer sneaking out.

  “Oh, hi, Mallory. What’re you doing back here?” She swung her arm around Mallory’s shoulders and whisked her back to the meeting.

  “Why were you in the nap room? Is Lawson back there?” Her heart pounded. She knew she could trust him with her life, but that seemed strange. Jealousy crawled through her veins as she pushed Jennifer’s arm away.

  “No, silly woman. Now let’s go.”

  She remembered a time when Jennifer had a crush on Lawson. Who didn’t? She got close
r and could smell the vanilla scent on her. “I don’t believe you.” Having read how pregnancy hormones made some women paranoid and suspicious of everything, she had become one of them.

  “Come on, honey. Let’s get in there before Ellen speaks. You know how she gets when we’re late.”

  “But Lawson’s late.”

  “He’ll be there.”

  She allowed Jennifer to drag her back, glancing behind her for any evidence of the jackass she was having a baby with. The halls were bare of people, all anticipating the godawful Wednesday meeting.

  Taking her seat next to Joe, who shifted his eyes everywhere but her, she exhaled and rested her hand on her heart to calm it down. She then rested it on her belly that was gaining a bulge under her shirt.

  Sweat trickled down her back and sides of her face. Tears formed in the back of her eyes, burning and wanting to release. What was going on?

  Ellen began to speak, standing in her gray skirt suit. Her words sounded like the characters on Charlie Brown…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

  Bile built in her throat as she fought to swallow and keep it down.

  “You okay, Mal?” Joe whispered. “You don’t look so good.”

  “Where is he, Joe? Why the secrecy?”

  He shrugged, shaking his head. “I really don’t know.”

  Someone turned around and glared at them to be quiet.

  Mallory glared back, causing them to turn back around. “That’s right. No show here.” She searched the front of the room and the exit, but there was no sign. Her face felt like an oven turned all the way to high.

  Ellen droned on and on. “And so I’d like to invite Lawson to talk about the special case he participated in.” She moved away from the podium to let him step up.

  Mallory narrowed her eyes. “What the…”

  Again, Joe shrugged.

  “What special case?” she asked. If Lawson could feel her laser stare, he’d be dead. But he averted his gaze from her as he approached the podium.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “This case was amazing, and I was humbled and honored to be part of it.” He met her gaze briefly and then shifted to the others. “My life changed after this case, and I wanted to share it all with you. It was a heart transplant, one that’ll affect me the rest of my life.”

  Her breath hitched in her throat.

  “But I’m not referring to an external transplant. No, no, no. I’m referring to an invisible one, and I was the donor. You see that woman back there?”

  Everyone turned to look at Mallory whose widened stare made him laugh.

  “Yeah, the beautiful pregnant one.”

  Gasps erupted and a few claps.

  “Except she didn’t use a surgical instrument to recover my heart. She used her laughter, cheekiness, generosity, sense of humor, intelligence, beauty, and charm to take it. She was a thief in the town of Destiny, who snuck in and stole it, and hopefully I completely own hers. Mallory, would you please join me up here?”

  Stunned was what she was. Absolutely stunned. Frozen to her seat. Joe stood and extended his hand with a knowing grin. “You knew.”

  “I’m a good actor. Come on…don’t leave the boy standing there.”

  Shaking her head, she took his hand and stood. A shy smile filled her face as she walked down the aisles past smiling faces. Friendly faces for once, when they weren’t always that way.

  Jennifer whooped and cheered. “Go get your wolf, girl!”

  Mallory laughed, her face turning red and wagging her finger at her.

  All the guys howled like wolves, making Mallory and Lawson laugh.

  It was funny how life could be. In the hospitals and OR’s, she walked with her head held high, owning the gift she served others with. But not here. She felt like a little girl…no, a woman walking toward her man.

  “Hey, doll face,” Lawson said, offering his hand for her to take.

  She joined him and watched him get down on one knee. “Here?” She looked around, feeling bashful at the attention.

  “Mallory Marie Dempsey McShane, will you and our baby make me the happiest man on the earth and be mine forever? I swear I’ll do right by you, be there for you and our growing family, and cherish you to the day I die. I’d crawl on top of you in any storm and give my life.” He wiped his eyes and held a black velvet box out. “I love you so much, babe.”

  Her chest heaved with an ache, as the hot tears fell. With a deep, shaky breath, she cupped his chin and smiled. “I’ve always been yours, Lawson. I was born for this day. Scott was part of my journey to find you, and I know he’s smiling down on us. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  “Go, Wolf! Melt that ice!” one of the coordinators yelled out and everyone laughed.

  “She was never ice,” he said for only her to hear. He took the 2 carat diamond solitaire out and placed it on her finger before he lifted her into his arms, kissing her in front of all to see.

  The room thundered with foot stomps and clapping. Ellen approached and hugged them, congratulating them as everyone else took their turn in the room.

  Mallory whispered to Ellen, “Did you get a chance to talk to Dr. Segal? Does he want me to leave?”

  She shook her silver head. “No. Lawson tried to leave, but we all voted for you both to stay. You’re just too invaluable to this organization to lose you.”

  A wide grin broke out on her heated face. “Really?”

  Lawson overhead. “I told them I’d work with my dad, Mal. They wouldn’t have it.”

  “But what about the policy?” she asked.

  “It still stands for dating and messing around. But marriage is another thing. You two were already married without the paper and ring.” Ellen tapped their backs and stepped away to speak to a manager.

  After thanking everyone, they walked out into the hall where peace reigned. The celebration was still going on, and the noise was unbearable.

  She turned to him. “So, you were in the nap room with Jennifer?”

  “Yeah, but only to show her the ring. I wanted it to be perfect like you.” He pressed his lips to hers with a groan. “Let’s get out of here. Sadie needs to be fed, and so do I.”

  “You’re always hungry,” she said, laughing.

  “Yeah, for you.”

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  Mallory stepped out of the nurses’ lounge dressed in blue scrubs and gown. She trotted to the ICU, searching for the patient’s room. The hospital staff greeted her with respectful nods and smiles. The organ whisperer was back, ready to calm the waves rippling through the hospital halls.

  Somebody had to do it.

  Lucy, the panicked OR coordinator, said, “Mallory, just in time. Can you talk to the family? They don’t want to give consent, and we don’t have time.”

  She could hear commotion growing louder from the room as she pushed the door open and smiled. “Hi, I’m Mallory. I’m so sorry for your loss.” She offered her hand to the wild-eyed man who just lost his daughter in a motorcycle accident with her boyfriend.

  “I want him gone!” he said, pointing his finger at a young man whose face was cradled in his hands.

  She took his hands into hers, softening his gaze but the pain still raw. “I get it, sir. I have a daughter, too, and I couldn’t imagine going through what you have.”

  “No, no one can. I want her back.” He began to sob. “My little angel is gone, and it’s his fault! I lost my wife two years ago to cancer and now this. I can’t do this alone.” He held his face in his hands and leaned into Mallory.

  Rubbing his back, she said, “Tell me some things about her. It’s Lizzy, right? What did she like?”

  He let out a sigh and wiped his face. “She liked music and going to concerts. That’s where they were coming home from.”

  Mallory gestured for the boyfriend to join them. He stood and moved closer. “What’s your name?” she asked the distraught young man.

  With a shaky voice, he said, “Calvin. I’m so sorry, Mr. Cran
e. I loved Lizzy so much. I wanted to die with her.”

  “I wished you did!” He walked away and slapped the wall. “Sorry…I didn’t mean that. Why didn’t you make her wear that helmet, Cal? Why?”

  “You know Lizzy. She’s stubborn. I begged her, but she said something about being free.” A sob tore from his throat and he slumped like a ragdoll.

  The father turned to him and grabbed him, picking him up and holding him—two men crying over their lost girl.

  Calvin sniffled and said in a hoarse voice, “I think Lizzy would want this. She liked helping people, whether it was babysitting kids or going to the nursing home.”

  Mallory reached out and patted Calvin’s arm. “She sounds wonderful.”

  The father nodded and glanced at his daughter in the bed, who looked like she was sleeping. “You’re right, Son. She would have wanted this.”

  As Mallory checked the monitor once more, she said, “You’re doing the right thing. There are two recipients waiting and will get to live a little longer thanks to Lizzy.”

  The two men stood on each side of the bed and held Lizzy’s hand.

  The father bent and kissed her hand. “I love you, Lizzy girl. Now you’re free.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead with his quivering lips. “I’m sure gonna miss your giggling and music blaring from your room. I wished I didn’t tell you to turn it down so much. If I only knew you’d be taken from me so fast, I never…”

  Calvin touched his arm. “Don’t beat yourself up, Dan. You know you were the best father she could ever had asked for. Let’s let them do what they need to do and wait for when she’s done.” He turned to Mallory. “We can do that, right?”

  She nodded. “Yes, you can say your goodbyes again. We’ll make sure of that.”

  Calvin laughed softly. “She used to say it’s not goodbye but see you later.”

  Mallory smiled. “I love that. And with what you’re consenting to here today, you never need to say goodbye. She’ll go on living, beating, pumping blood in another.”

  The father cleared his throat and smiled for once. “I guess there are no goodbyes, really. Thank you, Mallory. When you go home tonight, give that daughter of yours a kiss for me, tuck her in real tight, and let her be who she needs to be.”