I dont know, either, honey. Regret tinged her mothers words. If I hadnt lied to everyone, especially Megan, you could come right out and tell Tate the truth.
I dont want to hurt his family, but if he doesnt agree to donate on his own, Ill have no choice.
No! Absolutely not. You cant risk it. Julianna held the phone away from her mothers screech. The doctors have told us a dozen times how important a positive mental state is to Megans struggling immune system. Her health is too fragile to suddenly discover the father she thought was dead is alive and well in Oklahoma. Who knows what the shock might do to her? A tormented sigh came through the phone lines. Julianna envisioned her mother repeatedly pushing short frosted hair behind one ear. This is all my fault. I never should have started that lie.
You did what you thought was best at the time, Mama. I dont blame you for any of this.
When Julee had discovered her pregnancy and Tates marriage to another woman, her mom had created a deceased husband to save face in the new city and among new friends and co-workers.
You were so young and so stubbornly determined not to ruin Tates chances for a football career. For a while I hated that boy. There you were pregnant, trying to succeed in this crazy modeling business, and wanting to spare the very boy whod gotten you into trouble. I only meant to protect you and Megan from mean-spirited people.
I know, Mama, I know. Julianna stared at the black spots on the ceiling tile. Shed relived those days in her mind a thousand times wondering what she could have done differently, and the answer always came out the same. She didnt know.
Her mother hadnt wanted her united with Tate, though shed bitterly resented Juliannas original plan to keep Tate in the dark. But Julee had feared what would happen if hed discovered the pregnancy. He would have abandoned the athletic scholarship, his only opportunity to move beyond the horrible poverty and despair of his childhood. He would have gone back to work at the gas station and killed himself trying to care for a wife and a baby. In the end, after shed reconsidered, hed already traded her for someone else, so she lived with the lie created to protect them all.
You never did approve of Tate, but hes different now.
Different? Honey, Tate McIntyre was always different.
I mean different in a different way. Julee laughed a little at that, comparing the almost military perfection of the Tate shed seen today with the long black hair, the wary eyes, and bad attitude of the Tate shed known ten years ago. I dont believe for one minute hed intentionally hurt Megan. The bad-boy reject has become the golden savior and this town thinks he walks on water. From all appearances, hes gentle and kind to everyone. Everyone but me, that is.
I dont see why he should be angry with you, Beverly sniffed defensively. Its not your fault he lost the football scholarship. And it sure wasnt your fault he married that Atkins girl while you were still carrying his baby. Ill never forgive him for that.
Mama, dont go there. Please. Ive had such a stressful day. Gripping the phone a little tighter, she twisted the cord around her finger. Hows Megan? Is she there?
No, shes at school. Since you told her about having a bone-marrow drive where her daddys relatives lived, and explained how some of them could possibly match, shes been full of zip.
Julianna said a silent prayer of thanks. As long as Megan remained in remission, they
had time to search for a donor. Her chest filled with a familiar mix of joy and pain. Being a mother was the hardest and most wonderful thing shed ever done.
Has she gained any weight?
In two days? Honey. Her mothers voice brimmed with sympathy. Megan is like you. Shell never fatten up too much.
Julee had a vision of Megans wide, omnipresent smile in a narrow face with Tates high cheekbones and leaf-green eyes. Her arms hung like twigs from her T-shirt sleeves and shed been bald so often, shed taken to wearing a ball cap even when her hair had grown out. Juliannas heart expanded with fierce mother love. Megan was an amazing kid, so full of life and love it seemed impossible that she could be dying.
I have a meeting with the hospital administrator and the radio-station manager in a while, Mom, so Id better get moving. She sat up on the end of the bed. Give Megan my love.
Try not to worry so much, Julee.
I wont if you wont. It was an oft-repeated phrase.
Everything is just dandy from this end. Eugene is coming over for dinner and afterward Megan and I have a hot game of Super Nintendo to finish.
Julianna knew her mother and their affable accountant, Eugene Richmond, would be much more than friends if not for her and Megan. She had halfheartedly encouraged the pair to take their relationship further, but in truth, she couldnt work the insane modeling schedules without her mom to help care for Megan. And with Megans hospital bills, every penny counted. When shed discovered Julees pregnancy ten years ago, Beverly had moved to L.A. and become housekeeper and nanny while Julianna had provided the finances. So, adding to Juliannas burden of responsibility, dear Eugene offered only friendship to the woman he wanted to love.