Read Online A Dad of His Own by Gail Gaymer Martin - Free Book Online Page B

twisted in pain.
    Lexie leaned forward. “What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t feel good.”
    Lexie rose. “In what way? Are you nauseated?”
    “My stomach hurts.” He covered his mouth as moisture dampened his eyes.
    “Can you get upstairs?” Lexie leaned closer, her face pinched with worry.
    He sat a moment without answering. “Maybe.”
    Lexie straightened as Ethan rose from the bench. “How about if I give you a birthday lift?”
    “A what?”
    His color looked terrible. Ethan didn’t wait for the answer. He reached out to Cooper and scooped him into his arms. “I’ll carry you up.”
    Cooper didn’t fight him. He wrapped his arms around Ethan’s neck as he hurried up the stairs. Lexie followed behind him, and when he reached the top, he paused. “Bathroom or bed?”
    “Which one, Coop?”
    “Bed.”
    Ethan carried him to his room and placed him on the mattress. He stepped aside for Lexie to take over. Instead of waiting there, he headed into the outer room and stood near the window. The moon rose above the next housetop, and Ethan’s gaze drifted to the stars, longing to be able to wish on one. Better he prayed for Cooper and for Lexie.
    When he heard a sound, he turned and Lexie stepped from the room and crossed over to him. “Thanks so much.”
    “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was here.”
    She touched his arm. “So am I.”
    He wanted to cup her hand in his.
    “I don’t have people to lean on. I’ve learned to stand on my own, but sometimes it’s nice to have someone to…”
    He slipped his arm around her shoulder. “To be there with you.”
    She nodded and rested her head against his chest. “It’s comforting.”
    His pulse skipped, hearing her words.
    She eased her head away and raised her gaze to his. “This is one of the things that happens to Cooper following the treatment and the new medication.” She motioned to the chairs and slipped away. “Would you like to sit here? I don’t want to be too far away.”
    His arm felt empty without her there. “Smart.” He glanced at the moon again, then stepped from the window and sank into the nearest chair. No one to lean on. Her voice lingered in his mind. “What’s going on with Cooper? You said he had a new medication.”
    She sank into the other chair and lifted the footrest as she stretched her legs on the cushion. “Today he had his chemo treatment and then a spinal tap procedure. They’d hoped his ANC count would improve, but it hasn’t.”
    “That means he has to be careful about infection.”
    “Right. He can’t attend school until his balance is good. You hear how badly he wants to go, and it breaks my heart. He needs the white blood cells that are neutrophils. Those are the ones that fight infection. Since that’s not happening, they’ve added methotrexate to his medication, and the higher the dosage the more adverse effects it can have.” She motioned to the child’s bedroom. “Tonight’s an example. Nausea and vomiting can accompany the treatment, and if it gets too bad, I’ll have to take him to emergency.”
    A helpless feeling flooded Ethan. “I can’t even imagine.”
    Compassion filled her eyes. “Sure you can. You’ve experienced having someone you loved deal with a fatal illness.” Her expression changed and curiosity took over.
    Ethan saw the question coming, the question he didn’t want to answer. He gave her a feeble nod. “I have.”
    She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, her gaze captured his. “Then you understand.”
    His pulse quickened. Her tender expression touched him, remembering his own pain. “But this is your child. Your flesh and blood. That goes against nature.”
    “It does.” She lowered her gaze again and sank into her thoughts.
    Ethan wished tonight could have been a true happy birthday for Cooper. And he’d wanted some quality time to get to know Lexie better, but this wasn’t it. So many questions filled his head, but taking it slowly made more sense than acting