Read Online In Search of Lucy by Lia Fairchild - Free Book Online Page B

now!”
    “I didn’t ask you to be my mother. I have a mother.”
    “Yeah? Well where is she? And when was the last time you went to her for something, anyway? I’m the one who helped you with your homework, who talked you through all those tough times at school…and dealing with Mom.”
    “Well now I need to start making my own decisions. And maybe if I’m not around, you can finally get a life.” Katie picked up a duffle bag that was sitting on the floor next to the couch. “I’m going to Texas with Rick, and we’re going to have this baby. All I need right now is Rick.” She’d walked out the door and didn’t look back.
    Lucy had stood staring at the door. That last comment had been like a knife through her heart. How could she have said Lucy needed to get a life? Katie was her life. She stood, hoping that Katie would come back, but knowing that she wouldn’t. There had been other fights, other times Katie had stormed out, and she always came back. They would both apologize, then share a pint of Cherry Garcia while watching Gilligan’s Island . That was Katie’s favorite show, and they had all the old seasons on DVD.
    The odd part of that memory was that Lucy had no recollection of where her mother was on that day. Probably because it really hadn’t mattered at that point. All that mattered was that she felt so alone and helpless. A feeling that Lucy hadn’t been able to shake all these years. Nothing had been able to fill the void left by her shattered family.
    Now both Lucy and Katie were vulnerable and needed a way out. Lucy had prayed earlier for her sister to make it through this. She had hoped that she could help in some way. Even if she was not a match, she had to do something. Lucy planned to call Katie later that afternoon to let her know she had gone to the doctor. She hoped that just hearing Katie’s voice would make her feel more at ease.
    “Good afternoon, Lucy,” Dr. Carlson said as she entered the room holding Lucy’s file. She seemed especially young for a doctor. She had short brown hair that almost looked like a man, yet was very fashionable.
    “Hi, Dr. Carlson.”
    “Well I’m glad you finally decided to come in. I know this isn’t the best of circumstances, but we’ll take a good look at you first and make sure everything’s okay, and then we’ll run the tests. Sound good?”
    “Yep.”
    Dr. Carlson sat down in the chair next to Lucy and read the chart results from the nurse’s preliminary checks. “Looks like your blood pressure’s a bit low; nothing to be concerned about.”
    Dr. Carlson proceeded with the rest of the exam, including a gynecological exam, during which there was a bit of small talk. She asked Lucy about her sister and preached about the importance of regular checkups for Lucy. Then Dr. Carlson confirmed with Lucy everything they’d be looking for in terms of being a match for Katie. They would need to check blood and tissue type, general health including physical and mental, and of course health of her kidneys. Lucy had received all the information with the kit but didn’t end up reading it all at the time. Talk about not doing your homework. Now she felt incredibly overwhelmed by it all and was concerned about some of the requirements.
    “Are you okay, Lucy?” Dr. Carlson asked when she noticed the look on Lucy’s face.
    “I’m fine,” Lucy replied. “It’s just a lot of information. I didn’t realize—”
    “Are you sure this is what you want to do? It’s a very big decision—there’s a lot to consider.”
    “Actually, there’s nothing to consider. I would do absolutely anything to help my sister. If I’m a match, I won’t hesitate at all.”
    “That’s nice to hear. I’m sure your sister feels very lucky to have you.”
    “I’m not sure about that. We actually haven’t spoken to each other in years.”
    “Well, maybe this will bring you back together.” Dr. Carlson smiled at Lucy, closed her file, and stood to