Read Online Saving Jessica by Lurlene McDaniel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lurlene McDaniel
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slid forward, turned to embrace him, and kissed him longingly on the mouth.
Jeremy was working in the law library the next day at noon, gathering books and articles for one of the attorneys in his father’s office, when a secretary stuck her head through the doorway. “You’ve got a call on line three, Jeremy.”
He quickly picked up the receiver. It was Dr. Witherspoon. Jeremy’s hands grew clammy and his mouth went dry. “How’d the meeting go with my folks?”
The doctor sighed heavily. “Not well. I couldn’t persuade them, son. I’m sorry. Your father is adamant about your not sacrificing your kidney, and there’s no way he’s going to relent.”
Chapter
11
J eremy hung up the phone. His parents weren’t going to let him be Jessica’s donor. In spite of all his pleading, all the information from Dr. Witherspoon, all the testing for compatibility, all the expressions of gratitude from Jessica’s parents, it wasn’t going to happen. Too numb to react, Jeremy sat and stared at the floor. He told himself to call Jessica, but he wasn’t up to talking to her. Not yet. He needed time to think.
A rap on the law library door roused him from his stupor. His father stood in the doorway, his face a guarded mask. “I dropped your mother at her office. I thought you and I could discuss our meeting with Dr. Witherspoon.”
“I heard about the meeting,” Jeremy said, ignoring his father’s offer.
“Your mother and I did what we think is right. I know our decision isn’t popular, but it’s the one we felt was in your best—”
“I know,” Jeremy interrupted. “In my best interests.”
“I hope you can be civilized about this.”
“Sure. My girlfriend’s dying and you won’t let me help her.”
“That’s not fair, Jeremy. Her doctor will look for another donor. She’s in capable hands.”
Jeremy gave him a cold stare.
“Your mom and I aren’t the bad guys in this, Jeremy. We’re genuinely sorry about Jessica and we’re willing to support and help out in any other way but this.”
“It’s my body,” Jeremy muttered stubbornly.
“But it’s our decision. When you’re eighteen, you can do whatever you want—although even then I’d counsel against your donating. But for now, you’re our responsibility and we’re going to protect you from making an irrevocable choice.”
“In two years, when I’m eighteen, Jessica may not be alive.”
“You don’t know that. No one knows what tomorrow holds for them, son. You may have a child someday who needs a kidney and you’d be unable to help him. Then you’d regret this decision.”
Jeremy shook his head in disgust. “That’s a far-fetched possibility.”
“Anything can happen,” his father said. “Anything.”
“You know what’s weird?” Jeremy didn’t wait for his father’s response. “I know you and Mom write a big check to the Humane Society and the Wildlife Preservation League, even that Save the Whales group every year. You have mercy on helpless animals, but not on people. You won’t do a thing to let me help Jessica, and she’s more valuable than any animal.”
His father raked his hand through his short hair and sighed. “Listen, I’ve got a client coming in fifteen minutes. I can’t stand here and argue this out with you right now. If you want to discuss it at home tonight—”
“No,” Jeremy said calmly. “I’m through talking.”
His father looked surprised. “Well, if you change your mind …”
“I won’t.”
When his father had gone down the hall to his office, Jeremy sat fingering the stack of law books. So, the battle was over. He had lost. No! Jessica had lost. He picked up the phone and dialed her number.
“I’m not mad at anybody, Jeremy.” Jessica’s voice sounded soft and breathy. Dr. Witherspoon had already called and broken the news to her family. “I don’t have long to talk because Mom’s taking me to dialysis soon, but I understand how your parents
Jeremy was working in the law library the next day at noon, gathering books and articles for one of the attorneys in his father’s office, when a secretary stuck her head through the doorway. “You’ve got a call on line three, Jeremy.”
He quickly picked up the receiver. It was Dr. Witherspoon. Jeremy’s hands grew clammy and his mouth went dry. “How’d the meeting go with my folks?”
The doctor sighed heavily. “Not well. I couldn’t persuade them, son. I’m sorry. Your father is adamant about your not sacrificing your kidney, and there’s no way he’s going to relent.”
Chapter
11
J eremy hung up the phone. His parents weren’t going to let him be Jessica’s donor. In spite of all his pleading, all the information from Dr. Witherspoon, all the testing for compatibility, all the expressions of gratitude from Jessica’s parents, it wasn’t going to happen. Too numb to react, Jeremy sat and stared at the floor. He told himself to call Jessica, but he wasn’t up to talking to her. Not yet. He needed time to think.
A rap on the law library door roused him from his stupor. His father stood in the doorway, his face a guarded mask. “I dropped your mother at her office. I thought you and I could discuss our meeting with Dr. Witherspoon.”
“I heard about the meeting,” Jeremy said, ignoring his father’s offer.
“Your mother and I did what we think is right. I know our decision isn’t popular, but it’s the one we felt was in your best—”
“I know,” Jeremy interrupted. “In my best interests.”
“I hope you can be civilized about this.”
“Sure. My girlfriend’s dying and you won’t let me help her.”
“That’s not fair, Jeremy. Her doctor will look for another donor. She’s in capable hands.”
Jeremy gave him a cold stare.
“Your mom and I aren’t the bad guys in this, Jeremy. We’re genuinely sorry about Jessica and we’re willing to support and help out in any other way but this.”
“It’s my body,” Jeremy muttered stubbornly.
“But it’s our decision. When you’re eighteen, you can do whatever you want—although even then I’d counsel against your donating. But for now, you’re our responsibility and we’re going to protect you from making an irrevocable choice.”
“In two years, when I’m eighteen, Jessica may not be alive.”
“You don’t know that. No one knows what tomorrow holds for them, son. You may have a child someday who needs a kidney and you’d be unable to help him. Then you’d regret this decision.”
Jeremy shook his head in disgust. “That’s a far-fetched possibility.”
“Anything can happen,” his father said. “Anything.”
“You know what’s weird?” Jeremy didn’t wait for his father’s response. “I know you and Mom write a big check to the Humane Society and the Wildlife Preservation League, even that Save the Whales group every year. You have mercy on helpless animals, but not on people. You won’t do a thing to let me help Jessica, and she’s more valuable than any animal.”
His father raked his hand through his short hair and sighed. “Listen, I’ve got a client coming in fifteen minutes. I can’t stand here and argue this out with you right now. If you want to discuss it at home tonight—”
“No,” Jeremy said calmly. “I’m through talking.”
His father looked surprised. “Well, if you change your mind …”
“I won’t.”
When his father had gone down the hall to his office, Jeremy sat fingering the stack of law books. So, the battle was over. He had lost. No! Jessica had lost. He picked up the phone and dialed her number.
“I’m not mad at anybody, Jeremy.” Jessica’s voice sounded soft and breathy. Dr. Witherspoon had already called and broken the news to her family. “I don’t have long to talk because Mom’s taking me to dialysis soon, but I understand how your parents
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