Pepper sat on the preop bed with her backpack spread over the white cotton blanket. She sorted out her Arthur trading cards, paint chips, and fabric swatches. “Do you like this fabric with this paint?” she asked Patrick.
“It’s fine.” He turned to Rebekah. “What’s taking so long?”
Rebekah shrugged. Who knew? Maybe it always took this long.
The sixteen-year-old boy in the room next door was wheeled out and through the double doors. “I talked with his mom.” Rebekah sat on the end of the bed. “He’s having a shunt in his brain repaired.”
Patrick ignored her. “Are you sure everything was a match?”
“You heard Jamie. She said the tissue samples looked great.” Rebekah would spend the night in the hospital with Pepper, and Patrick would stay with their old neighbors. She wasn’t sure what to do about Christmas. Maybe Patrick and Reid could have Christmas morning with her parents on the farm and then they could all come up to Portland.
Pepper yawned and stretched her arms over her head, pulling the hospital gown nearly off her shoulder.
“I wish I had an iPod.” Pepper put her cards and paint and fabric samples back in her bag.
Patrick shook his head.
Pepper pulled out knitting needles and yarn.
“When did you learn to crochet?” he asked.
“It’s knitting, Dad. No one crochets anymore. Ainsley taught me.” She slowly moved the yarn around the needles.
“Did you bring a book?” Rebekah asked.
Pepper opened the bag, peered in, and then dropped the bag on the bed. “Nope.” She yawned again.
“Do you want to take a little nap? It will make the time go faster.” Rebekah fingered the yarn.
Pepper shook her head. “I’m hungry.”
“I know.”
“Why did they want us up here so soon?” Patrick asked.
“Mom, why don’t you and Dad get something to eat?” Pepper stretched again and dropped her knitting into her backpack. “I think I’ll try to sleep.”
“Why don’t you go to the cafeteria? I’ll stay with Pepper,” Patrick said as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“Why don’t you both go?” Pepper yawned again. “The nurse can page you when it’s time.”
“No, I’m not going anywhere.” Rebekah sat on the other side of the bed.
“Mom, Dad, please. I’m fine.”
They sat in a booth in the sleek, nearly empty cafeteria. Patrick played with his paper cup. “Something’s wrong.”
“Patrick, nothing’s wrong. Hospitals are like this, remember?” Rebekah took a bite of vegetable soup. “You should eat something.”
He shook his head. “Are you sure Elise is okay staying at our house?”
“She wouldn’t have offered if she wasn’t. Honestly. That’s one thing about Elise; she’s not impulsive about offering to help.”
“She’s been a good friend to us, hasn’t she?” Patrick took a sip of coffee.
Rebekah nodded. Elise had. What would their family have done without Elise and Sandi during the last few months?
“Now Ted will be home soon,” Patrick said. “After things are settled with Pepper, maybe I can get to know him.”
It would be good for Patrick to have a friend in Forest Falls. He hadn’t really connected with any of the other dads. He and John got along well, but they didn’t have much in common. Rebekah finished her soup and crinkled the cracker wrapper into the bowl.
Patrick drummed his fingers on the table. “I’m going nuts,” he said.
She put her hand over his.
“I can’t stand this any longer,” he said. “Maybe we should pray again.”
Rebekah smiled and bowed her head.
“Rebekah and Patrick Graham to preop.” The voice over the PA system startled her.
“Amen,” Patrick said as he leaped to his feet.
The nurse met them beside Pepper’s bed, where Pepper lay fast asleep. “Dr. Thomas is on his way,” the nurse informed them.
“Dr. Thomas?” Patrick rubbed his forehead. “Shouldn’t he be scrubbing for surgery?”
Rebekah shrugged and sat back down on the edge of the bed. Pepper stirred and flung her arms over her head.
Patrick paced along the curtain. Rebekah stood. Patrick sat in the chair and stretched out his legs, sinking low.
Dr. Thomas pushed through the curtain and stepped into the room. Both Rebekah and Patrick jumped to their feet.
“I have bad news,” Dr. Thomas told them without preamble.
“Oh no.” Rebekah reached for her daughter’s hand. “Should I wake Pepper?”
Dr. Thomas nodded as Patrick slumped back into the chair.
“Sweetie, Dr. Thomas is here.” Rebekah shook Pepper gently. “You need to wake up.”
“Am I done?” She rolled toward Rebekah and opened one eye. “Is the surgery over?”
“No, sweet pea.” She guided a strand of blond hair from Pepper’s face. “You haven’t been in surgery. Dr. Thomas has something to tell us.”
“Are you awake, Pepper?” The doctor moved closer to the bed.
Pepper sat up and nodded.
“I go over each kidney meticulously before doing a transplant. I’m so sorry to tell you that the artery on this kidney isn’t long enough to attach. It’s not the right kidney for you.”