Grace was sitting in her hospital bed surrounded by all her friends and family. They were having a pre-transplant party and everyone was in high spirits. Grace actually felt better; it was amazing what some good news did to improve her spirits. ‘I can’t believe this,’ Grace said for the hundredth time. ‘I had hoped and prayed…’
‘Darling, “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies,”’ Gerry said dramatically, standing up to face everyone, his arms outstretched.
Seeing Noel’s startled face, Tom said to him. ‘Shawshank Redemption. He’s quoting a line from it. Ignore him, we all do.’
‘Thank you, Gerry,’ Grace said with a laugh. ‘Very inspiring.’
Then Liam’s mom arrived to take Jack home with her. He was going for a few days’ holidays, while the transplant happened. ‘I’m praying for you, Grace,’ she said to her daughter-in law, kissing her gently on her cheek.
‘Mommy, when you coming home?’ Jack asked. He looked younger than his four years when he asked this. Although they’d all tried their best to make this easier on him, Liam and Grace could tell that he was anxious. He’d started to wet his bed again, which hadn’t happened for at least two years. His Montessori teacher had also called Liam aside the previous day to tell him that she was concerned about Jack. ‘He’s been very quiet lately, Liam,’ she’d told him. ‘And when I asked him what was wrong, he said he was sad.’
‘Did he say what was making him sad?’ Liam asked her.
‘No, I questioned him of course, but he said he didn’t know why. Just that he felt sad.’
Liam hadn’t told Grace this as she was worried enough about him as it was. Jack had taken to crying whenever it was time for him to go home from the hospital, clinging to Grace. It was breaking both their hearts. Grace had insisted that Liam spend more time at home over the past couple of days. It was too much for Jack to cope with: Grace being in hospital and Liam hardly at home at all. Grace kissed Jack firmly on the lips, ‘I’m going to be coming home real soon, I promise. Uncle Noel is going to give me some of his bone marrow and it’s going to make me feel better. I promise.’
Jack looked at Uncle Noel. ‘Are you?’ he asked him.
‘Yes I am, Jack. In a couple of days it will all be done. You wait and see, your Mommy will be home in no time.’
Tara was quietly crying. It broke her heart to see Jack missing his Mom so much.
‘Can I come in again tomorrow, Daddy?’ he asked Liam.
‘We’ll see, buddy. Mommy has to get ready for her transplant.’ Jack started to cry again, throwing himself into Grace’s arms.
‘Course you can come in tomorrow sweetie-pie,’ Grace said, wiping Jack’s tears away. ‘I couldn’t make it through the day without seeing your gorgeous face.’ Grace leaned over to her bedside locker and picked up the framed photograph of Liam, Grace and Jack that was taken outside Mickey Mouse’s house. In the background of the house was a beautiful bright rainbow. It was her absolute favourite picture. ‘You take this sweetie-pie,’ Grace said to Jack. ‘And whenever you want to see me, you look at this photo and remember the fun we had in Disney. Now dry your tears and go with your Nana.’
Clutching his photograph tightly, Jack gave each of his aunts and uncles a kiss and left.
‘Oh my God, Liam. I can’t bear it,’ Grace said, breaking down.
‘I can’t bear it either darling,’ Gerry said dramatically, tears streaming down his face.
Abby started to giggle at this, which caused Tara and Sean to start giggling, and within minutes everyone was laughing hysterically and crying at the same time.
‘Oh Abby, it’s good to see you laughing,’ Grace told her friend. ‘I’ve been worried about you.’
‘I’m fine.’ Abby said with a big smile, amazed at Grace’s ability to put others before herself even when she was the one everyone needed to look out for. ‘I’m seeing Shay later on. We’re going for dinner.’
‘That’s wonderful. I’m so pleased for you.’ Grace said, grinning.
Tara jumped up then and walked over to Grace’s bed, ‘Move over cousin, I’ve some news for you.’
Grace looked up at Tara enquiringly.
Tara stood up and said with a flair for drama that Gerry would envy, ‘I am with child.’
‘No!’ Grace screamed.
‘Yes!’ Tara screamed back.
With that the room broke into pandemonium as everyone congratulated Sean and Tara.
‘When are you due?’ Grace asked her friend.
‘Well I’m only barely pregnant, seven weeks,’ Tara said, making a face. ‘And I know that you’re not meant to tell people until you get to twelve weeks, but I thought everyone could do with some good news for a change!’
‘That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages,’ Grace said to her cousin. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’
‘So now, that gives you about seven months to get back on your feet,’ Sean told Grace. ‘Because this baby is going to need a godmother in full working order you know!’
Grace beamed at this news. ‘Well if I ever needed an incentive to get better, there it is!’
Tara coughed then said, ‘The baby will need a godfather too.’ Turning to Liam she continued, ‘We thought you’d do.’
Everyone laughed at Liam’s expression. He looked like he was going to have a heart attack. ‘And I thought you had me down as the spawn of the Devil!’ he eventually spluttered out to Tara.
‘I have no idea where you got that from,’ Tara said haughtily.
‘Well I’d be honoured to be godfather to junior,’ Liam said, walking over to Tara and pulling her in for a big bear hug. ‘Always knew you liked me really!’