Chapter 37

‘Happy eighteenth birthday, Blaine. How about a gift?’

Blaine looked up as he secured the buttons of a borrowed shirt. His fingers still lacked some of the dexterity he had developed over his years of intensive physiotherapy. His physical abilities were also not quite what they’d been, but apparently things were looking good for his continued improvement.

‘Sounds great, Professor.’

Ramer smiled. ‘Shall we get you saddled up for a helicopter ride, then? Your parents are awaiting you at a military base en route. They refused to stay at home, insisting they be as near as possible, even if they couldn’t actually be with you. Your father has now fully investigated the hygiene practices of the facility, and I believe the defence force will feel all the more “sanitised” for his visit.’ He paused, a twinkle in his eye. ‘Perhaps we should send him to visit Melissa. Might help clean up her act!’

Blaine’s grin warped as he realised how much his doubt, aided by Melissa Hartfield’s lies, had tainted his view of his parents. They were his allies, not conspiring enemies. ‘What’s going to happen to her and Dr Jonick?’

‘Well, Melissa is defiant to this day, maintaining she’s done nothing wrong. She was an excellent student and researcher, but grew far too ambitious for her own good.’ The Professor’s usually steady eye grew distant. ‘A real shame.’

‘And Dr Jonick?’

‘Dr Jonick is cooperating fully with the police and has been released on bail.’

‘They let him out?’ Justice fail!

Professor Ramer nodded. ‘In a way it’s fitting, given he was trying to help you when the police burst in on them.’

‘He was? Why, after bringing me back to ARI with Dr Hartfield?’

Again Professor Ramer’s response seemed weighted. ‘Many reasons, most of which only he could say. But I ... I can’t help feeling somewhat responsible, in part.’

This made no sense to Blaine. ‘You weren’t even there. How could it be your fault?’

‘Exactly, Blaine. I wasn’t there. Melissa never would have gotten away with it, if I was.’ He sighed. ‘But I can’t change it now and I did promise you a helicopter ride.’

‘When can we go?’ Blaine couldn’t stem the excitement that bubbled up within him.

Professor Ramer’s answer was to open the door and gesture for Blaine to pass through it. ‘We’ll be there by lunch.’

Even when they’d landed, the constant thudding of the helicopter blades echoed in Blaine’s ears. He hadn’t been able to wipe the smile off his face for the entire journey. Of his career choices, he’d always wondered about the possibility of becoming a pilot. Perhaps it was the sense of freedom he’d always imagined flying would unleash. Until his gene therapy it was merely an imagined, unattainable dream. Yes, he should definitely enquire.

As they scuttled across the helipad, heads down and shoulders hunched against the air beating over them, a tingle of excitement sparked through him. Glancing up, the tingle converted to a fully charged bolt as he spied his parents waiting for him near the landing site.

‘Blaine! Blaine!’

He broke away from Professor Ramer and ran to them. Falling into their arms, he let their words, tears, kisses and love wash over him like a soothing balm.

‘Happy birthday, darling! We’ve missed you dreadfully.’

‘We’re so sorry for doubting you, Blaine, and sorry we didn’t tell you your diagnosis was made after your adoption. We should have come right away when Dr Hartfield claimed things weren’t quite right.’

When everyone had said their piece, at least for the moment, Blaine drew back a little and glanced beyond his parents. ‘No one else with you?’

He caught their look and the silent smile that passed between them. A warm flush crept up his neck.

‘No, son, Sophie’s not here.’

‘She wouldn’t have been allowed, anyway.’

Blaine looked to Professor Ramer and nodded. ‘Oh.’

‘But, I’m on my way to catch up with Luke in Brisbane’s CBD and thank him for his part in rescuing you from Melissa’s scheme. You don’t suppose Sophie would mind meeting you at South Bank or the like?’

Blaine felt a grin breaking across his mouth. He tried to hide it for a moment, then gave up.

‘We brought you some clean clothes ...’ Blaine’s mother offered.

‘And here’s your mobile phone and wallet. They were found amongst Melissa’s things.’ Ramer shrugged. ‘I forgot to pass them back earlier. Couldn’t help but notice your phone’s wallpaper when it was checked for any interference by my seditious protégé.’

Heat concentrated into Blaine’s cheeks. He ducked his head as he took them from Professor Ramer. He was about to put the phone in his pocket when the Professor tutted at him.

‘Blaine, you need to learn how to impress a girl properly. First off, you’d best give her time to get ready. Phone’s charged. Call her! We’ll be flying in soon.’

Blaine looked to see if he was serious. The Professor nodded. His parents also grinned their approval. ‘Thank you, Professor Ramer—for everything.’

Soon it was all arranged. Blaine took the bag of clothes, changed, and then hugged his parents goodbye before they headed on home.

He and Professor Ramer were then on their way. At first butterflies tickled his stomach, but soon they turned into giant, flapping moths. Unable to settle his nerves, Blaine rested his head back against the seat and closed his eyes for the duration of the trip.

It was mid-afternoon when they reached the city. The helicopter landed at a heliport Blaine never knew existed. He and Professor Ramer caught a CityCat across the river and walked to the ice creamery, the prearranged meeting place with Sophie. He sensed the Professor felt responsible for ensuring he was delivered safely.

‘You like ice cream, I take it?’

Blaine smiled. ‘We usually meet here because Jett, Sophie’s twin brother, is totally obsessed with the stuff.’

‘They’re a bright pair. Essentially they facilitated the rescue. Thanks to Luke, I just happened to be on my way when the police alert came through.’

Professor Ramer’s words echoed unheard as Blaine stalled. There she was, sitting on a café chair, scanning the crowd for him. Sophie wore a pair of white denim jeans, a pretty knitted top, and a softly toned scarf that brought out the green in her eyes. Prof was right. I did need to give her time to dress.

And then she saw him.

‘Blaine!’

Before he could count to five, she had her arms wrapped around his neck. ‘Thanks for coming, Soph.’ It required every scrap of self-possession to not kiss her lipstick-pink mouth. Even as she relaxed her hold and turned to the Professor, Blaine kept one arm around her.

‘Hi, Professor Ramer. Thanks for looking after him so well.’

‘It was a pleasure tending your young man, Sophie.’

Sophie flushed and dropped her gaze. ‘Bet he was a pain some days. Blaine’s like that.’

‘Gee, thanks!’ Blaine squeezed her lightly. As if reminded of his nearness, she turned towards him and looked up into his face.

‘Seriously, we’re so relieved you’re okay, Blaine. All those tubes and machines really scared me when they wheeled you out of that place!’

‘I hardly remember a thing.’ He grinned as Sophie wrinkled her nose and pushed against him.

‘Probably a good thing. Thank goodness it’s over and you’re now fine. It’s about time you got to enjoy your future.’

Blaine’s fresh understanding of his condition tumbled back into his mind. He pulled away and pressed his hand against his forehead. ‘Oh ... man! I’m so sorry, Sophie. I wanted to see you so bad I didn’t even think.’

Sophie planted her hands on her hips. ‘What are you talking about?’

With a glance at Professor Ramer, Blaine burrowed his fists into the pockets of his jeans. ‘Sophie, I’m not fine. It’s not over. It was stupid and selfish of me to have asked you to do this.’

‘I’m not scared of you, Blaine Colton!’

‘Well, you should be! I carry defective DNA—a heritable condition. I’m no good for anyone.’

‘I don’t care that your DNA’s dodgy! You’re the nicest guy I know!’

‘As a chair warmer? What about when my nappy needs changing?’ He snorted contemptuously. ‘You’re stuck on New Year’s and have forgotten what it was like before!’

Sophie’s face fell, her obvious hurt making Blaine feel like a heartless weasel.

‘It doesn’t matter, Blaine.’

‘Actually ...’

They turned as Professor Ramer spoke.

‘He’s right, Sophie. The procedure was experimental. We don’t know what might happen in the coming years. Although the patches have integrated and seem to be working, there’s no guarantee Blaine’s condition won’t deteriorate in the future. And it doesn’t just affect his mitochondrial DNA. The nuclear defects could be passed onto his children—if that eventuates sometime in the future.’

Children? Blaine felt heat surge up his neck and flood his face. He glanced at Sophie. When their eyes connected, she too blushed.

‘I ... I, ah, wasn’t exactly thinking that far ...’ It was then he realised, if they were talking about the future long-term, this was a valid consideration.

‘There are currently numerous investigations into such matters, but even for day-to-day life, if Blaine takes Ramer’s Cure he’s fine; without it ...’ Professor Ramer shrugged. ‘Plus there are some other issues that have been created by the therapy and his recent health crisis.’

These words struck Blaine hard and he buried his hands even deeper into his pockets. Sophie mightn’t have been afraid of his condition, but he was. He could feel her eyes on him, but kept his gaze fixed on the pavement.

‘So there’s no hope for us?’

Blaine glanced up. ‘Not really.’

The Professor cleared his throat. ‘I never said that there wasn’t hope. I wouldn’t do what I do otherwise. Better solutions might be just a number of years away.’

Blaine straightened. Could that be another tick for hope?

‘Or decades—or never.’ Professor Ramer shrugged as Blaine’s hope splintered into shards. ‘That’s always the risk.’

‘And you don’t think I’m worth a risk?’

‘Worth it?’ A wry smile twisted Blaine’s mouth. ‘Sophie, I’d swim to New Zealand and back to have three minutes with you. Jett might even come along for the ice cream.’

‘You can hardly swim two laps of a pool.’ Though she smiled, Sophie’s eyes remained fixed on him. ‘But in reality ...?’

Blaine looked into her questioning green eyes. There was an uncertainty in their mischief-seeking depths that made him want to be done with it and kiss her as if nothing else mattered.

But it did. Even with Professor Ramer’s hint of possibilities.

He shook the thought out of his head. ‘In reality, my body could give up and you’d be left to deal with that, Sophie. It wouldn’t be fair to you.’

‘But what if it doesn’t give up? Because of fear, we’d miss out on sharing your best years.’

Sophie was far too convincing and Blaine felt his carefully-reasoned arguments start to crumble. She was looking at him, as if waiting for him to do something—say something—to change his mind.

Blaine shook his head. ‘It wouldn’t be fair.’ He stepped nearer and shrugged. ‘It’s my problem—and shouldn’t be yours.’

Still Sophie held his gaze. Blaine watched as pain replaced the uncertainty in her eyes, and he was more than tempted to recount his resolve. Yet he couldn’t. It was the reality of his condition.

Reaching for Blaine’s hand, Sophie smiled a bittersweet kind of smile that made him want to gather her to him and soothe it away. She then took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

‘Blaine, I respect you for telling me how you feel and I understand why, but if you don’t mind, I’m going to pretend that for just one day it doesn’t matter. For just one day I’m going to have another New Year’s Day, only this time Jett’s not going to bring us ice cream.’

A flutter whipped through Blaine’s stomach and he couldn’t help but return the broad smile that had now replaced her sadness. ‘All right, then.’

Definitely another tick for hope!

Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he flashed Professor Ramer a grin and walked off for a day of impossibilities.

After all, he would only turn eighteen once.