The Deadline (The Friessens: A New Beginning) by Lorhainne Eckhart Read Free Book Online Page B

member.”
    “You can test me ,” Laura said.
    “ Of course. We also need to look for donors, which takes time, and we need to have the donor ready by the time the chemo has killed all the leukemia cells.” The doctor checked his watch. “Okay, I have to make some rounds, but we need to do a lumbar puncture tonight. We’ll sedate Gabriel, but one of you should be here. One of the interns will be by to get you set up for your tests.” The doctor patted Andy’s shoulder and glanced Laura’s way, and then he left.
    Laura couldn’t think of one intelligent thing to say or do . She just stood there, waiting for someone to say something, anything.
    “Laura ,” Andy said.
    She started and looked up at him. “Yeah, what are we going to do?”
    “I’m going to stay tonight . You’re going home with the babies, and―”
    “No ,” Laura said, cutting him off. There was no way she was leaving her little boy. She was almost frantic when Andy grabbed her shoulder and gave a little shake.
    “Hey , stop it. Listen, you go home. We can’t both stay tonight, not with the babies, and you’re still nursing. It’s just for tonight, Laura. Take the truck. I’ll call you later, after they do the tests…”
    “Excuse me ,” a young man in blue scrubs interrupted. “Doctor Siegel said you were going to be tested as a match for your son.” He looked to Laura and then Andy. “We can do it right now, all of you. Doctor Siegel asked for a rush.”
    “You go first ,” Andy said, “and then you take the babies home.”
    Gabriel cried out again , and Laura started into his room when Andy touched her shoulder to stop her.
    “ I’ll stay with Gabriel,” he said. “It’s important you be tested right now. You’ll be the closest match, as his mother.”
    W hen Laura looked up at Andy, her strong, sexy alpha male who could handle anything, she could see the tension and worry he was doing his very best to hide. He was her super hero, her knight in shining armor, and she wondered when he would ever ask for help.

Chapter 10
    It was horrible , the way Gabriel cried when they stuck him with a needle again to sedate him. Andy knew his son was terrified, and he snapped at the nurse or the intern or whoever it was to give them a minute. Maybe that was why the doctor was called in.
    “Andy , you have a second?” Doctor Siegel asked after Gabriel was quiet and sleepy, which took less than a minute after the sedative had been given.
    Andy wanted to pull his hair out, he was so frustrated. He wanted Gabriel to be all right so he could take him home. He couldn’t believe this was happening. They were all healthy, every one of them, or they should have been. Andy had the money and resources to make sure, but the cancer inside the little boy who was his in every sense except biologically…he couldn’t make that go away, and it left him feeling powerless.
    He didn’t say anything as he followed the doctor into the hallway, his shoes squeaking on the polished floor. The doctor had changed into blue scrubs, and he appeared even younger than when they had first met, maybe in his early forties.
    “I wanted to talk to you about your wife ,” the doctor said.
    Andy stiffened and had to fight the urge to roll his shoulder s back and keep his hands relaxed. He was ready to put his fist through a wall if it would get him somewhere, anywhere, because he wasn’t going to let anyone put his wife down or criticize her.
    “She’s not a match, and you were a long shot,” Siegel said. We’ll look for an unrelated donor, but that can lead to complications. I need to stress that time is not on our side, and depending on the outcome of the test tonight…”
    “Stop ,” Andy interrupted. He needed to get a grip, as he was misreading everything. “Explain in English, please. What are you looking for? What do I need to do? My wife isn’t here, so I don’t want you to hold anything back. Where are we, exactly?”
    The doctor’s expression