Jackson walks right in when called, in case they had any doubt he was standing in the hall with me.“Yes,sir?”
“What can we do about getting this woman back on herfeet?”
Jackson seems caught off guard as he runs his fingers through his hair. “Well, there are two options. Both are risky, but one is more dangerous than the other. We can do nothing and hope that the progression of Amelia’s condition is slow. The other option is surgery, which would consist of replacing the aortic valve. It’s a risky procedure in a younger person, but even more so for Amelia because of herage.”
“If I don’t have the surgery, I’ll be dead within a year, right?” Gramsasks.
“No, not necessarily. It could be longer, but probably not by much. I just can’t predict or make anypromises.”
“Do the surgery,” Grams blurts out without even giving it a moment’sthought.
“Amelia, are you sure about this? Don’t you want to discuss it with your daughtersfirst.”
“Daughters? Wait…” Charlie says, shaking his head and lookingconfused.
“I saw two little girls with you in the airport that day. Who was that other little girl? Do you have another daughter? Who isherfather?” Charlieasks.
Grams’s lips press firmly together as she takes the time to look at each of us. “You said you would be her papa, so she’s just as much your daughter as she is mine,” Grams says toCharlie.
“Lucie?” Charlieasks.
Grams smiles and bites down on her bottom lip. “Yes, I changed Lucie’s name to Annie so I could keep her safe, and then I kept her as myown.”
“Oh my goodness, you raised these two precious girls without me?” Charlie asks with a profound look of sadness on hisface.
Grams looks upset for a moment, maybe thinking Charlie is angry, but his expression changes quickly, and he lifts his face to look directly into hereyes.
“You still amaze me, Amelia. What a wonderful thing you did for your girls,” Charlie says with pride written on hisface.
Relief spills through Grams’s eyes as she continues, “Annie doesn’t technically belong to either of us,” Grams says, and I immediately understand why it’s so important for the truth to remain hidden from Mom and Annie. It would hurt them so much. Looking at it from the outside, I find immediate understanding of what loveis.
Love is keeping someone safe, taking a bullet for them, and letting them live in happiness. I get itnow.
“You’re right, Amelia, she may not belong to us by blood, but she belongs to us by love. We loved her then, and I love her now just like youdo.”
“You haven’t changed a bit, CharlieCrane.”
Charlie leans forward and shamelessly kisses Grams again, without a care in the world, even though we’re standing herewatching.
“So, about the surgery,” Grams says as she wipes away her tears again. “How quickly can I start the rest of mylife?”
“Amelia, are you sure about this?” Jacksonasks.
“Jackson, come here,” Grams says, waving himover.
He walks over to her, and she takes his hand inhers.
“I’ve already handed you a part of my heart,” she says, pointing at me. “Now fix the other part. You’re the best cardiologist in this hospital, aren’tyou?”
“Well,I—”
“Quit being so humble,” Grams says. “Fix my damn heart, Dr. Beck. I need moretime.”
“As long as you are aware of the risks involved. I understand where you’re coming from—I’ll perform the surgery, and you know I’ll do my very best,” Jackson says. “I’ll have the pre-op tests done this afternoon, and we’ll schedule you for surgery tomorrowmorning.”
“On a Saturday?” sheasks.
“For you, I’ll make it happen,” he tells her. “I know better than to stand in your way onthis.”
