“Ladies and Gentlemen, I come to all of you in the hopes that you will help me. See a little less than a year ago, I packed my family up and moved to a little town called Whispering Falls in North Carolina.”
The crowd was silent.
“And then I met the most amazing lady this world has ever had the pleasure of knowing. Due to life experiences, I kept walls around myself. But like the little devil she is, she bulldozed through those walls. But it wasn’t me who accepted her first. No, it was my two kids who fell in love with her on the spot, and like all things big tend to fall quickly, I was no exception.”
He swallowed.
“But the reason I am here is that I need your help. A plea of sorts. My woman is diabetic. What some of you may not know is that people with diabetes can develop renal failure. Their kidneys stop functioning. And over the past year, my woman has been fighting a losing battle. As of three days ago, her kidneys are at eighty-one percent non-functioning. So, I ask. I plead. Go get tested. Give the light of my life a chance to chase the rest of her dreams. Thank you.”
And there on the bottom of the screen was the number to call to get checked to see if you are a donor.
Tears trailed down my cheeks at his words.
At his trying to help.
Oh. My. Sweet. Stars.
‘Say hello to my little friend.’
– Scarface.
Chapter 19
Lila
Today, we were having a celebratory event of sorts.
Not only had Bronson gone to the world about a kidney for me, but Cole and his team had won the State Championship.
And I couldn’t be prouder of him.
Sure, I had to sit in the stands with a heated blanket wrapped around me that was plugged into a generator, but I was there for every single play.
And when Cole saw that, I watched my boy wipe a tear from his cheek.
I was in love.
I had fallen in love with Madalyn, and then Cole, and then Bronson.
So, freaking in love that it hurt when that evil bitch, who was Satan incarnate, walked into their house like she owned the place.
Bypassing Cole, not even saying a word to him.
And when she sneered at Madalyn’s pretty dress, I said,fuck it.
Madalyn
I tried.
I tried so hard not to let her disapproval get to me.
Just like I always did.
But then... Lila was there.
She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me into her side.
And something deep inside my heart started repairing itself.
