"You — your daughter is on the table right now?"
"Yes, I can't stop the surgery. She is on the table. I can't kill my daughter to undo what he did. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Simon nodded slowly, once.
"I don't blame you, Mrs. Vela. I wouldn't stop the surgery either. I would do exactly what you are doing."
He looked at Beau.
"Mr. Cross, I'm not going to scream at you. I'm going to drive home and tell my son about the changes here. We are going to wait for the next slot. I'm going to call your office on Monday and everyday until you find a way to undo what you did, or until my son dies. Whichever comes first."
He looked at me.
"Mrs. Vela, I'm sorry for what is happening to you in this lounge today. I hope your daughter wakes up. I'll pray for her tonight."
He turned and left.
The lounge was silent again.
Mrs. Park stood, her bag in her hand, watching me.
Kit was beside Mrs. Park.
By the seventh hour, Dr. Reyes came out. "She did beautifully. The repair is excellent. She is in recovery. You can see her in about an hour."
Mrs. Park and Kit cried. I was crying, and the relief was bigger than the lounge was built to absorb.
My daughter was alive.
I looked at Beau. He was at the edge of the lounge, alone. His face was wet, and his hand was at his mouth.
I walked to him.
"Sabrina, I — "
"Listen to me. Bonnie is alive. I'm grateful, but also furious for what you did. And you are going to listen to me right now. I can't do this with you if you don't make it right. You took a slot from a sick boy. His father is going home to tell him there is no surgery yet. You did this. You are going to fix it."
"I don't know how."
"You do. You are the chairman. You are going to find a way to give that boy what he needs. You are going to do it without telling me. You are going to do it because it is right. If you do it, I'll figure out how to be in this with you. If you don't, I can't."
"I'll…I'll fix it. I'll find a way."
"Don't promise me. Just do it. Now go. I'm going to be with my daughter when she wakes up. You are going to go and start figuring out how to make this right."
"Sabrina — "
"Go, Beau."
21.Beau
I left the hospital.
I drove home and sat in my car in the garage of my building for a long time.
I had Sabrina's words in my head.
Do it because it is right.
