"Oh, I see. Sorry, my mind is a little … " she trailed off.
"It's okay. If the doctor can schedule my operation as soon as possible … " Grey looked up at the doctor.
"First of all, you need to have a counseling session to make sure you're committed to the donation, and then you'll need a physical exam. I can book those for first thing tomorrow morning," he said kindly.
"Then that settles it. Tomorrow it is."
"Thank you," Selena said as she looked at Grey.
"I told you I'll do anything I can and I meant it."
The doctor asked his receptionist to book Grey in with the Outpatients Department for the morning and she gave him an appointment for 10:30 a.m.
When we arrived back at my house, I put a pot of coffee on while Grey booted up my laptop. He wanted to do a little more research about the donation process. He told me he'd researched it over the two weeks we hadn't spoken, but now he needed to go over it all again.
With a cup of coffee in hand, Grey and I looked over the information on the internet. It said that you are given anaesthesia and you can choose to be awake and aware of your surroundings or you can be unconscious as the marrow is extracted. The actual procedure is seemingly quite simple; you lie on your stomach and special hollow needles are used to withdraw liquid marrow from both sides of the pelvic bone. The incisions made are not long and don't require stitches afterwards. The recovery seems short and simple, too. The doctors monitor you until the anaesthesia wears off and most patients go home the same day or the following morning. The doctors have regular contact with you to see if you are suffering from any side effects.
With the facts in hand, Grey let out a long sigh.
"I'm determined to do it, Carls," he said after a long moment.
"I know. I'm here and I fully support your decision. By some fluke of nature, you're a match and I know the man you are at heart wouldn't let this boy suffer-you'll donate your bone marrow and he'll recover. The procedure looks quite simple. You can stay here afterwards if you like. I can be here in case of any adverse side effects."
"I need to know more about possible side effects, but I'm not backing out now. Kai deserves a chance at life. He's four years old and he has a good chance of recovering. Apparently kids with leukemia have more chance of recovery than adults."
"Well, then, that's good. You have your counseling appointment in the morning-you can ask any questions you still have-and I can either be with you or wait at home for you."
"How do you feel about me doing this?"
"Grey, I don't want to sway your decision."
"Does that mean you don't want me to do it?"
"No, it means you need to make this decision for yourself-but it seems your mind is made up, anyway. I support you and will be here for you every step of the way. If you want my honest opinion, I believe you're doing the right thing."
"I need another coffee," he said and made his way into the kitchen.
I stayed in the living room, not wanting to interrupt him. It was clear he needed a few minutes alone.
I looked at the website he had been on. I decided to look up the possible side effects. This operation could cause back or hip pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and bruising at the incision site. Well, that seemed relatively simple. There didn't seem to be anything Grey couldn't handle. It also said that marrow replenishes itself within a few weeks, so it wouldn't weaken Grey to donate.
He came back into the living room and sat next to me on the sofa. He took my hand in his and looked me directly in the eye.
"I'm so glad you're by my side, Carls. You are an amazing woman and I'm a very lucky man."
"More like the other way round, I'm the lucky one."
I closed the gap between us and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.
We went to bed that night and Grey held me tight as he drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
Sunlight streaming through my window alerted me that it was the morning of Grey's operation. I turned over to find the side of the bed next to me was empty. I got up and pulled my robe around me.
I opened the bedroom door and could hear my iPod on in the kitchen and the smell in the air said Grey was cooking bacon, eggs, and other things I couldn't identify over the strong smell of the bacon.
I walked downstairs to the kitchen and saw Grey with his back to me, cooking on my range and his beautiful voice was singing along to "Welcome To My World" by Depeche Mode. I was guessing he was in quite an upbeat mood.
"Morning, beautiful," he said with his back to me as I entered the kitchen.
"How did you know I was here?"
"I heard you coming downstairs."
"Oh, I had hoped to sneak up and wrap myself around you."
"Oh, okay, forget what I said and pretend I don't know you're here." He laughed.
I walked up and wrapped my arms around him, my chest flush to his back. I could feel his muscles moving as he tossed the eggs and bacon in the pan.
He turned round and pulled me to his chest.
"Good morning, sweetheart," he whispered into my hair.
"Good morning, gorgeous," I replied with a smile hidden by his muscular chest.
"Sit down, breakfast won't be a minute," he said as he smacked my ass playfully.
I sat down at the kitchen island and waited for my breakfast. I looked at Grey, who had turned back to the frying pan. He looked handsome in his black slacks and grey Depeche Mode t-shirt. The thing about Grey, he could look good in anything or nothing.
Minutes later breakfast was plated up and put in front of me. I gaped as I saw the food on my plate. Bacon, eggs, pancakes and maple syrup; one of my favorite things to eat.
"Thank you," I said as I began to tuck in. "I feel guilty eating all this when you can't eat."
"I wanted to do something nice for you. Plus, I like to watch you eat, it makes me happy," he said, placing a kiss on my cheek as he sat next to me.
I ate my breakfast as we made small talk about the wedding. The plans were all coming together nicely and all we really needed to do as set a date and pick a venue.
"Mother wants us round on Saturday," Grey said as he loaded the dishwasher.
"Does she? Why?"
"The engagement party, of course."
"But we haven't arranged anything."
"My mother can arrange anything at the drop of a hat, you know her. We didn't get the party we wanted because of everything that's gone on-Mother says all we have to do is turn up at 7:30 p.m."
"Okay," I replied hesitantly.
"Don't worry about it. She knows who to invite, she's booked the caterer and Aunt Lizzie is making the cake."
"Sounds good."
I tried my best to look happier than I felt. Yes, I knew Katrina would organize it. I also knew she would only want the best, meaning the caterers would be expensive. I was worried about the color scheme-it was the little things that niggled at me-I usually like to have a hand in things, I'm not good with surprise parties.
"We better get moving," Grey said, looking at the time.
We made our way to the car. I was driving-if Grey felt any discomfort from the procedure, I didn't want him to have to drive home.
We got to the hospital fifteen minutes before his appointment time. The lady at the desk made me a coffee and told us the doctor would be ready shortly.
Grey held tightly to my left hand.
"We really need to choose our wedding rings, you know," he blurted.
What a strange thing to say at the hospital, but I suppose he needed not to think of what lay ahead.
"Yeah, we can go shopping sometime soon," I said and squeezed his hand gently.
"Good morning, Greyston, Carly," Dr. Tressenbaum's voice boomed as he strode purposefully toward us.
"Good morning, Doctor," we said in unison.
"Dr. Fowkes will be ready for you momentarily, I just wanted to check on you."
"I'm good, Doctor," Grey said as he shook his hand.
"In all my life, I have never met anyone as selfless as you, Greyston."
"Sorry, Doctor?" Grey looked puzzled.
"You're donating your bone marrow to Kai Harriet even after finding out he's not your son. That's a pretty selfless act, Greyston."
"I'm a match, I've done my research, and I'm here to donate. It's as simple as that," Grey replied as he looked at the doctor with a small smile touching his lips.
"I wish there were more people like you," Dr. Tressenbaum said as another doctor walked up beside him.
"Good morning, Mr. Sterling, I'm Dr. Sue Fowkes," the pretty blonde doctor introduced herself with a handshake.
"Good morning, Doctor."
"If you would care to follow me, my office is just down the corridor."
We got up and followed Doctor Fowkes to her office. It struck me as a very girly space once we were seated at her desk.
"So, Mr Sterling, we're here to discuss bone marrow donation. Do you have any questions for me?"