They Said I Was Adopted, but I Was Always the Real Daughter novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: One Time

The hematologist didn't soften it.

"Your first round of chemo didn't clear you as well as I hoped," she said. "I want you in transplant within ten days. Your father may be cleared by then, and he may not."

"And if not?"

"Then we need another match. An unrelated donor from the registry takes weeks to find. A parent is the fastest way."

"A parent," I said.

"There's one more in your family."

I looked at the window.

It was raining, and the parking structure across the street was a gray block with its lights on.

My father sat in the corner chair in a wrinkled shirt, with a pill organizer in his hand.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't have to.

"I'll ask her," I said.

"Inés." My father's voice cracked. "Let me."

"No, Dad. I'll do it."

I sent the message from the bed, three lines, with my thumbs.

"The hospital garden, four o'clock. I'm asking one time. Come alone."

I didn't expect her to answer.

At two minutes to four I was sitting on a bench in the garden in a coat and a mask, with Gael standing at the glass door thirty feet away.

I'd asked him to stay out of earshot.

He had said, "I'll be where you can see me," and he was.

My mother came across the wet grass with her handbag against her chest.

She stopped three feet from the bench.

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