“Cassie.” Blake dropped his fork and looked into her eyes. “I will be busy this summer, with the surgery and my son being around. So I think it’s best that we stop seeing each other.”
Blake sat across from her a day before Tasha and Tyson were expected to arrive in New York. He thought it was wise to cut off their relationship or whatever it was between both of them.
“What are you saying, Blake?” Cassie asked, dropping her cutlery. An icy shiver ran down her spine.
“I think,” Blake cleaned his mouth with the napkin. “We should call off this relationship,” he said with a tinge of finality. “My son will be with me for the summer. I want to devote my time to him, so we can get to know each other after the surgery.”
Cassie’s heart sank. She knew she made a terrible mistake not to accept Blake’s proposal months ago. She took a deep breath and said, “you want us to break up just like that, Blake?”
“You and I know that we are not making any headway with….,” His voice trailed off as he searched for the right word to use. “With whatever we have going on.”
Cassie’s eyes darted with a mix of regret and hurt, her facade cracking at the seams. “I thought we had something special, Blake. Are you just going to toss me aside for some newfound family?”
She reached out to touch her hand.
“Cassie, you can’t blame me,” he leaned back in his seat, so her hand wouldn’t touch him. “We could have been a team…family by now. But you turned me down.”
“What if I…”
“Cassie,” he cut her short. “I want to devote my time to my family for now. Please understand me.”
She nodded and grabbed her glass of wine, taking two gulps.
“Is the mother coming too?” She asked as she returned the glass to the table.
“Yes, of course,” he replied. “Tyson is just eight years old. No mother would leave such a little boy to himself.”
“Of course,” she said, her heart a battle of love and longing. She drained her glass cup and said she was leaving.
Blake drained his glass cup too, and they both left, not hand in hand as usual.
Blake’s parents and Jolie, including her husband, Perry, came over to the house the day after Tasha and Tyson arrived to meet them.
“Meet Tyson,” Blake told the little crowd when they arrived. “I know you all know, Tasha.”
He turned to Tyson and said, “son, these are your grandparents, your aunt and your uncle.”
“It’s nice meeting you, Tyson,” it was Blake’s mother who first spoke. She hugged the little boy, and the others followed suit.
They all moved to the den to sit and talked before dinner was served. As the family continued to chat while Paula and Norma served refreshments.
Blake’s heart soared for joy that he had taken the right steps by accepting Tyson into his life and, more importantly, by the decision to donate his bone marrow to him. He was so glad that Jayce didn’t feel threatened or jealous of Tyson. He had accepted him as his brother immediately, even before they met.
Two weeks later, the double does of the operating room swung open, as two gurneys were wheeled outside beside each other. Blake, who had already regained his consciousness, was on one while Tyson, who was still unconscious, slept soundly on the second one. His face was so peaceful.
Blake gave Tasha a weak smile as she walked along on the side of her son while Jolie was on the side of Blake.
A hush fell over the hallway as the gurneys rolled past, the rhythmic click of wheels the only sound. They were met by a wave of warmth, a sea of white coats parting to let them through. At the end of the corridor, a door marked “Executive Suite” stood open, revealing a spacious room bathed in soft light.
Mrs. Carter stood by the window, her eyes red-rimmed, but her smile radiant. She looked from her grandson to her son and beamed. She had been so worried.
“Congratulations, my babies,” she cooed and gave them kisses on their foreheads, one after the other.
Tasha rushed to Blake’s. “Thank you,” Tasha whispered and held Blake’s hand. “Thank you,” she said again as tears of relief flowed freely down her cheeks. Blake had confirmed again to her that he was a wonderful person.
Blake placed a hand on her hand, a silent reassurance of his devotion.
“We did it,” Blake said, his voice hoarse with emotions, “my boy is as good as new now.” He looked at Tyson. His heart swelled with love for him.
And in that moment, Tyson moved on his bed, trying to open his eyes. Tasha rushed to his side.
“Sunshine, mommy is here,” she stroked his hair.
Tyson was moving through a blurry, swirling trove of colors. Then his mom’s voice seemed to cut through his haze and he opened his eyes at once.
“You’re awake,” Tasha sobbed. “You did it baby, you and Daddy did it.”
“Mom,” he called out slowly. He blinked, focusing on the face hovering above him. His mom, her eyes shining with tears, a smile stretching across her face. He wanted to smile back, but his lips felt heavy, his throat dry.
“Mommy?” he croaked, his voice raspy.
“Right here, my sunshine,” she whispered, her hand gently stroking his hair. “You were so brave. You’re a superhero!”
He looked around, noticing the white walls, the beeping machines, the smell of antiseptic. Then he remembered the fear, the darkness. “Where is daddy?”
“Over here,” Blake said.
Their gazes met, and they smiled weakly at each other.
The surgery was a success, and Tyson’s weakened immune system began to recover in no time. They both started to regain his strength. The Bond between Blake and Tyson grew during their time in the hospital. And they were discharged from the hospital after one week.