CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - CAROLINE

My dad called me when he received his test results. They came in the mail first thing Friday morning. I drove straight to their house and flew through the back door. My heart was racing as I fell into my usual chair at the kitchen table. Dad was standing by the counter, two envelopes in his hand. I stared at them both, feeling a huge weight settle on my shoulders.

These test results would tell us so much. If my father was also Daniel’s dad, then that made Daniel my brother. That thought made me slightly queasy but not as much as the other envelope.

If my father was a match for Daniel, then he could donate his kidney and save Daniel’s life. If he wasn’t, then we were back to square one. Either way, I knew things would change forever and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that to happen. I clenched my fists in my lap as I stared at my father. He was looking from the envelopes to me and then back again. He actually looked scared, but I didn’t know of what. Scared that Daniel was his and he’d have to give a shit? Or scared that he was a match and would have to give a kidney?

“Where’s Mom?” I asked as I realized she wasn’t there.

“She’s out this morning,” he said. “She had an event at the club.”

I nodded. “Well,” I said. “Let’s get this over with.”

He slit open the first envelope and read it quickly, his eyes scanning back and forth across the page. I held my breath while I waited for him to relay the news.

“I’m not a match,” he said.

My heart sunk and my shoulders slumped. I put my head in my hands and tried to fight back the tears that threatened to pour. I didn’t realize how much I wanted my father to be a match for Daniel until that very moment. Hearing that the news was negative sent a wave of sadness through me. My stomach ached as I shook my head and looked back at my dad.

“I am sorry,” he said, and for a second, I thought he might have meant it.

“Let’s just find out the rest,” I said, motioning toward the other envelope.

Dad nodded and picked up the envelope. He slit it open and read it quickly. I watched with bated breath while he took in the news. Slowly, he lowered the paper and his eyes found mine.

“I’m not his father either,” he said softly. “The paternity test is negative too. He’s not my son.”

We were back to square one with the kidney transplant. With my father not being a match, we had to find someone soon or Daniel would die. As I sat in my parent’s kitchen, torn between relief and sorrow, I looked back at my dad.

He was watching me closely, his eyes narrowed slightly as if he were trying to read my expression. In all my life, I’d never seen my dad look at me that way. It was almost as if he cared how I felt. He looked at me softly and opened his mouth. I waited but no words fell from his lips. He just continued to look at me, his mouth half open and his eyes full of angst.

“Listen,” I finally said. “I should get over to Dean’s. He’ll want to know about this.”

“Sure,” Dad said with a nod.

I hurried out of the kitchen and walked out the back door. As I climbed in my car, my thoughts stayed on my dad. For the first time, I saw something almost human in him. He seemed genuinely sad that he couldn’t help Daniel and yet, Daniel wasn’t even his son. Maybe my father wasn’t the monster I always thought him to be.

As I drove toward Dean’s house, I wondered how I would give him the news. On one hand, he would be thrilled to find out that the father Daniel had grown up hearing so much about was, in fact, his father. On the other hand, his heart was going to break when he found out my father couldn’t donate his kidney to Daniel

I drove through town, speeding in my haste to reach him. Ever since we spent that night together, making love under the stars, I couldn’t help but want to be near him. No matter how long we were apart, I longed to be near him. I missed him with a painful desperation that often took my breath away. I always knew that losing my virginity would be intense but I never imagined it would be like that. Dean took me to a brand-new place, revealing emotions and sensations that I never knew existed.

When I reached his mother’s house, I parked in the driveway and hurried up to the front door. I knew Dean would be here because he’d checked out of the hotel three days earlier. I knocked on the door and stood back, waiting for him to answer.

When he did, there was a smile on his face that melted me. His deep blue eyes locked on mine, and I sighed, falling immediately into his arms. He held me close, kissing my head and sighing into my hair.

“What are you doing here?” he asked softly.

I cleared my throat and pulled away.

“We should talk,” I said.

He nodded and stood aside. We walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. I glanced around, seeing if his mother was here.

“She’s gone,” he said, reading my mind. “She’s hardly ever here anymore.”

I nodded. “Listen, my dad got the results back today.”

Dean tensed and sat up straight. His eyes locked on my face as he waited for me to share the news. I sighed and shook my head slowly, feeling tears press against my eyes.

“He’s not a match,” I said, my voice weak. “I’m so sorry, Dean.”

Dean nodded and sunk back into the couch cushions. He looked like he was trying to come to terms with the news but the longer he sat there, the harder it became. His face shifted from stoic resignation to confusion to outright despair. I reached for his hand and pulled him against me. Pressing my lips to his knuckles, I tried to convey how much I loved him. His pain felt like my own and I wanted nothing more than to take it away.

“I’m so sorry,” I said again.

“It’s not your fault,” he said. “It’s not anyone’s fault.”

“I’m going in on Monday,” I said. “First thing in the morning.”

“What?” Dean blinked.

“To get tested,” I said.

“You don’t have to do that, you’re not his sister.” Dean was already shaking his head but I wouldn’t hear a word of it.

“Stop it,” I said. “I’m doing this. I’m going to get tested and we’re going to hope that I’m a match because if I am, I’ll be able to save your brother’s life.”

“Caroline,” he said weakly. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You aren’t asking.” My voice was firm. Final.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. He breathed heavily and then sunk into me, cupping the back of my head and holding me tightly against him. I sighed into his lips, never wanting the moment to end. I knew I had to break away from him soon. There was still more news to share.

“Wait,” I said breathlessly, pulling back. “There’s more.”

“What?” he asked, his eyes searching my face. “What is it?”

“My dad also got the DNA test results back,” I said slowly. “And they were negative too. Daniel isn’t his son.”

Dean breathed a sigh of relief. At least Daniel would never have to know now. I sighed and kissed him, lingering on his lips for a long time. He held me close and moaned into my mouth, his grip tightening on my waist. I could feel my body begin to ignite as our kiss deepened. He slid his tongue in my mouth and I groaned, desperate for the sweet taste of him.

When my panties dampened with desire, I pulled away from him and grabbed his hand. He grinned at me as I led him slowly back to his bedroom, his hand wrapped tightly in my own.