Chapter Twenty-Five

Noah had wanted to get in and have the surgery done right away, but first he had to go through an extensive series of tests to make sure that he was physically and mentally healthy enough to donate his kidney. These tests usually took place over a series of weeks but were allowed to be somewhat expedited due to the severity of the situation. Still though, they had to wait until the lab techs got back in at seven AM. So, Noah took Lucy home and promised to return in a couple of hours. Jordan opted to stay at the hospital with his uncle.

Kenny, although lethargic and itchy, seemed to be in surprisingly good spirits, especially after Jordan told him that he and Noah were an item now. Jordan told him that he had a potential donor lined up, but he didn’t tell him who it was, for fear that he would refuse. They stayed up talking for a little while about Noah and about useless things like the weather. Jordan was just desperate to hear his voice, and to keep hearing it for as long as he possibly could.

Eventually though, Kenny started having trouble stringing his sentences together and keeping his eyes open. Jordan told him to go to sleep. He knew he should probably get some sleep himself, but he just couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, he busied himself with examining his uncle’s sleeping form. He was so damn thin now that the swelling around his ankles was a stark contrast to the rest of him. His skin was pallid and washed out. His remaining hair was patchy. He looked like a worn, sepia version of himself, but Jordan tried to memorize his visage anyway, just in case.

The morning deepened, and the hospital came back to life all around him, but still, Jordan did not move from that spot. Not until Noah came for him, saying that the tests were done, and he just had to wait and see if he was approved. Unable to do much more here, the two of them went home and waited. Lucy mostly kept to herself and Jordan stayed glued to his phone all day, praying that no news was good news.

At around 2 PM Noah got a call saying that he was indeed a blood and tissue match for Jordan’s uncle and that he had a spectacularly clean bill of health. They could move forward with the transplant.

Fast forward about twelve hours and Jordan was back at the hospital, waiting for his two favorite people to go into surgery. He took a private moment with each of them, one after the other. With Noah, it was hard for him to find the right words to say, and he ended up just squeezing the other man’s hand for upwards of twenty minutes and kissing him goodbye. Hopefully Noah could feel all the loaded emotions he’d packed into that kiss. With his uncle, it was just the opposite. He felt like he couldn’t get his words out fast enough; thanking him for raising him and for all the lessons he’d taught him. Reminiscing about the past, dreaming about the future.

“Why the hell does it sound like you’re saying goodbye to me, boy?” he’d sniffed.

Jordan hugged him, just like he had after he got shot.

“I’m saying that I love you Uncle Kenny. Please hang on. I need you around a little while longer.”

His uncle patted him on the back and promised him he’d do his best.

“And, for the record Jordan,” his uncle told him just as he was about to be rolled away. “Even though I miss my sister, and I never really wanted kids, I’m glad I have you. Seeing you grow into the man you are today has been the greatest privilege of my life. I love you. I’ll see you on the other side.”

At that, they took him away. Jordan stared out into the hallway for several minutes after his uncle’s stretcher disappeared from sight. Then, with a heavy sigh, he wandered back to the waiting room to sit with Lucy and her grandparents.

Noah’s mom was a distinguished looking business woman with long braided gray hair and eyes the exact color of her son’s. His dad looked significantly younger, but just as successful. He had thick brown hair just like Noah’s and gave off the general demeanor of a used car salesman or a loan shark. Both of them kept glaring at Jordan periodically and he couldn’t really blame them. He really wished that their first introduction to him could have been on better terms, but it was what it was. There was nothing he could do but wait with them and play with Lucy to keep her distracted.

All in all, the procedure took about four hours. They’d opted to do it laparoscopically to keep the recovery time down, and everything had gone exactly according to plan. The doctor said that Noah and Kenny should both be waking up in the next few hours. Jordan breathed the world’s longest sigh of relief.

As one, they all got up and went to see Kenny and Noah, who were being housed in the same room for the time being. Jordan allowed Lucy and her grandparents some space and wandered over to his uncle’s side. He looked much as he had two nights before when he was drowsy and couldn’t keep his eyes open. He knew his uncle was not going to be happy once he woke up and found out who his donor was, but at least he’d be alive. That was all he could ever ask for.

Satisfied that everything was taken care of for the time being, Jordan leaned his head against the edge of his uncle’s bed and allowed himself to rest for the first time in days. He actually got a pretty good nap in despite the crappy angle, but he wasn’t sure that his back agreed. Upon waking, it gave a sickening crack. Jordan sat up and stretched out his sore muscles as he looked around the room. Noah’s parents had disappeared from his side and Lucy was sitting up in bed with him. He and his uncle were talking to each other from across the room.

“And then one time, when he was thirteen, this fool refused to miss even one day of school even though he had the stomach flu. So, he went and he tossed his cookies all over the cafeteria and I had to go get him. Kids were calling him Barf Boy for the rest of the year.”

Noah laughed. It was a magical sound.

“Are you telling embarrassing stories about me?” Jordan said in mock offense.

Kenny glanced down at Jordan with equal parts gratitude and derision.

“Damn right I am. This boy of yours needs to know how much of a dingus you are before he goes on and donates any more of his organs on your behalf.”

Jordan ignored the jab and asked him how he was feeling. Kenny waved away the question.

“Fine. A little sore around the incision, but I’ll be fine.”

Jordan turned around to face Noah.

“And you?”

Noah smiled at him warmly.

“I’m good. Just a little numb, but the doctor said that it’s normal. How ‘bout you? Are you doing okay?”

Jordan smiled.

“I am now.”