Marge and Jake wasted no time followed by Lisa to get there and get tested. They all prayed that at least one of them would be a match for Josie. They all sat on pins and needles as they awaited the results.
"I just can't believe all this." Lisa said as she took a seat beside her mother.
Baby respond as she looked at the glass door at Josie outside with the nurse. "She really likes Jackie."
Jake joined his daughter as he put his arm around her. "She will be okay. You have to believe that."
"I wish I could daddy. If we don't find a donor I will lose the most important thing in my life." Baby said as she rested her teary face on his shoulder.
To watch Josie now, she looked so healthy and on the top of the world. It was hard to believe that one illness could be her doorway to life or death.
"Ms. Houseman." They all turned around to see Dr. Fleming standing before them.
"Please tell me you have good news." Baby pleaded.
"I am sorry but we have no match." He said with a solemn look on his face.
"There has to be!" Baby demanded as Marge walked over to help Jake console their daughter.
"What is there left to do?" Jake asked.
"We put her name on the donor list and wait." He told them.
"That could take years." Marge told him.
"Josie might not have years." Baby responded. "She needs a donor now, right?"
"I don't have a time frame but the sooner we get her one the better." Dr. Fleming stated the facts. "Time could mean everything."
Baby was losing it at this point. Things we spiraling out of control and she couldn't stop it. "I will do anything."
"Can I have a word alone with you?" Dr. Fleming asked Baby.
"Sure." Baby turned to her family. "I will be right back."
"Let's walk to my office." He told her as he showed her the way. "I want to talk you in private."
"What is it?" Baby asked as she took a seat across the desk from him.
"Josie needs a donor quickly. She will only go down hill from here." He told her. "I want you to understand that and be prepared for anything that might arise."
"The donor list could take too long." Baby said wiping her face with her tissue.
"There is one other option." Dr. Fleming rose up in his seat. "Josie's father."
Johnny! She had wondered about that many times since this whole situation arose. She had prayed that one of them would be a match so she didn't have to involve Johnny. She just knew Johnny had moved on with his life and didn't want to be bothered by her but what if he could save Josie? "I have thought about that."
"I suggest you get in touch with him and let's get him tested." He told her bluntly.
"I am not sure where he is now." Baby admitted.
"Find him." He told her. "It's better than nothing."
"I will try to find him right away." Baby assured him.
Baby had no clue where to find him. Her father said he was not at kellerman's anymore and all Baby could figure was he joined the labor union with his father. Johnny could be anywhere in this world.
"Your mother has got Josie a sleep." Jake told his daughter as he walked our on the balcony.
Baby had been sitting out there trying to collect her thoughts about everything that has happened and everything she has to do. "She give her any trouble?"
"Nah, out like a light." Jake said as he took a seat. "How are you holding up?'
"I have no idea daddy. I feel like it's all a dream." She confided in him. "Never in a million years imagined this could happen. I thought she was so healthy."
"Sometime things happen and we can't change them. All we can do is make the best out of the situation as we can." Jake told her. "She could have a donor next week. We just have to be optimistic."
"I can't be optimistic when I know she could die." Baby balled her fists up. "I will not lose her!"
"Keep that attitude." Jake grabbed her hands and unclenched her fists. "We will win."
"I have to find Johnny." She said quietly. "He could be our only hope."
"I don't know where he is now. He hasn't been at Kellerman's in about four years." Jake looked up at the sky. "I will find him, I promise."
"He will hate me." Baby stated the obvious.
"It's a chance you have to take to save Josie." Jake told her. "And right now I would do anything."
"I would too."
"You two come in I have supper ready." Lisa said as she opened the patio door.
Jake pulled Baby up and hugged her tight. "I love you."
"I love you and thank you for being her for me." Baby told him.
"Where else would I be." He asked her knowing she knew the answer. "Right here."
Baby tossed and turned all night. Her thoughts were filled with worry over Josie. She had to give her a fighting chance and Johnny could be the one to do it. Baby now had to muster up the strength to face him after all these years and tell him the secret she had kept from his for so many years.
Many different scenarios played out in Baby's mind. Would he be happy? Would he be mad? Baby put herself in his shoes and realized she would be upset if something that important had been kept away from her for so many years. Maybe she did make a mistake by never telling him about Josie. It was something she would have to live with the rest of her life.
Spring break was in a week and she was going to devote all her time to finding Johnny. Her father said he would do his best to track him down. Baby needed all the help she could get at this point.
"Everything check out okay?" Baby asked Dr. Fleming the next day at Josie's check up.
"She seems to be holding up pretty good. She hasn't got any worse so that is a plus." He told her. "We just need to keep her away from anything that might make her sick at this point. A common cold could be like pneumonia to her."
"I feeling like I am standing over her night and day making sure she is okay." Baby told him.
"I can understand and it is natural for you to be that way? You are still going to look for her father right?" He asked her eyeing her.
"Yes, I am not sure where to even being looking but I will try my best. I have to for Josie's sake. I will do anything to see her come out of this." Baby said.
"It could be very positive for Josie. If you need anything you just call okay?" Dr. Fleming had seemed to become emotionally attached to this case.
"Thank you so much. I know I tell you that all the time but I mean it." She noticed him smiling sweetly at her.
"I want to see Josie next week and we might be able to try small doses of chemo." He told her.
"My mother will bring her in. I plan to be out of town looking for Johnny." Baby admitted.
"That is fine. I wish you the best." He shook her hand and escorted her to the door where Josie was. "Take care."
"I heard the nurses talking about my daddy. Who is he?" Josie asked Baby on the way home.
Baby couldn't believe what she was hearing. Josie had finally asked about her father and Baby had no idea what to say. The only thing she could think of was the truth. "What did the nurses say about your father?"
"That you needed to find him." Josie said playing with squeely. "Where is he?"
Baby took a deep breath before she began. "I am going to see him next week."
"Can I come?" Josie asked excitedly.
"Not this time sweetie. Mommy needs to go alone." Baby hated telling Josie no but she knew this trip she needed to do alone.
"Why haven't I ever seen him before?" Her big brown eyes looked at her mother.
"I will explain everything to you one day. You don't need to worry yourself with that now." Baby wasn't ready for that conversation just yet.
