Chapter 24
P O V: Matt Casey
"Matthew! My love how are you? It's been forever since you've been to see your mother,"
My mom hit my shoulder as I sat down at her kitchen table she poured me coffee. "Sorry it's been crazy lately, I know I haven't been the best son," she squeezed my hand. "You've been a wonderful son Matthew, what's going on? You seem worried."
"Mom there's no easy way to say this," I told her the story her eyes clouded over her breathing tensed. "Mom am I your son biologically?" she remained silent for a minute breathing hard "No Matt you were adopted when you were just a few weeks old, but you are my son in every other way, I have loved you from the minute you were placed in my arms, I have provided for you financially, emotionally given you shelter, education, strength to grow,"
That conversation happened last week now I am nervously standing inside the firehouse awaiting the arrival of my biological mother who's name my adoptive mom had tucked away. Kelly had contacted her that same day and we arranged to meet as soon as she was back in town.
"Relax Casey it's going to be okay you found her there's no way she won't agree to be tested," Stella squeezed my shoulder "what if she's not a match or can't she might have health issues herself,"
"Don't stress over what you don't know son."
I turned as Kelly came into the room with six people all looking nervous "Ma'am this is Matthew Casey," The women covered her mouth gasping "oh my god my son," she couldn't be more than 55 her blond hair was pulled up into double laced braids, she's tall 6'5 built but thin. She held open her arms "May I Please?" I nodded stepping towards her. She embraced me fully 'I can't believe this is happening. I have dreamed about this day forever,"
We went to the table sitting down she introduced everyone "This is my husband your biological dad Jesse," I shock his hands instantly seeing the familiarity in our facial features, the strong jawline, round checks, the eyes, I got his eyes beautiful emerald green eye color. The same blond sandy hair, while Sylvie had gotten our moms eyes Aqua blue.
"These are our kids your brothers Tyler," she pointed to the oldest who seemed to be about 16, "Nolan he's 13, Siren he's 12, and our daughter Emilia she's 15," I shock hands with each of them "They've all agreed to be tested along with your father, I."
Over the next two weeks as we waited for the results I learned a lot about our past our mom Alissa got pregnant when she was fifteen neither of them could afford to take care of two babies, they wanted to go to school grow up live before they became parents. So her dad put us up for adoption but we were separated. She looked for us over the years but each adoption were private, my mom managed to get her name for the future but she buried it since she never told me I was adopted.
I got to meet my grandparents on both sides, aunts, uncles who all got tested along with their children. Sylvie became stronger and was moved out of ICU her and Brent shared a room again. She agreed to meet our bio parents and siblings but I could see she was hesitant.
The meeting went well even though she was weak and had very little energy I could see it effected Alissa who became teary eyed as she held her hand sharing the story of how she had a brother who passed away from Leukemia when he was ten she was 12.
Already a protective brother I ushered everyone out when I could see her strength weakening even though she was fighting to stay alert. I didn't want her to hurt herself.
She was heading into isolation tomorrow to start ten days worth of high dose Chemo before the transplant.
By the evening I had kicked everyone from 51 out I wanted to spend time with Sylvie one on one. Laying in bed with her as she rested her head against my shoulder we talked about our childhoods, our best friends, favorite foods, dreams, fears, her beautiful daughter, my adorable handsome sons. What inspired us to go into our professions.
I have never felt closer to anyone besides Gabby than I do with Sylvie. Even Christie who I grew up with I never laughed as much in my whole childhood with her as I did in this night with Sylvie.
We made plans for what we wanted to do in our life after she got out of the hospital, including a vacation with just us we argued over where to go until she started coughing. When she settled down I took her hand kissing it "I'm going to be here with you forever Sylvie, I'll be the one making sure Antonio treats you correctly or I'll kick his ass, I'll stand up for you on your wedding day, I'll be there to cheer Ambrosia on at every cheer comp, dance battle, school play, I'll be the annoying big brother who's balls you wanna punch in,"
She laughed "Hate to break it to you Matthew, you already are, and I love you."
Her last words to me before she went into a very intense round of Isolation and high dose Chemo which left her sleeping 99% of the day, battling fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, blackouts, bone pain. She was heavily medicated leaving her out of it most of the time. Only one visitor every two hours they had to wear sterile gowns, masks, gloves and could only stay for 10 minutes.
Her parents came down and spent most of the visits with her. Two days into it we learned Nolan and Emilia were both matches for Brent. Because of the ages Emilia was chosen to be a the donor. Brent went into his own Isolation room next door to Sylvie.
I prayed they would both be alright. Chemo is really worse than the damn disease. If they survived these ten days it would be a miracle. Please Lord we need one of those.