The Gift
Part XIII
As soon as Sami entered Madison's room, she felt like she was going to throw up again. How in the world were she and EJ going to be able to explain this to her? She fully didn't understand the implications of everything her daughter was going to face in the upcoming days, weeks, months, possibly years of treatment, so how would Madison take the news?
Sami thought of how EJ had stepped into the restroom and helped take care of her when she'd lost it over hearing Dr. McAllister's news. The man who could calm her down instantly when she went overboard was also the man who could make her mad quicker than anything imaginable. How was it possible that EJ could bring all these emotions within her to such extremes?
"Mommy & Daddy, you're back!" Madison exclaimed when they stepped into the hospital suite, one that had a lot more room and was cheerier than her previous room.
"We're back," Sami answered, going to one side of Madison's bed, while EJ went to the other side so that they were both on either side of their daughter.
"They put me in a new room," Madison said with a frown upon her face.
"Isn't this is nice room?" EJ asked his daughter. "We thought you'd be more comfortable here."
"I want to go home, I'm comfortable there," Madison stated firmly. "I know when I asked earlier you told me Dr. McAllister had to do that test, but now it is over."
"Sweetie, we just have to stay a while longer," Sami began trying to alleviate her daughter's fears when all she wanted was for her to be able to take her home also.
"Why?" Madison's eyes began to fill with tears. "This hospital isn't fun."
"I know it isn't much fun, but we will be here with you," EJ took a chair and sat as close as he could to Madison.
"You and Mommy will both stay with me?" Madison looked confused, she wasn't used to both of her parents staying in the same room for any length of time, usually when one parent was there, and the other parent was either picking her up or dropping her off.
Sami sat down on Madison's bed and stroked her hair, "Yes, Daddy and I are going to be here with you because you are going to need to stay in the hospital a while longer."
"I don't like it here," Madison clutched her doll tighter to her. "Please mommy, I won't tell any more lies and blame Claire for things I did instead of her, or pull Ciara's hair and then act like she was making it up."
EJ caught Sami's eyes, he wanted to laugh over Madison's confessions because they sounded so much like her mother, but he didn't want her feelings to be hurt by his laughter. At least his daughter had fighting spunk and personality; god knew she was going to need it in the months ahead.
"Sweetheart, it is okay, you are not being punished because of things you may or may not have done," EJ's voice was kind and understanding, calming Madison as easily as he could calm Sami when the need arose.
"I'm not?" Madison's turned her tear filled eyes to her father, and he took out a handkerchief to dry her eyes.
"No, but I have a story to tell you. This is going to be a new story to go along with our other stories we have made up."
"A new fairy tale?"
"Brand spanking new tale, hot off the presses so to speak," EJ began, his voice immediately capturing Madison's and Sami's attention.
"Oh Daddy, I can't wait to hear it," Madison said, her tears forgotten as soon as EJ mentioned a new fairy tale for them to enjoy.
"Well, since you are the fairy dust and pixie sprinkled sprite named Madison, this is a tale about you. You know all sprites have magical powers, ones that others would love to possess, but only the chosen few have the ability to bring such love and happiness to others as you have done. Well now you have to face a battle to preserve the land, one that will be very hard for you to do, but of course the dark prince and brave princess warrior will reunite forces to help their most precious sprite in all the kingdom. Together they will battle the forces that try to take the sprites magical powers away from her."
"Daddy, will I have to face dragons?"
"Possibly, but you will not be alone, because we will be there to battle whatever come up with you."
"All three of us working together?"
"Yes," Sami answered reaching over to take EJ's hand to place both of their hands over Madison's much smaller hand. "We don't know everything that is going to go on for you in the future Madison, but believe me, we will all work together to get you better."
"So I am sick?" The reality was beginning to sink into her young mind.
"Yes," EJ answered trying his best not to falter, he didn't want Madison to know he was upset or scared because then it would make her scared too. "But we are going to have the best doctors and nurses taking care of you to help you get better."
"Mommy, Daddy tells me I am a fighter; that sprites have to be smart and inventive to survive in the world."
"That's true sweetie, you are going to have a tough battle ahead of you, but I believe you will get better." Sami drew strength from EJ, he'd never let go of their hands.
"One day I'm going to be a warrior like you Mom," Madison declared whole heartedly.
Sami leaned over to kiss Madison's forehead, "You are already on your way baby doll to becoming a warrior."
"Yes, she is," EJ agreed with Sami and smiled. He was with the two people that mattered most of him in this world and despite the circumstances, he was glad to be there with them.
Sami was so thankful to have EJ here; he made what could have been a traumatic scene with Madison into a more serene outcome by spinning another of his infamous fairy tales to calm down his daughter. Now she wondered if they ever could have a happy ending or was that only possible in fairy tales?
The Gift
Part XIV
Belle was truly a godsend, calling everyone that afternoon when it was confirmed that Madison had leukemia and would soon be undergoing treatments. As soon as Belle came back in to check on Madison, she took one look in her sister's eyes and knew the truth. She had hugged them all and then left the room to begin a task she knew was going to shock the entire Brady family.
Belle called Phillip and asked him to come over to the hospital and he rushed over, not even bothering to ask why she needed him to be there, just following his instincts because she sounded upset.
"Belle, what's going on?" Phillip asked sitting down beside her after being directed to a lounge when he had went to the nurse's desk to find her.
"Oh Phillip, I need your help," Belle reached over to grab a tissue as her tears began anew.
"What is it honey? You know all you have to do is ask and I'll do anything in my power to get it done for you," Phillip's voice was kind, as he pulled her into his arms, rubbing her shoulders.
Belle leaned into his embrace, thankful for his presence, "Madison is sick and she is going to need our help."
"Sick how? What happened?"
"Dr. McAllister told Sami and EJ that Madison had leukemia," Belle said trying to gain her composure.
"Oh my god, is Madison going to be okay?"
"It's not going to be easy, but I wanted to ask you a favor."
"Anything you want, just name it," Phillip said without hesitation.
"I want to organize a donor drive to see if we can help them find a match for Madison," Belle sat back up to look at him, hoping that Phillip would be receptive to helping EJ knowing they weren't that close considering Sami was married to Lucas.
"Of course I'll help you do this Belle, thank you for thinking of me," Phillip gave her a smile, glad that he was the first person she turned to in times of crisis instead of Shawn.
"Well I know you and EJ don't really see eye to eye on many things," Belle said recalling the numerous times Phillip would complain of EJ's business tactics when both Mythic and Titan were up against one another competing for contracts and customers.
"I can put aside my feelings to help EJ's daughter. I really like Madison. What do we need to start doing?" Phillip asked, knowing that if he helped Belle with this that it would bring him one step closer to her and he loved how it would drive Shawn crazy that Belle wanted him to help her with this project and not him.
Belle got a sheet of paper and began outlining the project they would need to do to get started, her feelings of hope starting to soar knowing that Phillip would get things done. Sami needed a miracle for Madison and they were all going to have to work together to help make sure that Madison got it.
"I'm going to go talk to Lucas," Sami informed EJ, not wanting to leave Madison, but knowing that she needed to let Lucas know what was going on with his step daughter, especially since he had departed earlier on not the best of terms.
"Take your time, I'm not going anywhere," EJ grabbed her hand before she left the room.
"Thanks EJ, for everything," Sami squeezed his hand back.
Before he even thought about it, EJ brushed his lips to the back of her hand, and if Sami hadn't of been so shocked over his sudden gesture she probably would have pulled away her hand, but she held it there, electrified over the simple act. Then he pulled away and released her hand, letting it fall back to her side.
Sami left without another word, too shaken to say anything else, her emotions warring with one another. She took a deep breath and readied herself to go over to the construction site, hoping that she and Lucas wouldn't fight with one another again.
"Daddy?"
"Yes sweetheart, what do you need?" EJ turned his full attention back to his daughter after watching Sami walk out of the room.
"Can I ask you a question?" Madison looked him square in the eye, her expression very serious to be so young.
"You can ask me anything and I'll do my best to give you an answer," EJ leaned over the railing of her bed and brushing her hair out of her eyes.
"Well I know you love me and that mommy does too," Madison began, and then hesitated for a moment.
"We love you more than words can say," EJ said hoping his voice wouldn't break, the love his felt for his child was the most amazing emotion he'd ever experienced.
"Do you love each other?"
"My darling Madison, why are you asking this question?"
"I just want to know," was all that Madison would say, waiting for her father to tell the answer to her question.
"I can't answer for your mother," EJ replied, hoping to evade the question entirely.
"You can answer for yourself though," Madison said not backing down from wanting to hear what her father had to say.
"If I tell you will you not say anything?" EJ couldn't believe Madison was asking him this in the first place, but in all things he had tried his best to be honest with her, something that his own father had failed to do with him for most of his life.
"Cross my heart," Madison took her finger and made an x in the air over her heart.
"Yes, I love your mother, but since she is married to Lucas, I can't tell her," EJ confessed, hating that his five year old daughter could drag the truth out of him when he had tried to hard to hide the truth of his feelings for Sami for years, always doing his best to guard even himself against the truth.
"Why is mommy married to Lucas?"
"It's complicated," EJ struggled to find the words to tell her so that she would understand.
"Well I wish mommy was married to you," Madison stated looking at her daddy and thinking he was the best daddy in the entire world.
"Sometimes we can't have what we wish for," EJ replied sadly, his daughter putting into words the wish he had held for many years concerning Sami.
"Daddy you always say to never give up for what you wish for," Madison reminded him of the many times they had spoken with one another about wishes and dreams.
"How do you manage to see into my heart little one?" EJ's eyes filled with tears as he leaned over to kiss his daughter on the forehead.
"Because you have a kind heart daddy, even if you don't let anyone else but me see it," Madison reached up to hug EJ, her arms holding him tight. "I love you daddy."
"I love you too," EJ held Madison close as he tried not to cry, surely God wouldn't take away the only pure and good thing in his life in Madison or he'd be lost forever.
The Gift
Part XV
Sami pulled up to the construction site, knowing that she needed to talk to Lucas. She didn't like the way they had left things earlier, and she owed it to him to tell him in person what was happening.
Stepping out to survey the new subdivision that was in process of going up, she felt a sense of pride for her husband. He had finally found his niche in the professional world after leaving the corporate rat race to build houses. He had succeeded in the building world of contractors, suppliers, and home dwelling developers where he hadn't in corporate takeovers.
While Lucas had found success in building, it had taken a toll on their family, his long hours he needed to put into his construction business took him away from them, some days he and Sami rarely had time to say good morning or goodnight before another day began, leaving them to only see each other sporadically. Sami had felt them slowly growing steadily apart for the past few years, their interest were changing, their outlooks on life in general becoming more different from one another.
Now this with Madison, Sami thought, feeling her tears trying to come forth to the surface once more. Her family was going in all different directions and she honestly didn't know how to make them more cohesive. Will going off to college had made her realize now that in her attempt to give him a stable home life, that she had sacrificed living her life with the man she knew would make her happy and that man was not Lucas.
She loved Lucas, but not in the all consuming passion that fired her soul, leaving her searing and wanting for more. She had hoped in time that she could live without passion, that the love she had for her husband would be enough, but lately, it only made her resent Lucas and the choices she had made for her family's acceptance. Approval and acceptance was something she had longed for her entire life, but it didn't help fill the voice in her soul.
Shaking her head, she tried to dispel those traitorous thoughts, she needed for forget her dreams of passion, of love that burned so brightly that she would burn if caught in the flames. Spending time with EJ was not good for her, it only reminded her of all that she had given up, but there was no other choice, she knew EJ would not leave Madison during this crisis and neither would she, so she'd have to be sure not to succumb to his charms.
With that thought in mind, she went to find her husband. It took a while amidst the crew of men working; the noises in the air loud with taps of hammering and sawing going on, but finally she spotted him. Making her way carefully through the unfinished house, she got his attention and he waved, speaking something to one of his workers before coming over to her and leading her out of the house. He removed his hardhat and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Sami, I wasn't expecting you to come by here," Lucas began uncertain over why she was here instead of the hospital.
"We needed to talk," Sami said quietly.
"I'm sorry about this morning," Lucas started to apologize for his behavior when Sami held up her hand to stop him.
"It's okay," Sami tried her best to smile, but she didn't look happy.
"You didn't get good news about Madison, did you?"
Sami shook her head, the words not coming forth as Lucas took her into his arms for a hug. Sami cried again, wondering how she could cry so much in such a few short hours. She was a wreck emotionally.
"I'm sorry," Lucas said, rubbing her back.
Sami finally pulled back and wiped her eyes, "Me too, but I wanted you to know. I'm not going to be home much until we know something more and kind of work out a schedule."
Lucas felt a tightening in his chest, he didn't want to be jealous of Sami spending time with EJ, but he was jealous and couldn't prevent the emotion from invading his heart, he spoke without thinking, "I'm sure EJ will love that."
"Lucas, please, this isn't the time for you to be blaming EJ for something that is beyond his control. Believe me he is devastated by the news, not trying to think of a way to capture my attention."
"I can't help it Sami, I don't like you spending time with him, it only…"
"Only what? Why are you so afraid for me to be around EJ?"
"You know why Sami, don't even try to deny it."
"Deny what? You have no trust in me." Sami shook her head again, trying her best not to lose it, all they seemed to be able to do was argue with one another.
"You're right, I don't trust you," Lucas' confession hurt more than anything else he had said to her lately and they had said plenty of hurtful things to one another, especially this past year. "Do you think I'm stupid? That I don't know how many times you lain in my arms wishing you were somewhere else, with someone else? That I don't notice when you slip out of bed to walk over to the window to stare out at the night sky? You might swear that you don't have feelings for EJ, but I know differently."
"Don't worry; I won't be using Madison's illness as an opportunity to get into bed with EJ!" Sami's chest heaved with anger, she wanted to hit him she was so angry that Lucas didn't think she would be faithful. Then she narrowed her eyes, "I can't even believe you would go there."
"I'm just trying to be honest about my feelings, maybe you should do the same," Lucas said, turning away from his wife, his heart breaking over the vast chasm that was between him, but at least he was facing the fact that he knew his wife was in love with another man even if she couldn't admit it to herself.
Sami stood there watching Lucas walk away from her, stunned over his comments to her, hoping he'd turn back around and say he was sorry, but he kept walking on, going back into the house to leave Sami to think about everything they had said.
Sami walked back to the car slowly, struggling to get the keys into the ignition, her nerves frazzled after their encounter. She finally managed to get the car started to go back to the hospital, Dr. Lykens was scheduled to meet with she and EJ within an hour and she needed to calm down before talking to him.
Driving back to the hospital, Sami contemplated Lucas' words to her, maybe it was time for her to be honest with herself, god knew she had been running from the truth for years, but she wasn't sure she could face the ghosts of her past and right them with her hopes for the future.