Emmett takes the phone from my hand and talks to Edward as Rose sits down beside me. I can't believe Edward's words ... I might actually survive, and my new lease on life will start sometime tonight. It seems impossible to be true, but from my brother's conversation with Edward, it seems to be.
"Yeah, we'll head to Forks once she has a bag ready," Emmett says, grinning like a fool. "Thank you, Edward. I just ... holy shit, thank you."
"Bella?" Rose asks, rubbing my back. "Are you okay?"
I nod, swallowing thickly as tears fill my eyes. "I can't believe it."
She smiles and puts her arm around me, hugging me tightly. "Believe it, sweetie. You're getting your heart."
"What do they do with her old one?" Ben asks, and I laugh.
"I honestly don't care," I say as my timer goes off. "Shit, the food is ready. Why don't you pack it up and take it with you?"
She nods as Emmett tells me I need to pack myself. A helicopter is coming to pick me up from Forks and take me to Harborview in Seattle since the drive is too long. I make my way upstairs as fast as I can go, throwing shorts, T-shirts, and underwear into a bag. I might be in the hospital for up to two weeks, and there's no way in hell I'm spending all of that time wearing nothing but a hospital gown.
There's a knock on my door, and I turn to see Rose and Ben. "We're going to head out," she says, coming over to embrace me. "I'm so happy for you, sweetie. Next time we see each other, you'll have a whole new heart and a lot less worry."
I smile, hoping she's right. Of course, I'll be on medications for the rest of my life and have to keep rejection at bay, but it will be better. I'll finally be able to live my life, and live it with Edward.
We won't have to hide for much longer.
"Can I ask you a favor?" I ask, glancing at Ben before lowering my voice. "If something happens to me—"
"Nothing is going to happen to you."
"If it does, look after Em for me? Please, Rose. He cares about you so much, and he'll need all the strength he can get."
She shakes her head, sighing. "Nothing will happen, but if it does ... I'll take care of him. But again, you're going to get through this, and then you're going to live a beautiful long life."
I smile, nodding. "Yeah, I'm sure I will. I'm sorry dinner is canceled."
She laughs, rolling her eyes. "Well, I'm not, but we'll take the food home and eat. Emmett will keep me updated, and I'll come up to Seattle to see you once things settle down. Take care, sweetie."
She hugs me again before taking my bag downstairs for me. She and Emmett share a sweet goodbye as Ben hugs me.
"I hope your new heart works better," he tells me as I smile and pat his back.
"I'm sure it will, but you know, this doesn't get you out of teaching me how to play Call of Duty, right?"
He laughs. "I'll try, but you might be hopeless."
Wow, the kid really knows where to punch.
"Uh-huh, well, I'm not, and you made a promise to me. I'll see you soon."
"Bye, Ms. Bella."
Rose hugs me one last time before they leave, and then Emmett and I head to Forks Memorial to wait on my helicopter. I feel better than I have in forever and can't wait until I have my new heart. Everything finally seems to be coming together, and soon, Edward and I can be out in the open.
It's about time.
. . . . .
Edward meets us at Forks with a bag of his own, and he's dressed up more than usual. A long sleeve button-down gray shirt covers his tattoos, and he even shaved some. Emmett quickly goes to hug him, thanking him once again for helping save my life.
"It's my pleasure, Emmett," he says, and then looks at me as I sit on the gurney in the ER. "How are you feeling, Bella?"
I smile. "I'm ready."
He nods. "We're waiting on a little more information about the heart, and then the chopper will be here. Until then, just relax. We're going to go ahead and get you on an IV since you can't eat or drink."
I'm almost giddy with excitement and barely even feel when a nurse starts the IV. While we wait, Edward talks about how things are going to go down. Dr. Callahan is on his way to get the heart now, and he'll run some tests on it before giving the okay for Edward to take me to the OR. The heart is in Idaho, which isn't too far since they're flying it back.
"Can you tell me anything about the donor?" I ask, wondering who's given me a second chance at life. I feel awful that someone had to die, but I try to remember they were an organ donor for a reason.
"It's a thirty-nine-year-old woman with a head injury," Edward says. "Other than that, I don't know much. We can't tell you their name due to HIPAA, but you can write a letter, and if the family wants it, they can have it."
I nod, knowing I'm going to do that. This woman is saving my life, and I want her family to know that her heart will live on safely. I'm going to make the most out of my second chance.
"We're going to have to stay in Seattle for a few weeks after your discharge," Emmett says. "I'll find a nice hotel for us. Also, I texted Carlisle. He and Esme are on their way to see you before we leave. They should be here anytime."
"Yeah, Alice texted me that they'll come to Seattle when I'm out of the woods. They can't leave the boys alone, but she wished they could be here."
He smiles. "We have a great family, don't we?"
I nod. "It's perfect. Thank you for everything you've done for me, Em. And … just so you know, I'm going to probably stay in Forks even once I'm better. I love being home."
He suddenly pulls me into a tight hug. "That would make me so happy, Bells."
We separate as Edward's phone rings, and he steps out of the room to take it. I have every hope and thought that it's a good call—that my new heart is perfect. I don't even consider the possibility of it being bad news, but then he walks back in and I see his expression.
I can only describe it as heartbroken.
"Bella …"
I shake my head as tears fill my eyes. "It's bad."
He nods solemnly. "The heart shows signs of disease, so we can't put it in you. I'm so sorry, Bella."
I can't respond and just cry as my heart breaks. Why did I get my hopes up? Why didn't I consider this could go wrong?
This isn't fair.
Thanks to May, Nole, Fran, Brier, and Meg for prereading and Sally for Beta'ing.
