Leon's harsh, even voice added to her horror and shock.
"But he's only ten. A little boy. How can he die?"
"Age is no barrier to death." He gave a ghost of a smile. "We've searched but can't find a compatible donor. Statistically, you or maternal siblings are his best chance of a donor match."
Is he hoping I've made another mistake?
When Leon caught her hand in his, she clung to him. The physical contact all that stood between her and a complete meltdown.
"He's in isolation in hospital. Would you come to Melbourne and be tested? And donate bone marrow if you're compatible?"
With a shuddering breath, she fought to assimilate his words. Beneath them, she caught a jagged undercurrent of torment.
"How long has he been ill?" The words scraped past frozen vocal cords. There's no way I can refuse to help.
"Three months."
Shock gave way to scorching anger. She yanked her hand from his. "And you just tell me now?"
"We hoped it wouldn't be necessary. But we've exhausted every other option."
"I see." Ice congealed in her veins. Now the first rush of shock receded, she saw, far too clearly. She was the choice of last resort.
"Would you help him? Please, Ricki."
"I use my given name now. Veronica."
He didn't need to know she'd loathed that name most of her life. To confess that would create a spurious intimacy. Leon Karvasis had sought her out for one reason and one reason only, her usefulness to help his son.
But what else could she expect?
In the past Leon had offered her shelter, help that was a very thin guise of his intention, a ploy so he and his wife could steal her baby.
She glanced up and caught the ugly expression that turned his grey eyes almost black but when she glanced at him a second time, that disconcerting expression was gone.
"I'll make it worth your while."
Indignation and temper had her leaping to her feet. She faced him, hands clenched. "I don't want your money! I will do everything in my power to help Jordan, but I want nothing from you, Leon. Nothing! You can keep your stinking money."
Everything in the Karvasis family came down to money. And now this wealthy family, with its huge sense of self-entitlement, was learning the hard way, that there were some things money simply could not buy.
If the situation were not so serious, she would be rubbing her hands in glee.
Unable to bear being near him, she strode across the grass to the car. Leon followed more slowly.
She was silent during the short drive back, but her thoughts raced. She would ask Kathleen for immediate release from her teaching position at Northcote Academy and she could be in Melbourne within a day. She glanced at her silent companion but he stared straight ahead, concentrating on the road.
If Leon had broken a solemn promise by seeking her out, she was breaking an equally avowed oath that nothing would induce her to return to Melbourne.
Man plans and God laughs.
Well if God was up there watching them, he must surely be chortling.
Despite the heat of the summer sun, Veronica was chilled to the bone.
Leon pulled the powerful car to a smooth halt beside the curb outside her cottage and turned in the seat to face her. "I'll arrange flights and accommodation for you."
"No," she said vehemently. "Give me an appointment and the address. I'll make my own arrangements."
His escaping breath was loud in the confines of the car. "Don't be obstinate."
"I'm not being obstinate. I pay my own expenses Leon. And—" she broke off, glaring at him through narrowed eyes.
"And?" His dangerously quiet tone sent a shiver down her spine.
"I want nothing from you," she finished grimly. "No money. No visits. No personal contact."
Leon frowned and subjected her to another of those piercing looks, nodded and spread his hands; the movement had the sun catching his wedding band. "As you wish."
She expelled a shaky breath. I don't wish, it's self-preservation, pure and simple.
Sometimes, in a moment of desperation,
"But he's only ten. A little boy. How can he die?"
"Age is no barrier to death." He gave a ghost of a smile. "We've searched but can't find a compatible donor. Statistically, you or maternal siblings are his best chance of a donor match."
Is he hoping I've made another mistake?
When Leon caught her hand in his, she clung to him. The physical contact all that stood between her and a complete meltdown.
"He's in isolation in hospital. Would you come to Melbourne and be tested? And donate bone marrow if you're compatible?"
With a shuddering breath, she fought to assimilate his words. Beneath them, she caught a jagged undercurrent of torment.
"How long has he been ill?" The words scraped past frozen vocal cords. There's no way I can refuse to help.
"Three months."
Shock gave way to scorching anger. She yanked her hand from his. "And you just tell me now?"
"We hoped it wouldn't be necessary. But we've exhausted every other option."
"I see." Ice congealed in her veins. Now the first rush of shock receded, she saw, far too clearly. She was the choice of last resort.
"Would you help him? Please, Ricki."
"I use my given name now. Veronica."
He didn't need to know she'd loathed that name most of her life. To confess that would create a spurious intimacy. Leon Karvasis had sought her out for one reason and one reason only, her usefulness to help his son.
But what else could she expect?
In the past Leon had offered her shelter, help that was a very thin guise of his intention, a ploy so he and his wife could steal her baby.
She glanced up and caught the ugly expression that turned his grey eyes almost black but when she glanced at him a second time, that disconcerting expression was gone.
"I'll make it worth your while."
Indignation and temper had her leaping to her feet. She faced him, hands clenched. "I don't want your money! I will do everything in my power to help Jordan, but I want nothing from you, Leon. Nothing! You can keep your stinking money."
Everything in the Karvasis family came down to money. And now this wealthy family, with its huge sense of self-entitlement, was learning the hard way, that there were some things money simply could not buy.
If the situation were not so serious, she would be rubbing her hands in glee.
Unable to bear being near him, she strode across the grass to the car. Leon followed more slowly.
She was silent during the short drive back, but her thoughts raced. She would ask Kathleen for immediate release from her teaching position at Northcote Academy and she could be in Melbourne within a day. She glanced at her silent companion but he stared straight ahead, concentrating on the road.
If Leon had broken a solemn promise by seeking her out, she was breaking an equally avowed oath that nothing would induce her to return to Melbourne.
Man plans and God laughs.
Well if God was up there watching them, he must surely be chortling.
Despite the heat of the summer sun, Veronica was chilled to the bone.
Leon pulled the powerful car to a smooth halt beside the curb outside her cottage and turned in the seat to face her. "I'll arrange flights and accommodation for you."
"No," she said vehemently. "Give me an appointment and the address. I'll make my own arrangements."
His escaping breath was loud in the confines of the car. "Don't be obstinate."
"I'm not being obstinate. I pay my own expenses Leon. And—" she broke off, glaring at him through narrowed eyes.
"And?" His dangerously quiet tone sent a shiver down her spine.
"I want nothing from you," she finished grimly. "No money. No visits. No personal contact."
Leon frowned and subjected her to another of those piercing looks, nodded and spread his hands; the movement had the sun catching his wedding band. "As you wish."
She expelled a shaky breath. I don't wish, it's self-preservation, pure and simple.
Sometimes, in a moment of desperation,
Similar Books
Why Dogs Chase Cars
George Singleton
The Devil's Dust
C.B. Forrest
Shattered
Gabrielle Lord
The Rose Garden
Susanna Kearsley
BloodlustandMetal
Lisa Carlisle
House of the Rising Sun
Kristen Painter
Who Walks in Flame
David Alastair Hayden
India Dishonoured: Behind a Nation's War on Women
Sunny Hundal
The Slave Market of Mucar
Lee Falk
