Thanks for Giving Read Free Page A

marrow match for Matthew. We need you to come to the hospital and have the procedure done. Will you do that?”
    “How am I a match? Didn’t you tell me the odds weren’t good unless I was a relative?”
    “Strangely, you and Matt show genetic markers that indicate that you’re closely related through the female line.” Chip smiled at Molly’s mom, who had a shocked look on her face. “I didn’t know you were related to Matt’s mother, Mrs. Touchstone.”
    “Don’t be silly, Chip, we aren’t kin to Matt. There must be some mistake,” Molly said.
    “Maybe we are, Molly.” Her mother whispered the words so softly Molly almost didn’t believe they’d been uttered.
    “What? How?” Molly couldn’t believe it. No way was her mother telling the truth. How could she be?
    “Come over here a minute.” Molly’s mother raised her hand to the crowd and called out, “Molly isn’t going to be able to play. You all go ahead and start.”
    Members of the red team muttered and one cousin yelled, “What do we do for a quarterback then?”
    “Use Thomas. He’s our second-best player,” Molly said.
    Molly, her mother and Chip moved to the side of the house but could still hear the grumbling of the other Touchstone family members as well as Grant crowing that his family would surely win now without Molly.
    “What are you talking about, mom?” Molly asked.
    “When my sister—your aunt Linda—was fifteen, she got pregnant. Our parents sent her to a home for unwed mothers for the last few months and when the baby was born, it was adopted. We were told that the child would be placed, but we had no idea where. The home was over two hundred miles away so we thought the child was given to a family there. It very well could be Matthew. He’d be the right age since she delivered a boy a few months before I delivered you.”
    “Wow, Mom. I had no idea. I’m stunned. What a family secret.” Molly’s legs threatened not to hold her up and she slumped. Before she fell to the ground, Chip wrapped his arm around her waist and held her. The warmth of his touch filled her with a mixture of comfort and anxiety. He’d been so angry with her at the hospital but she recalled how much his touch had always settled her down.
    Chip peered into her eyes. “Are you okay to go have the marrow withdrawal procedure and be the donor for Matt? He really needs you.”
    “Does he know he’s adopted? He’s never said anything.” Molly didn’t know why she needed so desperately to know if he knew, but she did.
    “I think we can all talk about that later, dear. Now’s the time for action, isn’t it?” Molly’s mother said.
    Molly nodded. “Let’s go then.” She pointed to the Mustang. “I’m ready. Let’s go.” She hugged her mom. “Maybe later you can bring me my toothbrush?”
    “I will be there within the hour, honey.”
    Realizing that Chip still had his arm around her, Molly moved a step away. “I hope you’re going to tell me about what I’m in for on the way.”
    “I will. You’ll have to sign a release anyway so I’ll explain it all to you.” He led the way to the car.
    Molly glanced back at the football game, wishing she could join in but knowing she couldn’t. She could barely wrap her head around the fact that Matthew was probably her cousin, much less that she was going to the hospital as a perfectly healthy person on Thanksgiving Day and probably would be leaving the next day in pain. She hoped the bone marrow transplant would work to help Matt because it sure was messing with her favorite activity of the year.
    Chip opened the door for her and she climbed into his car. He roared off and before she knew it, she was at the entrance to the hospital. “Hop out here and I’ll park and meet you in the lobby.”
    All too soon, Chip was back and Molly was escorted up to the surgical suite and queried by the nursing staff about her last meal and other vital statistics. They decided to wait a couple of hours