Jesse's Wish, page 23
Kelly gives Alex a nudge and he steps forward.
‘Ah, thank you all for being here. Jesse, I hope you don’t mind but Kelly invited everyone to be with you and your family while you watch your wish. Are you OK with that?’
Jesse wraps her arms around Alex’s neck. ‘Of course I am, oh Alex, is this for real?’
‘Yes, all you have to do is sit down with your family and watch. Though before you do, some of Kelly’s colleagues are handing out popcorn to anyone who wants it, there will be drinks and nibbles after in the foyer.’
Kelly shows Jesse and her family where to sit. ‘Will you sit with us?’ Mandy asks Alex.
‘Thanks, Kelly and I will watch from the back, if it’s all right with you?’
Mandy glances at Kelly, attempting to control a giggle. ‘Of course it is, you guys go up the back.’
Charlie dims the lights. The sound of Taylor Swift singing ‘You Belong with Me’ fills the room as a photo montage of Jesse with her family appears on the large screen. Before long everyone finds themselves soaring with Jesse in the hot air balloon, laughing and running on a beach. The music changes, as Mandy’s voice is heard reading one of her poems over a video of Jesse in her room with Amy, out on the balcony looking at the night sky. Sam’s drawings come to life, the childish illustration of a dog in so many of his sketches is replaced with Bea, playing with Sam, the family looking on. To the sound of cheers, tears and sobs, whooping and clapping. An hour disappears all too quickly.
Slowly Charlie raises the lights. Alex and Kelly sit holding their breath, waiting for the reaction to die down. Moments drag on before Jesse stands and turns around to face her friends. Her smile tells them how she is feeling, and they jump to their feet, applauding again. Amy runs to Jesse followed by Ryan and Luke and the four teenagers dance together. Mandy and Dean step back, brushing away tears, revelling in seeing their daughter happy with her friends.
Alex puts his arms around Kelly, pulling her into him as they watch the scene playing out in front of them. All the adults are talking excitedly, the teenagers gabbling incoherently.
‘Excuse me, can I have your attention for a moment?’ Frank says standing at the back of the room. Everyone goes quiet and turns to Frank. Alex stands and looks at his boss, perplexed.
‘I know we only met briefly at the studio, I’m Frank Wallace, owner of TriOptics and, now, Alex’s business partner. I just want to say thank you to Jesse.’
Frank pauses, choking back tears, with his voice breaking.
‘You are the bravest person I have ever met. You inspire me to be a better person. And Alex, I knew you could do it. I wasn’t quite sure what it was you were doing, but my goodness, this is incredible. So, Jesse, thanks to you, TriOptics will be making available a similar wish to any child or teenager going through something comparable. I’ll make sure everyone here and at Inspire a Wish knows that.’
Kelly looks at Alex wondering if he wants to say something. She sees how ill at ease he feels, how uncomfortable he is in this environment.
‘We have drinks and nibbles in the foyer, why don’t we all go out and we can keep on chatting there?’
Slowly everyone moves out of the room into the foyer where drinks and plates of food wait. Jesse sees Frank go to Alex and the men shake hands. She excuses herself from Amy and her parents and approaches the men.
‘Oh, Mr Wallace . . .’
‘Please, call me Frank.’
‘OK, Frank it is. Can I have a hug?’ Jesse asks.
Before he can answer she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek.
‘There’s one more thing I wanted to say to you. I’m feeling strong enough to speak to reporters if you want to arrange an interview, I know that’s why you agreed for Alex to meet me.’
Frank pulls away, shaken. ‘No, no, that will not happen, I would never subject you to that, I’m so sorry that I even considered it. Not happening.’
‘Thank you. I didn’t really want to do it, but I would have for you, for Alex.’
Alex looks down at his friend, astonished yet again by her maturity and generosity.
He puts his arm loosely around her shoulders.
‘Well, Jesse. I guess it’s a wrap.’
CHAPTER 39
Three months later
‘A
lex, there’s someone here to see you.’
Alex responds to the tap on his shoulder more than the words barely heard through the headphones and the screens in front of him which consume him completely.
TriOptics’ receptionist stands behind him with a huge smile on her face. Other heads pop up and look towards Alex, they’ve all heard her talking in a loud voice to get Alex’s attention.
‘What?’ he asks her.
‘There’s someone in reception to see you.’
She pauses before continuing.
‘A woman, a beautiful woman; she said her name is Kelly.’
‘Kelly, Kelly’s here?’ Alex asks standing, glancing at Steve who grins at him before throwing him a wink.
‘Yes, she’s asked if she can see you.’
‘OK, I’m coming.’
Pushing past the receptionist, trying to ignore the smiles and winks coming at him from everyone in the room, Alex rushes outside, the receptionist following quickly behind because she doesn’t want to miss anything.
Opening the door into the reception area Alex sees Kelly standing, looking at the door she presumes he is coming through. The receptionist nudges him.
‘I told her to take a seat,’ she says watching as Alex walks towards Kelly.
Unsure what to say or do, Alex returns the warm, loving smile coming from Kelly. He knows the receptionist is watching but doesn’t care and gently kisses her on the lips.
‘Hi,’ he finally says.
‘I hope you don’t mind me coming to your office, I was wondering if you would be able to have lunch with me,’ Kelly says softly.
‘Sure, absolutely, is it lunchtime?’ he asks, oblivious to what the time could be.
‘Yes, kind of, as long as I’m not interrupting.’
‘You can interrupt me any time, this is a wonderful surprise.’ Alex turns to the receptionist. ‘Would you tell Steve I’m going out for a bit?’
The receptionist nods and hurries back into the studio, eager to spread the gossip of Alex kissing a girl, oh and he’s taking her to lunch, who knows when he’ll be back?
Alex and Kelly walk a short distance to a nearby café, take a seat outside and quickly look at the menus waiting on the table.
‘How can you be here, aren’t you meant to be at work?’ Alex asks Kelly as he reaches for her hand across the table.
‘Yes, no, my boss told me to take a half day, I’m apparently spending too much time at work.’
‘She’s not wrong, is she?’
‘Well, these last few months, since you and I, well, I’ve gotten better, haven’t I?’
‘Yeah, you have and I’m very happy about that.’
A waitress interrupts and they both order an iced coffee and the same salad sandwich.
Kelly watches the waitress walk away. Alex sees a change sweep over her face. He registers how tightly she is squeezing his hand.
‘Kelly, what is it, what are you not telling me?’
‘It’s Jesse . . .’
‘What about Jesse, we saw her what, three days ago, she was fine.’
‘No, she’s not, Alex, she’s not.’
‘What are you saying? Kelly, please, what’s happened to Jesse?’
‘That’s the thing about Jesse, she’s very good at pretending everything is fine, she wants everyone around her to have a good time, but the bloods don’t lie.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘For the past four weeks Jesse’s tests have shown a decline in her acceptance of the transplant, the transplant from you. I’m sorry, Alex, her body has rejected your bone marrow.’
‘What does it mean? Does she need more? I’ll do it again, I’ll do it right now, Kelly we should go to the hospital and do this now.’
‘Alex, listen to me,’ Kelly says gently. ‘Her body has rejected the transplant, if we did it again, it would be rejected again and we’re not going to put her through that. You gave Jesse and her family the gift of more time together, which they never thought possible. You have to understand just how great a gift that was.’
‘Where is she?’
‘Mandy and Dean brought her back to the ward this morning.’
‘Amy, does Amy know?’
‘Jesse spoke to Amy, Ryan and Luke last night, they are coming to see her this afternoon.’
‘Why didn’t you say something sooner? I would have been there for her.’
‘You were there for her, you’ve been with her more than anyone; she didn’t want you to know any earlier, she didn’t know how to tell you that what you did, going through all the pain of donating, hadn’t worked.’
‘She knew it was me? I thought only Dean and you knew.’
‘Alex, really, Jesse worked it out on day one when Sam told her you had an ouchy on your hip, just like he had.’
‘She never said anything.’
‘It’s not a conversation she wanted to have with you. She loves you more than she can say and didn’t want your friendship to be affected by you knowing that she knew.’
‘Can I see her?’
‘You know you are listed on her admission as family to be admitted any time of the day or night.’
‘Is she …’ Alex can’t finish the sentence.
‘Dying? Remember what I told you when you asked me that question once before. It only takes a moment to die, the rest of the time we are living. Is her time short? Yes.’
‘How short?’
‘Days.’
‘Here you are, two iced coffees and two salad sandwiches,’ the cheery waitress says, placing the drinks and food on the table between them. Looking from Kelly to Alex she realises something is up and silently backs away.
Kelly pushes back her chair, takes the two steps to Alex, and sitting on his knee she cradles his head into her chest, stroking his hair, letting her own tears fall.
‘Take me to her, please.’
The door to Jesse’s room is closed. Sandy sees Kelly and Alex stop outside, clearly hesitant to knock, to open the door.
‘You two can go on in. Amy, Luke and Ryan left a little while ago. There’s just Mandy, Dean and Sam with her but I know she would want to see you.’
‘Thanks, Sandy,’ Kelly says, quietly knocking on the door and opening it.
Dean, Mandy and Sam are all sitting on the bed and look up as Kelly and Alex slowly walk to the bedside. Alex stands at the foot of the bed. Jesse is so frail, so vulnerable, so perfect.
Sensing he is there she opens her eyes and smiles. ‘You came, I’m so glad you came,’ she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
‘Had to see my favourite girl,’ Alex replies, forcing a smile.
Jesse weakly turns her head towards Kelly. ‘Hi.’
‘Hi, Jesse, I found this one loitering around a café and we thought we’d come and see you,’ Kelly says.
‘Thank you. Would you all mind giving me a few minutes with Alex? There’s something I want to talk to him about,’ Jesse says, looking between her parents, brother and Kelly.
Alex sees the reluctance in Mandy’s face at leaving her daughter. Dean gently takes Mandy’s arm. ‘It’s OK, honey,’ he says to his wife. ‘We’ll be right outside. We can give her a few moments with Alex.’
Not trusting her voice, Mandy lets Dean guide her and Sam out the door, followed by Kelly.
‘Can you come close? Please sit here,’ Jesse says, patting the bed in front of her.
Alex sits, taking her hand in his, looking into the eyes of the wisest person he’s ever known.
‘I loved seeing you come with Kelly, that means you were together.’
‘Yes, we were having lunch when your name came up, as it does every time we’re together, so we thought we’d come and see you.’
‘Thank you for not asking me how I am. You know people still ask me that when, duh, it’s obvious.’
‘Yeah, people can be funny like that. So, how you doing?’ Alex says playfully.
‘Better for seeing you with Kelly. I think you’ve finally learnt the lesson of life, the meaning of life.’
‘Oh, have I, wise one? Why don’t you tell me what it is just in case I haven’t fully understood.’
‘That letting people into your life, letting them love you like I do, and loving them back like I know you love me, is the whole point of living, of life, and my final wish for you has been realised. Now you take this lesson you learnt with me and share it with another. I think you know who I’m referring to.’
‘I think I do.’
‘So, Alex, if you want to be with her and I think you do, then do something about it.’
‘I will. I promise.’
‘Do you?’
‘I do.’
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
A
lex, Kelly and Max step onto the beach and look at the scene ahead. A large marquee with a table holding buckets of ice and drinks and huge platters of food, covered to keep the insects off, wait for those gathered. A volleyball net is embedded in the sand: Amy, on one side, is taking on Ryan and Luke on the other. School friends, cousins, grandparents and friends of the Morgans laugh and chatter, watching, and cheering their children who are engaged in various games on the sand. Alex spots Steve with his wife and children building sandcastles, laughing at Ian and Frank taking on a group of teenagers in a game of football and looking ridiculous. They watch Sam and Bea splashing at the water’s edge. Max pulls on his lead and Alex bends down and releases him. He runs across the sand to join Sam and his best canine friend. Seeing Max, everyone turns and shouts out to Alex and Kelly who quickly join them, hugs and kisses all round, the volleyball game paused as Amy, Ryan and Luke greet Kelly and Alex.
Mandy watches and waits until Amy, Ryan and Luke return to their game before walking towards Alex and Kelly, they meet her halfway and long hugs follow. Dean joins them.
Alex looks around at the fun and laughter, the joy he sees on everyone’s face, everyone who was touched by Jesse.
‘This is perfect,’ he tells Mandy and Dean.
‘It is, isn’t it?’ Dean says, his arm still around Kelly. ‘You know you two are going to be roped into a game of volleyball or football at some stage.’
‘I’m up for it,’ Alex tells him as the four of them join the other parents and accept a glass of sparkling water.
‘You’ll stay and watch Jesse’s wish with us after, won’t you?’ Mandy says.
‘Absolutely we will, this day of celebration doesn’t end on the beach,’ Kelly replies.
‘I’m starving, when are we going to eat?’ Dean asks, taking a step towards the marquee and the food waiting to be uncovered.
‘Soon, my impatient husband, soon,’ Mandy tells him.
‘Ah, before we do, Mandy, can I have a word?’ Alex says, drawing looks from Dean and Kelly.
‘Take me away, sir,’ she says with a wink at Dean, looping her arm in Alex’s.
Slowly, unspeaking, they walk away, towards the rocks. Behind them they hear Dean ask Kelly if she knows what’s going on, only to be told no, she has no idea.
‘Can we climb up onto the rocks?’ Alex asks Mandy.
‘You sound like Jesse,’ she says, kicking her sandals off and stepping up on to the rocks and walking towards the end, to the point where she had watched Jesse so many times sit and talk to the waves.
As Alex joins her, they both sit and dangle their legs over the edge, looking at the retreating tide, their backs to everyone below.
They sit in silence for a while, comfortable in each other’s company, staring at the waves beyond, feeling the warmth of the sun on their faces.
‘Can I show you something?’ Alex blurts out, suddenly overwhelmed with nerves.
‘Of course, you can,’ Mandy tells him.
From his pocket Alex produces a small box. Opening it, he shows it to Mandy.
‘What do you think Jesse would say? I mean, if she was here I think I would probably ask her permission to marry Kelly. After all, it was she who brought us together. Our love for each other is a tribute to her, and spending the rest of my life with Kelly is Jesse granting me a wish I never knew I needed or wanted. And I do, I need and want to be with her.’
Mandy chokes back tears. ‘This is the happiest moment I’ve had since Jesse died. Alex, we all love you so much, and Kelly too. Jesse knew you would become part of our family. You honour her with your love for Kelly, and you honour me by showing me this beautiful ring and making me part of your proposal. Thank you so much.’
‘I’m going to ask her tonight. Do you think she’ll say yes?’
Mandy touches the ring; the small diamond comes alive with the colours the sun is throwing on it. She looks into his eyes, she feels the love she knows he has for Jesse, knowing right now she is Jesse’s proxy. She sees the love he has for Kelly.
‘Yes.’
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Hello, and I want to say first a big thank you for reading The Wish. This is a story very close to my heart, one that comes from my experience working in hospitals, and one that I hope has touched your heart too. I wanted to tell you how I came to write this story, and what it means to pass it on to you.
In the past I’ve written historical fiction based on real events; I’ve had the privilege of being asked to work with men, women and families to recount their stories. The Wish is my first contemporary story. I’m told that one of the first lessons at writing classes is to write about what you know. That is what I’ve chosen to do with The Wish.
For over twenty years I worked in the social work department of a large metropolitan hospital. Every day, the women, men and children who came into my life were only there because something tragic or traumatic had happened to them or a loved one. Many of these people I met briefly, their stay in hospital not very long for a variety of reasons. Then there were the others.
