TC pushed the doorbell over and over. He had to have this conversation. The door opened.

” Are you crazy?”

TC rushed inside. “ I told you that we had to talk. That it was a matter of life and death.”

“ Why are you being so melodramatic?”

” Are you THAT fucking shallow? Do you think that I would remotely be here without a good reason.”

“ Ok..ok. What’s wrong?”

” Whitney is in the hospital.”

” The hospital?”

” She was playing at a tournament and collapsed. We took her to the hospital and had her evaluated. That’s when we go the diagnosis – leukemia.”

” Leukemia? Cancer?”

” Yes. Whitney is dying, and we have to save her.”

” Of…of course. Is that why you’re here? You need money? I’ll write you a check right now. Whatever you need.”

” A CHECK? You think I’m here about a CHECK? Are you crazy?”

” No. I don’t know WHY you’re here. Tell me.”

“ You really are clueless, aren’t you? If it’s not about your small little world, it doesn’t concern you.”

“ I’m not going to defend myself to you.”

“ Because you can’t.”

” Because, I’m not going to. Tell me why you’re here.”

“ The only way that Whitney can be saved is through a bone marrow transplant.”

“ And..”

” She has to find a donor. She has to find someone compatible. And, we haven’t tapped the pool of possibilities. Because, Whitney doesn’t know that she has other family that can be tested.”

” Oh.”

” Yes, oh. I know the deal we made all those years ago. But, as of right now, it’s off. Whitney has to know the truth.”

” No!”

” YES!…Don’t you understand? Whitney can live ONLY if she gets this transplant, and so far, we’ve found no donors. Maybe one of your children can be the donor.”

” They have no idea.”

” That’s not my problem. “

” Isn’t it. Tell me…what was Eve’s reaction when she found out the truth?”

TC looked to the ground. “ Oh, so while you’re standing here, lecturing me, you haven’t bothered to tell YOUR WIFE the truth?”

” I’m going to tell Eve. Tonight. “

” And Whitney?”

” I thought Eve and I could tell her together.”

“ How are you going to do it? How can you tell her?”

” How can I NOT? She’s cared for Whitney since the day she was born.”

” Well, you know, maybe you don’t have to tell her the whole truth..”

TC put up his hand. “ No. I’m going to tell Eve THE WHOLE TRUTH, and pray that she’ll forgive me. Even if she doesn’t, I have to do what I can to save Whitney’s life. Maybe we weren’t supposed to keep this a secret. Maybe, Whitney was supposed to find out the truth one day.”

” And, you think this is all going to work out? Your marriage? Your relationship with Whitney and Simone? My relationship with my children? It’s all at risk.”

” None of it is more important than Whitney’s life. I love her. So much.”

” I know. You’re a wonderful father.”

” And, you gave me a beautiful gift. “

“ I was glad something good happened. I wanted her to have a good life. That’s why I gave her to you.”

” And, I’m grateful. Getting Whitney probably saved my marriage to Eve. She had been so despondant after our daughter died. She was so depressed. This was the time before anyone talked about post-partum. Eve had fought so hard to bring our baby into the world, following doctor’s orders to a tee. When she went into premature labor, and the baby died after 2 days, there was nothing that I could do to reach her. She drifted further and further away from me, not doing anything. Not eating, or sleeping.

Then, you gave me Whitney.  You should have seen Eve’s face the first time she saw Whitney. It like seeing the sun for the first time. When I put Whitney in her arms, Eve began to come back to life. “

” When I’ve seen them together, she’s always seemed so devoted to her.”

” Which is why I have to tell her. “

“ How will you explain….us?”

“ As honestly as possible. I hope she’ll forgive me for being unfaithful. But, I can’t worry about that. I can only worry about Whitney.”

” I…I don’t know how I’ll tell my children.”

” You better find a way. I’m giving you forty-eight hours. Then, I’ll call them up myself and ask them to be tested….you understand?”

” Yes, Thornton. I understand completely.”, Rebecca Hotchkiss replied.