Free Saving Jessica by Lurlene McDaniel Page B

money,” Professor Parker said. “Even if your attorneys work pro bono—for free—there are court costs, filing fees, things like that.”
    “Jessie’s mother and I will pay all the costs,” Don McMillan said quietly. “She’s our daughter. And if Jeremy’s willing to go to these lengths to help her, we will aid him.”
    “You have a vested interest,” Professor Parker warned. “The courts may not like your offering financial assistance.”
    “I’ll take my chances,” Jessica’s father said.
    “I have a trust fund set up by my grandfather for college,” Jeremy said.
    “There may be restrictions on it.”
    “I’ll check.” Jeremy started to hope that the law students might be willing to take up his cause.
    Jake cleared his throat. “Your father’s a powerful attorney with lots of connections. He won’t take this lying down.”
    “I know.” Jeremy held his breath.
    Professor Parker stood up. “Let us take a few days to study this and talk it over. Your case is intriguing, but my law students may not be able to take it on. We’ll call you.”
    “Not too long,” Jeremy said. “Jessica’s getting sicker every day.” He shook hands with each of them, then headed for the door with Jessica’s father. He still felt hopeful. They hadn’t rejected him outright. And more encouragingly, the expressions on Jake’s and Fran’s faces had been downright predatory. He said to Don, “I think they’ll take the case.”
    Don chuckled. “They certainly looked eager.”
    “Yeah,” Jeremy said with a relieved grin. “Kind of like lions circling for the kill.”
    Don put his arm around Jeremy’s shoulder. “Come to the house with me. I want you to break the news to Ruth and Jessica. We’ll be with you, Jeremy. Every step of the way.”
    “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” she asked.
        Jessica had very mixed feelings when she heard the news about what Jeremy was planning to do. Her mother had been ecstatic, but once Jessica was alone with Jeremy, she took him out to the swing and sat with him under the stars.
    “How can you ask that? I know what I’m doing. It’s the only way, Jessie, believe me.”
    “It’s going to drive a wedge the size of a truck between you and your parents.”
    “They’ll get over it. Once the operation is over and it’s a success, they’ll forgive me.”
    “But what if your father’s right? What if something does go wrong?”
    He placed his fingers across her lips. “Don’tsay such things. Nothing’s going to go wrong. That hospital transplants organs every day, and ours isn’t even that complicated a procedure.”
    “But—”
    “Then it will have been my choice,” he said, interrupting her. “They won’t ever have to blame themselves. Which in one way makes it far easier on them, if you know what I mean.”
    She understood, but she still felt scared. He was doing so much for her sake. She didn’t deserve it. “How will I repay you?”
    “By not rejecting me,” he said, deadpan.
    She giggled. “That’s a sick joke.”
    “It made you laugh.” He hugged her. “I’ve missed hearing you laugh.”
    “I’ve missed my former life—my LBD: Life Before Dialysis.” She leaned back against his shoulder and stared up at the stars. “I missed the best half of my senior year. No prom. No senior skip day. No class prank. I hardly remember my graduation ceremony. It’s all a blur. And this summer … well, my friends call and tell me all about shopping for college. About their vacations. Sara and Joanie got aplace together down in Panama Beach, Florida, for a week. If I were well, I’d be going with them.”
    “You’ll have it again,” Jeremy said, hearing the longing in her voice. “Once the transplant is over and you adjust to the medications, you’ll be healthy and happy.”
    “So if I have your kidney, does that mean we’ll be related?”
    “Kissin’ kin,” he joked. “I like that idea.”
    She pointed to the stars above.