Fighting Strong by Marysol James Page A

of?”
    “It started out as liver failure.”
    “Is he an alcoholic?”
    “Yeah. He was a violent drunk for all of my childhood.” She bit her lip. “Anyway, when his liver started to give out a couple of years ago, UNOS refused to put him on the transplant list. Ryan told me that the organization has strict rules about alcoholics receiving organs… I think they have to be able to prove that they’ve been sober for three years before they can be added.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah. They don’t want a healthy organ going in to someone who’s just going to pollute it with alcohol. Makes no sense.”
    “I can see that.”
    “So, his liver got worse and three days ago, something just… happened. His condition took a nose dive and now other organs in his body are just starting to shut down.”
    “Is he conscious?”
    “He was when I talked to Ryan this morning. He’s having some trouble breathing and his kidneys are starting to fail now. When that happens, it’s just a matter of time before the person slips in to a coma.”
    “Do you want to talk to him?”
    “I do.” The steel in her voice made him look at her.
    “Alone?”
    Katie met his worried eyes. “No. I want you there with me.” She hesitated. “Is that OK?”
    “Yes.” He pulled her to him and rubbed her back. “Whatever you need. You know that.”
    She closed her eyes and stayed close to Adam for a minute, just drawing strength from his body. She took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to stay calm.
    “OK,” she said. “Let’s go.”
    **
    Susan Tierney jumped to her feet when Katie appeared in the visitor’s lounge. Her daughter was even more beautiful than she remembered and for a few seconds, Susan just took her in. Katie’s face was more rounded, her hair longer, her eyes bigger. She was wearing almost no makeup, and she was so bright and vibrant, it was almost palpable.
    She was holding a man’s hand and Susan’s eyes widened as she took in his size and the tattoos all the way down his arms. He was staring at her with a hard look, his eyes chips of ice in a set face. Right away, she knew that Katie had told him all about her childhood, about Susan’s failures.
    “Katie!” Ryan Lloyd jumped to his feet and hurried over to her. “You made it!”
    Katie hugged her brother tightly, happy to see him.
    “Is Megan here? The kids?”
    “No, I drove them to the hotel about an hour ago. They’re packing and leaving tonight.”
    “They doing OK?”
    “Oh, yeah. Great.” Ryan turned to Adam. “And you must be Adam.” Ryan extended his hand. “Thank you so much for getting Katie here.”
    “It was no problem,” Adam said.
    Finally, Katie looked at her mother. “Hi, Mom.”
    “Hi, honey.” Susan’s eyes filled with tears. “You look good.”
    “Thanks.” Katie tugged Adam forward. “This is Adam Pierce. Adam, my Mom, Susan.”
    “Ma’am,” Adam said inclining his head slightly. His father had drilled respect in to his head for years, and he was determined to offer Susan courtesy – but the most basic form of it and not one bit more.
    He studied Susan carefully, taking in her dark eyes that were so much like Katie’s. He saw that there must have been a time when she was a lovely woman, but years of abuse and fear had taken their toll on her. She was gray and lined and had a haunted, harried look about her. He softened towards her a little as he realized that she hadn’t had a happy life. Not even remotely.
    “Roy’s been asking for you,” Susan said. “Asking and asking.”
    It occurred to Adam that this was the first time he had heard Katie’s stepfather’s name; she had never said it aloud, not once.
    “Has he?” she said. “Well, I’ll just go on in and say hi then.”
    “He’s really not the same man that you remember, hon.” Susan hesitated. “Be gentle with him, OK? He’s dying, Katie.”
    Katie stared at her and sighed.
    Still covering for him, I see. Right until the very end.
    “Want me to come with