keep that little fact tucked away, revealed only after everything is set to proceed.
They always find out, but we start off as me, Kaleb Crowne, an ordinary person doing an extraordinary thing.
My piercings are out. Don’t want to scare them, but Mrs. Lovecraft eyes my tattoos. I point to the one on my arm she’s been staring at.
“This is the first tattoo I got after Lucy’s transplant.”
“How is she…” Mrs. Lovecraft’s voice trails off.
I know what she wants to ask. She wants to know if Lucy survived. I’m here to give hope, and I believe in miracles.
“Lucy is twenty-two, married, and is getting ready to have her first kid.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Ian’s mom’s eyes brighten. Some of the tension she’s been carrying in her shoulders eases. She now knows there truly is hope for Ian to lead a full life.
I’ve talked to Lucy, and Trevor, and they’re okay with me sharing their stories. It helped Trevor’s mom to know about Lucy, and I hope it helps Ian’s mom to deal with her son’s illness.
“I got my first piercing the day of her transplant.”
“Piercing?”
“Yeah, I have a few.” I point to the spots on my brows and temples.
I hold back on the lip piercings for now. I took them out because I didn’t want to scare Ian. They can be a bit intimidating. Although, they’re probably more intimidating to Ian’s parents than they will be to him.
“I didn’t mean to stare.” She dabs the corners of her eyes with a tissue.
I need to put all the piercings back in within a few hours. The face is well vascularized and heals super quick. I don’t want the holes to close.
“If it takes your mind off what’s happening, if even for a minute, stare all you want. I got this tattoo when I donated stem cells for Lucy. She had a rough time with her first transplant.”
“We just want to thank you for being here for Ian.” Mr. Lovecraft takes his wife’s hand in his. He’s a gruff man of few words. I can’t tell if that’s simply how he is normally or if his son’s illness makes him choke up. Honestly, it doesn’t matter.
“I can’t wait to meet him, if that’s okay with you. Before I do, I have a favor to ask.”
Mr. Lovecraft gives me a look, like he expects me to make some outrageous demand. I get it. I get the hesitation. Ian’s illness has traumatized his parents. They’re hesitant about accepting help, especially from a stranger.
“As you know, Ian is my third bone marrow recipient.” Most people only ever get the call once in a lifetime. Which is why I believe in miracles. “Trevor was my second, and I already told you about Lucy.”
I show them pictures of Trevor and explain the tattoos I got after his transplant. Then I show them a picture of me with all my piercings. As expected, it’s a bit of a shock to Ian’s parents, but not nearly as big of a surprise as when I told them what I do for a living.
“I’d like to keep this between us. If the media gets wind of this, you’ll be facing a media circus when you need to focus on Ian’s recovery.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to process.” Mr. Lovecraft can’t stop staring. “You mean nobody knows you’re Spike, lead guitarist for Angel Fire?”
“No one but Lucy and Trevor, and their families, of course. Which kind of brings me around to asking a favor.”
“Um, yes. What is it you want?” Mr. Lovecraft squirms in his seat. “We were told everything was taken care of. That there wasn’t a fee.”
“A fee?” Then it hits me. “Oh God, no. That’s not it at all. I just want to ask two things, actually, and it’s totally okay to refuse.”
“You’re giving our son the gift of life. I’d say we’re in your debt.”
“I don’t see it that way. I see being a donor as the best gift I’ve ever received. Very few people sign up to be tested; fewer still are ever matched to a recipient. I see it as a blessing, and I’ve been extraordinarily blessed in life. If you allow it, I’d like to pick up the bill.”
“The bill?” Mr. Lovecraft’s brows pinch together. He doesn’t get it, but he will. I spell it out.
“Yes. For this hospitalization and any other outstanding medical bills you may have. Angel Fire does a lot of charitable work, but this is my personal contribution.”
“Kaleb, we would never ask you