Gregory Patrick

 

11/07/2021

 

Jaiden – Chapters 137

 

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Greg Patrick

 

"Leon, have you ever wondered what happened to your birth mother? Did she disappear out of fear of your dad?" "Peyton, I have wondered about that since the day she left, never came back, and never called to talk to me or check on me. When she left, she had a bad alcohol problem."

 

"Mom had been heavily drinking, which I think was because of my bio-dad raging about everything he could think of that she did wrong or didn't do at all. And when she left, he turned his rage toward me, and that is why I ran away and lived in the tent city. I think he was glad I was gone because I never heard from anyone that he had been looking for me."

 

"Have you ever thought about searching for your birth mom to find out why she left, why she never contacted you?" "A million times at least, but I didn't have the resources to look for her. Besides, I didn't and still don't have any idea of where to start looking." "What if we could get someone to look for her? Would you want to do that?" "I guess, but I don't want to hurt mom and dad after all they have done for me, and I certainly don't want to upset you and Jaiden."

 

"It wouldn't upset Jaiden or me, Leon, and I think it would give you some closure and help you move on a lot faster if you have the answers to the questions you have been asking yourself." "Perhaps, Peyton, I just don't know. I guess I would like to know what happened to her, if she is OK, and if she has wanted to find me, see me, or talk to me since she disappeared. I know her parents have never tried to contact me, so I don't know what was going on with that."

 

"Write down everything you know about your birth mom, her birthdate, hair color that you can remember, where she was born, and her parents' names. Then, I can send the information to a friend of mine and Jaiden's, and he can get his investigator to find her or at least find out what happened to her."

 

"If he finds your birth mom, he can determine if she would like to see or talk to you - if you'd like for that to happen." "That would depend on a lot of things, Peyton. I would like to know why she left and didn't take me with her and why she never contacted or checked on me." "Get me the information, and I will see what I can do to get you some answers to the questions you have been asking and find you some sense of inner peace. You deserve to know what happened and why."

 

"Peyton, thanks for offering to do that for me. I love the family I have now more than you will ever know, and there is no way I will go back to where I came from."

 

"I'm out of the hell I lived in, and I am finally going to get an education I thought I'd never have. I want to do something amazing to help others to pay you, Jaiden, and your families back for taking me in and loving me the way y'all do." "Like what, Leon."

 

"Dr. Till and I have talked, and I would like to get the necessary degrees and work with children who are going through trauma like that I experienced. The idea of working with children and their families to help them handle the stress of childhood cancer is also a major interest of mine." "Interesting!"

 

"Why did you say interesting, Peyton?" "Because Jaiden and I have talked about you doing that, and we both believe you would be awesome working in the field of counseling psychology." "Why?" "Leon, look at where you were and where you are. You faced tremendous hurdles with making the journey you have made. Who better to help someone through life's trials than you?" "I never thought of it that way, Peyton; maybe you and Jaiden are right."

 

"Leon, sit down one day when things are quiet, and your mind is calm, and make a list of the pros and cons of helping children and their families. Don't forget to think about the positives and the negatives in doing what you have thought about."

 

"While you are doing that, think about whether or not you would like to work at the Erie Medical Center with Richard, Jaiden, Pete, and me. We could use a dedicated person to handle non-medical, psychological issues."

 

"The four of you have been planning, haven't you?" "We've discussed the idea over lunch at the hospital, but we wanted it to be your idea without either of us pushing you in that direction." "Let me talk some more with Dr. Till and do some research. I think I would love for that to be my lifelong vocation." "The psychology program at Wellstone is excellent, so if you would like to fly up one weekend for a conference with the head of the School of Psychology, we can make that happen. So, think about it, and let us know." "Deal, Peyton!"

 

Peyton let Jaiden know he and Leon had talked about the idea of being a counseling psychologist while they were sitting on the deck winding down from a long, hard day. Jaiden was elated to hear that Leon had been thinking about being a child psychologist before the subject was broached with him. "Peyton, did you mention to Leon the possibility of flying up to Wellstone one weekend and speaking with the head of the School of Psychology?" "Yes, and he is thinking about the idea and will let us know after he talks some more with Dr. Till."

 

"What about working with us as a child psychologist at the hospital?" "Jaiden, I wish you could have seen his face when I broached that subject; it lit up like a Christmas tree – not that we have ever had one, of course."

"It doesn't matter if we have had one or not, Peyton, they are still beautiful, and I like to ride around the neighborhood and see them every December; I've even thought about getting a tree and decorating it as a Hannukah tree so the children wouldn't feel left out seeing the others enjoying the season and playing with the toys they get."

 

"That's not a bad idea, Jaiden; let's talk to Charley and Dale and see what they think." "OK, let's do that. But first, we need to do some research to find some Jewish celebration ornaments we could put on the tree." "Jaiden, what we don't find, we can design and make. For example, we can get a hand-held plasma laser and do our own metalwork to make tin ornaments. We can go to a ceramics shop and get decorations we can paint ourselves, even small things we can let the children paint at the table. If we do that every year, we'll have visual memories from the children we can look at and reminisce where they were when they painted them."

 

"Leave it to you to think about that, Love. Come here and sit on my lap and let me hold you for a while." "Ooo lah lah, are you feeling a bit amorous, Babe?" "Maybe a little bit." "A little bit my rear-end! The bulge in the front of your pants says you are thinking about it a lot." "OK, so you caught me; what are you going to do about it?" "Oh, I'll think of something while I am sitting on your lap, but whatever I come up with will have to happen after the boys are bedded down for the night." "Promise?" "Yep, sure do!"

 

"Any idea on what we are going to do for dinner tonight?" "Dale had a beef roast marinating, and he had Ginny and Granny stick it in the oven around 4 pm, so it should be a nice medium rare by dinner time." "Vegetables?" "Peas and snaps cooked with matza balls in seasoned chicken broth and steamed asparagus. He said he wanted to see if the children would eat steamed broccoli." I hope the children will eat it – especially if Dale makes Momma M's mustard sauce to go with it." "What is Momma M's mustard sauce." "Peyton, it is a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard with apple cider vinegar added to give it a bit of tartness." "That does sound good." "Believe me, Love, it is delicious on the steamed broccoli."

 

"Who was Momma M, Jaiden?" "She was Greg's mother-in-law. She died a few years ago, and it was something she always prepared for him – before she died, that is. He also talked about how she prepared Rice-a-Roni just for him and added artichoke hearts, black olives, water chestnuts, and mayonnaise. So naturally, he would drool when he spoke about that dish."

 

"Dale, have you ever heard of someone making a dish where they took Rice-a-Roni and added water chestnuts, artichoke hearts, black olives, and mayo?" Yea, my mother used to make that; why? "Jaiden was talking about Greg mentioning it, and it sounded so good." "It is. Run to the store right quick and get the artichoke hearts, water chestnuts, black olives, and a box of Rice-a-Roni. It only takes about fifteen minutes to make it. While it's better cold, it's still good right after it's made." "Be right back!"

 

"OK, here's the goods." "I'll get the salad made now. Don't tell Jaiden we're having it; let it be a surprise for him." "This is going to be fun watching Jaiden trying to figure out what it is before he tries a bite."

 

When they sat down to dinner, Jaiden looked at the new dish and tried to figure out what it was. He was being hesitant about trying it, especially since nobody would tell him what it was. While he wasn't looking, Dale scooped up a spoon full of the salad and walked around to where Jaiden was sitting. Suddenly, he pinched Jaiden somewhat hard, and when Jaiden opened his mouth to say ow, Dale crammed the spoon of the salad into his mouth.

 

Jaiden wouldn't spit it out because he didn't want to set a bad example for the children, so he chewed the food and swallowed it. Then he said, "Dang, that was good; what was it?" "Jaiden, you know that Rice-a-Roni salad you told Peyton about, well, you just ate a spoon full of it." "When did you get the stuff to make it?" "Peyton went to the store and got it while I was cooking the vegetables." Finally, Jaiden said, "If there is any left, I think I'll eat a small bowl of it as a bedtime snack; that stuff is delicious." Dale looked at Peyton and winked.

 

Sure enough, after the children were down for the night, Jaiden went to the refrigerator and got a heaping bowl of the Rice-a-Roni salad and took it to the den. "Jaiden, you must have really loved the salad." "Dale, I did; if you hadn't pinched me and crammed my mouth full of the stuff, I might not have tried it." "Enjoy it now, Jaiden, because it is chocked full of carbs, so I won't prepare it too often." "Could you add some edamame to it and call it a vegetable?" "Nice try, bro; NO."

 

Leon walked in the door while the guys were in the den, and Peyton asked, "Did you and Pete have a good time?" "Peyton, Jaiden taught me not to kiss and tell, so I won't say – it was an incredible evening!" Jaiden looked at Leon and said, brother-in-law, that's the way to tell him; I'm proud of you!" "Thank you. Now, if you guys don't mind, I am going to take a shower and get ready for bed. There is no doubt my dreams tonight will produce a wet dream." Charley spoke up and said, "Leon, you can beat yourself to the wet dream if you try hard enough." When he realized what he had said, his face got redder than his hair, and all the guys started howling with laughter.

 

"I guess I stepped into that one!" "Charley, you not only stepped in it, but you also wallowed in it. That was freaking hilarious!" "Dale, you don't have to rub it in." "Oh, but I do, lover; he can `beat himself' to the wet dream...if he tries `hard' enough! Hilarious."

 

Jaiden had a mouth full of the pasta salad when Charley said what he did to Leon. He started laughing so hard some of the salad blew out of his nose, and the rest of it...he couldn't spit it out or swallow it; he was laughing so hard.

 

Leon walked back to the den after his shower and sat in the chair by the French doors. Dale said, "Leon, you look like you are in total bliss." "I am, Dale. I have never felt so loved, been made to feel so important, or felt so appreciated. There is no way I can ever repay everybody for what they have done for me, especially you guys and Pete." "Leon, you don't have anything to repay, but you do have something you can pay forward by helping someone you may encounter who needs that help." "Paying it forward is what I intend to do, Dale."

 

I want to work incredibly hard at becoming a child and adolescent clinical psychologist. I don't care what it takes; if I can help one child avoid experiencing what I did while growing up..." "I have no doubt you will do that, Leon; you simply need to learn what a fantastic person you are. You are finally realizing that you have a huge heart and a sound mind, and you are putting both to good use." "Thanks, Dale; I'm trying hard." "Believe me, it shows, Leon."

 

"Leon, I did some research, and if you do well in your program at Wellstone, you won't have to earn a master's before pursuing your Ph.D." "Really, Jaiden?" "Really, Leon. We'll help you with whatever you decide you want to do. Suppose you bypass the master's degree in psychology; you'll get your doctorate three years earlier, and you can start practicing as soon as you pass your board exams."

 

"That's something I'll have to look at, Jaiden. Would I be able to work at the hospital?" "Yes, and the answer to your next question is also yes: we will make room for you to practice with us. It would be neat to build a comprehensive, holistic treatment program for children receiving oncology services. It would be incredible for you, Pete, Peyton, and me to get to go back to Prague to receive another Nobel Prize." "Do you think that would ever be possible?" "Anything is possible if you work hard enough and excel in what you do."

 

"High, guys. I don't know what you guys and Leon talked about last night; Leon is unbelievably excited about getting his doctorate." "Pete, I did some checking, and Leon can get his doctorate without having to get a master's degree. If he does that, he can join us in our practice three years earlier than any of us anticipated. I told Leon that if we work hard enough and develop a comprehensive cancer treatment program for children that could be implemented worldwide, we might earn another Nobel Prize."

 

"Another Nobel Prize, Jaiden?" "Yes. Charley, Dale, Peyton, and I share a Nobel Prize in Education for nationwide changes in teaching methods because of a few issues we worked to implement. Unfortunately, outside of tackling pressing social problems, you probably won't learn anything else new; we're basically boring, quiet people." "Jaiden, somehow, I don't believe that for one minute." "That's your choice, Pete, but what I said is true. Ask the guys."

 

"Has anybody ever told you guys that y'all are unreal?" "Yeah, our parents and Peyton's sister, Jenny." "That doesn't count, dude; they are naturally and rightfully prejudiced." "That they are, Leon; it's nice, isn't it?" "Jaiden, you're a nut, but I love you anyway." "Likewise, brother, likewise."

 

"Dang, I just got a text. A boy is in the clinic for a treatment workup, and he seems to have an advanced case of leukemia. Want to come downstairs and take a look with me?" "Sure, let's go."

 

"Hey, Richard, what do we have?" "They brought Bobby in about twenty minutes ago. I was talking with his mother, so I could start the workup. The lab drew blood for some preliminary tests, and the lab called almost immediately. Bobby's leukocytes are way out of proportion. The eosinophils and Basophils are very low. His neutrophils test out at 25%." "We need to get him admitted immediately and start treatment." Jaiden, what do you think we need to do first?" "Get him on the floor and start a standard treatment protocol and monitor him for a few days. Get blood tests every six hours and see how he starts responding after 24 hours. If the results look promising, continue the standard protocol; if not, the treatment regimen will need to be tweaked to find a process that works."

 

"He won't be on my and Peyton's floor since we were reassigned, so whoever is assigned his case will need to coordinate everything with you and Richard."

 

That night, Jaiden got a call from Richard. "Bobby's response to the initial treatment program indicates treatment is working, so we'll continue with your recommendation and watch him to see how he does through the weekend. He's in isolation, and his parents aren't happy about that, but they understand. I asked Bobby if he was bothered by being in isolation, and he said no, that his mother can't try to pamper him about every little thing that happens. Bobby sleeps when he wants and needs to, watches whatever he wants to see on television, and eats what he wants to eat – and believe me since treatment began, he eats everything in sight. I've never seen a boy as sick as he is eating the way he does." "That's a good thing, Richard." "It is, Jaiden, and what's weird is that he found out they serve calves liver, and he has requested it for lunch; he says he loves the stuff, and his mother won't cook it because it makes her gag."

 

"Richard, Ginny, and Granny cook the best calves' liver you have ever tasted. So, I asked if they would, and they cooked some and took it to a patient a while back – with the parent's permission – and he raved over it. Then they and their husbands went to the lounge and prayed with the parents, and a week later, the boy went home; he's been in remission since. So, I think it's time for a repeat of that for Bobby." "Jaiden, let me talk with the parents, and I'll call you back. I'm still at the hospital, and they are sitting in the room with Bobby."

 

"Mr. and Mrs. Gentry, may I see the two of you in the conference room for a minute, please." The couple walked into the conference room with Richard, and he closed the door. Then, fearing something was wrong, Mrs. Gentry asked, "Dr. Riley, did you call us in for a conference because something is wrong?" "Quite the opposite, Mrs. Gentry. The ladies who keep my four brother's ten children are incredible cooks. One of the dishes they cook that a patient raved over was liver and onions."

 

"The patient, a boy about Bobby's age, loved the dish, so my brother-in-law, Dr. Jaiden Riley-Reynolds, asked the parents if it would be OK if he told the ladies about their son and asked them to cook him some liver and onions and bring it to the boy. They consented, and Granny and Ginny cooked the food and brought it to the boy. They got with the patient's parents and prayed for the child and the parents. A week later, the child went home and has been in remission since."

 

"We'd like to get your permission for the ladies to prepare liver and onions for Bobby and bring it to him for lunch the day after tomorrow."

 

"Granny's husband is a pastor, and Ginny's husband is one of his Deacons. So more likely than not, they will want to meet and pray with you for Bobby's full recovery." "Dr. Riley, by all means, we would love for them to visit with Bobby and with us." "Great. All I need is for you to sign this consent form, and I'll get everything set up. But, first, I should tell you that Ginny, Mrs. Stuart, raised Dr. Jaiden from birth until he started high school. Now, she is helping to raise his children, and she is one of the most loving individuals I have ever met – and so is Granny and both their husbands."

 

"Jaiden, this is Richard. I got the consent form signed for Bobby, and Mr. and Mrs. Gentry are looking forward to meeting with Ginny, Granny, and their husbands. They understand the four will want to pray with them for Bobby's complete recovery, and they are excited about that. So, if you can get it set up for the day after tomorrow, that would be great." "I'll call Ginny as soon as we hang up and make sure the time fits their schedule." "Thanks, Jaiden." "Any time, Richard."

 

"Ginny, this is Jaiden. We have a patient in the hospital who is the same age as the patient you and Granny cooked the liver for a while back. The boy loves liver, and Richard asked me to check and see if you and Granny could cook some and take it to Bobby for dinner the day after tomorrow and pray with his parents for Bobby's full recovery and for their sanity." "Jaiden, if you'll go get the liver, we'd be proud to do that for Bobby and his parents." "Thanks, Ginny; I'm going to get the liver right now. I love y'all!" "We love you too, baby."

 

"Richard, Ginny said they'd love to do that for Bobby. I'm going to get the liver as soon as I hang up. Tell Bobby's parents Ginny, Granny, the Reverend, and Gampy should be there about six pm the night after tomorrow night." "Thanks, Jaiden; I'll let the Gentrys know, and I'll put it in the chart so the nurses will know what is going to happen."

 

"Mr. Gentry, Mrs. Gentry, Ginny and her husband, Gampy, and Granny and her husband, the Reverend, will be here around six pm the night after tomorrow night. I promise you will love them, and Gampy and the Reverend will have Bobby laughing his head off; I'll hang around while they are here. The meal they'll bring will be the calves' liver with onions, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, and English baby peas. My wife and I have eaten that at my brother's house, and it is heavenly!" "That's wonderful, Dr. Riley, and the best thing about it – I don't have to cook the liver." "That's funny, Mrs. Gentry; Bobby made the same comment."

 

The next day, Richard went to Bobby's room and told him he would have some special visitors around dinner time the next night, and they would be bringing him a surprise. Bobby tried to get Richard to tell him what the surprise was, but Richard wouldn't say. The only thing Richard said to Bobby was that he was going to love the surprise.

 

The night Granny, Ginny, and their husbands were supposed to visit with Bobby and his parents, the boy was antsy to see them even though he didn't have any idea who they were.

 

Richard put on his protective gear and took the special food tray to Bobby and placed it under the protective tent. When Bobby took the cover off the food, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Ginny, Granny, Gampy, and the Reverend were standing at the door, letting tears flow after they saw Bobby's reaction to getting the food.

 

Richard introduced them to Bobby and to his parents. Then, the adults went to the conference room to talk and pray while Bobby was eating his favorite food ever.

 

They gave the boy time to eat his food and then went back to his room and prayed over him. Then Gampy did what he does best and got Bobby laughing hysterically by telling him animated, albeit, slightly changed bible stories. Finally, when it was time for them to head home, they wished Bobby well and hugged his parents. They were surprised when Bobby asked if they could return to see him during the weekend. The four special people assured Bobby they would do that just for him – and they did.

 

The next day, when the doctors reviewed Bobby's blood lab results, they were amazed that all the results were normal. This was the second time they had seen such results in a patient after Ginny, Granny, and their husbands visited a child. Richard and Pete called Jaiden and Peyton and asked to meet in the conference room on their floor.

 

"Richard, Pete, what's up that caused this meeting?" "Peyton, Jaiden, look at Bobby's lab results after last night." Peyton's and Jaiden's jaws hit the floor as Peyton looked up and asked, "Richard, are you and Pete kidding us?" "No, Peyton, we aren't. We looked at the lab tests from last night and re-ran the blood tests this morning, and the results are the same: there is no sign of leukemia in Bobby. We had a review of his case, and the consensus was that he should stay through the weekend so we can ensure his immune system is up to par. If it is, he will be discharged Sunday afternoon. We have to talk to his parents to let them know what is going on, and we thought the two of you would like to be with us when we meet with the Gentrys."

 

"We would love to be in the meeting, but we would also like for Ginny, Granny, and their husbands to be there too. Can we do it tonight after Dale and Charley get home so they can watch the children so the prayer warriors can be here?" "I don't see why not. I'll let the Gentrys know we'll meet at seven tonight in the conference room downstairs on our floor."

 

Peyton called Dale, and he said he and Charley would watch the children and get them fed for dinner. Then Peyton called Ginny and Granny, and they said they would be at the hospital at seven to meet with the doctors and the Gentrys.

 

At seven that night, Ginny, Granny, and their husbands walked into the conference room with Peyton and Jaiden. Shortly afterward, Pete and Richard arrived with the Gentrys. "Richard said, "Mr. Gentry, Mrs. Gentry, we need to talk with you about where Bobby is with his leukemia after last night." As Richard said that, Sally walked into the conference room and joined in on the meeting.

 

"I don't know how to tell you this other than to just outright say it: there has been a significant change in Bobby's condition. We can't explain it, and we don't fully understand what has happened, but we have an idea as to what has occurred and why." "Dr. Riley, has Bobby gotten worse? Are his treatments not working?" "Mrs. Gentry, we have stopped all treatments for Bobby. We will monitor him through Saturday night, and he will most likely be discharged and sent home on Sunday morning." "I don't understand, Dr. Riley." "Neither do I, Mrs. Gentry, so let me tell you what has occurred."

 

"Last night, Ginny, Granny, Gampy, and the Reverend brought Bobby his favorite meal. While he ate, they met with you two in this conference room and prayed for you and for Bobby. Then they went to Bobby's room and prayed with Bobby. When the blood tests run each night were completed, we reviewed the results when we arrived this morning, and they were confounding to us. So, we had all the blood tests re-run, and the results were the same as last night's. There is absolutely no sign whatsoever of leukemia in Bobby's body. We will make sure his immune system is OK through Saturday night, and if it is, he will be discharged and sent home Sunday morning."

 

"When you get home, it will be necessary to keep him quarantined at home for at least three months. After that, when his pediatrician checks his immune responses, and if they are where they should be, Bobby can resume his normal activities within reason as approved by his doctor."

 

"Everybody was in tears after Richard and Pete said that. Then, Granny, Ginny, Gampy, and the Reverend held each other's hands and began praying and thanking Hashem for his love and mercy and asking Him to continue blessing Bobby as He already has.

 

That night, Jaiden and Peyton went to bed early. Jaiden cuddled up to Peyton, smelled his hair, and began telling his lover how special he was and how wonderful he smelled. Jaiden was nibbling on Peyton's ear when he suddenly exclaimed, "GOOD GRIEF, Peyton, DID YOU CUT ONE? DAMN!" "Sorry, babe, our dinner is doing magical things to me tonight!" "Magical, my butt, there isn't anything magical about what I'm smelling."

 

Jaiden got up and went to the den and got Dale and Charley. "Guys, come up to my room and tell me if what you smell is magical." "When Dale and Charley stuck their heads in Peyton's and Jaiden's room, Charley didn't miss a beat when he turned, looked at Jaiden, and said, "Yes, Jaiden, you can sleep with Dale and me tonight. If Peyton fit in our bed the other night, you surely will."

 

"Nah, I think I have a fix for the problem." "What is that, Jaiden?" "Dale, is there some pasta salad left in the fridge?" "There is." "And the Beano is still in the cabinet over the coffee maker?" "It is." "Good. I'm going to get some of the pasta salad, put four drops of Beano on a spoonful, and feed it to Peyton. Then I'll give it time to work and go back to bed with the Cucumber and Melon spray from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. That spray has the best smell ever."